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

Our aquatic treadmill features full glass panelling for excellent visibility and fills from the base, making it ideal for dogs who are unsure about water, as their feet remain securely on the floor. This design allows the Hydrotherapist to closely observe movement patterns and precisely monitor each stage of rehabilitation.

We work hands‑on with all dogs inside the treadmill until their gait is fully corrected and they no longer require our support to improve range of motion. This ensures every patient receives the guidance, stability, and therapeutic input needed for safe, effective progress. The only exception is dogs with compromising conditions—such as epilepsy—where, for safety, we always remain inside the treadmill throughout their sessions.

Water levels and treadmill speed are fully adjustable, allowing us to gradually transition dogs from water‑based to land‑based exercise, increase controlled loading on affected joints, and replicate a natural gait. For very small, nervous, or neurologically compromised dogs, our in‑treadmill approach also supports neural re‑education, proprioceptive training, gait retraining, and improvements in dynamic balance, helping us achieve the best possible rehabilitation outcomes.

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

Our hydrotherapy pool is designed to provide a safe, controlled, and highly effective therapeutic environment for dogs of all ages and abilities. The pool features rest platforms that allow dogs to pause between swim intervals while still benefiting from the supportive properties of the water. These platforms also provide a stable, comfortable surface for in‑water massage and therapeutic techniques carried out by a Veterinary Physiotherapist.

A qualified hydrotherapist is always in the pool with your dog. This hands‑on approach ensures correct technique, safe handling, and continuous monitoring throughout every session. For safety, insurance, and clinical governance reasons, owners are not permitted in the water. Hydrotherapy requires specialist training, controlled positioning, and the ability to respond instantly to changes in a dog’s movement, confidence, or medical status—responsibilities that must remain with trained professionals.

Motivation is provided using safe, floating toys, used strictly as controlled therapeutic tools. Dogs are never allowed to take toys from the waterline, as inhaling water during excitement or retrieval attempts can increase the risk of secondary drowning. All play and motivation are therefore carefully managed by the hydrotherapist within the pool.

We can introduce adjustable jets to increase resistance, helping to build endurance, cardiovascular fitness, and muscle strength. The pool provides a non‑weight‑bearing, low‑impact environment that allows dogs to achieve maximum active range of motion, target all major muscle groups, and develop core strength, trunk stability, improved flexion, and overall cardiovascular health.

Importantly, effective hydrotherapy does not require a large pool. Therapeutic swimming is not about distance or speed—it is about controlled movement, correct technique, targeted muscle engagement, and safe handling. A well‑designed, purpose‑built hydrotherapy pool allows the therapist to maintain optimal control, ensure correct biomechanics, and deliver precise therapeutic input. Smaller pools also reduce fatigue risk, improve safety, and allow for more focused, high‑quality rehabilitation work.

The pool also provides a safe and enjoyable environment for dogs who love swimming, as well as puppies who need to build confidence in the water. Because puppies’ growth plates are still developing, hydrotherapy offers a joint‑protective way to build muscle, improve coordination, and safely burn energy during their high‑activity developmental stage.

Your dog’s safety, confidence, and therapeutic progress are our highest priorities. Our in‑pool, hands‑on approach ensures every session is controlled, effective, and tailored to their individual needs.

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