Rehabilitation · Blog

Hydrotherapy, low load, high yield.

Picture your dog moving in a warm pool, supported by the water, taking strides that feel effortless. That's hydrotherapy — and for the right patient, it's one of the highest-yield interventions in canine rehab.

The four properties of water.

Hydrotherapy works because water does four things at once:

Buoyancy — supports up to 60% of your dog's body weight. A 70-pound Lab effectively walks at 28 pounds in the pool. The joint loads come down dramatically.

Resistance — water is denser than air, so every stride is a strength rep. Dogs build muscle without the impact of running.

Viscosity — the water's thickness creates a controlled environment for retraining gait. No sudden slips, no overextension.

Warmth — therapy pools run 85 to 92°F. Warm muscles stretch more, blood flow improves, and stiff joints loosen up.

Treadmill vs. pool.

Underwater treadmill: a controlled walking surface inside a glass tank. The water depth gets dialed up or down to change the load. Best for structured gait retraining, post-orthopedic recovery, and patients who don't love full swimming.

Pool hydrotherapy: open-water swimming, usually with a flotation vest and a handler. Better for cardiovascular conditioning, range-of-motion work, and dogs who actually enjoy swimming.

Most rehab programs that need real precision use the treadmill. Pool work is added for variety and cardio.

Who's a good candidate.

Hydrotherapy shines for: post-orthopedic surgery (TPLO, FHO, fracture repair), older dogs with arthritis, overweight dogs who need exercise without joint damage, neurological recovery cases, and athletic dogs in conditioning programs.

Not a great fit for: dogs with skin infections, ear infections, open wounds, or untreated cardiac conditions. Some dogs are simply afraid of water and can't be coaxed into it without significant stress — that defeats the point.

If you're not sure whether your dog is a candidate, ask. We can usually tell from the history and a brief exam.

Cost and cadence.

Individual hydrotherapy sessions run roughly $50–$100 in the LA area, depending on the facility and whether a rehab vet supervises.

Typical cadence: 2–3 sessions per week during the active rehab window (often weeks 3 to 8 post-orthopedic surgery). Maintenance programs for arthritis or chronic conditions usually run 1 session per week, then taper.

For our orthopedic surgical patients, post-op rehab is included in the flat-rate package — one in-clinic rehab session with Dr. Simon as part of every surgery, plus the option to add extended programs if a case needs it.