Hydrotherapy and physiotherapy are evidence-based welfare interventions for companion animals with orthopaedic conditions, neurological disease and post-operative recovery needs.
Physical therapy welfare transforms recovery from what would be prolonged painful restriction to active rehabilitation with measurable quality of life benefit. Dogs recovering from TPLO or hip replacement surgery with professional physiotherapy return to comfortable mobility significantly faster than those with cage rest alone. The welfare case for physical therapy is well-established in high-referral orthopaedic practice but remains underused in primary care settings where owners may not be aware of options. Hydrotherapy particularly enables exercise and movement in animals for whom weight-bearing is painful - maintaining muscle mass and joint range of motion that prevents secondary welfare deterioration from disuse during recovery.