A Full-Service Rehabilitation Center for Animals
THERAPIES: Hydrotherapy
Our state-of-the-art hydrotreadmill is specially designed to give animals a low-impact but highly aerobic workout. The water is kept at a comfortable 93°, a temperature that helps to relax tight muscles and soothe achy joints while improving blood flow and facilitating healing.
The benefits of exercising in water are many:
- Hydrostatic pressure (the pressure water exerts on the body) can help to reduce swelling, which is particularly beneficial for pets recovering from trauma or surgery;
- The water's buoyancy decreases the amount of weight bearing on joints, making it possible for pets with painful conditions, such as arthritis, dysplasia, and post-surgical discomfort, to work out more comfortably and more effectively than they ever could on land;
- Buoyancy also makes it possible for pets who cannot stand on land due to weakness or pain to stand in water, helping them to begin bearing weight again.
What's more, because pets walk on a moving treadmill belt in the water, the hydro-treadmill can be instrumental in increasing an animal's joint range of motion and improving his gait mechanics, an especially useful tool for animals learning to walk correctly—and for those learning to walk again.
For overweight pets, the resistance provided by the water provides a more effective workout than walking on land, while the water's buoyancy reduces the strain on joints that are already stressed by extra body weight.
And for canine athletes, the hydrotreadmill provides the perfect environment for endurance-building workouts. With a properly designed exercise program, the water resistance can strengthen muscles without straining them and help animals build cardiopulmonary fitness and endurance. Just imagine walking in knee-high ocean surf and you'll get an idea of how tough it can be to work out in our hydrotreadmill.