YOUR FIRST APPOINTMENT As we want your dog to have plenty of time to become accustomed to the new environment of our hydrotherapy centre, you will need to allow at least an hour for the initial assessment session. This will give us an opportunity to go through the Veterinary Referral Form in detail and have a good chat with you about what your vet has advised in relation to exercise levels and what is currently being achieved, along with any clinical signs you have witnessed. (eg levels and exercise time of lameness). We will also weigh your dog and take muscle measurements which will then give us specific measurements to work from. These measurements will be checked again after every nine or ten hydrotherapy sessions. PRE - HYDROTHERAPY HEALTH CHECK At every appointment we will carry out a Pre - Hydrotherapy Health Check, this will include: • Eyes – are clear, bright and free from infection • Ears – are clean, with no obvious signs of infection or build - up of wax • Coat – that co at condition is clean and clear of open wounds or infections • Movement – observation of general movement and range of movement • Owner’s View – the view of the owner on the dog’s condition / improvements since the previous hydrotherapy session SHOWERING We will shower your dog before every hydrotherapy session. This helps to warm up your dog’s muscles; it also removes any debris from the coat before going into the underwater treadmill, which helps to keep the equipment’s water quality looking good. We will a lso shower your dog after swimming to warm down the muscles and remove any Bromine from the coat. DRYING We will dry your dog using our warm air blaster as well as towels to make sure your dog leaves us as dry as possible. If your dog is not happy with being dried by a hair dryer, please do tell us. NUMBER OF APPOINTMENTS REQUIRED FOR TREATMENT PROGRAMMES This is almost impossible to know before we start working with your dog. We recommend that all dogs commence with at least 1 or 2 sessions per week for the first 3 – 4 weeks to ‘kick start’ muscle growth and recovery. We would then reduce the number of sessions for a further period of 4+ weeks; it all depends on the improvements and results achieved. The time between appointments can then be lengthened to fortnightly or one session every three weeks, etc depending on your dog’s requirements and your wishes. Where there is a major problem, such as spinal injuries or paralysis, then 10 appointments will not return a dog to his/her feet. A much higher number of appointments may be required over a longer period of time APPOINTMENT LENGTH After the initial assessment session, treatment sessions take up to 40 minutes. The maximum time your dog could be on the underwater treadmill is 15 - 18 minutes. Some dogs on their first and early hydrotherapy sessions may only be able to manage minimal activity based on their condition, age and fitness levels. This means that the rest periods between each walking session may be longer RECORDS AND FEEDBACK Every treatment session is recorded and a feedback report will be sent to your Veterinary Surgeon on a regular basis, to allow them to keep an eye on each dog’s progress. FEEDING Ensure your dog has not eaten within two hours before their session. This precaution reduces the risk of nausea or discomfort during physical activity in the water - It’s fine for your dog to drink fresh water leading up to their appointment. TOILETING Ensure your dog has been to the toilet before the session. Please arrive early to allow time for this step and help your dog feel comfortable before their appointment. KEEPING WARM AND COMFORTABLE In colder weather, it may be helpful to bring a towelling coat or fleece for your dog to wear after their session. This helps to keep their muscles warm after their session AFTER SESSION ADVICE Exercise Recommendations Avoid long walks or vigorous exercise for at least 24 hours post - session. Short, gentle walks for toileting purposes are fine and can help your dog stretch their muscles and prevent stiffness. Feeding Guidelines Wait at least 2 hours after the session before offering your dog food. Fresh water should always be available, but avoid allowing them to drink excessiv ely, as this may lead to discomfort Keeping Your Dog Comfortable Ensure your dog is kept warm and away from draughts. If you used a towelling coat or fleece post - session, keep it on until your dog is fully dry and warm. CONCERNS Should you need any advice or have any concerns, please contact Aqua Canine and/or your vet.