Sundean Vets's home page
Lydney Branch 01594 840404
Hartpury Branch 01452 700086
Forest of Dean Branch 01594 826688

If you are looking to book a cat vaccination, please be aware that there is an ongoing shortage of some cat vaccines affecting all UK Veterinary practices. Find out more here.

Hydrotherapy

Hydrotherapy is a form of exercise which involves an aquatic treadmill to aid rehabilitation, conditioning, and weight loss in small animals.

We are happy to take referrals from other veterinary practices for hydrotherapy, however, this must be done through your veterinary surgeon.

For more information or to book please call 01452 700086 or contact hartpury@sundeanvets.co.uk

Benefits of Hydrotherapy:

  • Assists weight loss
  • Increases range of motion in arthritic joints
  • Decreases swelling / oedema
  • Encourages gait re-education
  • Relaxes tight muscles
  • Increases muscle tone, strength and mass
  • Relieves discomfort, especially in senior patients
  • Promotes mental stimulation
  • Increases proprioception
dog at hydrotherapy

Pricing

  • £36 Maintenance / Fitness sessions - This includes weight loss, conditioning and mobility, primarily in senior dogs.
  • £48 Rehabilitation sessions - For instance, dogs that have an injury such as Hip dysplasia / Cruciate ligament rupture.
  • £58 Initial Assessment  - This includes health check, gait assessment and first introductory session.
  • Hydrotherapy is covered to varying extents through most insurance companies with a veterinary referral! Always check with your provider to see what amount is covered.

Conditions

Most common conditions referred for Hydrotherapy include:

  • Obesity
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Cruciate Ligament Rupture
  • Intervertebral Disc Disease
  • Arthritis
  • Patella Luxation
  • Pre and Post Surgery Conditioning
  • During Exercise Restriction
  • Fibrocartilaginous Embolism

What's included in the sessions

Our hydrotherapy sessions:

  • We conduct a health check before each session and a gait assessment / muscle mass assessment regularly to assess patient progress.

  • We dry your dog post session and provide you with aftercare details.

  • We will fit your dog with a harness to make sure they remain safe throughout.

  • Your dog will have a tailored plan with water height, speed and duration individualised to their condition.

How does hydrotherapy work?

  • Due to the buoyancy of water; as we increase the water level, the amount of weightbearing your dog experiences on injured or arthritic limbs is reduced. We can bring the water height down incrementally over time to help get your dog back to full weightbearing.
  • A higher level of water will also increase range of motion of the joints, for example if the water is taken to the level of the hip, both the knee and hip range of motion will be at its greatest.
  • We keep our water between 28-32 degrees. This is optimal temperature to have therapeutic effects. It promotes relaxation of the muscles, feelings of well-being and vasodilation of blood vessels, allowing oxygen and nutrients to be delivered to damaged tissues.
  • Water provides resistance, making hydrotherapy both a great form of cardiovascular fitness and muscular endurance. This can help to build up a loss of muscle and promote weight-loss.
  • Water exerts a light pressure on everything that is submerged within it. This helps to reduce swelling, increase blood and lymphatic flow, and decrease sensitivity in painful areas.

FAQ

  • A thorough health check is completed prior to the dog undertaking Hydrotherapy. Any breed can have this treatment, it depends more on the individual and any specific precautions relating to your pet.

  • An underwater treadmill is better suited to treating a wider range of conditions in comparison to a pool as the therapist can control speed, water height and exact duration of time your dog is walking for. We require veterinary referral to ensure this treatment is best suited for your dog.

  • This is dependent on your individual dogs’ condition and progress. For chronic conditions such as osteoarthritis it may be that this is a lifetime way to manage quality of life, for more acute conditions like an injury it could be a couple of months before they are recovered.

    • Bring whatever motivates your dog best! We do have treats and toys on stand-by.
    • Make sure your dog is clean, has toileted and has not done any intense exercise prior to the session taking place.
    • We have towels to dry your dog after the session but if you have any drying coats please do bring these along, it is important to keep your dog nice and warm for the rest of the day.
Return to Services