Underwater treadmills for dogs are the most popular type of spa treatment. And, if you want to start preventive care for your pets, looking for ways to help them stay in shape, recover from injury, or treat arthritis, here are some things to know about underwater treadmills for dogs.
Getting old is painful
Our dogs experienced the same physical deterioration over time; their eyesight got a little worse, they wound up faster during ball retrieval, and their joints started to ache. This happens much faster for pets, which is why veterinarians often prescribe supplements like glucosamine chondroitin and various exercise routines.
Diet changes and supplements alone are not always enough, what a stiff pup really needs is a chance to stretch his legs without adding insult to injury. Here you can swim in the pool or big tub, and animal underwater treadmills come in as well.
The soothing water flow provides resistance that can be manually increased or decreased, and the fluidity allows your pup to move with less effort while his legs float in the water. The buoyancy also relieves the torso from the elbows, hips and ankles.
They are a great tool for sport dogs.
Sporting dogs that are competitive in agility, strength, and other dog sports require extensive physical therapy to maintain good health. You've probably seen NFL players, distance runners, and triathletes enjoy the feeling of sitting in ice buckets and freezing cold water after a game. It helps reduce inflammation and the absorption of lactic acid in the muscles; fundamentally, it prevents pain.
Since you obviously can't put your dog in an ice bath without much distress, an underwater treadmill is the next best thing. Sporting dogs that require daily work also need daily recovery after pulling tires, running races, or herding cattle.
Even with slow, easy-going water walking motions to stretch the hips and thighs, an underwater treadmill can help puppies struggling with hip dysplasia or similar health issues.
Alternative Spa
Although it is highly recommended and has made life easier for hundreds of dogs, a dog underwater treadmill may not be the right choice for every pet. Like anything else, this therapy device has its pros and cons, one of which is that a scary puppy might refuse to advance or not advance at all once the conveyor belt starts spinning under their feet.
