Exercise is an important part of keeping your pup happy and healthy, but for dogs with health challenges, finding the right kind of exercise is just as important as getting enough of it. Walks, hikes, and games of fetch may work for some dogs, but for others with conditions like arthritis or hip dysplasia, these activities can be strenuous and may cause more harm than good. Swimming for dogs with mobility issues, on the other hand, offers a low-impact, full-body workout that helps your pup move and feel better without putting extra stress on the body.
Why Swimming is a Great Form of Exercise for Dogs
Swimming and water therapy for dogs engages nearly every muscle group, but unlike traditional land-based exercise, swimming is gentle on bones, joints, and ligaments. It also helps dogs build strength, increase range of motion, and improve cardiovascular health so they can move and groove with more comfort and confidence. That’s why holistic health involves a well-rounded diet, ample dog exercise regime, and rest and supplementation.
According to Berthoud Animal Hospital, the buoyancy and resistance of water can alleviate pain, reduce inflammation, help maintain a healthy weight, and improve joint mobility, making it a particularly compelling choice for dogs with mobility issues and those recovering from injuries and surgeries.
Many dogs also think swimming is downright fun! Beyond just the physical benefits, it supports mental health by offering enrichment, mental stimulation, and the chance to socialize and play, making it an all-around great activity for water-loving pups.
How Swimming Helps with Specific Mobility Challenges and Conditions
Swimming for dogs with mobility issues can offer many tail-wagging benefits when facilitated correctly. By tailoring your dog’s exercise regime to support their mobility with low-impact activities like water therapy, you can help your dog get the most out of their daily exercise. Here’s how swimming can help with common conditions:
- Senior Dogs: Swimming therapy for senior dogs can be a gentle but effective way to support their health and keep them moving comfortably through their golden years. Water exercise can reduce swelling and stiffness, aid in pain relief, support weight loss, and improve mobility and flexibility to help your lovable senior feel young again!
- Dogs with Arthritis: Swimming for dogs with arthritis can be life-changing, regardless of your pet’s age. The resistance of water helps build muscle and support the joints, while the buoyancy reduces stress on inflamed areas. With consistent swims, dogs with this condition can experience a greater range of motion, pain relief, and enhanced mobility.
- Dogs Recovering from Injuries and Surgery: Swimming is a healing hero for dogs recovering from injuries and surgery. Water therapy may be recommended to improve dogs’ physical fitness before operations or may be a part of rehab plans to shorten recovery time. Because swimming increases blood flow and builds strength, it may also be useful in dogs recovering from injuries, as it can speed up the healing process.
- Dogs with Degenerative Myelopathy: Swimming for dogs with specific mobility issues, such as Degenerative Myelopathy (DM), can be a crucial part of rehabilitation when mobility on land becomes difficult or nearly impossible. The support of the water allows dogs to move more freely, preserving and building muscle tone while slowing disease progression. In some cases, swimming may be the only way dogs with DM can experience independence again.
- Dogs with Intervertebral Disc Disease: For dogs with Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD), swimming can be a powerful tool in aiding recovery and improving quality of life. By engaging the core and back muscles without putting pressure on the joints and spine, water exercise supports the healing of affected discs and tissues. It also increases blood circulation while reducing boredom and stress, which is essential during extended recoveries.
- Dogs with Hip and Elbow Dysplasia: Hip Dysplasia and Elbow Dysplasia are common orthopedic conditions that can be improved with swim therapy. By practicing controlled movements in the water, dogs receive a gentle stretch while also improving their joint mobility and reducing stiffness. Benefits like relaxed muscles and increased blood circulation also promote pain relief and reduced inflammation.
The Benefits of Hydrotherapy for Dogs
While dogs do receive benefits from swimming recreationally in backyard pools and splashing in lakes, canine hydrotherapy conducted by a certified canine rehabilitation practitioner ensures your furry friend receives the best possible care and results from their water exercise.
Canine hydrotherapy is a type of physical therapy that uses water to improve dogs’ mobility, strength, and overall health and fitness. The temperature, pressure, buoyancy, resistance, and surface tension can be adjusted for therapeutic benefit, making it a good option to supplement rehabilitation, chronic conditions, fitness plans, and preventative care.
Hydrotherapy pools for dogs allow rehabilitation practitioners to control the water’s temperature and support your dog in a clean, controlled setting. For more targeted hydrotherapy, underwater treadmills for dogs may be utilized in more specific exercise programs because the depth of the water and the treadmill’s speed can be easily adjusted.
The benefits of hydrotherapy for dogs may include pain relief, enhanced range of motion, strengthened muscles, improved physical condition and mental health, and injury prevention by relieving strain. Veterinary specialists may recommend incorporating hydrotherapy in canine rehab or fitness plans for dogs with pain and mobility issues, those who have recently undergone or plan to have procedures, or for conditioning canine athletes.
With more demand for hydrotherapy, specialty clinics and veterinary hospitals that offer it have become increasingly popular. If you think your dog could benefit from hydrotherapy, talk to your veterinarian and research providers in your area. Before booking your first session, it’s a good idea to ask about the establishment’s credentials, read reviews online, assess the cleanliness of the facility, and inquire about cost.
Important Considerations for a Safe and Happy Swim
Ready to dive in? Before your dog takes their first pool plunge, here are a few important tips to help your best friend get the most out of their water time:
- Start Slow: While some dogs may love water (we’re looking at you retriever breeds!), others may not have a natural affinity for it. Always take it slow when introducing your dog to the water and ease them into more advanced exposure and water exercises at a pace that’s comfortable for them. Encouraging them with treats, toys, and verbal praise is key to making it a positive experience every time. It’s important to never force your dog to swim or enter the water.
- Keep an Eye Out: Always supervise your dog, and never leave them unattended while they are in or near the water, even if they’re advanced swimmers.
- Provide an Easy Way Out: Help your dog enter and exit the pool with ease by giving them an easy way to get in and out on their own, such as stairs, ramps, or water ladders.
- Use a Life Jacket: Keep your dog safe with a properly sized doggie life jacket. They can be life-saving if your pup gets muscle cramps, fatigue, or exercise-induced collapse while swimming.
- Supplement Their Health: Support your dog’s mobility from the inside out with Bernie’s Marvelous Mobility Total Joint Health. Formulated with vitamins, antioxidants, anti-inflammatories, proteins, collagens, and essential omegas, this powerful supplement naturally repairs and rejuvenates tissue to help your dog soak up all the benefits from swim therapy.
- Keep It Clean: Maintain a clean pool environment and always follow signs and warnings before swimming in natural waters. Rinse your dog off afterwards to remove chlorine, harsh chemicals, or other bacteria they may have picked up during swims.
- Shake It Up: If you are committed to increasing your dog’s mobility, consider implementing other forms of low-impact exercise that support their joint health, such as hiking.
- Talk to the Pros: Before adding new forms of activity to your dog’s routine, consult with your veterinarian to determine what’s best for your pet’s unique needs.
Final Thoughts
Mobility challenges don’t have to put a stop to your dog’s health, happiness, and fun! Whether they’re a bouncy puppy recovering from injuries, a dog living with a chronic condition, a talented canine athlete, or a sweet senior who’s feeling stiff, swimming for dogs with mobility issues can be an effective and fulfilling way to support their well-being and quality of life.
