Waves Canine Hydrotherapy - Kent

28/11/2025

Wilson has been taking part in regular hydrotherapy sessions to help support his rapid growth, which is particularly important for a giant breed.

Incorporating physiotherapy ensures he stays in excellent condition and allows us to monitor any potential concerns as he develops.

He is such a handsome boy! 🐶

💕🐾 Meet Wilson…this gentle giant came to see me yesterday for his initial assessment as his owner is concerned about his movement sometimes and stiffness on rising from rest. These giant breeds reach maturity later than smaller dogs and it can be up to up to 3yrs of age when they reach full muscle mass. They are also predisposed to joint issues due to their size too. Wilson’s owner is very diligent and has been taking him to hydrotherapy to help support his strength and stability as he grows. Watch this space to see how he gets on..such a gorgeous boy ❤️🐾

15/09/2025

Did you know? 🐾

Hydrotherapy is very beneficial for dogs with arthritis! The warm water supports their joints, reduces pain, and aids mobility. The water’s hydrostatic pressure increases circulation and decreases inflammation making it a gentle, low-impact way to keep them active and happy!

Myth: “Rest is always the best treatment for arthritic dogs.”

✅ Fact: While short-term rest can help during flare-ups, regular, controlled exercise is essential to maintain joint mobility, muscle strength, and overall quality of life. Too much rest can actually worsen stiffness and pain.

If you're interested in tailored advice for your dog, our Teleguidance service is for you!
https://caninearthritisteleguidance.co.uk

02/09/2025

Meet Tucker! 🐶

At 14 years old, he attends regular hydrotherapy sessions to help manage arthritis. Hydrotherapy provides low-impact exercise that reduces strain on joints and improves mobility. 🐾

In between his swimming reps, Tucker enjoys massages to relax his muscles and support recovery. With regular sessions, dogs like Tucker can maintain their strength and mobility well into their senior years. 🩵

26/08/2025

Did You Know? 🌊🐾

Swimming offers a highly effective form of low-impact exercise for dogs - delivering the cardiovascular benefits of a brisk walk, with significantly less stress on the joints. In fact, just one minute of swimming can provide the same exercise as a one-mile walk.

This makes hydrotherapy an ideal choice for:
✅ Maintaining physical fitness
✅ Supporting joint health and mobility
✅ Burning energy - through a low impact yet intense exercise

Our controlled pool and underwater treadmill sessions are tailored to each dog’s individual needs, whether for general fitness, weight management, or support for an active lifestyle 🩵

19/08/2025

Ziggy’s Story 🩵

Back in March, Ziggy underwent major spinal surgery (C5–C7 dorsal laminectomy) to relieve severe spinal cord compression caused by a C5–C6 intervertebral disc extrusion. Post surgery he remained non-ambulatory tetraparetic, meaning that he was unable to walk and had significant weakness, especially in his forelimbs.

Since then, Ziggy has been attending regular hydrotherapy sessions using our underwater treadmill which is an excellent tool for gait re-education.

As you can see, Ziggy has made phenomenal progress. Today, we’re thrilled to show you how far he’s come - now walking and showing improved proprioception in all four limbs.

This is why we do what we do. Go Ziggy! 🤩

28/06/2025

We’re hiring! 🌊🐶

We are seeking a qualified and motivated Canine Hydrotherapist to join our busy canine hydrotherapy centre in Dover, Kent. This is an excellent opportunity for an individual with a passion for canine care and a strong interest in the rehabilitation and recovery of canines to become part of our professional team.

🦴 Role Overview:

As a Canine Hydrotherapist, you will be responsible for delivering high-quality hydrotherapy treatments to a diverse caseload of clients in our practice. Working collaboratively with referring veterinary professionals and owners, you will assess, plan, and implement appropriate hydrotherapy sessions tailored to individual needs of our patients.

