KinevetBlog
Canine hydrotherapy: how it works
Published on Monday, 19 October 2026
Buoyancy, resistance, warmth: why walking in water allows work to start earlier and last longer than on land.
Canine hydrotherapy, as we practise it in Lasne, takes place on an underwater treadmill: a glass tank with a moving floor, filled with warm water to a height set for each dog. It is not a pool: the dog walks, it does not swim.
Three effects that work together
- Buoyancy. Immersed, the dog carries only part of its weight. The load on hips, knees and back decreases: a dog that limps on land can often walk in water without pain.
- Resistance. Water slows every movement. The same step demands more muscular work than on land: muscle is rebuilt with short sessions.
- Warmth. Warm water relaxes tense muscles and loosens stiff joints.
What the veterinarian adjusts
Water height, treadmill speed and walking time are set at each session according to what the dog shows that day. We start very low and increase gradually. A session lasts 30 minutes, drying included; the first one, with the assessment, 45 minutes.
Who it is for
After surgery, with osteoarthritis or dysplasia, to lose weight, after a neurological condition, for sports preparation or simply to get back in shape. The diagnosis remains with your regular vet: rehabilitation supports their treatment, it does not replace it.