Underwater Treadmill & Hydrotherapy for Pets
Try hydrotherapy and get the benefits of an intense treadmill workout with the weightlessness and resistance an underwater treadmill provides.
→ Did you know?
Hydrotherapy and underwater treadmills are a great tool for animal rehabilitation
These specialized treadmills are submerged in water and create a controlled environment that helps your pet get the workout they need without the weight and pressure on their joints.
By leveraging the unique properties of water, these treadmills provide a low-impact, high-benefit form of exercise that can significantly speed up the healing process or improve mobility for pets rehabilitating from an injury or those managing chronic conditions.
Benefits of Underwater Treadmills
There are many benefits from your dog or animal doing a workout on an underwater treadmill.
Reduced Weight Bearing
The buoyancy of water reduces the weight-bearing load on your animal’s joints, allowing them to exercise with less pain and stress while achieving greater range of motion to improve their overall mobility.
Strength Building
Water provides natural resistance that is evenly distributed ensures that both the front and rear muscles are equally engaged, promoting balanced muscle development and building strength.
Controlled Environment
The water pressure enhances circulation to reduce swelling while the massaging effect alleviates pain and discomfort, plus the temperature provides therapeutic warmth to relax muscles and improve flexibility.
Emotional Wellbeing
The gentle, rhythmic motion of walking in water can be calming for animals, reducing stress and anxiety plus helps builds confidence by supporting them and reducing pain throughout the rehabilitation process.
→ What you should expect
Your Pet’s first visit
When you schedule your first visit at Strides, you will spend that appointment reviewing your pet’s medical history, what brings you to our facility including goals and concerns, plus a physical examination to understand where your animal is at currently.
After we complete the exam and go over all the information, we will present you with a treatment plan recommendation and schedule out your future visits. Moving forward your visits will last 15-60 minutes depending on what we are covering that day.
Conditions & Uses of Underwater Treadmills
There are many reasons to consider hydrotherapy for your dog or pet which are not limited to recovery from surgery or injury or help managing a chronic condition.
Post-Surgery
Underwater treadmills are often used to help animals recover from surgeries, such as cruciate ligament repairs or hip replacements and help maintain muscle mass and strength during the recovery period.
Chronic Conditions
Animals with arthritis benefit from the reduced joint stress and improved mobility, Intervertebral disc disease, or degenerative myelopathy can be managed more effectively with the support of water therapy.
Weight Management
Overweight pets can exercise more comfortably and reduce the risk of injury associated with land-based activities while the resistance increases the workout intensity, increasing the number of calories burned.
Performance
Working dogs that practice agility, herding, or hunting can benefit from the strength and endurance training while regular use helps prevent injuries by maintaining optimal muscle condition and joint health.
Meet the Strides team
Our team is committed to your dog or pet’s rehabilitation and overall health. We just completed a full remodel of our rehabilitation facility and have an in-house certified canine rehabilitation practitioner ready to work through your pet’s entire treatment and a veterinarian trained in traditional Chinese veterinary medicine.
We are one of the only animal rehabilitation centers located in greater Milwaukee, Racine and Kenosha County and are dedicated to improving your animal’s quality of life.
Explore Other Services
We have many services that can complement hydrotherapy, view some of our other therapies available.
Rehabilitation
Restore your pet’s mobility, comfort, and quality of life through customized, expert-guided pet rehab care.
Shockwave
Ease your pet’s pain and discomfort with high-energy sound waves that stimulate deep healing and reduce chronic pain in pets.
Exercise Programs
Improve your pet’s quality of life with a customized exercise program built exclusively for their needs and your goals.
PEMF
Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy offers non-invasive cellular stimulation to reduce inflammation and promote faster healing.