If you’ve been keeping up with us on social media, you’ve probably seen a couple videos of our dog Jackson at his hydrotherapy sessions. It’s hard for us to believe that our boy is already 11 years old, and when you see the sparkle in his eye and the pep in his step, it might be hard for you to believe as well! Of course, we attribute a lot of his health and happiness to his human-grade dog food diet, but hydrotherapy plays a huge part in keeping him spry for his age.
Jackson loves his hydrotherapy sessions with Dip’n Dogs Hydrotherapy in Orlando. Hydrotherapy is great exercise for all dogs, especially senior dogs or those recovering from surgery or injuries. Here are just a handful of the big benefits it’ll bring to your pups:
No dog is too big or too small. At Dip’n Dogs and many other hydrotherapy facilities like it, the therapy session takes place in a pool, often assisted by a floatation vest. Dogs of any size are able to hop in and take a lap around the pool or to complete the exercises set out for them by their therapists. Under supervision, they’ll be able to carry out several exercises designed to target their problem points.
Swimming has less impact than out-of-water exercises. Joint health is so important for older dogs. Often, the reason why they start to slow down with age is that their joints become stiff and painful. Water therapy offers enough resistance for a dog to get a good workout without jostling or impacting their joints. This is also important for dogs healing from injuries!
Water-based activities can easily target any number of joints, muscles, or problem areas. Therapists design their activities based on your dog’s individual needs. By simply tilting your dog to one side or another, they can put the focus on the areas that need it most. Activities like swimming in figure-8’s are very helpful for spine strength and conditioning. Often, therapeutic pools have jets that they can turn on for an additional challenge or more resistance.
We highly recommend hydrotherapy for any senior dog. Even if your dog is young and in great shape, swimming is one of the best ways to help your dog stay active, build critical strengths, and get a good cardiovascular workout in. To learn more about Dip’n Dogs, click here. To browse through our selection of human-grade dog food, treats, and bone broth, click here.