FAQs Archives - Warm Water Therapy & Training for Dogs

The Emotional Benefits of Canine Hydrotherapy

The whole body approach to healing and the importance of the emotions are finally getting recognition in the world of medicine and science. John Hopkins recently released a list of thing to do that would help keep cancer from taking hold in the body and this list included trying to live a stress-free life. There are numerous books and studies out now on how our emotions can help create dis-ease in our bodies. The healing potential of immersion in water …

Canine Hydrotherapy: Health Benefits of Swimming for Dogs

View Article as PDF When someone recently asked me to write this article on the health benefits of canine hydrotherapy, my mind tried to embrace what that article would actually say…. as water therapy is so much deeper than what people usually think. To me, it was as if someone had just asked me to write about the size of outer space… i.e. vast… endless… almost too big for words…. But I’ll give it a try – – – The …

The Spiritual Benefits of Canine Hydrotherapy

I guess I call this part the bigger picture of the work, the part we can not define, the gifts inherent in the process. When a paralyzed dog now comes to me in spa, I realize that ‘healing’ might mean that this dog will walk again – or it might mean that their person learn how to embrace and take care of the disability or dying process. There are many gifts in being able to take care of our dogs …

Can I get in the water with my dog?

Question: Can I get in the water with my dog? Answer: Absolutely !!! However, on our first session – you will be better support for your dog by being at pool side. Cindy does most of her first session at the steps, talking with you and getting to know your dog and your dog getting to know and trust her and the pool… there is a lot going on with that first session and we like to keep things safe …

My Dog does not know HOW to swim. Is water therapy really the right thing?

Question: My Dog does not know HOW to swim. Is water therapy really the right thing for him? Answer: First of all, it’s really important to understand that swimming is only a portion of the benefit of warm water therapy. With some dogs, swimming isn’t even a part of the program at all. We always begin with bodywork and ROM work at the steps of the pool and slowly get deeper in the water as your dog’s trust and comfort …

Do you use Life Jackets?

Question: Do you use Life Jackets at La Paw Spa? Answer: If you are coming to Cindy for a therapy session, she will be in the water for the entire session with your pup. She will choose not to use a life jacket in a session so that she can see the full range of motion used in the water and to be able to do bodywork accordingly. Cindy will support as needed so that your dog will never feel …

Do you use hoists?

Question: Do you use hoists? How will you get my dog into the water? Answer: This is where I could get on a soap box and stand on street corners… I would never use a hoist… there has never been a dog that we haven’t been able to safely get into the water. I have learned that we need to protect the dogs emotions – especially in that first session as it sets the stage for how therapy will progress. …

Do you wear a wetsuit or some kind of full body armour?

Question: Do you wear a wet suit or some kind of full body armour when you work with dogs in water? Don’t you get scratched up doing this work? Answer: This is another one of those soapbox questions! This question always makes me smile… I actually wear as little as I can getaway with in the water when I work – – – and as I tell my students – if you get a scratch, it’s because you weren’t listening! …

Link to La Paw Spa

Thanks for your interest in linking to our website! To make it easy, you can simply copy/paste the HTML here into your own web page: Naturally, you can use the text as-is, or you can change the link text to suit your context. You’re also welcome to use this image: Simply right click on the image and “Save As” to save a copy you can then upload to and use on your own site. Thank you! Link Exchanges Link exchanges …

What is Canine Water Therapy?

The term “canine water therapy” can mean a lot of things… it can range all the way from an hour of tennis balls and power swimming to an hour of massage in the warm supporting waters at the stairs of the pool. Usually it falls somewhere in the middle with a combination of movement in water and some kind of bodywork during the resting periods. What determines the session depends on many components – the expertise and intentions of the …