Hill's Canine Rehabilitation

All our staff are qualified to the required level and are all members of the CHA. We work as a highly efficient team and love what we do!

We pride ourselves on customer satisfaction and achieving the best results possible. We allow plenty of time for your dog to get used to its surroundings and we never rush them into the pool. All dogs will be required to wear a canine life jacket or simple harness which we will provide. The length of each swim will depend on the condition, ability of your dog and the recommendation of your vet. All dogs swum at Hill's Canine Hydrotherapy must have gained their vets CONSENT (not direct referral) . This safeguards your dog from any medical conditions that may be present and would dictate the level of swimming. Many dogs do come to us through direct veterinary referral. We have a simple form that needs completing prior to your visit, this can be found on our website as well on our page. We are confident to liaise with your vet and will send regular progress reports with regard to surgical and rehabilitation cases. Please feel free to call us if you’d like to have a chat and for us to fill in your consent form.

What is Hydrotherapy?

Hydrotherapy basically means healing with water. There is a huge range of conditions that benefit from hydrotherapy and many insurance companies will cover treatment. Conditions include:- Pre and Post operative conditions. Pain, swelling and stiffness (arthritis, veteran dogs). Hip and elbow dysplasia, OCD, cruciate ligament injuries. Spinal injuries, paralysis, amputation (strengthens muscles, increases range of movement, promotes overall blood circulation). Cardiovascular fitness (improves heart and lung function). Excellent for working, agility, racing and show dogs. A five minute swim is roughly equivalent to a five mile run! Obesity (weight loss in conjunction with diet) and weight management. Behavioural problems. Swimming allows your dog to release his energy in a safe and healthy manner. This in turn helps to rebalance his mental well being and may help reduce unwanted behaviour. Because swimming is totally non weight bearing it is extremely useful with young large breed dogs where exercise may be restricted due to possible joint damage. Puppy swims - these are designed for puppies over the age of 12 weeks. It is a great way to introduce your puppy to water and reassures you that should your puppy fall into water or perhaps require hydrotherapy in the future, they will have the confidence to swim. It also helps to build their confidence in new surroundings and with new noises (e.g. the hairdryer!). The emphasis is on fun and enjoyment not the length of swims.

Our Facilities

Our polypropylene pool is custom built and measures 3.8m x 2.4m and is 1.2m in depth. There is a built in internal ramp which is also used to rest the dogs during their swim. Access up to the pool edge is via a sturdy, gently sloping external ramp. Extra staff will be used to safely assist severely disabled dogs into the pool. Swim jets are used to create a variable water flow. These can be adjusted for position and strength depending on size, condition and fitness of your dog. Jets help encourage movement in the water particularly useful for neurological damage, limb paralysis or fitness work. The pool water is kept at a constant 29-30c. Warm water is proven to promote blood circulation which helps relax muscles, easing pain in joints, tendons, helps reduce swelling and aids overall healing. Our pool is sanitised to the highest standard and the water is tested 2 times a day in line with CHA regulations and adjusted accordingly. These measures ensure a totally safe swim for each and every dog. There is a fully tiled shower area next to the pool so that your dog can be washed before and after their swim. Towels and a dryer are provided so that we can ensure your dog leaves our centre as warm and dry as possible. There is ample off road parking on site and a grassed area. It is imperative your dog relieves itself before swimming. (This hopefully avoids any "accidents" in the pool!).

The photo above is of Katherine and Tracey at Thame Show 2018 raising awareness about the benefits of Hydrotherapy.