“We specialize in helping SENIOR DOGS improve their INDEPENDENCE with their daily routine, so they can live their GOLDEN YEARS without the need of pain medication”

Inquire About Cost & Availability

Underwater Treadmill For Dogs

A common treatment used in canine rehabilitation for dogs with arthritis or recovering from surgery is the use of an underwater treadmill. The premise of the underwater treadmill is that the buoyancy of the water will decrease the effects of gravity and thus assist with gait training. The water height can be adjusted in relation to the patient—the higher the water level, the less body weight the patient uses. However, although its use could be beneficial in a minority of cases, the reality is that underwater treadmill is vastly over-used in the field of canine rehabilitation and, most of the time, dogs recover much better from injury or surgery without using an underwater treadmill in their rehabilitation program.

Here at TheK9PT, we do not use the underwater treadmill as a form of treatment for several reasons as rehabilitation is much more than one modality of treatment, and underwater treadmill is just one small piece of the puzzle. Although useful with some patients, the underwater treadmill also has its pitfalls:

Pitfall #1: Progressive Loading

The underwater treadmill does not promote progressive overloading. The clinics who use it will often claim that it will help increase strength, both post-surgically and during the treatment of other musculoskeletal conditions. However, it is well known and researched in the field of human sports medicine that to add strength—and subsequently generate muscle growth—muscles and tendons need to be gradually loaded with progressive resistance. For example, when you go to the gym you don’t work on increasing your strength by using the treadmill, even if you adjust the incline level or adjust the speed. You do so with progressive loads by lifting weights or using your body weight for resistance (e.g., pull-ups, push-ups, etc.).

Underwater treadmill

The same concept of strength building applies to canines. Is it possible to add some strength by using the underwater treadmill? Sure! Some muscle gain will be observed in patients who are severely deconditioned and whose main exercise is walking on the underwater treadmill. But those patients will also quickly hit a plateau and run the risk of developing overuse injuries due to the repetitive nature of simply walking for increasingly longer distances. Take, for example, a variety of “Couch to 5K” programs designed for humans: they all involve a combination of a walking/running program and a strength training program to help with injury prevention and long-term wellness.

Pitfall #2: Abnormal Gait

The second pitfall of the underwater treadmill is the promotion and progression of an abnormal gait. If a patient has an abnormal gait, for whatever reason that may be, it does not make sense to keep building endurance with that abnormal gait. A canine rehab therapist needs to first assess the patient to determine the reasons for why he or she has developed that abnormal gait, and then address those issues before building endurance in the underwater treadmill or even during a walking protocol at home. Could the underwater treadmill also be used to help correct an abnormal gait? Yes, in some instances it can. But to do so, the therapist would need to be inside the tank with his or her hands on the patient assisting to correct the gait pattern. Here at TheK9PT we treat all of the movement dysfunctions a patient presents with treatment methods such as manual therapy, therapeutic exercise, massage, and laser therapy, just to name a few.

This is not to say that the underwater treadmill doesn’t have its benefits and can’t be a part of a successful rehabilitation plan. The problem is that a rehab plan is not a one-size-fits-all approach, and the underwater treadmill is not a magic piece of equipment from which every patient will benefit. It can, and should be, used when appropriate for the patient. The reality, however, is that with the growth of the canine rehab field has come the overutilization of this modality of treatment. We hope that this information is helpful in understanding why our clinic does not use the underwater treadmill as a method of treatment. Now, let us tell you how we can help you and your pup!

How can we help you?

We have put together some of the best educational content for pet parents in a series of newsletters on several topics and conditions. Download our newsletters (currently free) ​to start helping your pup right away…



The Truth About Arthritis in Dogs




Intervertebral Disc Disorder (IVDD)




Hip Dysplasia – Surgical & Non-Surgical




Post-Surgical ACL/CCL Care




ACL/CCL Conservative Management




We understand that you may want to find out more about cost and availability BEFORE booking a physical therapy appointment for your pet. If you want to know how much it costs and what availability we have in our clinic, please click the button below and complete a short form:


Inquire About Cost & Availability
Here’s What Other Pet Parents Like You Are Saying About the Outstanding Care Received at TheK9PT…


Frequently asked questions






Just like humans, dogs who participate in rehabilitation programs after surgery are more likely to achieve an optimal outcome compared to those who skip it. Post surgical rehabilitation through activity will help keep blood pumping nutrients to the healing tissues as well as stimulating your pup’s mind to prevent boredom and depression. Getting your pup up and moving and putting weight on the post-surgical leg sooner rather than later decreases the risk of injury to the opposite leg, muscle atrophy and loss of strength on the surgical leg. A standard post-surgical CCL rehab program at TheK9PT more often than not consists of 10 rehab sessions in total spread over a 5-6 month period, with more frequent sessions in the first 4-6 weeks before we start spacing those sessions out as pet parents start to progress their home exercise program. To learn more, visit our page here.












