The Wellness of Water

By Lorraine Houston

The Natural Animal Health web site says that hydrotherapy is taken to mean the treatment of disease by, or in, water. In its simplest form this could be bathing your dog using a commercially available herbal shampoo or using a medicated wash which has been prescribed by your veterinarian to treat a specific skin condition. However the commonest form of hydrotherapy, and most fun for animal and owner alike, is swimming. Swimming helps to improve general fitness and stamina, improves muscle tone and is helpful in recovering from injury or operation. Muscle wastage begins within 3 days of any immobilization so to prevent further weakness or injury it is important to rebuild, through safe exercise, any muscles that have deteriorated. Swimming is an excellent form of exercise because most of the muscles normally used in movement are involved - without the stresses caused by running on hard ground. On land, each footfall creates a shock wave which travels up the limb and is absorbed by bones, tendons and joints. While these stresses are necessary to maintain healthy, strong bone if severe, or repetitive, these shock waves can actually damage or weaken the limb, particularly an arthritic joint or one recovering from an injury or surgery. Swimming allows the "working out" and strengthening of the muscles while avoiding this potentially damaging concussion. Also, because of the increased resistance to movement, the muscles have to work harder than they would do on land. Swimming also provides a cardiovascular workout for the lungs and heart. Under water, the chest is under pressure from the weight of the water squeezing inwards. This means that every breath requires more effort - the muscles used, particularly in breathing in, have to work harder. As any muscle strengthens with exercise, this improves the whole respiratory system. The heart has to work harder in order to meet the increased demand for nutrients by all the muscles which are being worked. The natural buoyancy of the water and the fact that sudden twists, stops and falls are impossible makes hydrotherapy a safe and effective form of exercise.

According to the Canine Hydrotherapy Association “It has long been established that hydrotherapy is beneficial in the recovery program for certain injuries in the veterinary field. Until recently its use in animals was restricted to performance horses and racing greyhounds. Extensive work in human physiotherapy has demonstrated that a suitably monitored course of hydrotherapy acts by encouraging a full range of joint motion in reduced weight conditions, thus improving muscle tone and promoting tendon repair without imposing undue stress on damaged tissues and improving cardiovascular stamina.”

With this issue of Dogs, Dogs, Dogs! being devoted to canine wellness, my assignment was to gather and share information on two Toronto businesses that offer swimming/canine hydrotherapy; Canine Wellness Centre and Fit Dogs. I toured their facilities, chatted with the owners, met some great dogs and as a result of this project I have a new-found appreciation and understanding of the benefits of swimming. While both facilities have a pool, their functions and objectives differ to some extent but both centres have a lot to offer in the way of unique services and assistance to our canine companions.

Canine Wellness Centre is owned and operated by Tania Costa and provides supportive care, rehabilitation, injury prevention as well as a fun and safe place to swim your dog. The centre was established three years ago when Costa realized the need for a centre that could provide supportive care to the growing number of canines suffering from a variety of orthopedic and neurological conditions. She says “part of our goal is to ease pain and improve recovery through the use of hydrotherapy and cutting edge assisted swim exercises.” Costa’s background includes her work in the veterinary field, training at the University of Tennessee for Canine Rehabilitation, hydrotherapy training in the United Kingdom, Canine Massage Therapy, and several years working with dogs in various capacities. Canine Wellness Centre provides an innovative approach to rehabilitation, working in conjunction with the referring veterinarian.

The 2,000 square foot centre is complete with a fully equipped rubber floor gym area and indoor heated swimming pool with underwater treadmill and closed circuit television to monitor and assess gait for recovering clients. Services include rehabilitation treatments for dogs with arthritis, hip dysplasia, ligament or muscle injuries, and degenerative disorders.

The centre also offers conditioning swims for overall cardiovascular health and individualized programs for overweight dogs, puppy swims, do-it-yourself grooming and daycare for disabled or paralyzed dogs. Many of the side effects from common conditions and surgeries can be eliminated or reduced by allowing exercise during periods of restricted activity. The area of canine rehabilitation is new to many and is a growing field in the UK and United States. The goal of rehabilitation is to deal with the deleterious effects of immobilization including muscle wasting, cartilage, ligament and bone degeneration.

The use of the underwater treadmill allows retraining of standing and walking in injured dogs following various orthopedic surgeries, or for those with neurological conditions. Progressions can be made easily and gradually through increases in speed, exercise duration and alterations to water depth. Dogs reluctant to use a limb can be encouraged to do so in a semi-weightless environment.

Appointments are required and an initial assessment and veterinary referral is necessary prior to the first rehabilitation session. Costa says “our services are not meant to replace regular veterinary care. All dogs should have a diagnosis from their veterinarian prior to beginning any rehabilitation or wellness program.”

Fit Dogs started as a dog walking and boarding service about 10 years ago, based on a strongly held belief that dogs need and deserve challenging exercise for their physical and mental well-being. In 2002, owner Tamara Zerener, once a world-ranked tennis player, was inspired by one of her clients to add swimming as an exercise option.

"Montana was a very lively young terrier with a torn cruciate ligament. At the time her recommended post-surgical treatment was weeks of cage rest. No one was sure how that was going to work. We agreed to try swimming twice weekly at Argyle Farms, and what an improvement! Plus, after each session she was quiet and content at home, as though she'd been out on her daily run," recalls Zerener.

The Fit Dogs facility has an aboveground salt-water pool that is 8x20 ft. with a water depth of 3 1/2 ft., and is heated to 87 ºF. People are welcome to get in the water with their dogs, or observe from a walkway alongside the pool. There are change rooms for the humans and a shower and dryer for the dogs.

The staff at Fit Dogs makes every effort to ensure that swimming is a positive experience for every dog, and work closely with their individual personalities and needs. All swims are private. Each first-timer gets a 30 minute hands-on introduction to ease him or her into the water.

If the dog has a medical or physical condition, their owners are asked to consult their veterinarian before embarking on a swim program. Fit Dogs is not part of the veterinary profession and don't give medical advice.

Zerener says, "Personally and professionally, we live and breathe dogs 24/7. We’ve tried to create a safe, low-key, dog-positive place for people and their dogs to enjoy a reasonably priced, recreational or rehab option.

"Along with their fantastic dogs, we get to meet really terrific owners and guardians. Perhaps most touching of all are the palliative care dogs. Sometimes owners have to carry them from their cars right into the pool, but once the old timers are in the water, they move with fresh grace and youth, and their eyes are shining. It's really beautiful and a time to treasure, because the bond between human and dog is so strong."

Web sites used for research and quoted www.natural-animal-health.co.uk and www.k9hydrotherapy.co.uk

Canine Wellness Centre
45 Cranfield Road Unit 5
Toronto, ON
416-690-1077
Tania@caninewellness.com
www.caninewellness.com

Fit Dogs
227 Broadview Ave
Toronto, ON
416-929-9287
info@fit-dogs.com
www.fit-dogs.com

Lorraine Houston is a feature writer for Dogs, Dogs, Dogs! and an evaluator for Therapeutic Paws of Canada and St. John Ambulance Therapy Dogs. She is a member of the Etobicoke Humane Society’s dog adoption team and the director of Speaking of Dogs, an organization devoted to education, outreach and rescue. A Maxwell Award winner from Dog Writers Assoc. of America, Lorraine lives in Don Mills with her husband, two sons and family dogs. She may be contacted at lhh4dogs@rogers.com or through www.speakingofdogs.com