Westmac Canine Therapies

11/02/2025

This Week’s Myth:
“My dog can’t be in pain because they’re still running around.”

Fact: Dogs are incredible at hiding pain, and adrenaline from activities like running or playing can temporarily mask their discomfort. Just because your dog is active doesn’t mean they’re pain-free. Look out for subtle signs like stiffness, limping, or hesitation—they could be telling you more than you think.

Let’s bust these myths together and make life better for our pups! 🐕✨

10/02/2025

Please remember ⚠️

As “fun” as it is, repetitive ball throwing is a really bad thing to do with your dog!

It can cause huge amounts of physical damage and wear and tear on the body in the following ways:

Stress on joints

The rapid deceleration of a dog when it catches a ball can stress the shoulders, elbows, wrists, knees, and toes

Spinal problems

The twisting of the spine and jumping to catch a ball can damage the spine and discs

Ligament tears

The sudden directional changes and hyperextension required to catch a ball can tear the cranial cruciate ligament (CCL)

Toe injuries

Jammed, broken, or ripped toes and toenails can occur from playing fetch

Instead, why not utilise small amounts of ball searching (hiding the ball in grass for your dog to go and find) or utilising scatter food games to engage their brains instead!

10/02/2025

LUXATING PATELLA

What is luxating patella in dogs?

A luxating patella is a condition where the kneecap (patella) moves out of its normal position within the knee joint.

Which dog breeds are more prone to developing luxating patella?

It is more commonly seen in small and toy breeds of dogs, such as Chihuahuas, Pomeranians, Yorkshire Terriers, and Miniature Poodles, but can also occur in larger breeds.

How does Hydrotherapy help?

Low impact exercise

Water provides buoyancy, which reduces the impact on joints during exercise. This can be particularly beneficial for dogs with patella luxation, as it allows them to move and exercise without putting excessive strain on their affected knees.

Muscle strengthening

Hydrotherapy can help to strengthen the muscles around the affected knee joint, which can provide additional support and stability to the kneecap. Strong muscles can help to hold the kneecap in its proper place, reducing the risk of further luxations.

Pain relief

Warm water used in hydrotherapy can help to relax muscles, reduce pain and inflammation, and promote circulation, which can all contribute to improved comfort and mobility for dogs with patella luxation.

Range of motion improvement

Hydrotherapy can help to improve the range of motion in the affected knee joint, which can be beneficial for dogs with limited mobility due to patella luxation. The water's resistance can also provide gentle resistance during exercise, helping to improve joint flexibility.

Weight management

Hydrotherapy can be an effective form of exercise for dogs with patella luxation who may have limitations on their ability to engage in high-impact activities. Regular hydrotherapy sessions can help dogs maintain a healthy weight, which is important for managing the condition and reducing strain on the affected knees.

09/02/2025

Molly 🥰

Such a beautiful poser ❤️

08/02/2025

We love all of the unusual names we see in clinic, it’s always fun to see what names owners come up with.

But what we want to know is what name did you ALMOST call your pet? Comment below 🐶

08/02/2025

Client Feature!

Here’s Maggie and Xtra 🥰

They are siblings who enjoy Hydrotherapy as part of their fitness and conditioning programs for taking part in IGP sports training!

Hydrotherapy is great for building even muscle mass and also for cardiovascular fitness too! Exercise in the water is 6 times harder than the same exercise on land owing to the resistance provided by the water.

These two beautiful girls are very lucky that their mum is so proactive in their wellbeing care, and it certainly shows in their sports work 🥰

07/02/2025

www.als-trading.co.uk

07/02/2025

Many pet insurance plans include coverage for treatments like hydrotherapy, physiotherapy and other complementary therapies, especially if it’s recommended by your vet for rehabilitation or wellness.

Be sure to check with your insurance provider to see what’s included in your policy. Incorporating physiotherapy and hydrotherapy can make a real difference to your pet.

Save this post as your reminder to check your insurance policy!

07/02/2025

We think Tilly was doing such an amazing impression of Gloria Gaynor in her rest periods we just had to share 🥰

VOLUME UP!!

06/02/2025

Client feature 🥰

Tilly and Damsen

Tilly and Damsen are siblings from the same family who come for Hydrotherapy on slightly differing appointment schedules 🙂

Tilly is the mature lady, who comes usually once a fortnight to help ease out her aches and pains from her Osteoarthritis, and also to keep her muscle mass built up nicely to allow her to remain as mobile as possible ❤️ when Tilly needs a “top up” her proactive Mum brings her weekly to help ease her through the more difficult bits!

