Swim your dog back to full fitness
Fitness
Dog trainers use swimming therapy as a regular part of their animals' fitness regime
Swimming helps to improve general fitness and stamina, improves muscle tone and is helpful in recovering from injury or operation. Muscle wastage begins within 3 days of any immobilisation so to prevent further weakness or injury it is important to rebuild, through safe exercise, any muscles that have deteriorated. It is better to swim dogs in heated water since cold water causes constriction of the blood vessels near the skin and to the superficial muscles (those just under the skin) which restricts the flow of blood making the muscles less efficient
Under water, the chest is under pressure from the weight of the water squeezing inwards.
This means that every breath requires more effort - the muscles used, particularly
in breathing in, have to work harder (try breathing while someone sits on your chest).
As any muscle strengthens with exercise, this improves the whole respiratory system.The
heart has to work harder in order to meet the increased demand for nutrients by all
the muscles which are being worked, and to pump oxygen around the body.
If all this sounds like hard work - it is - that's the idea! For a dog, a 5 minute swim is equivalent to about a 5 mile run, but the natural buoyancy of the water and the fact that sudden twists, stops and falls are impossible makes hydrotherapy a safe and effective form of exercise