Pre and Post Treatment Information
Pre and post treatment plans vary depending on the treatment your dog is having, please read more about your dog’s specific treatment which are sectioned into; Hydrotherapy, Myotherapy and General.
PRIOR TO HYDROTHERAPY TREATMENT
Do not feed your dog within 2 hours prior to their session - fresh water is fine.
Do not take your dog on a long walk or vigorously exercise it before their appointment.
Ensure your dog has been adequately toileted before their session - we have a paddock on the far side of the centre for your dog to use before you hand over to our therapists.
A towelling coat or fleece is recommended for the colder weather to prevent the dog getting a chill. We have some in the centre if you want to get an idea of style available.
If your dog has special dietary treats or specific floating toys to use as encouragement while in the pool or treadmill, you are welcome to bring these to the session although we do have a variety of treats and toys of our own.
Please note dogs are unable to use the pool or treadmill if: -
- They have any open wounds or infections.
- They have external fixators.
- They have respiratory problems or advanced cardiac illness.
- They are suffering from diarrhoea or vomiting.
- They are suffering from contagious skin conditions.
- They have received a topical flea/worm treatment (no swimming for 72 hours after treatment).
POST TREATMENT
After the session, please feel free to use our enclosed paddock to toilet your dog before going home.
After the therapy session do not take them on long walks or allow vigorous exercise, short walks to toilet are fine.
Please allow 2 hours after the session before feeding.
Provide fresh water, but do not allow them to drink excessively.
Keep them warm and out of draughts.
If you have any major concerns following the session, please contact Snowy’s or your vets immediately and inform them that your dog has been for hydrotherapy.
Normal behaviour following hydrotherapy treatment:
Sleep – your dog will probably sleep very soundly for an unusual period. This is important, for the body to heal, it needs rest. If you notice your dog has not stretched for a few hours following the session, wake them up and encourage them to walk around and stretch out their muscles.
Be very lively – this appears to be a contradiction, but dogs can also become very lively after a treatment. This would depend, to a major degree on how sore your dog was before treatment and what the treatment was for.
Drink more than usual.
Urinate more – Hydrostatic pressure can encourage your canine to urinate more than usual. Allow them access to an area to do this following their session.
They can be sick or have loose stools – this can happen in around 1 in 10 dogs, so not very common therefore, please ensure you do not feed them too soon after treatment.
They can become more playful or more interactive.
Their behaviour may change; less/more anxious/grumpy etc.
PRIOR TO MYOTHERAPY MASSAGE & PHYSICAL MUSCULAR DEVELOPMENT
Do not feed your dog within 2 hours prior to their session - fresh water is fine.
Ensure your dog has been adequately toileted before their session - we have a paddock on the far side of the centre for your dog to use before you hand over to our therapists.
A towelling coat or fleece is recommended for the colder weather to prevent the dog getting a chill. We have some in the centre if you want to get an idea of style available.
Do not take your dog on a long walk or vigorously exercise it before their appointment.
If your dog has special dietary treats to use as encouragement or to help them carry out the physical muscular development exercises you are welcome to bring these to the session.
Please note that therapy would not be undertaken under the following conditions if: -
- They have any open wounds or infections.
- They have external fixators
- They have respiratory problems or advanced cardiac illness.
- They are suffering from diarrhoea or vomiting.
- They are suffering from contagious skin conditions.
- They have received a topical flea/worm treatment (no swimming for 72 hours after treatment).
Normal behaviour following myotherapy massage treatment:
After treatment, it is so difficult to predict how your dog will process the treatment. What we are doing is stimulating their intrinsic systems to aid their own healing. Therefore, to give an accurate plan of how that will occur is very difficult. However, through our experience we can give some ‘normal’ reactions.
These points may occur both initially and ongoing.
Sleep – your dog will probably sleep very soundly for an unusual period of time, this is important, for the body to heal it needs rest. Please allow them to rest for as long as possible.
Drink more than usual
Be very stiff – this is very common, as the treatment would have irritated the body and therefore the condition. This irritation is done in an organised manner that is controlled but the results can be stiffening. In some very rare extreme cases your dog can be really stiff and looking uncomfortable for up to 4 days. This can be really disconcerting, but it is almost predictable that after 4 days they will improve.
Be very lively – this appears to be a contradiction, but dogs can also become very lively after a treatment. This would depend to a major degree on how sore your dog was before treatment and also what the treatment was for. The liveliness can last up to 4 days. This is due to the brain registering they are feeling better before the body can re-adjust which is why it is suggested lead walk for 4 days post treatment. They will then probably return to their normal activity levels.
They can be sick or have loose stools – This is due to the increase in the amount of toxins flushed through the muscle fibres, and this is the way that the body removes them. This can happen in around 1 in 10 dogs, so not very common therefore, please ensure you do not feed them too soon after treatment (see post treatment instructions)
They can become more playful or more interactive.
Their behaviour may change, less/more anxious/grumpy etc.
GENERAL POST CARE ADVICE
For hydrotherapy, myotherapy massage or physical muscular development there are also some simple post treatment procedures that are beneficial to your dog, however in some instances this may be dependant on the condition or surgery that your dog has attended Snowy’s for. Please follow your VET’s instructions first and foremost.
- Try to keep you dog on a lead for 4 days post treatment due to inflammatory response created by the therapy.
- Allow your dog to scent, as this will aid in the rehabilitation of the muscles that have been treated and stimulates other areas.
- Try to follow the recommended rest days, given to you by the VETS and Snowy’s therapists.
- Avoid crate rest – as the therapy will have created a new biomechanical movement to allow better movement patterns and flexibility. Again, following on instruction from your VET, if you are unsure talk to the therapists at Snowy’s.
- If your dog is due to take part in a sporting activity, please consider talking to one of Snowy’s therapists.
- All these and many other signs could be normal; we are looking for change. If your dog is lame and is having treatment, the lameness could be the last thing to go and in the interim these indicators can give you a guide that the treatment is having an effect. This is really useful as a reporting mechanism to both you as the owner and the team of therapists at Snowy’s.
