If your pet suffers from a lack of movement, aches, and pains or is recovering from surgery, they may be a candidate for hydrotherapy. In Greek, the word "hydrotherapy" means "water healing," and dogs can benefit from water therapy in the same way humans can. Athletes have been utilizing this form of therapy for decades, and K9 Health Center offers several different options to help your four-legged family member.
The owner of K9 Health Center, Sandra Wilson, discusses the benefits of hydrotherapy for your pet.
Hydrotherapy works holistically on the whole body all at the same time.
Hydrotherapy removes the constraints of maintaining the patient in a series of single positions and engages patient participation in the rehabilitation process through the encouragement of freedom of movement.
Suspension in warm water is soothing, comfortable, and familiar, right the way back before birth. That support mechanism cannot be easily or economically replicated elsewhere. It's why Astronauts use a pool to train to work in weightless environments. It's also what lies behind professional sports athletes using pools to prepare and recover from injury.
Buoyancy relieves stress in muscles, compression in joints, and tension in ligaments.
Mental well-being is amplified as exercise is gently supported and encourages the patient to test their range of motion limits with minimal detriment. Patients can ultimately extend, flex and rotate in ways that would not usually be easily achievable outside the water without specialist equipment.
Resistance to movement in water is easier to control and direct than on a hard surface, meaning patient efforts can be slow and gentle or rapid and focussed on encouraging early recovery or build strength and stamina.
Swelling is reduced, and blood flow increases which accelerates recovery.
A properly planned and executed course of hydrotherapy offers up-close, hands-on, low-stress assessment and treatment of the patient where rehabilitation is no longer a chore; it's an enjoyable outcome.
K9 Health Center
k9healthcenter.com
6734 Larkwood Drive, TX 77074
832-863-9455