Contact details -
Muppets Canine Therapy
ARCH 8
Princess Street
Off Attercliffe Road
Attercliffe
Sheffield
South Yorkshire
S4 7UU
07989 077519
E-mail
I am based in a lovely old railway arch which is part of Norfork Bridge in Sheffield.
The clinic is just off Attercliffe road near to Lookers Honda, The Car Clinic and the new Tesco.
The Norfork Bridge diner is just behind the bridge.
The Arch is fronted by a large car park with ample parking and has easy access to the pool and reception.
I cover all areas from Rotherham to Doncaster, Sheffield to Worksop and Chesterfield to Barnsley.
You are welcome to enjoy coffee/tea while you wait and I also have a recovery room, reception and doggie shop.
Common Questions and Answers about
Canine Hydrotherapy
Q - What is hydrotherapy ?
A - Hydrotherapy basically means "water therapy"
It is a low impact, holistic, safe and very effective form of therapy.
It involves the dog swimming in warm water whilst being held back to form resistance, or being allowed to swim freely around the pool.
The resistance allows for a greater effect on the soft tissues and joints which promotes faster healing.
In the water, dogs naturally stretch out their legs, this stimulates the muscles, ligaments and tendons to work more efficiently. These tissues then become stronger and more supple. The joints are better supported and less stress is placed on other parts of the dogs body.
More nutrients are introduced to the damaged area and more toxins and dead cells from the injury are removed.
For the benefits of hydrotherapy click on the tab "why is hydrotherapy beneficial"
Q - What sort of reasons may a dog need hydrotherapy?
A - There are many reasons why a dog may benefit from hydrotherapy. It may be as a result of a muscle tear, ligament injury or tendon strain. It may be after surgery to correct a genetic defect or a skeletal injury. It may be before surgery in order to build up muscle before operation. It may be to aid weight loss and speed up metabolism. It may be for ease of pain and increase of joint movement from arthritis. It may be for fitness improvement and maintainence.
For a list containing many of the common disorders click on the tab "why is hydrotherapy beneficial"
Q - What happens in the hydrotherapy pool?
After an initial check over your dog (for muscle tone, painful areas, surgical sites etc) I will check their heart/breathing rate and general condition.
I always take time to get to know each dog and spend a little time with them to try and get them used to me.
With nervous dogs I will let them have a walk around the pool room just so that they settle a little.
Each dog is showered before going in the pool, this also gives me time to feel the muscles, joints etc. By showering the dogs, they become climatised to the water temperature amnd also keeps the pool water clean.
All dogs wear either a float jacket or a body harness. I then go up the pool access ramp with the dog to keep them reassured that they have nothing to fear.
After walking down the ramp into the water your dog is encouraged to sit/stand on the platform in the water while they settle.
The first swim will only be for a few seconds, then your dog is brought back to the platform. This routine carries on several times which gives your dog chance to understand what is happening.
Some dogs start to enjoy the swimming straight away and want to play with toys.
Some dogs are a little more nervous and are ok with just swimming towards the ramp.
I have contact with your dog at all times and they are very safe and free from any oppotunity to damage themselves.
In the water, dogs will naturally stretch out their legs and the boyancy helps to support them where they have had surgery or have a structural disorder.
The dogs heart rate/ breathing rate etc is checked throughout the session and I can also apply some massage and muscle spasm releasing techniques.
After the session, I go up the ramp out of the pool with your dog and he goes back into the shower for a rinse off and shampoo if required.
I will go through the aftercare routine with the owners and the dogs are dried off with towels and a dryer if they are happy with it.
After a short check over once out of the shower, the dogs are free to go home and the next sessions can be booked.
Q - What is the difference between using a water treadmill and a therapy pool?
A - Both water treadmills and hydropools have their place in canine therapy.
One of the main advantages of the pool is that the dog is free to extend and flex his legs more than on a treadmill. Because the treadmill limits the range of movement in the legs to forwards and backwards, certain joints dont get the full range of movement needed to recover from injury. This is especially true of the hip and shoulder joints. In the pool, these joints can be put through rotation, adduction and abduction. all of which are needed for a full recovery.
Treadmills allow for a certain amount of boyancy during the treatment. The dog is encouraged to walk due to the movement of the rolling floor. This can be a little scary to some dogs. In the pool, the dogs tend to be more relaxed as they are not confined in a small space and I can apply the same amount of resistance which they need to improve and promote faster healing.
Q - Can I claim on my pet insurance?
A - As I am a full member of the Canine Hydrotherapy Association, most insurance companies will be happy to pay out under complimentory medicine.
It always helps to phone your insurance provider first and get a claim form. I can then fill the form in and give you an invoice
Q - My dog is nervous of water, will that affect his treatment?
A - No, I take special care with all the dogs who come to see me. I ensure that even the most nervous of dogs will still get the best possible treatment and will try to help them to relax as much as they can.
Q - I have agility dogs and I need to maintain their fitness during the off season period. Will hydrotherapy help?
A - Very much so, exercising in water can build up muscle tone, improve cardio-vascular ability, help to reduce the chance of injury and improve propreception and coordination.
I can design a fitness program to suit each dog whether fly-ball or agility minded. These sessions are usually around 20-30 minutes and are very popular in the winter months
Q - What happens after the session?
A - After your dog is dry I will carry out another short examination to check for any stiffness or soreness. I will then go through the aftercare with the owner and your dog can be booked in for his bext session.
The aftercare usually consists of keeping your dog warm and carrying out a couple of short and easy proceedures once you get home. Your dog usually needs a couple of hours rest after his session before a big meal and may need a short walk that evening. I will go through this all with the owner before they go home and I am always at the end of the phone if needed.
Q - When can my dog start his treatment?
A - With most dogs, treatment can start as soon as possible. This is especially true in dogs with arthritis or structural disorders such as hip dysplasia.
If your dog had had surgery, such as a cruciate ligament repair, It may be that the vet says he is ok to start treatment as soon as any external stitches have been removed.
With major surgery such as a hip replacement it may be that your dog will be ok to start hydrotherapy as soon as he has had his post surgery x-rays.
Q - Does my vet need to know?
A - I will need to see a letter of referal from you dogs vet which should explain the reason why your vet has advised hydrotherapy and also that your vet is happy to recieve feedback as the sessions progress.
Most vets have no problem with this and most surgeries will just pop a letter in the post directly to me once they have suggested hydrotherapy
Q - Do I need to bring anything on the sessions?
A - Not really although it is always a good idea to bring a towel for your dog to sit on on the way home and possibly a coat just to keep him warm till he gets home.
You may also want to wear a waterproof coat in case of splashes!
Q - Can I come and have a look around first?
A - Of course, just arrange a time with me and you can come along and see another dog having treatment so you can get an idea of what happens
Q - Can I stay with my dog during the session?
A - Of course, It is important that your dog remains as relaxed as possible so he will be much happier if his owner is there too.
If you have any other questions, please just e-mail or phone me
Keep your doggie, cat, rabbit etc in top condition with their coat and nails.
Home visits available
Check out Helens new website for her suberb dog grooming clinic
