Canine hydrotherapy is a non-weight bearing water based form of therapy.
This type of therapy can play an important role in a dog’s quality of life if they are in need of rehabilitation after surgery or injury, a non-weight bearing form of exercise, weight-loss or just fitness.
At The Pawfect Retreat Canine Hydrotherapy, we cater for all needs, delivering owners a high quality service.
All our Canine Hydrotherapists are qualified to Level 3 and, were trained in one of the leading canine hydrotherapy centres in the UK; Hawskmoor Training Centre. Just seven months after opening our doors, our therapists and our centre are eager to maintain and update their knowledge throughout their careers.
We are a vet referral ONLY centre.
Our clients can also claim for their treatment through their insurance company if applicable.
Please find referral form here: Canine Hydrotherapy Referral Form
We are proud members of International Association of Animal Therapists (IAAT).
Based in our brand new purpose built hydrotherapy centre, our pool was designed and manufactured by Pedigree Pools, and is of the highest quality. The pool measures 6m x 3m, is chlorine based and is heated to 34 degrees.
We aim to create a high quality, relaxing and therapeutic environment for all our clients.
Our centre provides clients with a one to one personal service. Clients will be seen by the same therapist, which builds a bond and trust between dog and therapist, resulting in a more productive and successful session. There is only ever one dog in the pool with a therapist at any one time.
One centre operates a policy whereby there is only ever one client in the centre during their session, this means that even dogs who are nervous or reactive can come for therapy without worrying they will meet any other dogs whilst there.
Throughout the year our hydrotherapists are required to continuously improve their knowledge in the field by attending Continuing Professional Development (CPD) training courses.
Recently our hydrotherapists attended a Canine Aquatic Massage course and are now incorporating this into their sessions in the pool.
Our hydrotherapists are also trained in Underwater Aquatic Treadmill.
After receiving your vet referral, you will be contacted by one of our therapists to book in an initial consultation. During this session your dog will not swim. This session is for your hydrotherapist to introduce themselves to you and your dog, discuss their referral, and gain knowledge on your pets lifestyle and your expectations on their therapy. We will complete our standard health check, making records of their weight, overall measurements, heart rate and body condition. We will also talk you through how each hydrotherapy session will proceed.
During the consultation, an appointment will be made for your dog’s first swim session. All our hydrotherapists have their own individual client group, this way we feel we understand our clients history and medical condition, owners’ expectations and more importantly it is a familiar person at each session for the dog, which provides a more personal approach. However, holidays and illnesses can occur throughout the year, in which case one of our other hydrotherapists will step in and complete their session with guidance and treatment notes made by their usual therapist.
On the day of your dog’s session it’s important not to feed them 3 hours prior to their session. Also remember, in some cases this may replace their exercise. This is an intense form of exercise therefore some dogs may be more tired than usual. Please ensure that your dog defecates prior to their session. There is a field adjacent to the hydrotherapy centre which you can access to allow them a toilet break.
Before each session our hydrotherapist will complete a quick health check and take any further measurements they need and then shower your dog. This is done to relax muscles and to desensitise their body to the warmer temperature. We will fit your dog with the appropriate safety jacket, whether that’s a lifejacket or a harness.
The length of each session is 45 minutes however we must state, your dog will not be in the pool the whole time, the shower before and after each session is included in this time, along with their health check. During their session a dog will not swim for longer than 20 minutes per session. These 20 minutes will be divided into 4 swim sets with rest periods in between, please note it is not recommended for dogs to swim for more than 5 minutes at one time. This is usually for athletic/sporting dogs.
Angela qualified in Canine Hydrotherapy in April 2019. She completed her training at one of the leading Canine Hydrotherapy training centres, Hawksmoor, in Nuneaton UK in 2018.
In January 2020 she returned to Hawksmoor to complete her qualification in Underwater Aquatic treadmill.
Angela has actively worked at The Pawfect Retreat as a Canine Hydrotherapist since July 2019.
As part of her on-going continued learning program, Angela has also trained in Aquatic Massage and has trained to an advanced level.
Angela developed a keen interest in hydrotherapy for small animals after one of her own dogs required this form of rehabilitation many years ago, Angela saw the benefits it provided to her own pet and therefore wanted to know more about this form of treatment and therefore became Canine Hydrotherapist herself.
Angela is the proud owner of three Boxers and as a result is very much in the ‘canine world’ and has actively trained in canine obedience, including training in competition obedience and agility for many years. She was also once a member of a dog display team and would travel the Northwest performing in dog shows.
She is always looking to broaden her knowledge in all things canine and currently spends a lot of time researching alternative remedies for recovery and rehabilitation.
She is also very interested in holistic remedies and spends many hours looking at all things ‘herbs’!
Since starting in Canine Hydrotherapy Angela, has treated many different breeds, from Great Danes and Cane Corso’s to the smaller breeds; French bulldogs, Border Terriers and Pugs.
She has rehabilitated dogs for IVDD, both surgical and nonsurgical and has seen fantastic results. She has also conservatively managed conditions such as elbow and hip dysplasia, luxating patellas’, and cruciate disease.
Angela takes a great interest in the neurological and spinal patients and loves a challenge!
Jay qualified as a Level 3 Canine Hydrotherapist in January 2023, however, has been working at The Pawfect Retreat since October 2021 while he was training. He is also qualified in Canine Underwater Treadmill.
Before becoming a Canine Hydrotherapist, Jay had been looking for a new career since moving to the UK in 2009. He was a lifeguard instructor working for Universal and Sea World waterparks. Coming to the UK, as there wasn’t much work available in as a lifeguard instructor, he worked as a receptionist in a few hotels before moving into the legal field handling road traffic accidents. Though he enjoyed the work, he wasn’t happy with his career and missed being in the water.
Upon discovering canine hydrotherapy, he knew that he could combine his love for dogs, being a pawrent of two lovely Red Fox Labradors, and his love for being in the water. He has thrived in his new role and finally found the passion he was missing.
Jay currently has a wide client base range; young and old, ranging from weight-loss, hip and/or elbow dysplasia to femoral head excision rehabilitation along with osteoarthritis and dogs who have suffered from IVDD. He caters to all conditions.
Hayley has spent all her working life with dogs, mainly working within the rescue sector, training, rehabilitating and ultimately finding new homes for them.
She has two dogs at home, a chocolate Labrador and a small cross breed from Romania – it was this little dog with luxating patella’s that prompted Hayley to start her hydrotherapy journey to help other dogs.
Hayley completed her Canine Hydrotherapy training at Greyfriars Rehabilitation and Hydrotherapy Centre in 2017 and joined The Pawfect Retreat in 2022, working with a variety of different needs in the swimming pool or treadmill.
Hayley enjoys building a bond with each dog and seeing them progress through their sessions.
Ashley has worked as a veterinary technician for the last 9 years. After working in Leahurst Veterinary Centre and seeing the different forms of rehabilitation available, she decided venture into Hydrotherapy Training.
Ash successfully completed her Level 3 Canine Hydrotherapy Certificate and joined The Pawfect Retreat in summer 2022.
Ashley is currently growing her patient base and specifically enjoys working with hip dysplasia and osteoarthritis cases.
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