Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Canine hydrotherapy in the UK - what you need to know
By Waining, M et al.·Published in The Veterinary record·2011·School of Veterinary Science, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Evaluation of the status of canine hydrotherapy in the UK.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A survey of hydrotherapy centers in the UK found that this treatment is becoming increasingly popular for dogs, especially pedigree breeds like Labrador Retrievers. Many dogs receiving hydrotherapy were referred by veterinarians for issues like torn knee ligaments, hip dysplasia, and arthritis. While the level of staff qualifications varied, all treatments were done under veterinary guidance, indicating a professional approach to canine hydrotherapy. This suggests that hydrotherapy could be a beneficial option for dogs recovering from certain injuries or conditions.
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Abstract
To establish the current status of canine hydrotherapy in the UK and to ascertain information regarding the current use of hydrotherapy, a questionnaire was sent to 152 hydrotherapy centres throughout the UK, from which 89 responded. Hydrotherapy was found to be a rapidly growing business. Stand-alone centres were in existence; however, many centres were connected to other businesses, including boarding kennels and general practice veterinary surgeries. The dogs using the facility were mainly pedigree breeds, particularly labrador retrievers (30 per cent), and the most commonly encountered conditions were rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament (25 per cent), hip dysplasia (24 per cent) and osteoarthritis (18 per cent). The proportion of qualified versus unqualified staff varied between centres, highlighting a need for improved regulation of this aspect of the industry. However, all the dogs treated by the hydrotherapy centres surveyed were direct veterinary referrals, suggesting a good degree of professionalism in the field and a high regard for the benefits of hydrotherapy.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21493454/