Canine Hydrotherapy in Hampshire, Wiltshire, Oxfordshire & Berkshire

What is Hydrotherapy?

Hydrotherapy is a specialist water based exercise designed to aid recovery, improve mobility, and build strength in dogs. At Aquatic Canine Therapy (ACT Now), our hydrotherapy pool and underwater treadmill is maintained at a comfortable 28–32°C, creating the perfect environment for rehabilitation.

The warmth of the water helps with pain management, allowing muscles and tissues to relax. This increases elasticity, cell metabolism, and blood flow, supporting healing in targeted areas.

Benefits of Hydrotherapy for Dogs

Hydrotherapy is more than swimming—it is controlled treatment in water that offers unique therapeutic advantages:

• Muscle building & strength: Water resistance quickly develops muscle tone without overloading joints.
• Joint protection: Buoyancy reduces weight bearing stress on bones, tendons, and joints, preventing further damage to weakened areas.
• Pain relief & relaxation: Warm water eases stiffness and discomfort, helping dogs move more freely.
• Reduced swelling: Hydrostatic pressure stimulates the lymphatic system, reducing inflammation and swelling.
• Improved mobility: Water supports natural limb movement, enhancing protraction and retraction for better joint mobilisation.

Conditions Hydrotherapy Can Help

Hydrotherapy is highly effective for:

• Post surgery recovery (e.g. cruciate ligament repair)
• Arthritis and joint conditions
• Neurological rehabilitation (spinal injuries, nerve damage)
• Tendon and muscle strains
• Senior dog mobility
• Weight management
• Fitness for working and sporting dogs
• General Well-being

Hydrotherapy is the gold standard water based treatment for dogs recovering from injury, surgery, or chronic conditions. At ACT Now, we combine expertise, CHA approval, and compassionate care to deliver tailored rehabilitation programs trusted by vets, insurers, and owners across Hampshire, Wiltshire, Oxfordshire, and Berkshire.

If you believe your dog is in need of Hydrotherapy, or your Vet has recommended treatment, first thing you need to do is call us on 01635 521915 or send us an email at info@ActNow-Newbury.co.uk

Facilities

• Aquatic Treadmill
• Pool
• Showering
• Drying
• CPD & Training
• Vet Links
• FAQ's
• Terms & Conditions

Aquatic Treadmill

The Aquatic treadmill has all-round glass for optimum viewing and fills from below which is perfect for those dogs who are not keen on water as their feet stay firmly on the floor. This allows the Hydrotherapist to view the patient’s movement during therapy and allows us to easily control and monitor the rehabilitation process. The water level can be increased and decreased, which is useful for making the transition from water to land based exercise by gradually increasing the load on the affected joint and also improves flexion and extension. The speed of the treadmill can be increased and decreased to replicate the normal gait. We are also able to be in the treadmill with the dog where the dog is very small, nervous or where we need neural re-education, proprioceptive training, gait training and improvement in dynamic balance, to ensure a positive rehabilitation outcome.

The Under Water Treadmill Benefits:

• Partial weight bearing (dependent on water levels)
• Neural re-education
• Proprioceptive gait training in neurological conditions
• Improves balance
• Better for hydrophobic patients, brachycephalic or deep chested breeds
• Speed gait retaining
• Increase in cardiovascular fitness and muscle mass

Pool

The pool has easy access entry and exit routes with a ramp and a rest platform for patients to stand on in the swim intervals. We also have the option to introduce jets to increase endurance and cardiovascular fitness, helping to strengthen muscles at a faster rate by increasing resistance through the water. It provides a non-weight bearing low impact environment for dogs to achieve a maximum active range of movement of joint angles. It helps target all muscle groups using a range of different swimming techniques and hydrotherapy aids. The pool can improve core and trunk strength, improve flexion, and helps increase patient’s cardiovascular fitness. It provides a fun and controlled environment for dogs who enjoy swimming or puppies needing to gain confidence in the water in a safe way. Puppies have to be careful when it comes to land-based exercise, as their growth plates are not fully formed until they reach adolescence. Hydrotherapy protects their joints from overloading when exercising, increases their muscle mass to support their joints as they grow and is also a safe way to tire them mentally and physically during the chaotic puppy stage. A Hydrotherapist will always be within the pool when carrying out sessions to ensure safety to your dog.

Pool Benefits:

• Non weight bearing (Zero / Low impact environment)
• Maximum active ROM as better stride lengths can be achieved
• Improvement to core and trunk strength
• Increase in cardiovascular fitness and muscle mass
• Improves joint flexion
• Back strengthening
• Generalised Arthritis for conditioning
• Weight loss

Candidates not suitable for pool:

• Dogs with spinal conditions i.e. IVDD, FCE, DM, Lumbosacral disease due to added pressure to the spine with the added buoyancy of the water.
• Brachycephalic or deep chested breeds (i.e. Pugs, Great Danes, Boxers)

Showering

To ensure any excess hair and dust/dirt is removed before introducing to the treadmill, we shower the dog but this also helps to warm up and stimulate the muscles groups that are about to be exercised in the session.

Post session the dog is again showered to remove any chemicals from the coat. Should you wish for your dog to be shampooed at this point it is possible to pay extra for this service.

Drying

To ensure your dog is warm, dry and comfortable at the end of the hydrotherapy session they will be towelled and blow dried (dependant on the dogs temperament and condition). This is particularly beneficial for older and arthritic dogs. We provide all towels however, in the colder months to ensure your dog remains warm in the car journey home, we recommend you bring a towel or a coat for your dog.

Terms & Conditions

Please have a look at our Terms & Conditions HERE.

If you believe your dog is in need of Hydrotherapy, or your Vet has recommended treatment, first thing you need to do is call us on 01635 521915 or send us an email at info@ActNow-Newbury.co.uk