The Nottingham Canine Hydrotherapy Centre is owned by Amanda & Steve Powell. We have over 25 years experience in owning and handling dogs of all sizes, but for the last 15 years with Rottweilers, and 10 years also with Pembroke Corgis, under the 'Rottwud' affix.

Our search for a Hydrotherapy pool came several years ago when we were advised by our Veterinary surgeon that swimming would be ideal for a dog that we had that had become overweight. Our vet was aware of a local Greyhound owner that might have a pool, but unfortunately he no longer had it, and so we had to rely on diet and road exercise.

Then, in Summer 2000, we came across the Westcoast Hydrotherapy Pools. It took several months of planning and researching to finally get things under way, but in October 2001, The Nottingham Canine Hydrotherapy Centre opened.

The Nottingham Canine Hydrotherapy Centre is based from our home address, sited in just under half an acre - our 'own little bit of the country in the town'. We have ample off road car parking to the front of the property, a small exercise area for your dog, and for disabled drivers or dogs, we are able to allow vehicles almost direct access to the pool room. We are ideally situated some 6 minutes from the M1 and less than 20 minutes from Nottingham city centre.

Our pool is open for all dogs, not just those with injuries, and, although we do contact your veterinary surgeon for health details of your dog, you do not have to be referred by your veterinary surgeon to bring your dog swimming.

Please feel free to make an appointment to discuss any requirements that you might have or we can demonstrate one of our own dogs swimming in the pool.

Most dogs can swim, but are often nervous until they have been in the water a few times. However, occasionally, a dog will not enjoy it, and in this case there is no point in distressing your dog. We aim to make swimming a fun time for your dog.

For centuries, back to the times of the Romans and before, the benefits of water in both health and fitness have been acknowledged as unsurpassable. Physiotherapists know that swimming exercises every muscle in the anatomy with no impact to joints and bones. when this swimming takes place in warm water, the blood vessels open allowing the blood and thus oxygen to flow to the extremities. This increased blood flow not only helps to prevent cramps in the muscles, but has an easing effect on swollen and painful joints - the more painful the joints become, the less movement is made in them and the blood flow is reduced even more - a vicious circle that leaves dogs almost immobile in serious cases.

Simply standing in warm water has a beneficial effect - the pressure of the water on the chest makes breathing more difficult, the lungs have to work harder, and thus there is improvement to the respiratory system.

Muscle wastage often occurs with any lameness, however, long term lameness from cruciate and other ligament damage can result in severe wastage of the muscle as the dog barely uses the limb. Swimming is ideal for rebuilding the muscle both prior to operation and after the stitches have been removed and the skin healed. Walking is often painful and too strenuous for the dog, and so the non-weight bearing exercise in warm water is ideal to gradually rebuild the muscle and reduce the pain in order to improve the recovery after surgery.

Dogs recovering from: orthopaedic surgery, spinal injuries, hip and elbow Dysplasia, ligament strain and sprains, spaying, Caesarean section and many other ailments, as well as after whelping to tighten the muscles back up - all find swimming to be a gentle way to rebuild their fitness.

Our British climate does not allow for us to swim our dogs in open lakes and ponds. In the winter they are freezing cold - this constricts the blood vessels and prevents the blood from flowing to the extremities - often starving the very muscles that we want to exercise. In the summer they often contain dangerous algae that can be toxic to our dogs. Exercising on hard surfaces can send shock waves up the limbs that are absorbed by the tendons and joints. In youngsters, particularly in larger breeds, this can cause damage resulting in long term lameness, and then muscle wastage

Swimming in a controlled environment is an answer, The water can be monitored, the temperature kept constant, and the water filtered and treated to make swimming as safe as possible. There are no muddy slippery banks for the dog to scramble up - risking injury by doing so, and then you have the added benefit of a warm shower and a towel or blow dry before climbing into the back of the car. Without the mud!!

Our Hydrotherapy pool is a Westcoast Compact 10 pool, with two powerful anti-swim jets. The flow of water can be fully adjusted from a gentle flow to almost white water. The pool is 10 feet long, 5 feet wide and 4 feet deep (all measurements are approximate)

The pool water is maintained at a temperature of approximately 26 to 28 degrees, and the Hydro-Spa at approximately 35 degrees.

The water is tested daily to maintain optimum quality, and it is constantly filtered through a sand filter. It is then passed through an ozinator before returning to the pool. Chlorine is used to sanitise the water - in a similar way to human swimming pools.

Access into the water is either via external and internal ramps - for dogs who are both able to walk freely and are confident to use them, or by use of our electric hoist and full body slings. The slings totally support your dog, both in and out of the water. (see left).

With very nervous new dogs, Steve can actually be in the water to reassure your dog whilst in the harness. Once your dog has gained confidence, then a guide pole will be used to keep him in the centre of the pool when supported by the harness.

Your first appointment will involve taking your details and discussing your individual requirements.

Please make sure that you do not feed your dog for at least 3 hours before swimming.

The actual swimming time for your dog will vary from dog to dog and injury to injury. Your first swim may be only a total of 5 minutes - or it could be as little as 45 seconds for an injury such as a recent cruciate operation! You will soon see just how much energy your dog will use - swimming uses every muscle of the anatomy - many muscles will barely have been used for normal everyday life, and sometimes even fewer after a period of illness or lameness. It is pointless to over swim a dog, and leave it too exhausted to get out of the pool and stand - this could do more harm to an often expensive repair job by the vet. Gentle, regular exercise is the answer. The swimming time will increase each visit as your dog improves.

We will normally allow your pet to have a short break between two swims on each visit. This allows for your pet to catch his breathe a little. It also allows for us to assess how he is coping on each visit. Just like ourselves, somedays he may have more energy than others, and even though his condition will be improving, there may be days when he tires more quickly than others, and thus the swim will be shorter so as not to over exert his muscles. If you have been swimming yourself after a long break from it, you will understand just how your dog is going to feel until his fitness levels have been increased.

For the first 4 - 6 weeks, sometimes longer, we recommend that most dogs visit us once weekly, unless advised otherwise by the your veterinary surgeon. After that the sessions can be on a once a fortnightly basis as the swim time is increased. It is then up to you and your vet how many sessions you want to continue with once your dog has reached a maintained level of recovery.