Canis Aquatic

03/09/2026

September is Pain Awareness Month

Pain isn’t always obvious in our dogs. They can’t tell us where it hurts, and some of the signs can be incredibly subtle.

Throughout September, I’ll be sharing facts about pain (a subject I’m am hugely passionate about!), what it is, how it can present, the signs we might overlook, and how we can advocate for our dogs when something doesn’t seem quite right.

What actually is pain?

Pain isn’t just one thing, and understanding the different ways dogs can experience it can help us recognise it.

Acute pain
Short-term pain, the immediate ‘ouch’ feeling that usually has an identifiable cause, such as an injury, surgery or inflammation. It acts as the body’s warning system and normally improves as healing takes place.

Nociceptive pain
Pain caused when pain receptors detect actual or potential tissue damage from an injury, inflammation or arthritis. It’s essentially the nervous system saying, “something isn’t right here”.

Chronic pain
Pain that persists beyond the expected healing period, typically for 3 months or longer. Over time, the nervous system itself can change and become more sensitive to pain signals. Chronic pain can have a significant effect on a dog’s movement, behaviour, sleep and overall quality of life. Canine arthritis is a great example of chronic pain.

Allodynia
Allodynia is when something that wouldn’t normally be painful becomes painful for a dog: gentle touch, stroking, brushing or light pressure.

With persistent pain left untreated or not addressed correctly, the nervous system can become sensitised. The pathways that carry and process pain signals become more responsive, effectively turning up the “volume” on incoming information.

This means signals that would normally be interpreted as harmless touch can begin to activate pain pathways and be experienced as painful.

This is one reason why chronic pain can become much more complex than simply “this joint or tissue hurts.” The way the nervous system processes sensory information can change too!

01/09/2026

⭐️Technique Tuesday⭐️

Hydrotherapy isn’t just swimming, although sometimes, it can look that way!

There’s actually a lot of thought and technique behind how we use the water to target different movements and muscle groups.

First up in my Technique Tuesday series is the Figure of 8, expertly demonstrated by Cooper!

Swimming in a controlled figure-of-eight pattern encourages:

🐾 Exaggerated forelimb extension and abduction
🐾 Exaggerated Hindlimb extension and abduction
🐾 Movement through the trunk
🐾 Abdominal strengthening
🐾 Coordination and body awareness

The turns and changes of direction encourage Cooper to move his body in ways that straight-line swimming doesn’t, making this a fantastic technique for targeted muscular strengthening.

It might look simple, but the Figure of 8 is actually an advanced and physically challenging exercise, particularly for dogs with restricted movement. That’s why it needs to be introduced appropriately and tailored to the individual dog.

25/08/2026

A little round up of the last week 😄

Lots of fears overcome, first time swims, some fantastic rehab progress and lots of laughs!

23/08/2026

21/08/2026

It takes a team!

Skye and Astin might both be sporting dogs, but a multimodal approach to health and wellbeing can benefit our everyday dogs too.

Alongside their veterinary care, Skye and Astin regularly see me at Canis Aquatic for hydrotherapy, Ali - Wessex Clinical Canine Massage for massage and Back2It Chiropractic for chiropractic check-ins.

Different therapies can support the body in different ways, whether that’s helping with strength and mobility, supporting recovery, managing the everyday aches and changes that come with ageing, or simply helping our dogs stay comfortable and feeling their best.

This approach isn’t just for canine athletes. Our pet dogs can benefit from having a team around them too with veterinary care at the centre, with complementary therapies working alongside it.

Sometimes the best approach isn’t just one treatment, it’s finding the right combination the individual dog. ☺️

06/08/2026

Skye and Astin came for their last swim before heading off to the flyball champs this week.
Astin recently gained his 1000 points too!

Wishing Avril, Skye, Astin and all the best for champs!

22/07/2026

Definitely worth a read!

The length of a dog’s nails can really affect gait and posture.

This post from Canine Massage Therapy Centre has an excellent diagram of the stresses that long nails put on the rest of body.

28/06/2026

New service coming soon!

Some of you may know I’m a bit “woo-woo”, and over the last 6 months I’ve been really leaning into my spiritual side and working with energy.

In November I gained my 1st Degree Usui Reiki certificate, and this weekend I’ve now completed my Usui Reiki 2nd Degree training.

I am now fully qualified and insured to work professionally as a Reiki practitioner. I’ll primarily be working with our four-legged friends, but I’m also available for humans too.

Before I begin offering this as a regular service, I have 4 spaces available for case study sessions. I’m particularly looking to work with dogs who may be experiencing pain-related issues such as osteoarthritis, or who have behavioural challenges or anxiety.

These will be mobile sessions, so I will come to you and work with your dog in the environment where they feel most comfortable.

These case study sessions will be completely free of charge.

If you feel your dog (or you) might benefit from this, please feel free to message me for more details or to chat about whether it could be a good fit.

26/06/2026

** NEW Frozen raw natural treats in stock!**
(Chief product tester Olly approves)

Treat your dogs to something natural and nutritious with our range of frozen raw treats, available fresh or frozen, ready to feed!

🦴 Beef ribs– perfect for chewing, enrichment, and supporting dental health
🦴 Beef trachea– a natural source of glucosamine and chondroitin, helping to support healthy joints and mobility
🦴 Marrow bones– packed with flavour and great for satisfying natural chewing instincts
🐟Sprats– rich in omega-3, supporting healthy joints, skin, and a shiny coat
🦆 Duck necks– packed with soft bone, cartilage, and connective tissue, making a delicious crunchy treat. Naturally rich in omega-3, selenium, and vitamin B3

These raw treats are a fantastic way to keep your dog occupied, provide mental stimulation, and support their health, all with no artificial colours, preservatives, additives, cereals, or fillers.

22/06/2026

A personal note..
I don't usually bring my personal life into my work, but I think it’s important that I should give you the heads up as the warm weather is making things a bit interesting 🙃.

I have Type 1 diabetes and the hot weather has a significant impact on my blood glucose levels.

During warmer temperatures, I can be more prone to experiencing hypos (low blood sugar).
The good news is that I am very aware of the signs when my blood sugar is dropping, my CGM will alarm and I always keep glucose shots on the edge of the pool so I can treat it quickly and safely.

Some common symptoms of a hypo can include:
Feeling shaky or weak
Dizziness or light-headedness
Sweating more than usual
Difficulty concentrating
Feeling suddenly tired
Slurred speech

If I do have a hypo at work - once treated, I may need a little time to recover before continuing as normal - usually about 15mins before most symptoms subside.

The safety and wellbeing of your dogs is always my top priority, and I would never carry out hydrotherapy if I didn't feel safe and able to give them my full attention.

Just throwing it out there, incase I go a bit wonky!