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What to Expect from a session: All swimmers are welcomed and given a warm shower before being fitted with a collar and life jacket or harness. Most dogs take to the entry ramps easily but some take a little longer to get used to them. Initial swims can be a maximum of 2 minutes with swim times increasing at each session to a maximum of 25 minutes. It is worth noting that a one minute swim can be equivalent to running for one mile. After the swim your dog will be given a warm shower, some stretches and a massage. If your dog is alright with vacuum noises or hair dryers we have a blaster, (which most dogs enjoy) to remove most of the water from your dogs coat before going home. Touch wood we have never had any kind of skin problem as a result of the chlorine in the water, and it is the safest sanitiser available. If anything comments have been made about how shiny and soft our swimmer coats become after regular sessions. Some of our swimmers find that doggy dressing gowns or coats are useful for the journey home, especially in the winter months when it can be a bit chilly. Hopefully your dog will leave with a waggy tail and be keen to come back and play with us again soon. So why is swimming good? THERAPEUTIC BENEFITS OF AQUATIC EXERCISE IMPROVES : STRENGTH MUSCULAR ENDURANCE CARDIORESPIRATORY ENDURANCE RANGE OF MOTION AGILITY PSYCHOLOGICAL AND ALSO MINIMISES PAIN Pre-operatively – It reduces muscle atrophy, helps with weight loss, and improves cardiovascular fitness, improving blood flow to the surgical site all resulting in a faster and more efficient recovery Post-operatively – It improves limb use, muscle mass, range of motion, proprioception and weight bearing. Land exercise has gravity as its primary resistive force, whereas aquatic exercise has viscosity, friction, and turbulence. These properties have a direct effect on heart rate and oxygen uptake. The aquatic forces have been found to reduce the heart rate at rest and then increase the heart rate significantly when exercising. Oxygen uptake is also higher when exercising in water than on land. Heated water also increases cardiovascular demands, circulation to muscles and increased joint flexibility, which all help to decrease joint pain.
Conditions Treated with Hydrotherapy Hip or Elbow Dysplasia Cruciate ligment rupture Patella Luxation Degenerative Joint Disease CDRM / OCD (Chronic Degenerative Radiculomyelopathy / Osteochondritis Dessicans) Fractures Spinal Disease Osteoarthritis Sub Acute or Chronic Soft tissue injury Soft Tissue Contracture Rheumatoid Arthritis Muscle Spasm or Weakness Reduced Active/Passive Range of motion Neurological Impairment Weight loss Endurance Training
Dangers of Outdoor Swimming Strong currents and Tides Pollutants, oils and chemicals Hidden dangers and discarded objects Blue-green Algae Poisoning Why a Hydrotherapy Pool?
Monitored Swimming Conditions Supervised by Qualified Staff Safety Equipment Monitored Swimming Programs
TECHNICAL STUFF
WATER PROPERTIES
RELATIVE DENSITY
THIS IS THE RATIO OF THE WEIGHT OF THE OBJECT TO THE WEIGHT OF AN EQUAL VOLUME OF WATER.
It determines how well the object will float. A lean animal has a higher Specific Gravity, or weight to volume ratio, therefore giving it a faster sinking velocity. This means the lean animal will sink faster than an obese animal when it is not moving.
THIS IS THE UPWARD THRUST OF WATER ACTING ON AN OBJECT AS A RESULT OF THE WATER BEING DISPLACED BY THE OBJECT.
Buoyancy allows rehabilitation of weak and painful joints and muscles by allowing exercise to be carried out in an upright position. It minimises the weight bearing on the joints and possibly aids pain relief.
HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE
THIS IS THE PRESSURE OF THE FLUID. IT IS EXERTED EQUALLY ON ALL SURFACES OF AN IMMERSED OBJECT AT REST AND AT A GIVEN DEPTH This constant pressure provides and ideal environment for swollen joints and tissue oedema. It prevents blood and oedema to pool in the lower extremities therefore reducing the swelling. It may also help decrease pain during exercise by providing phasic stimuli to the skins sensory receptors resulting in a decrease in nociceptor hypersensitivity.
VISCOSITY AND RESISTANCE
VISCOSITY MEASURES THE FRICTIONAL RESISTANCE BETWEEN THE MOLECULES OF LIQUID
This resistance is significantly greater in water than it is in air providing a harder environment to exercise in. It is this resistance that can help build muscle strength and improve cardiovascular fitness.
Streamline water flow is steady continuous fluid movement with little friction between fluid layers resulting in a more easy going exercise environment.
Turbulent water flow is irregular fluid movement, with increased friction and a more challenging exercise environment.
SURFACE TENSION
THIS IS THE FORCE OF ATTRACTION BETWEEN THE SURFACE MOLECULES IN THE FLUID
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