Rescue dog rehab: how hydrotherapy gets them back on their feet, and helps with arthritis, post-op recovery
- Dogs which have trouble exercising normally gain strength and mobility through swimming – helping them climb stairs when previously they couldn’t
- Such pet rehabilitation services, as well as pet acupuncture and physiotherapy, are predicted to grow as the number of senior pets grows
Not every dog that takes to the hydrotherapy pool at Heal Animal Wellness and Rehabilitation is a natural or enthusiastic swimmer. But the Hong Kong centre’s owner and lead therapist, Wendy Tan, does her best to make sure every pet is safe when they’re in the water – from big German shepherds that soak the entire room when leaping in, to teacup poodles knocked off their feet by gusts from the hairdryer afterwards.
Heal Animal Wellness and Rehabilitation, in the Sai Ying Pun neighbourhood of Hong Kong Island, is a centre for dogs to regain their strength after an operation, exercise with less pain if they have joint problems, or simply play and grow confident in water – as long as they have the go-ahead from a vet.
“The pool is non-weight-bearing and almost acts like a pressure bandage on limbs, which helps with pain relief. They’re getting stronger without having put load on the limb,” Tan, 45, says.
Hydrotherapy, which involves exercising while floating, as opposed to just swimming, can be particularly helpful for conditions such as arthritis, a common problem in dogs.
“It’s not just the strengthening, but mobility,” Tan says. “When dogs lose mobility, you start seeing them deteriorate fast. They have four legs: if they’re not moving, their quality of life decreases. A lot of these problems can’t be fixed, but what we can give them is better quality of life.”
Since opening in May 2018, the centre has seen a range of canine clients, many of which have trouble exercising normally.