Pig tries her hoof at doggie-paddle (Canine Hydrotherapy)

Member Name: rolletrog

Product:	Canine Hydrotherapy
Date:	15/04/09 (213 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Oh so many

Disadvantages: The price

~~*~~*~~ Pigs can swim too ~~*~~*~~

In a bid to eliminate the belly pork from Pig (chocolate lab (who's either big boned or suffers from a glandular problem but most definitely not fat (we're both somewhat in denial about our collective weight))), I've instigated the toughest fitness programme known to man and pigs. As well as normal walkies, she has obedience, agility, treadmill and now, swimming lessons. My father thinks I'm insane - why on earth do I need to pay for my dog's exercise when I could merely go to the canal? Well, papa, I intend to explain all...

~~* Why would a dog need to swim? *~~

There are many reasons, for example; recovery after surgery or an accident to build the muscles back up, to lose weight and or to increase fitness. It reduces the stress on individual joints (such as running on the treadmill would do) but the pressure of the water on the body means more effort is exerted when swimming as opposed to running. The water supports the Pig's lard ass and so her delicate little joints aren't overworked - there are many labs on the books at Pig's pool who suffer from hip dysplasia (a painful condition affecting the hips where land-based exercise can be detrimental) and before they started swimming, they walked like old biddies - within a few weeks they're walking fairly normally. Pig has very good hips and elbows but she still has a large frame so there's a lot of weight bearing down on her hooves - if I were to only run Pig as part of her fitness-regime, she would no doubt be rather stiff especially because each minute she spends swimming is supposedly one mile of running (dunno if that's true but she's already up to 15 minutes of solid swimming (though there are 2 afghans on 30 minutes non-stop which seems a lot if the rumour's correct)). As with the amount of time, the number of sessions a week varies: there's no point in having a session once a fortnight if your piglet is recovering from surgery. Pig swims twice a week to keep her lovely and trim and also to keep her muscles in tip top condition for agility but if you're in any doubt just ask your therapist.

~~* What's wrong with the sea? *~~

Well, nothing really. Whereas the sea and the canal contain untold diseases and nastiness, the hydrotherapy pool is lovely. It's clean and warm too so there's no dragging half the beach back home with her. In addition, once the pig is in the pool, she is exercised for about 30 mins, swimming for the majority of it - there's no way I could keep her swimming in the sea or canal without her getting out half the time. There's also the fact that there's a ramp in and out the pool so she doesn't have to jump into untold waters and possibly impale herself on some stick which could occur in the canal or get her hooves stuck in the quicksand at Morecambe. In addition, because the pool is heated, it's better than cold water which constricts blood vessels and consequently makes the muscles less efficient. The warm water is also better for reducing tissue swelling as it's a natural anti-inflammatory - great news if the Pig ever injures herself due to the extreme sports she undertakes.

~~* How safe is this swimming malarkey? *~~

If your dog can't swim then it may be a wee bit dangerous but saying that it's not as if your poor pooch is thrown in (well Pig was: she was fannying around, dipping her hoof in and out so I gave her a little push and hey-ho, she's never looked back). Hydro pools offer different ways for your little piglet to enter the pool - the one we go to has a ramp up to a flat resting area just hovering over the water; then there's a lovely gentle ramp into the pool. Some offer cranes/lifts to help the larger breeds get in and out but I have a small suspicion the pig would spack out if she was strapped into one of those. There's also the submerged pools whereby the pool is like a human swimming pool dug into the floor so there's no need to go up before getting in.
Now, when I say I gave Pig a push, she wasn't leaping into the abyss - Cara (the very qualified hydrotherapist and animal first aider) was in there to escort Pig on her laps. Pig is kept on a lead (some places use poles or pulleys though) and she must do the right number of laps before she's allowed a rest - Cara judges whether she's flagging legitimately or whether she's merely feigning a stitch as we all used to do on those god-awful cross country runs of our childhood nightmares. Because the water puts pressure on the chest wall, a dog's lungs have to work harder than usual so I trust Cara's judgement as she knows Pig's swimming capabilities better than I do - she keeps strict records and built her up slowly so she knows the speed and number of laps the Pig can manage and will only push her if she knows Pig can do it. Equally, because of the extra effort required in swimming, the heart has to work harder too - it improves cardio workout but any problem your dog may have had with its heart should definitely be brought to the attention of the therapist. When Pig joined the swimming club, she had to get a form signed by the vet to prove she was fit enough to start swimming (this may sound bizarre as the point in it is to rehabilitate and improve fitness but there was an 11st choc lab (you'll note that it's usually labs that have a problem with saying no to the pork-pies) that would have been too exhausted to do one lap and was forced to walk the treadmill of shame before it was allowed near the pool but once it started swimming, the weight fell off a lot quicker).
If Pig hadn't have been able to swim, there's plenty of buoyancy aids available so don't just dismiss the idea of hydrotherapy - all your dog may require is some water wings. Oh and if you're worried about your little piglet getting the water in her ears; Pig wears a snood which keeps the water out and stops her from shaking her head and distracting her from the task at hand (also it makes her look ridiculously stupid and amuses me no end).
You should also make sure that there's enough depth for your Great-Dane to be able to swim instead of walking along the floor - don't expect Olympic sized pools or you'll be sorely disappointed. Don't be afraid to ask questions such as whether there's underwater jets to increase the resistance or indeed underwater treadmills which control the speed of the dog's movements (we've no such excitement at ours but still the Pig loves it).
Finally, Pig's pool is immaculate - there's never any hairs in it and all the chemical records are kept on the wall for everyone to see as it's cleaned properly once a week.
Thus, on a safety note conclusion - check the pool for qualified attendants, easy access, good record keeping and cleanliness.

