The benefits of swimming for dogs are very similar to those for humans. Swimming involves almost all of the muscles required for movement, without the concussive stresses of walking or running. Also, because water resistance is greater than air resistance, the muscles have to work harder.
Swimming has the benefit of achieving this level of work on the muscles, improving strength and tone and working the cardio-vascular and respiratory systems, without the impact of unsupported exercise, with the associated damage that can cause.
In fit dogs, swimming , can be used as a supplementary form of exercise to improve strength and stamina.
Once used to swimming, most dogs enjoy it, at the same time as improving their fitness. Stronger, toned muscles help to protect dogs against injuries sustained during normal exercise, such as running or chasing a ball, or during more demanding exercise, such as Agility or Flyball.
For dogs with some medical conditions that restrict or prohibit normal, concussive exercise, swimming is vital. For example, in the case of a hip replacement operation, it is important to build up the supporting muscles prior to the operation, as well as after. Swimming will increase the amount of exercise done and help recovery to normal fitness, safely and in a fraction of the time.
For weight loss, swimming provides a form of supported exercise, enabling good use of muscle and increasing the metabolic rate. It can be difficult to give an overweight dog sufficient exercise on land without over-stressing bones and joints.
Finally, our water is heated to the optimum temperature (usually around 28C) for canine hydrotherapy. This helps relaxation and assists blood flow. It also helps to reduce muscle spasm and improve the dogs range of movement. And, of course, it is more comfortable for the dogs, making swimming in a heated pool much more relaxing and enjoyable.
The more they enjoy it, the harder they tend to work and the more benefit they get from it.
That means, we, their loving owners, enjoy it too!.
C.A.M.
Canine Aqua Management
Here is an example of another Hydrotherapy session with Norman and Lucy who are two adoring Pugs with neurological disorders. They both suffer from neurological mobility issues in their rear ends. Hydrotherapy has helped them regain a huge amount of functioning that they would otherwise be without. They went from not being able to walk very well to being able to run in the park for a few days after a hydrotherapy session at Cam K9 Pool. See for yourself how much this has helped them in their life…
