15/10/2026
Water confidence
When I first see a new client, I will often explain that hydrotherapy in the underwater treadmill is a very strange thing for dogs to get used to. Some dogs take to it like a fish in water and some need a little more time to get comfortable in the water🐟🌊
Rocco was not super keen on hydrotherapy to start with and has been working through slowly building up his confidence with confidence sessions. In these sssions, we have been getting him used to popping in and out of the treadmill with both doors open and lots of positive reinforcement when he does this independently. We then started filling the tank with water without him in it to get him used to the noise involved and offered treats/toys as rewards. After a few sessions, we started to close the doors for short bursts and open again and then started with very small amounts of water which allowed us to have the doors kept open. Rocco took to this well and we started to walk him on the belt and he quickly got used to this.
At his most recent sessions, we have had him in higher levels of water and walking towards his owner. The combination of hydrotherapy and vet physiotherapy with Leona at Serenity Veterinary Physiotherapy with an at home exercise prescription and a dedicated owner, Rocco has been coming on leaps and bounds. Conservatively managing a spinal episode can have a range of outcomes but having a multidisciplinary team approach really does allow for the best possible outcome📈💞
