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Understanding hydrotherapy

17 May, 2001

This is a form of rehabilitation therapy particularly appropriate for dogs and horses recovering from a range of conditions - especially those involving problems with limbs.

All animals can swim by instinct. How much they enjoy it depends ontheir confidence in the water and this can be increased by gradual acclimatisation.

Swimming helps to improve general fitness and stamina, improves muscle tone and is helpful in recovering from injury or operation.

Muscle wastage begins within three days of any immobilisation so to prevent further weakness or injury it is important to rebuild, through safe exercise, any muscles that have deteriorated.

It is better to swim dogs in heated water since cold water causes constriction of the blood vessels near the skin and to the superficial muscles (those just under the skin) which restricts the flow of blood making the muscles less efficient.

However , horses are usually swum in cold water because it helps to dissipate the enormous amounts of heat they generate under exertion - far more than dogs and with a less efficient cooling system.

Exercise without stresses

Swimming is an excellent form of exercise because most of the muscles normally used in movement are involved - without the stresses caused by running on hard ground.

On land, each footfall creates a shock wave which travels up the limb and is absorbed by bones, tendons and joints.

While these stresses are necessary tomaintain healthy, strong bone if severe, or repetitive, these shock waves can actually damage or weaken the limb, particularly an arthritic joint or one recovering from an injury or surgery.

Swimming allows the "working out" and strengthening of the muscles while avoiding this potentially damaging concussion. Also, because of the increased resistance to movement, the muscles have to work harder than they would do on land.

For a dog, a five-minute swim is equivalent to about a 5-mile run,while for a horse, 10 minutes swimming is equivalent to about an hour's schooling!

Swimming as part of a planned fittening program

Many racehorse trainers and dog trainers use swimming therapy as a regular part of their animals' fittening regime and have purpose built pools on their premises so that they can swim their animals regularly.

However, all effective training programmes must contain the elements of stress that the animal is likely to face in competition.

This is why hydrotherapy should not be used on its own - swimming strengthens muscle but does little or nothing for bone. Your animal must also have normal exercise on land in order to keep their bones strong.

Assessing fitness

Most dogs and horses will cope quite happily with swimming as a form of exercise therapy.

However, in the case of an old or unfit animal, or one recovering from an injury or surgery you must get advice from your vet before taking it swimming.

If in any doubtat all - ask your vet.

For more information on hydrotherapy and other alternative treatments for animals, visit http://www.natural-animal-health.co.uk www.natural-animal-health.co.uk "> www.natural-animal-health.co.uk

Related articles:

• H&H Asks: hydrotherapy
• The benefits of hydrotherapy
• The good equine spa guide
• Water therapy for horses

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