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Hydrotherapy

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Aims of Hydrotherapy
Prankel S. (2008) Hydrotherapy in practice, In Practice, 30, 272-277
• Enhance preoperative fitness and conditioning (e.g., before a hip replacement)
• Complete resolution of clinical signs (e.g., after cruciate surgery)
• Postoperative restoration of some function (e.g., in cases of intervertebral disc disease)
• Palliative (including analgesia)
• Increase cardiovascular fitness
• Adjunct to obesity management
• “Fun” form of exercise

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Underwater Treadmill - Buoyancy
•Water depth adjustment ranges
• Greater Trochanter
• Distal femur
• Proximal hock
• Distal metatarsals

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Contraindications to hydrotherapy/aquatic therapy
• Unhealed surgical incisions
• Skin irritation or infection
• Emesis
• Diarrhea
• Untreated cardiac, liver, or kidney disease
• Incontinence
• Uncontrolled epilepsy
• If the dog has an external fixator, as there is a risk of
infection associated with open wounds
• Laryngeal paralysis (no swimming, but underwater treadmill if closely monitored and head remains out of the water)

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Obese Patients Need to go SLOW!

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Thank you VetScope