​To improve the dog’s physical condition: 

• before surgery to allow for better outcomes post op. 

• to strengthen a dog's body to prevent injury to live a healthy and good quality of life. 

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The goal is to:

1. minimise muscle loss,

2. improve joint mobility,

3. reduce pain,

4. enhance overall fitness,

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The best intervention is early/preventive intervention! 

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Hydrotherapy is not just for rehabilitation. Dogs without medical conditions can benefit too.  

Hydrotherapy can: 

•  effectively strengthen problem areas which can allow pets to avoid or delay surgical procedures.  

• Detect early subtle abnormalities or changes to a dog's gait or strength  

• Allow muscular asymmetries to be identified, measured, and monitored, meaning hydrotherapy programmes can be specifically tailored to target areas of weakness. This is important as it can reduce the likelihood of injury 

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In dogs, although direct studies on Prehab before surgery are more limited, we do know that early intervention helps: 

• prevent muscle atrophy 

• maintain joint range of motion 

• improve limb use 

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Case study - Digby 5-year-old golden retriever  

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Digby’s owner is a vet nurse and knows how important it is to keep dogs in the best condition they can be. Maintaining a healthy weight will reduce the impact on his joints, helping to reduce joint strain and injury risk.  

Being pro-active and ensuring your dog has good muscle coverage to support their joints and overall well-being allows them to continue with all the activities they love doing well into their older years.  

Golden retrievers can be prone to conditions such as hip dysplasia or cruciate ligament injuries so having good muscle coverage will help reduce the risk of these happening.