Underwater Treadmill For Dogs in Norwalk, CA

A common treatment used in canine rehabilitation for dogs with arthritis or recovering from surgery is the use of an underwater treadmill. The premise of the underwater treadmill is that the buoyancy of the water will decrease the effects of gravity and thus assist with gait training. The water height can be adjusted in relation to the patient the higher the water level, the less body weight the patient uses. However, although its use could be beneficial in a minority of cases, the reality is that underwater treadmill is vastly over-used in the field of canine rehabilitation and, most of the time, dogs recover much better from injury or surgery without using an underwater treadmill in their rehabilitation program.

Underwater Treadmill For Dogs

Here at AM PM Ideal Pet Care, we do not use the underwater treadmill as a form of treatment for several reasons as rehabilitation is much more than one modality of treatment, and underwater treadmill is just one small piece of the puzzle. Although useful with some patients, the underwater treadmill also has its pitfalls:

• Progressive Loading
• Abnormal Gait

This is not to say that the underwater treadmill doesn’t have its benefits and can’t be a part of a successful rehabilitation plan. The problem is that a rehab plan is not a one-size-fits-all approach, and the underwater treadmill is not a magic piece of equipment from which every patient will benefit. It can, and should be, used when appropriate for the patient. The reality, however, is that with the growth of the canine rehab field has come the overutilization of this modality of treatment. We hope that this information is helpful in understanding why our clinic does not use the underwater treadmill as a method of treatment. Now, let us tell you how we can help you and your pup!