Animal water treadmill is a high-tech hydrotherapy equipment. The Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation of the EC Hydrotherapy has an expert-class PHYSIO-TECH water treadmill (made in Germany).
Water treadmill hydrotherapy for dogs is recognized as the leading method for effective, safe and fastest rehabilitation of dogs and cats after injuries and surgical interventions.
The track of this design provides the most minimal stress for the animal during classes – the speed of the track is smoothly adjustable for the tasks of a specific rehabilitation program, convenient entry through the side hinged door, equipped with an electric drive and anti-slip coating, which avoids the use of lifts.
How the water treadmill for dogs works
The working tank of the track is filled with water quickly, gradually and almost silently. The walkway has several levels, which ensures comfortable work with patients of different sizes.
Hydrotherapy (swimming) for dogs
The transparent walls of the working tank, made of heavy-duty glass, allow the instructor to observe the movements of the dog. The counterflow system allows you to increase the load in a controlled manner and has a hydromassage effect.
AquaSoft – special software – allows you to fine-tune the speed of movement, duration of exposure, distance, temperature, water level, which allows you to most accurately select an individual training regimen.
The track tank is filled with water separately for each animal, the water undergoes multi-stage purification using a filter system and UV irradiation.
Dog rehabilitation
Water treadmill training is most effective in helping patients return to normal life after injury, increase muscle strength and joint range of motion, lose weight, and even receive effective non-drug pain relief.
The underwater or hydro treadmill for dogs is primarily used to ensure the return of functionality and improve muscle strength after spinal and joint surgeries, it can significantly increase the range of motion for patients with limited motor function.
The underwater treadmill can also be successfully used for sports training and weight management.
The hydropath is extremely useful for the rehabilitation of patients with orthopedic or neurological problems – under conditions of reduced weight load (due to movement in a more viscous environment compared to air), the functional use of the limbs increases without a noticeable increase in the load on the joints.
Recovery after fractures, when on the one hand the immobilization of the limb is necessary, and on the other hand, the preservation of muscle mass and support is required, often passes faster when the first exercises are carried out under water. The viscosity of the water also provides increased proprioceptive and tactile stimulation.
In addition, most postoperative and neurological patients have a certain degree of muscle atrophy or loss of muscle strength. Muscle atrophy also occurs due to osteoarthritis and, to a lesser extent, as a result of aging. Movement under water along the path even once a week can help patients with muscle mass insufficiency effectively fight muscle hypotrophy.
Water creates comfortable conditions and creates a resistance that slows down the motion pattern. Many dogs after the injury do not want to load the damaged limb, but in the conditions of a running underwater path they will have to do this to maintain balance.
The underwater treadmill is especially useful for small dogs that have undergone resection of the femoral head. In such patients, we strive to cause the formation of a pseud o-science, and not a cicatricial fabric that limits the movement. The conditions of the low weight load on the underwater treadmill help to get stronger to muscles and ligaments around the new joint, maintaining strength and balance in the rest of the body. A decrease in stress from the weight load on the limbs on the initial phases of the formation of the pseudo-household helps to reduce the mismatch of the limb length that occurs due to the wrong position of the femur.
Injured joints often have a pronounced range of movement. The water running path makes the patient use the correct but exaggerated storage container pattern of movement, which stimulates bending in the joints and, to a lesser extent, straightening in the joints. The most common example of a patient who is useful for such a mechanism of movement is a large dog with a limited movement in the joints after surgical treatment of the rupture of the anterior crucible ligament.
Warm water relieves pain, helps the muscles relax, and the joints stretch when restored after fractures and cracks.
Water Running Path for Fitness and Health of the Dog
The increased resistance arising on the underwater treadmill helps sports and working dogs to strengthen muscles and increase cardiovascular endurance.
For obesity, training in water is safer than training in the air. Water reduces stress from weight load, while increased resistance stimulates metabolism and strengthens the muscles.
Swimming in the pool or open pond can be a variant of water therapy. The use and advantages are similar in the underwater treadmill, but there are several key features and undeniable advantages of the water running path. When swimming, the dog uses a different motor pattern than when moving on the ground, so swimming in some cases may not be suitable for the rehabilitation of neurological disorders. Many dogs are afraid of open water without the ability to rely on the limbs to the bottom. In the pool, such a good overview is impossible from a convenient angle, which allows to evaluate and, if necessary, adjust the patient’s movements. The settings of speed, angle of inclination, water temperature, pressure and direction of movement in the water running path allow you to quickly adjust the level and nature of the load based on the needs of a particular patient.
Some patients may be afraid of water, but most are ready to train on the underwater treadmill, if you give them the opportunity to gradually get acquainted with the equipment.
Patients with heart or respiratory disease may have more difficulty exercising in water than on land. However, even in this case, it is possible to use a treadmill if proper control and a competent level of load are provided. Alternating short intervals of exercise and rest is most beneficial for these patients. The load does not lead to fatigue and careful monitoring allows you to stop the exercise before the onset of shortness of breath.
Service prices:
One-time lesson – $50
Subscription for 5 lessons – $180
Subscription for 10 lessons – $350
Subscription for 20 lessons – $550
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