👀 Key Responsibilities:

- Conduct initial assessments and ongoing hydrotherapy sessions
- Monitor patient progress and maintain accurate treatment records on our digital system
- Work closely with veterinary teams to ensure coordinated care
- Provide professional advice and support to clients
- Ensure high standards of hygiene and safety in the hydrotherapy practice

📋 Essential Qualifications, Experience and Skills:

- Level 3 Diploma in Small Animal Hydrotherapy (or equivalent recognised qualification), including Under Water Treadmill Qualifications
- Level 3 Canine First Aid certificate
- Sound understanding of canine anatomy, health conditions, and rehabilitation principles
- Strong animal handling skills and a confident, compassionate approach
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
- A commitment to continuous professional development and best practices in canine rehabilitation
- Previous experience in a clinical, rehabilitation, or veterinary setting (although practical experience can be given if you have the qualification only)

💰 What We Offer:

- Competitive salary (in line with experience and qualifications)
- Supportive team environment with ongoing training opportunities
- Modern, fully-equipped hydrotherapy facilities
- Flexible working arrangements with regular guaranteed hours
- Opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the health and wellbeing of dogs in our practice

If you are a professional, skilled hydrotherapist with a passion for canine care, we would like to hear from you.

For more information or a confidential chat please get in touch.

🐶 To apply - please send your CV and covering letter via email to info@wavescaninehydrotherapy.co.uk.

16/06/2025

Meet Lilo 💖

Lilo came to us after undergoing TPLO surgery to repair a cruciate ligament rupture. She presented with significant muscle atrophy in her operated leg, which caused an abnormal gait.

Her rehabilitation began with targeted sessions in the underwater treadmill, focusing on restoring proper gait mechanics and rebuilding muscle.

💪 With consistency and patience, Lilo is now confidently walking on the underwater treadmill, and we’re excited to progress into our hydrotherapy pool to further strengthen muscles and build endurance.

Establishing proper gait mechanics before transitioning to pool work is crucial for a smooth recovery and balanced limb use.

Great work, Lilo! 🐶

12/06/2025

🐶🌊 This handsome boy attends regular hydrotherapy sessions to stay fit and healthy. His goals are to maintain his fitness levels and lose some excess weight.

So far, he's made fantastic progress — he has:

- Lost weight
- Reduced his waistline
- Built muscle to support his joints

Did you know? We track your dog’s measurements throughout their sessions so we can visualise their progress using a variety of graphs!

Great work! 🐾

Interested in hydrotherapy for fitness? Get in touch with us today to learn more!

02/06/2025

26/05/2025

🐶 Simon is living with arthritis and spondylosis — a degenerative condition that affects the spine and can cause stiffness, decreased mobility and the potential for discomfort.

Over time, the discs between the vertebrae begin to degenerate. In response, the body tries to stabilise the spine by producing extra bone along the edges of the vertebrae.

So how does hydrotherapy help?
- Warm water relaxes muscles and reduces stiffness
- Buoyancy reduces strain on the spine and joints
- Promotes controlled low impact excercise
- Maintains muscle mass and flexibility

With plenty of encouragement from his Mum, Simon has been making incredible progress. His owner has already noticed reduced stiffness and a significant improvement in his movement, especially during walks. Go, Simon! 🩵

03/05/2025

Check out this underwater footage! 📷🐶 We can use underwater footage as a valuable tool to assess and support your dog’s mobility and muscle health.

During hydrotherapy sessions, we closely observe:

👀 Symmetry in limb movement (even use of all limbs)
👀 Joint range of motion (looking for full extension and flexion)
👀 Muscle engagement and strength
👀 Any signs of discomfort or compensation

Based on what we see, we introduce techniques to encourage even limb usage and full extension and flexion.

Hydrotherapy provides a low-impact, high-resistance excercise that helps build strength, enhance mobility, and support recovery in dogs.

If you’re interested in more details check out our website wavescaninehydrotherapy.co.uk!

24/04/2025

Meet Bella! Bella has been coming to us for maintenance sessions following her cruciate ligament repair in March 2023.

Her sessions focus on maintaining strong muscles and smooth joint movement. We alternate between treadmill and pool work—the treadmill helps improve her gait and ensure proper limb placement, while the pool allows for full range of motion in a completely non-weight-bearing environment. 🐶

Bella’s owners are really pleased with her progress and she loves soaking up the early morning sun through the window! 🩵 ☀️

Look at that action shot! 📷