Hydrotherapy
The 404 Veterinary Hospital Referral Centre is proud to be the first veterinary clinic in Ontario to offer both a pool and an underwater treadmill, as well as a ceiling lift to facilitate getting animals in and out of the pool safely. Both are valuable assets to any rehabilitation or conditioning program.
What is Hydrotherapy?
The natural properties of water (buoyancy, resistance, heat) make aquatic therapy one of the safest and most effective means of introducing / encouraging weight-bearing activities for a number of conditions.
The buoyancy of water reduces load-bearing forces on joints, while the warm water increases blood flow to muscles, and provides resistance for a good cardiovascular workout.
Underwater Treadmill Therapy
Equipment
Designed specifically for canine rehabilitation, the Ferno Aqua Paws Underwater Treadmill system creates a low-impact treadmill workout that helps increase muscle strength and endurance, and allows a quicker transition to land-based therapy.
Indications:
- Post-surgical (fractures, femoral head and neck excisions, hip-replacements, patellar luxation and cruciate ligament repairs)
- Arthritis
- Obesity
- Tendonitis
- Edema
- Sports conditioning
Free-swimming
While the underwater treadmill has revolutionized the field of canine rehabilitation, the benefits of free-swimming should not be overlooked. Free-swimming is particularly useful in neurological cases, where the first tentative attempts of voluntary movement are often facilitated in this non-weight bearing, buoyant environment. Free-swimming is also ideal for strengthening the paraspinal muscles and the front limbs.
Equipment
The 404 Veterinary Hospital Referral Centre features a Ferno Triathlon Swim Spa, 16 ft long, by 9 ft wide and 4 ft deep. After receiving hydro-massage from one of 6 massage jets located in the pool, dogs can swim in place against a resistance current provided by four 3-horse-powered jets. A ceiling lift facilitates safe entry into the pool, and a member of the rehabilitation staff is always present to assist all dogs in the pool and treadmill.
Indications:
- Post-surgical (intervertebral disk disease)
- Lumbosacral disease
- Muscle strengthening (forelimb, shoulder, paraspinal)
- Arthritis
- Obesity
- Tendonitis
- Edema
- Sports conditioning