Canine Water Therapy: Water for a Healthy Dog

Water as Preventive Therapy against Diseases

Water is very important to dogs. It is very crucial to sustain their bodily functions. But unlike people, water cannot tell us when they feel thirsty. As a dog owner, you should make sure that you dog always has access to safe and clean drinking water. Safe and healthy water, and its availability, can also help prevent kidney diseases and keep bladder problems away from your pet. By giving your pet lots of water, it will be pushed to urinate more, and let out toxins more. Some dog owners limit the water they give to their pets, so that their pets can stay locked up inside the house longer without urinating anywhere. This is not a safe practice, as most kidney diseases begin with infrequent urination and the inability of toxic wastes to be released from the body. So, as a dog owner, it helps to know that water is not an enemy, so you don’t need to restrict your dog’s water intake. It can help prevent diseases, now and in the future as well. However, water intake is not the only way to improve a dog’s health through water. Water can also help make a dog feel better and recover from injuries through Canine Water Therapy.  

Canine Water Therapy: Water as Recuperative Therapy

Canine Water Therapy is a program wherein the dog is given some time to spend in the water, playing, swimming, or simply getting a water massage. It is a well-known physical therapy for dogs that are associated to the treatment of orthopedic problems. Canine Water Therapy is a very effective way to ease ailments and injuries in dogs. Canine Water Therapists prepare specific programs for every specific dog’s case. However, there are some dangers associated with Canine Water Therapy as well. Some dogs are not born to be naturally comfortable in water. They can also get scared in water. When practiced wrongly, Canine Water Therapy can do more harm than good. If you are considering Canine Water Therapy as a cure or treatment alternative for a minor ailment in your dog, make sure to partner with a good Canine Water Therapist. Also, if you believe in Canine Water Therapy, and plan on doing it with your dog someday, it is best to train your dog to be comfortable in water as early as you can. Young dogs can learn how to swim and be comfortable in water easily than older dogs. If your young dog already feels comfortable in water, you will have no problems when you do decide to use Canine Water Therapy for your dog’s health in the future.  

Water as Cooling Agent

Finally, the third of the three major benefits of water to your dog is that it helps cool the dog’s body. This is especially helpful when your dog likes to stay outdoors during warm days. Too much heat in a dog’s body is not recommended, even for young dogs. The fact that the bodies of dogs heat up faster than human bodies makes the situation even worse for dogs. A simple exercise outdoors on a warm day can be harmful instead of beneficial to your dog. Some dogs, especially those with thicker or darker furs, may also experience heat to the extent that you can feel the heat from their fur when you touch them. This is where water again plays a part in protecting your dog from harm. The heat in the fur of your dog cannot be easily dispelled even when you give your dog some cool drinking water. To keep the heat away, the more effective way is to spray your dog’s body with cool water. This will help keep your dog safe from high temperatures that can be very harmful to them.