My dog has just had her second swimming session at a hydrotherapy pool, and I wondered if anyone else has tried this with their dogs? I'd love to know of anyone's experiences .

I've used hydro in conjunction with chiro, i did find that it was hard to find one where someone "knows" how to use one. It's imperrative in some cases where a dog is litteraly only supposed to "swim" for 1 min or has to work one muscle group more than another but some hydo pools "plonk" the dog in for 5-10 mins & thats it ! Massage also works incredably well too depending on the problem.
If you find a good hydo they are fantastic ! :D

She had 2 mins the first time, and 4 mins two days after.Her reason for going is hip dysplacia. I think she found it quite stressful both times. (me too!) How can I find out how to tell a good Hydro place from a not so good one?

There are two Hydotherapy pools that I know are good.  One is in Leigh, Cheshire and the other is Mypetstop in Denton,Stockport,Cheshire.

Two dogs suffering from Perthes went to the one in Leigh. They went for a total of six months and the benifits and results are two happy dogs that can now run and play around the garden. 
I think the swims are around £15 per session.

The one in Denton has had great success with a Flat Coat that had the same problem as yours and that dog went from the age of 5 months until 12 months and it was taken to an open show and it got Best of Breed.
Costs are £20 per session. Expensive but if the end results are a pain free dog it is well worth it.

You do have to find a pool with a trained therapist.  Shop around to find the right one for your dog.

Good luck

I used to take my Labrador to a hydro pool. She had cancer in her paw when she was 5, she had radiotherapy on her paw (she lost all the fur on her paw and it grew back white, she looks really cute like she is wearing a little while sock - she is black) However she has no immunity to anything now. Because of her paw, she gets terribly lame on walks, she cant do what my other dogs do, so piled on the weight. I took her swimming, which she did for a couple of sessions and she really enjoyed it. But she got an ear infection, she was so ill, we never took her back too scared of getting ill again. She had kennel cough just over a year ago and she nearly ended up in the vets, she was seriously ill. Poor thing goes down with anything that is going round.

Rachel

Thankyou all for responding to my post.We'll be going to the hydro for approx 5 months twice a week, so I hope some good will come of it.I'm wondering how long it will take till there is a visible improvement? (patience was never a strong virtue) I'd still love to hear of any more  experiences with hydros . Many thanks , and good luck to your little dog Rachel.

My sheltie broke his hip at seven months and after the stitches were removed he had a course of hydrotherapy.  The results were amazing.  To start with he couldn't bear any weight on the leg at all.  It used to hang there like it didn't belong to him but even after just a couple of sessions I could see the difference.  He gradually started to use it in walking and now 10 months later it's difficult to see which leg it was.  He also started off with just a couple of minutes but finished up by doing 15 minute sessions.  Must add though that he hated it!  He was a very good boy and never showed any aggression during the sessions but would hide up if he knew we were getting ready to go.  The look on his face when he was in the pool was a picture. 

I have 2 undergoing Hydrotherapy.  Can't praise it enough.  My girl has HD too and has been swimming once a week for... it must be over a year now.  We get the odd flare up in the cold weather but apart from that she's doing great, on no medication either.  Both of  mine absolutely love it.

It's great to hear such positive replies. I feel as though I want to get in with her and support her front end!! (mother's instinct I suppose!!) Will report back later on to let you know how she's doing. Thanks.

my flynn goes to a pool once a week,he has HD, hes been going since he was 8months,he is now almost 3,
as a result of the hydro building up good muscle that holds his displastic joints tight. he is on NO medication & on totally normal full exercise. hes a very very powerfull active BC.
we go to a round pool where the owner of the pool goes in with him (owners can also go in if they wish,i have a few times,but prefer to watch,tbh)
we go for a hours seesion which is broken down into
20mins swim
10mins in magnetic therpy box
20mins swim
then,jacussi/muscle rub, then dry ,& lavender oil massage.
it costs 25quid & worth every penny.

HE loves it,he just swims after his kongs.
brilliant