Damsen is her little sister, who comes around once every 6 weeks, for fitness and to build up her muscle after her owners noticed her hindlimb muscle mass wasn’t the best. Damsen goes on the shoots with her Dad in season, and enjoys jogging with her Mum and Dad too, so having lots of evenly built muscle is a must!

They are doing so so well, and love to pose too!

If you’d like to know more, please don’t hesitate to send us a message and we will gladly be happy to help!

06/02/2025

HIP DYSPLASIA 🦴

This condition often occurs during the growth stage of a dog’s life where the hip joint becomes unstable resulting in dysfunction and pain!
It can be genetic or caused by environmental factors as well!

As the dog gets older, the cartilage begins to wear down and this is where arthritis often occurs as well as muscle atrophy and mobility issues 😔

Prevention methods include weight control and exercise monitoring, especially when they are young, correct muscle growth and strength are a must!

Hydrotherapy aims to build muscle surrounding the hip joint to enable a more stable environment as well as increase blood circulation leading to a reduction in pain and inflammation associated with this condition 💦 🐕

Give us a call if you’d like to find out how we can help your dog, or alternatively, give us a message 🌊

01600 860001
[email protected]

05/02/2025

Can you recognise signs of pain in your dog?

~Decreased activity
~Reluctance or hesitation to go up or down stairs
~Difficultly standing after lying or sitting down
~Decreased appetite
~Reluctance to jump onto sofa or into car
~Excessive licking over joints
~Stiffness after exercise
~Lameness / limping
~Behaviour changes
~Change in posture
~Repetitive licking

These are just a few symptoms of pain.

Most pets are very good at hiding pain so just one of these indicators is enough to get your pet checked out by your vet.

After a quick check up if your vet is happy they will be able to refer you for some complementary treatments!

Age isn’t a disease, and not just older pets suffer with pain.

05/02/2025

Tinkerbell 😍

This little lady has been coming to us for Hydrotherapy in order to conservatively manage her bilateral (both sides) hip dysplasia.

One of our shyest clients when she first started it has been an amazing transformation to see how confidently she now carries out every session!

Tinkerbell has responded amazingly to her Hydrotherapy treatment and is now able to enjoy days out at the beach, running around confidently with her sisters and generally living the good life without pain 😊

We are very proud of how well she has done ❤

Pooch on a Pedestal

04/02/2025

Will you help us grow?

We are a small business passionate about providing top quality Hydrotherapy care to our beloved pets in the Trellech and Newport areas of South Wales!

(Easily accessible from Raglan, Usk, Ross, Monmouth, Chepstow, Cardiff, Magor, Undy)

And we’d LOVE your help to grow!

Please, share this post, to see if you have friends who can benefit from our services!

So many dogs could benefit from our services, and we’d love the chance to talk to people our followers know to spread awareness!

04/02/2025

Is your pet suffering from osteoarthritis?

Or maybe they have hip or elbow dysplasia, or a cruciate injury? If so, hydrotherapy may help! 💧 🐕

The heated water reduces pain and inflammation, supporting the pet's bodyweight as they exercise under close supervision from our qualified hydrotherapists 💙

It can also be helpful for sprains and strains, recovering from fractures or gently exercising to aid weight loss!

Our excellent services are available to our clients, and we welcome referrals from local veterinary practices.

Click to visit our website and find out more! 🔗 👇

Www.westmac.co.uk

Specialists in Canine Hydrotherapy, Physiotherapy and Sports Massage serving Chepstow, Monmouth and South Wales.

04/02/2025

This Week’s Myth:
"A little extra weight doesn’t make a difference to a dog’s arthritis."

FACT: Even a small amount of extra weight can put significant strain on a dog’s joints, worsening pain and inflammation. Maintaining a healthy weight is one of the most effective ways to reduce arthritis pain and improve your dog’s mobility. It’s not just about appearance – it’s about their comfort and quality of life!

Let’s bust these myths together and make life better for our pups! 🐕✨

03/02/2025

Did you know, we are fully fledged members of CAM!

Canine Arthritis Management (CAM) is a veterinary driven resource aimed at caregivers of dogs with arthritis, as well as professionals working in the field of canine welfare and pain management.

They believe in a multimodal approach to arthritis management, helping people to recognise that their dog is in pain sooner, and act more appropriately to help treat and ease the symptoms.

03/02/2025

To celebrate the opening of our second Newport Branch we are trialling a brand new online bookings system!

Currently up and running for our Trellech Branch whilst we are finalising our second centre, you can use the easy online system to book new appointments and alter your dogs existing appointments as well!

If you’re too late for online bookings or alterations (48 hours notice needed) you can email or call us and we can get you all booked in!

Follow the link below to book your sessions today!