Whether hip dysplasia can be treated best conservatively or with surgery depends on the severity of the condition as well as the dog’s age. In some cases, surgery may be warranted to provide the best possible outcome for a dog with hip dysplasia. Before opting in for surgery, it is important to be aware of all the alternatives available that may help to manage the condition more conservatively. A healthy diet and weight, joint supplements, daily exercise and pain medication when necessary can do wonders for managing this common condition. Our goal is to offer much in the way of improving your dog’s quality of life through education, manual therapy and exercises specific to your dog’s condition. To learn more, visit our Hip Dysplasia page here.


















We work with your regular veterinarian to create a successful rehabilitation program specifically for your pup. A specialist will educate you on proper mechanics of exercises so you can work with your pup to maximize the results of treatments. Our staff also provides information on how to create a safe home environment during the recovery period to minimize risk of reinjury. We also emphasize educating pet parents through teaching exercises that they can do at home as for us that is likely the most important aspect of a successful rehab program. We love working with pet parents who want to feel empowered in their dog’s recovery, and that model has been a win-win for everyone as it has allowed us to achieve tremendous outcomes with our patients while decreasing the frequency of visits needed during a rehab program when compared to other rehab clinics.


















A degenerative disease affecting intervertebral discs, which are found between most of the bony vertebrae in the spine. Composed of fibrocartilage, they are like cushions for the spine, acting as shock absorbers and enabling mobility. The disc is similar to a jelly donut. It has a fibrous outer layer and a gelatinous, jelly-like inner layer. IVDD refers to weakened discs more capable of rupture or herniation, which is what happens when that jelly-like substance leaks out into the area of the spinal cord and connected nerve roots. IVDD can be treated conservatively or with surgical intervention, but ultimately the severity of the symptoms will determine that decision. No matter if a dog has had surgery or not, it’s important to get the right treatment from a qualified canine rehab therapist to ensure your pup lives a happy and pain-free life. Read more about how we treat IVDD here.














Dog physical therapy and rehabilitation is focused on optimizing the patient’s response in relation to function versus just on a specific medical diagnosis. The medical diagnosis provided by your veterinarian is important, but even more important is for us to assess each dog to determine how that diagnosis is affecting them. No dog is the same, and each one of them responds differently to an injury or rehab program, therefore it is important for us to develop a rehabilitation program tailored specifically to each pet. We work hand in hand with your veterinary team who manages all medical issues and medications while we work to restore your pet’s function and mobility.












The best way to get your pup moving again, whether that means taking them on walks, playing fetch at the park, or jumping into bed, is to intervene with a tailored exercise program. The program does not need to be complicated, but it does require a progressive approach to give your pup the comfort that they deserve. During the first phase of our rehab program we will focus on getting your pup feeling and moving better, so we can then focus on teaching you a progressive exercise approach always with an emphasis on teaching you what to do at home with your dog. We need a solid foundation to build a house, and to help our aging dogs we need to build their foundation through a progressive and consistent strengthening program that you can follow at home.




















The best way to answer this question would be to start by going over “the cycle of arthritis”. We need to understand that arthritis is a normal part of the aging process, both for ourselves and our pets, and the best thing that we can do is to be proactive rather than reactive. Arthritis can be asymptomatic as well, but once our pups start to show symptoms then we definitely need to start being more proactive than before.


The cycle starts when a pup with arthritis starts to show signs of joint inflammation, which can lead to pain, discomfort, and stiffness. As they feel stiff they tend to be less active, and if we let that happen over time they would lose muscle mass while also gaining weight. With added weight the pressure on their inflamed joints becomes even more uncomfortable, which in turn leads towards increased stiffness and a decrease in their level of physical activity. That is how the cycle of arthritis keeps going on and on, unless we do something about it. Read more on how we treat Arthritis here.




















This is a question that we get a lot! To answer it, here at TheK9PT, we do not use the underwater treadmill as a form of treatment for several reasons as rehabilitation is much more than one modality of treatment, and underwater treadmill is just one small piece of the puzzle. The premise of the underwater treadmill is that the buoyancy of the water will decrease the effects of gravity and thus assist with gait training. The water height can be adjusted in relation to the patient—the higher the water level, the less body weight the patient uses. However, although its use could be beneficial in a minority of cases, the reality is that underwater treadmill is vastly over-used in the field of canine rehabilitation and most of the time, dogs recover much better from injury or surgery without using an underwater treadmill in their rehabilitation program. For even more in depth information, please follow this link where we discuss The About Underwater Treadmill.












Not only are pet parents allowed in each and every session, we encourage it! We pride ourselves on educating pet parents with at home exercises they can do and make you a big part of the treatment plan!