Hydrotherapy
Underwater Treadmill
Welcome to The Balanced Canine's Hydrotherapy clinic! Meet your Hydrotherapist Lance Garmonsway, dogs love him!
Lance originates from New Zealand and has had Great Danes most of his adult life - In another lifetime, Lance showed Great Danes in the conformation ring. These days, you will find Lance in the underwater treadmill loving on his canine clients and helping them feel comfortable to get the most out of the therapy.
Lance trained and qualified under animal physiotherapist Michelle Monk at the Canine Health Academy and obtained his accreditation with the Australian Canine Rehabilitation Association.
Fees & Services
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$60.00 per session (per dog)
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$120.00 for your first session which includes an assessment and introduction to the underwater treadmill unit.
We offer sessions for both fitness, toning as well as rehab. If you have a complex rehab case, please touch base first so we can ensure we can service your needs.
Fitness sessions are for apparently healthy & uninjured dogs. Injured dogs and dogs preparing or recovering from surgery will require a referral from their Vet which will need to reach us at least 24 hours prior to your appointment.
What is hydrotherapy good for?
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Muscle Strengthening
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Increase muscle mass
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Cardiovascular fitness making it ideal for sporting and show dogs who need to perform at their best and avoid injury.
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Improved speed of recovery helps dogs get back to those fun activities faster.
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Pain relief
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Prevention of atrophy
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Improved range of motion
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Assists in weight loss
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Reduction in swelling
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Reduction in stiffness
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Improved circulation
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Improved proprioception
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Gait re-education
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Improve trunk strength
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Prolong mobility and life in senior pets and those with mobility challenges
Who is hydrotherapy NOT suitable for?
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Dogs with open, infected, or draining wounds
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Active gastrointestinal disease (vomiting and or diarrhea)
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Dogs who are acutely unwell
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Recent deterioration in mobility e.g. can’t walk, limbs not moving and non-weight bearing on a limb
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Systemic compromises such as severe cardiac, liver, and kidney disease
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Severe respiratory compromise or distress
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Advanced debility/ frailty
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Uncontrolled epilepsy
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Contagious condition
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Tracheostomy
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Chlorine allergy
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Dogs that have had chemotherapy within the last 48 hours
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Bitches in season
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Bitches that are to be bred, we give a caution. In humans, there are studies that have contradicted one another about negative outcomes for pregnant women swimming in chlorinated pools and there are no studies in dogs.
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Pregnant bitches - 1st-trimester possibility for bitches who are experienced and happy in the underwater treadmill with their Vets ok.
Booking your Hydrotherapy session
All our bookings are made by the client via our online appointment system. If you have any questions, please reach out to us before making your booking.
Our appointment system will let you book up 7 weeks in advance from today's date, we are closed on public holidays.
Once you book your appointment, you will receive an email confirmation, if you do not get this, we do not have your booking. This email will have a reschedule link if you need to utalise it so be sure to keep the email. If you need to cancel, please contact us first so we can process your refund before your appointment is deleted as our platform doesn't offer an automatic refund on cancellation.
Book here
See our T & C's here that include our cancellation/reschedule policy
Session Duration
Getting Ready For Your Session
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Brush/wash your dog beforehand
As we run on tank water, if your dog hasn't had a wash for a bit or is dirty, you will need to wash them at home before coming for your session. Please try and brush molting hair from your dog, we do however understand dogs molt.
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Avoid putting anything on your dog such as grooming sprays, oils, grooming chalks, recent use of topical flea treatments, etc.
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Bring towels and treats.
With your treats, choose non-crumbly types. Avoid dehydrated hard treats. A recipe for small treats that float can be found here.
For regular users, you may like to purchase a drying coat, here's a couple that may interest you: Doggie Dry, DOG, and Surfdog
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Arrive 10-15 minutes early to toilet your dog and settle them as well as to avoid arriving late due to traffic etc. If your dog poos in the underwater treadmill, we have to close it for the remainder of the day. If you have a fecally incontinent dog, you will need to book the last appointment of the day unless you are able to ensure your dog has pooed prior - touch base with us before booking if you're unsure of how to proceed.
Please wait on the nature strip or in your car and we will come out for you. Do your best to avoid running late as this will shorten your session time. Please keep our neighbours in mind regarding barking dogs.
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We will put our own harness and waterproof collar and lead on your dog unless you have those yourself and prefer to use your own. We do not use lifejackets in an underwater treadmill.
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You will probably get wet
Whether it is your dog shaking on you or your shoes getting wet in the post-treatment rinse you give your dog, we suggest you wear your "dog" clothes and shoes you don't mind getting wet :)
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Dogs under medical management may need a Vet referral which will need to reach us at least 24 hours before your appointment.
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We are unable to accommodate reschedules within 24 hours of your appointment. Cancellations within 24 hours are not eligible for a refund unless in special circumstances.
How often should you come?
For best results for fitness clients, 1-2 sessions per week for 6 weeks and then for maintenance, once weekly or once a fortnight depending on your goals. The more your dog works out, the faster you reach your desired outcome - you technically can come as much as you want but we will work with you to formulate a plan so as to not overtrain your dog - recovery is important.
For rehab clients, click here to see a general guideline of treatment for common conditions or contact us to discuss. You will need a vet referral form.
Session Duration
Session Duration
Your first session will be up to one hour (per dog) and will include a history and assessment.
The follow-up session blocks are a maximum of half an hour, this includes preparing your dog for their session and rinsing and drying them off.
The time spent in the actual underwater treadmill depends on the individual dog and how they are traveling, it's hard work! Most fitness dogs will be in the underwater treadmill for around 10 minutes initially and the level of difficulty will increase over time. Our unit also offers an incline and power jet.
Even if your dog is very fit, resistance exercise is hard work!
Rehab client's treatment time is dependent on their condition and is likely to start with short sessions.
Session Duration
How will your dog react?
They may be a little nervous initially, there are different sounds coming from pumps and equipment that are new to them, then water coming into the unit.
If your dog has never been on a treadmill before, they may become a little worried when the earth starts to move under their feet but we'll be in there with them to help them.
By large, most dogs cope really well, and by their 3rd session and happily participating.
If you have a dog that has a bite risk please speak with us before booking your appointment so we can discuss management options.
