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Hydrotherapy for Senior Canines
By Tanya VanderHammen Published: 11/27/2009
1. What is canine hydrotherapy?
The term "canine hydrotherapy" can mean a lot of things. Each canine pool will have their own “recipe”. At WaterWorkz Paw Spa it can range all the way from mostly floating or some massage in the warm supporting waters while resting on the bench or simply playing and fetching water toys. Usually it falls somewhere in the middle with a combination of movement in water and some kind of bodywork during the resting periods.
What determines the session depends on many components - the expertise and intentions of the person in the water with the canine, the nature of the canine's injury, the condition and age of the canine, where that canine is emotionally with water and the experience, etc.
In any program of hydrotherapy the most important component for me, is that the canine and their person feel safe. When everyone involved is relaxed and comfortable, only then should we progress with swimming and the other options that water has to offer. Regardless of your goals when you choose a canine hydrotherapy program of any kind, make sure it feels safe for both you and your canine friend.
As a concerned owner of a canine in need, I urge you to listen to yourself and seek out a program that feels good for both you and your canine friend.
2. How does it benefit senior canines?
A canine parent will seek canine hydrotherapy for reasons that include arthritis, paralysis and other mobility issues or to just help fitness and muscle tone in a safe environment.
The benefits of swimming and movement in water on the physical body are well known and have been used with humans for centuries. It is as effective for senior canines. The buoyancy of water supports and lessens stress on the joints, encourages freer movement and provides a safe environment for exercise. Water increases relaxation which can help pain and spasms. When moving in water, the resistance is 15 - 20 times that of moving in air so the muscles are being used without the stresses of weight bearing creating a safe way for senior canines to exercise and build muscle and relieve aches and pains.
Water stimulates, relaxes and can affect all systems of the body on the physical level. It increases circulation which can help skin and coat condition and can help stimulate all the touch receptors. Water can calm and sooth the nervous system, decrease stress while stimulating the sensations of joint position. Warm water can increase body temperature, causing blood vessels to dilate and increase circulation and detoxification, delivering nutrients and oxygen and carrying away wastes.
Water can also decrease inflammation and improve the immune system. It can increase the depth of respiration through pressure on the lungs. Providing oxygen and disposing of carbon dioxide. It can increase range of motion as the non-gravity environment can enhance stretches and movement.
Benefits include:
Diminished Muscular Tension
Increased Range of Motion
Reduction of Pain
Augmented Peripheral Circulation
Normalization of Muscle Tone
Reduced Stress and Anxiety
Increased Body Awareness
Release of Emotional Stress
3.How do I know if my senior canine needs hydrotherapy?
Senior canines tend to become less active, arthritic and cannot comfortably or safely exercise. They don’t jump up on their favourite couch anymore and may just tend to lay around with little or no energy. Hydrotherapy will increase range of movement of limbs, build muscle mass and tone enabling exercise to be more comfortable. Senior canines improve their general health and fitness, I have seen it bring back the “Puppy” in some canines, that sparkle in their eyes and the desire to re-enter the “Pack” to play when at daycare or the park.
Exercise without pain offers an improved quality of life for your canine. Your senior canine will enjoy having more energy and will be happier.
4. How often should senior canines receive hydrotherapy?
Some canines (and perhaps its more for their person!) come three times a week and some come weekly during the cold damp winter months - and then just do a maintenance program, of usually once a month during the summer months. Every canine has different needs and achieves different results. They usually let their person know when they need to come for another session.
Canine hydrotherapy case studies have shown optimal benefits, especially in the case of older or injured canines have been achieved for canine rehabilitation when the “One on One” sessions are booked on a weekly basis for the first six weeks. After the six weeks your canine friend will let you know when and how often they require maintenance sessions. My first case study, Rusty, 13 years old with severe arthritis came for six consecutive weeks and now only returns every three weeks for his “maintenance” program and I am happy to say is experiencing the same benefits today that he did from the six consecutive weeks of sessions. Instead of growling at the puppies who want to play with him at daycare he now plays with them.
5. What does a typical session consist of?
During a warm water session at WaterWorkz Paw Spa, even if your canine has only signed up for a swim conditioning program, there will need to be resting times as the water is warm and water has up to 20 times the resistance of air. It is during these resting times when bodywork and massage are ideal. We watch the movement and strength used during a swim. Limitations to the gait and movement are detectable in the 3 dimensionality of water - and then during the rest periods, specific bodywork modalities can be applied to help in the areas that need to be addressed.
In the water, during a session, I cannot change the canine or human’s emotions but I can create an environment to help facilitate a change in their emotions, an environment that encourages a sense of peace, joy and reduces stress.
At WaterWorkz Paw Spa we promise to be gentle, compassionate and communicate from the heart with your canine companion.
6. Can you give us an example of recent success with this type of treatment?
There are many to tell so will only offer two of my personal favourites. The first, Rusty is 13 years old and was my first case study with the “One on One” sessions. I think the email from his “Dad” speaks for itself. The second one is a heart warming story of an SPCA canine named Kiera, a white German Shepard and her new “Mom”.
RUSTY, 13 years old
Hi Tanya,
Just wanted to let you know that it seems like even after the first session, we have noticed a difference in Rusty already...
Tonight, when he came home, first of all, he was hungry and wanted his dinner right away. Then, he hopped up on the couch (remember I told you it’s a good sign if he goes up on the couch meaning his hips are not sore) and took a nap. When Jerry went out to get dinner, Rusty wanted to go along (which is another good sign that he is not sore)
Throughout the evening, when Rusty was moving around, getting up and lying down, NOT A SINGLE GROAN came out of him!!! That is huge (for me), since lately he has been groaning when he gets up or lies down and it just breaks my heart.
He also seem to be a bit more alert and a bit more active tonight, then his typical after daycare night when he just lays around farting...ha ha
So either I really want the sessions to work or it is really great, but just a short session today there are already some noticeable results!!
Thanks again and looking forward to next Wednesday!!
Abu
KEIRA 5-6 years old
Keira, my white German shepherd, has benefited greatly from her sessions with Tanya at WaterWorkz Paw Spa. Her story was a tragic one. Her previous owners treated her badly and she was physically and emotionally scarred. As such, she ran away from them. After being a stray for over a month, the Burnaby SPCA was finally able to catch her. This proved difficult as she was so scared. Her hind leg was dislocated and her surrounding muscle had atrophied – she required a femoral head excision and help. Upon my adopting Keira, the SPCA recommended us to WaterWorkz Paw Spa as she needed to build her confidence and muscle in a safe, nurturing environment.
We have had four sessions with Tanya so far and the change in Keira has been dramatic. The pool at the spa is kept nice and warm to encourage blood flow and limb movement. Keira gets healthy exercise and seems to really enjoy swimming. In turn I have seen a big difference in Keira’s mobility on land. She is building muscle and is now putting weight on her healing leg.
Equally as important, Keira is gaining confidence!! She looks forward to Tanya and her massage treatments. She is learning to have fun and how to be a dog again. I am most thankful to Tanya and would recommend her WaterWorkz Dog Spa to all folks seeking to better the physical and emotional health of their dog.
Charlene Allard
Rusty, 13 years old
