Swimming for dogs: Just as important as it is for you!

We all know that swimming is a great form of exercise and therapy for people, but what about for our dogs? Many people do not realize the wonderful benefits of using swimming pools and therapy pool sessions to both socialize and rehabilitate dogs for a multitude of reasons. I am sure we have all heard that swimming is one of the beast exercises because it works the major muscle groups of the body all at the same time, and can do all this maintaining a no impact technique. All of this is just as true for dogs. In fact, hydrotherapy for dogs is used for all of the following reasons and then some; Post-op and injury rehabilitation, obesity and weight gain management, geriatric support, sports and conditioning, and skeletal balancing. Sounds a lot like us right?

Another important point to consider is how the lower cost of swim sessions and hydrotherapy sessions can alleviate veterinary bills in the future. Dogs, like us, often have pain in their legs from any one of many reasons. When the dog experiences pain in the legs, the dog will compensate for this pain with their other non-injured legs which ultimately changes their posture. This change in posture results in a change of how they hold their back and utilize the other legs. This is where the medical problems begin to surface. Skeletal balancing by use of swimming and hydrotherapy can recreate the proper alignment of the spine to lessen and in some cases alleviate all pain, and most importantly prevent further damage and injury that can and will result in future veterinary bills stemming from surgical needs.

Swim therapy also addresses geriatrics and obesity in the same way. Many dogs that are older and/or obese suffer from chronic hip pain, osteoporosis, balance disorders, and even incontinence. Canine rehabilitation addresses many of the same conditions in geriatric and obese dogs and is also focused on improving or maintaining mobility, decreasing pain, and providing opportunities to enhance a dog's overall fitness. A dog that is uncomfortable or in pain cannot express these feelings to you, but know that what humans in these conditions experience is very comparable, so why not do what we can to decrease the pain without the introduction of invasive surgery or medications?

One final thought to consider is the socialization aspect of dog swimming. Many therapy swim centers offer a recreational pool for dogs to enjoy that are not in need of therapy, or for those dogs that have been rehabilitated to the point where swimming can become more recreational than a requirement. These pools are carefully monitored with swim instructors and life guards, and provide floating jackets for dogs that are a bit more nervous to try the pool or therapy. In Colorado, we are fortunate in having a plethora of these types of dog parks, some of which also provide other services such as grooming, obedience, and indoor pools that are open year round for your dogs to enjoy. The costs are pretty minimal, and nothing can take the place of bringing home a happy, healthy, well socialized dog that just came from a pool party with all of his best friends.