~~* To begin doggie-paddling... *~~

To find your nearest canine hydrotherapist (I don't recommend turning up at your local lido with some arm-bands and doggy speedos as this may be frowned upon) check out the CHA website - http://www.canine-hydrotherapy.org/php/members.php and this'll tell you your nearest accredited swimmer. Or ask at your vets as they'll probably know. Pools are popping up all over the place as more and more kennels/breeders/etc acknowledge the benefits and profits to be had from having one - although this means that there may be one on your doorstep, check it out first. If you're after claiming on the pooch's insurance, then check first that your hydrotherapist is registered as your insurer may only pay out with certain pools - I know that Petplan pays out for the one Pig goes to but apparently Direct Line said no to some poor old lady (thought you'd like to know that).
Prices vary as with most things: ours charges £15 for a weekday swim and £20 for the weekend - it's for a half-hour but if you bring two dogs the second is free. Or you can book a pool-party for £20 where any number of dogs are allowed in but there's only supervision and basically it's a free-for-all as all kinds of toys are thrown in - it may be chaos but the dogs have a whale of a time.

~~* Take a towel *~~

Water is wet. Pig gets towelled down afterwards because she's determined to eat the dryer whenever Cara's tried it on her but she still stays soggy for at least an hour after. If you're house-proud unlike me, I suggest a towel for the car too as the dogs are never fully dry when they leave even if they have been under the dryer. If your dog needs motivation to exercise then take their favourite toy too - Pig's not fussy so she just helps herself to a toy from the bucket at the door - spoilt cow. Some places allow you to swim with your dog - god knows why you'd want to but each to their own - so you may want to take a change of clothes (just a suggestion). I would definitely take a camera too just for comedy value.

I highly recommend swimming lessons or 'canine hydrotherapy' as the professionals call it - Pig is absolutely knackered after her lessons and we have a lovely quiet afternoon (if you ignore the snoring). She seems more supple and bouncy and she was very bouncy before hand. I've seen such improvements from other dogs that go that it's definitely something that shouldn't be dismissed as a new fad (father). In addition, the pig's coat is gorgeous - I know they use safe levels of chlorine in the pool but something else makes her feel all silky and smell less doggylike (maybe it's the Pantene). She's completely safe and I know she loves it because I just have to say 'swimming' when we get there and she pegs it towards the building at the back (it's the same place we have agility but she knows the different buildings - what a clever pig). In conclusion - what are you waiting for?

~~* Random information that most normal people will find extremely dull *~~

Muscle wastage occurs just 3 days after immobilisation.
Swimming uses 30% more oxygen than land-based exercise.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXfqZ9kdxJk - randomly there's another Labrador in the world called Pig who has swimming lessons - who'd have thought it?


Thanks for reading.
Review will most definitely appear elsewhere.

Caroline & Pig
April 2009

Both training to swim the channel.

Summary: She's worth it.