What is an underwater treadmill for Dogs?
Yes, just as it sounds – It is a device where dogs walk on a treadmill in a tank of water for rehabilitation and conditioning.
Is it easy to get a dog to get on an underwater treadmill?
The beauty of the hydrotherapy treadmill tanks today is that the dog walks up a ramp into an empty tank – usually lured by a treat the first time. The water comes in slowly around their feet from around the sides of the treadmill belt. Just as the dog says to himself “Hey, there’s water coming up in here,” the belt starts moving. So now he’s thinking “Hey, the ground is moving, I’d better walk,” and he stops wondering about the water. It’s amazing to watch and it is quite rare that a dog will try to jump out. The occasional dog will just ride the belt to the back of the tank, but with a bit of encouragement, once he gets his walk going on the belt, he does fine.
Which dogs can a hydrotherapy treadmill help?
Underwater treadmills can help Arthritic dogs – dog hydrotherapy is my favorite tool for these old guys. They feel young again in the tank.
- Post operative pets – orthopedic. Broken limbs, ruptured cruciates, and a variety of other orthopedic surgeries will benefit from underwater treadmill therapy.
- Neurological pets – the hydrotherapy treadmill gets them walking again!
- Blood clots — especially cats
- Canine athletes – the hydrotherapy treadmill gives them a conditioning edge of endurance and strength
Can underwater treadmill therapy help cats? (Cats hate water, you know)
Surprisingly, cats have a similar reaction to dogs. With the belt moving, they have to keep walking or they will fall. All pets know this intuitively which makes it hard to plan how to place feet in order to jump, so they don’t. You also might consider acupuncture for cats.
How is water helpful for Dog physical therapy?
- Buoyancy: Quite simply, we weight less in water. So if your pet has a sore or weak leg, she will bear more weight on it in water. This maintains the muscles in the affected limb. For many dogs, just knowing they are buoyant will increase their confidence. Sore arthritic old guys will walk like they used to and LOVE it. Paralyzed dogs who can’t yet walk on land, have reflexes that kick in when the belt moves underneath them. Then they think “Hey, look at ME, I’m walking!!” and put in more effort. And dogs recovering from surgery, who KNOW that leg hurts, take a few steps and realize that it hurts less.
- Heat: The water in the hydrotherapy treadmill is warm. Warmth soothes sore muscles, loosens tight tendons and increases blood supply to healing tissues. At about 85 degrees, it is “bathtub warm” but not so warm they overheat with exercise.
- Hydrostatic pressure: This is a fancy way of saying that the water pushes in slightly on the dog. For a pet with swelling, that minor amount of pressure (coupled with the increased blood flow from the heat) it helps return that fluid to the body. Less swelling means less pressure, less pain and better movement.
- Cardiovascular health: For athletic patients that need conditioning, the underwater treadmill is a remarkable tool. The walking speed can be increased to running speed (up to 7mph on some machines). The level of the water can be adjusted for maximum resistance. Patients build endurance, increase cardiovascular capacity, strengthen muscles and maintain flexibility which reduces the chances of injury. (As a note, I have seen this tool become a crutch for many owners of athletic dogs. Using the underwater treadmill is NOT a substitute for balance work and physiotherapy, but an addition. Most athletic injuries do not happen on a straight run, they happen in a turn or jump which requires physiotherapy and other training to prevent).
I have a bathtub at home, can’t I just walk my dog in that?
Walking in water and walking on a treadmill in water do two different things. Walking in water is about resistance – advancing your legs forward in water is harder than in air. The treadmill and the bathtub accomplish this at water heights above the elbow. But the treadmill portion is essential to healing lameness and rebuilding nerve function because it is the consistently the same pace requiring each foot to bear weight evenly. You can’t limp on a treadmill. For pets recovering from paralysis, when the ground is moving under their feet, the legs will reflexively walk, even if they can’t walk on land. This retrains the nerves and strengthens the muscles involved in walking.
About Healing Arts Animal Care
Healing Arts Animal Care in Beaverton, Oregon provides veterinary acupuncture, pet rehabilitation therapy, physical therapy and athletic conditioning and Animal Massage Therapy for the dogs and cats of the Portland, Oregon Metro Area including Hillsboro, Lake Oswego, and Tualatin. We strive to create a team among you, your pet, your veterinarian and ourselves to create a whole package of care for your pet including wheelchairs for dogs. Pets come through our door knowing that we’re going to have fun here and this isn’t “another trip to the vet.” Through manual therapies, acupuncture, laser, ultrasound, underwater treadmill and creating a tailored individual home exercises, we strive to bring your injured pet back to speed, keep your elderly pet as an active member of the family, return your obese pet back to a functional friend and keep your athletic pet at the peak of his performance.
