Hydrotherapy

In hydrotherapy, water is used in recovery or conditioning programmes: the dog walks in the water under control or swims with guidance. The water holds the dog up and takes load off certain joints and structures. It also pushes back, and that resistance can be used for controlled effort. The type of exercise and the water level, speed and duration still have to be set around the dog's condition and goals.

Not every dog with joint problems is a good fit. Heart or breathing problems, skin conditions, open wounds, infections, a strong fear of water and other issues can change whether it's advisable. It needs a professional's approval and professional supervision throughout.

The dog goes into the water gradually and is supported. You don't fix a fear of water by throwing the dog in. Each session's settings are written down, and someone watches how the dog reacts during the work and afterwards. How clean the pool and equipment are matters too.

Swimming for fun and hydrotherapy aren't the same thing, even if they look alike from the poolside. In rehab, the movement has to be controlled. A dog that swims in a panic, head high and back legs dangling, can end up using its body in exactly the wrong way for the therapy goal.

Hydrotherapy is worth considering mainly when the vet and the specialist recommend water work: for recovering mobility and, in some cases, for low-impact conditioning.

Water takes the weight off, but that doesn't make every exercise safe. And a free swim in a lake or a pool is no substitute for hydrotherapy.

It starts with an assessment and a clear therapy goal. Then the dog gets used to the setup, whether that's the pool or the treadmill.

Sessions are measured and supervised. Afterwards the dog is dried off and the specialist checks how it responded.

Watch how the dog goes in and how it comes out. Panic on the way in, tiring quickly, struggling in an awkward position in the water, or walking differently after the session all show you how it's coping.

So you're not making it up on the day, bring the medical records and mention any skin, ear or breathing problems. Pack a towel and whatever kit you've been asked for. Follow the instructions about feeding before the session.

Look at the water quality and temperature. The staff should be able to support the dog in the water, and the exit from the pool should be safe. The space and equipment are clean, and the dog is handled calmly and given breaks.

It helps if you get the dog used to going into water and to being handled beforehand. The therapy goal and the session length are set by the specialist, though; they aren't training decisions.

Hydrotherapy is done within a plan set by someone qualified. Unsupervised swimming doesn't replace it. The risks to talk through are inhaling water, pain getting worse, skin or ear irritation and exhaustion.