STRENGTH

      MUSCULAR ENDURANCE

      CARDIORESPIRATORY ENDURANCE

       RANGE OF MOTION
AGILITY
PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING

AND ALSO MINIMISES PAIN

Pre-operatively – It reduces muscle atrophy, helps with weight loss, and improves cardiovascular fitness, improving blood flow to the surgical site all resulting in a faster and more efficient recovery

Post-operatively – It improves limb use, muscle mass, range of motion, proprioception and weight bearing.

   WHAT TO EXPECT FROM A SESSION:

All swimmers are welcomed and given a warm shower before being fitted with a collar and life jacket or harness. Most dogs take to the entry ramps easily but some take a little longer to get used to them. Initial swims are short to start but we aim to  increase each session upto a maximum of 25 minutes. After the swim your dog will be given a warm shower, some stretches and a massage. If your dog is comfortable with vacuum noises or hair dryers we have a blaster, (which most dogs enjoy) to remove most of the water from your dogs coat before going home. Touch wood we have never had any kind of skin problem as a result of the chlorine in the water, and it is the safest and best sanitiser available. If anything comments have been made about how shiny and soft our swimmer coats become after regular sessions. Some of our swimmers find that doggy dressing gowns or coats are useful for the journey home, especially in the winter months when it can be a bit chilly. Hopefully your dog will leave with a waggy tail and be keen to come back and play with us again soon.

As we are a Referral centre it is essential that we have a letter from your Veterinary Surgeon or one of our forms completed before any sessions. This helps to inform us of any specific health problems and ensures we are aware of current medications. It is just a simple form and Vets are quite happy to complete these for you.