Canine hydrotherapy provides low-impact exercise and rehabilitation that significantly improves welfare for dogs with orthopaedic and neurological conditions.
Hydrotherapy transforms rehabilitation welfare for dogs with conditions limiting comfortable land-based exercise. Dogs with severe arthritis or post-surgical restrictions who cannot walk without pain can move freely in water, experiencing physical activity and the associated positive emotional states that pain has been denying them. The welfare benefit is bidirectional: physical improvement through muscle strengthening and circulation, and psychological improvement through restored activity and engagement. Access to qualified canine hydrotherapy is expanding but remains limited by geographic availability and cost. Advocating for hydrotherapy as a standard component of rehabilitation protocols rather than an optional extra improves welfare outcomes for dogs across a wide range of conditions.