Dog hydrotherapy

[CormorantStrikesBack]

Took my 11yo dog to a chiropractor today for stiffness. They say it’s a hip aging issue and recommended we start hydrotherapy. Has anyone here taken their dog for hydrotherapy especially if it was due to general aging rather than a specific injury rehab? Guess I’ve come home and thought that this may be a long term (fortnightly) thing for ever! And it’s not cheap. Is it worth it for the benefit?

I have, for a long-term disc problem. Our first ten sessions were covered on insurance -- is that a possibility? It made a big difference to the dog's general fitness though I wouldn't say she was exactly keen.

I’m going to have to investigate the insurance, I’m just nervous that when it’s due for renewal in Nov the premiums will go through the roof.

Have you had to keep going?

Could you ask your insurer what the impact would be on renewal costs? My young dog has had hydrotherapy for his maltracking patella problem. It didn't actually change anything (to be fair, the therapist was very upfront about the likelihood of this - I just wanted to make sure I had tried everything).

For age-related stiffness I guess I would be quite sceptical about whether it would be worth the costs. I'm imagining that the benefits would cease if you didn't keep it up for ever. And Id also be afraid that ,even with increased renewal costs ,it might be made an excluded condition for the renewed policy, so that you would lose whatever gain you had made.

Is you dog's problem too severe to manage with supplements and perhaps painkillers?

I found the hydrotherapy a very positive experience, for what that's worth. Because my dog was quite young, it was a valuable extra piece of life experience for him, which was good for his confidence. The therapist was lovely and handled my dog with a lot of skill and empathy.

It’s not just the money, it’s the thought of it taking up an entire morning once a fortnight for the next possibly 4-5 years? But am I being heartless if it would help my dog. Or do I just need to accept that older dogs will get stiffer and a bit sore?

she’s walking three miles a day still, we’ve had to put a step by the sofa so she can get on and off. She manages in and out the garden fine and some steps in the garden.

i have her on Yumove and also about to start another omega 3 type supplement the chiropractor has recommended. Chiropractor doesn’t think she needs painkillers yet.

She does have lifetime cover insurance so we could get it covered at renewal but obviously would have to stick to that insurer.

I kept it going once every few weeks but then the dog died unexpectedly of something unrelated (and I had to comfort the hydrotherapist when I cancelled the next session).

Just looked at my policy and excess is £250 as well. Which is 5 sessions. Really don’t think it’s going to be worth claiming. Policy due for renewal mid Oct, she won’t even have had five sessions!

Oh I’m sorry.

That's a shame about the excess. Our policy had a fairly modest separate excess for 'complementary therapies' so it was easier to claim.

Why don't you ask your vet for their advice on what medicines may be effective? It's not really within a chiropractors remit, unless they are a vet ad well.

Yes, I’m going to make a vet appointment and chat to them as well. The hydrotherapy person won’t do anything anyway without vet permission

This was recommended by my vet for my then 12 year old OES. The cost was around £200 per session and my insurance didn't cover it.

We tried it once but he got so distressed that we didn't go back. He liked water; I think he didn't like being in the glass box. He didn't really like the vet visits either so was probably anxious before the procedure even started.

Gosh, £200 was steep! Mine was £60 per session. I was amazed at how well the staff managed the business of getting my rather wary terrier into the glass box. He definitely had one eyebrow raised about the whole thing, but their calmness (and treats) got him through.

The more I think about it, OP, the more it seems perhaps not the best thing to do for your aged dog. Age-related stiffness is so common, and hydrotherapy so rare that you would be going above and beyond normal expectations of care.

If you and your dog both enjoyed it (and you could afford it) it would be a brilliant thing to do. Just like an aging woman joining a gym and enjoying yoga/swimming/etc to maintain her flexibility and have fun. But it sounds like you yourself would find it too huge a time commitment, and it would more than likely be a bit unsettling for the dog, at least to begin with. In those circumstances it doesn't seem at all heartless to focus on all the other things you are already doing to help her

Ours was £35 a session, which made it much easier to decide that we could keep going if it seemed beneficial.

Yeah I think I’m going to keep up with a few more chiropractor appts, buy the expensive supplements as well as the Yumove, change her food on to the more expensive higher protein stuff and see how she gets on. It’s nearly annual vaccinations time so will discuss with the vet as well.

Perhaps discuss Librella with your vet.
A vet friend of mine suggested it for our Goldies back legs and our vet agreed.
Its £100 per month and the Insurance pays (although our premiums are over this). Its not a miracle cure but Ddog is definitely happier on it