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Hydrotherapy is giving vets another way to support dogs recovering from surgery, managing chronic pain, or struggling with weight-related mobility issues. By Shane Conroy
Meet Mooch, a nine-year-old Staffy with a big personality and a bigger place in Lynette Campbell’s heart. Lynette has owned Mooch since she was a puppy, and says bringing her home was one of the best decisions she has made.
“She’s an amazing dog,” says Campbell. “She’s gorgeous, and very, very smart.”
Over time, though, Campbell began to notice changes. Mooch was gaining weight, slowing down and panting more than usual, even when she was lying still. At first, Campbell wondered if the panting was due to the heat, but it soon became clear that Mooch was struggling.
Mooch had already undergone two knee operations, and the extra weight was making everyday movement harder. Her stiffness increased, her activity dropped, and even standing for short periods became difficult.
“She could hardly stand,” says Campbell. “She would stand for 10 minutes and then lie back down again.”
When Campbell took Mooch to Sydney Animal Hospitals’ Baulkham Hills clinic for a lump check, Mooch’s weight and mobility became part of the discussion with Dr Rebecca Cassilles, veterinary superintendent at Sydney Animal Hospitals.
Dr Cassilles was direct. Mooch needed to lose weight, and she recommended a combination of dietary change and hydrotherapy.
“Hydrotherapy usually sits within a broader rehabilitation program, but it is one of the key tools our physios rely on,” says Dr Cassilles.
Hydro healing
At Sydney Animal Hospitals’ Baulkham Hills physiotherapy centre, that hydrotherapy is delivered via an underwater treadmill. The equipment allows the team to control water level, speed, resistance, and movement pattern while the dog walks in warm water.
The underwater treadmill is typically used for post-operative orthopaedic patients, dogs with arthritis or degenerative joint disease, spinal patients, neurological patients and dogs in weight management programs. It is also used by some local agility dogs for muscle building, recovery, and injury prevention.
Dr Cassilles describes the treadmill as a large glass tank, a little over two metres long, with a rotating belt on the bottom. The dog enters while the tank is dry, then heated water is pumped in from below until it reaches the level needed for that patient.
“We can vary the water level quite well to accommodate different types of problems,” explains Dr Cassilles. “For example, we can float them a little bit more if we need to get some muscle recruitment without any impact.”
The treadmill can also be set on an incline to encourage different muscle groups to work harder, and the water provides gentle compression around joints while the dog moves.
We can vary the water level quite well to accommodate different types of problems. For example, we can float them a little bit more if we need to get some muscle recruitment without any impact.
Dr Rebecca Cassilles, veterinary superintendent, Sydney Animal Hospitals
The glass tank also gives the physiotherapy team a clear view of how the dog is moving. That matters in routine rehabilitation, but it becomes especially useful when the team needs to assess gait, foot placement, or neurological changes.
“Because the tank is glass, we can get a really good understanding of their gait profiles from multiple angles,” says Dr Cassilles. “Foot placement is particularly important for our neurological cases.”
Mooch rides again
For Mooch, weekly hydrotherapy sessions gave her a way back into movement. Campbell also changed her diet, but the underwater treadmill gave Mooch a controlled way to exercise when ordinary walking had become difficult.
“Oh my God, she lost nine kilos,” says Campbell. “She’s so much happier. She’s active. She wants to go for a walk.”
For Dr Cassilles, that early weight loss can make the next stage of rehabilitation easier. Once a dog is carrying less weight, walking at home and doing prescribed exercises can become more manageable, especially when joint pain has made movement difficult.
“Once they’re a little bit lighter, it’s amazing how much less pain they have in their joints,” Dr Cassilles explains. “Taking them for a walk or doing physio exercises at home becomes so much easier to do.”
Mooch’s attitude to the hydrotherapy sessions has changed as well. At first, Campbell says Mooch would drag behind her when they arrived for appointments. Now, Mooch is keen to get inside and see the team.
“I drag behind her now,” says Campbell. “She loves it.”
Building expertise and evidence
Sydney Animal Hospitals accepts hydrotherapy and physiotherapy referrals from other veterinary clinics. Some post-operative patients can be referred directly into standard rehabilitation protocols, while more complex cases may involve a discussion between the Sydney Animal Hospitals team, the referring vet, and the owner.
For referring vets, that creates another pathway for patients who need structured rehabilitation, while allowing the original practice to remain closely involved in ongoing care.
“Our aim with referrals is to support the patient while preserving the existing veterinary relationship,” says Dr Cassilles. “We try to keep as much ongoing care with the initial clinician as possible. They’re the ones with that relationship with the client.”
As hydrotherapy treatments become more common in veterinary practice, Dr Cassilles says the next step is to build the expertise and evidence around it. The technology is already useful, but the field still needs more trained veterinary physiotherapists and better data on patient outcomes.
“Anecdotal evidence isn’t enough,” adds Dr Cassilles. “We need those datasets.”
But, for Mooch, the outcome is clear. A dog who once struggled to stand is now walking for longer, moving with less stiffness, and arriving enthusiastically for her hydrotherapy sessions. Her progress shows what hydrotherapy can do when pain, weight, or weakness make normal exercise too difficult. For vets, it may offer a practical way to help selected patients regain comfort, mobility, and quality of life.
