Here at Hill's Canine Rehabilitation we have a team of qualified hydrotherapists and physiotherapists who thrive to extend their knowledge. Their medical knowledge and experience ensures every patient receives individually tailored treatment plans.

Our Services

At Hills, we offer a range of services tailored to meet the individual needs of each animal patient. Please read below to learn more about each of services.

Rehabilitation Swims

(Pre & Post-operative)

Rehabilitation package used for dogs who have undergone recent surgery or as an option instead of surgery. They may have post-operative physiotherapy requirements, joint disease or neurological disorders. Hydrotherapy can also be carried out before an operation to help with recovery time and reduce muscle wastage.

Fitness & Puppy Swims


Improves cardio-vascular fitness as well increase muscle mass, weight management or simply to have fun in the water. For puppies 16 weeks to 1 year. Helping to develop confidence in the water as well as providing non-weight bearing exercise, putting no pressure on growing joints.

Underwater Treadmill Rehabilitation, Fitness and Fun

Whether your dog is recovering post surgery, wanting to gain some fitness/lose some weight or just get used to water in a safe controlled environment, then our UWTM may be good for you. We are able to control the water level, belt speed and incline. The water is kept at a constant 30 degrees celsius for the therapeutic factors.

Physiotherapy & LASER Therapy

Physiotherapy is designed to improve your dog's functionality and capabilities.

We use a variety of non-invasive techniques (manual, electrotherapies, remedial exercises) to target compromised or malfunctioning elements of the musculoskeletal or neurological systems.This form of treatment can be beneficial alongside hydrotherapy or entirely on its own.


LASER therapy is used to alleviate pain, improve circulation, relax tight muscles and improve joint mobility leading to a more comfortable and fluid motion capabilities. This can be used during physiotherapy sessions or as a stand alone treatment.


Laser Therapy

Normally patient sedation/restraint is not required during treatment, indeed most pets find the experience pleasant. Treatment times vary in length depending upon the condition and the size of your animal, but the majority are less than 8 minutes. Often improvement can be seen after the first visit, however Class IV Laser Therapy treatment is cumulative in nature so for most conditions patients will require several repeat treatments for greatest benefit. The schedule of treatments will vary depending upon the condition but this is an example plan often used:


  • Three treatments in the first week
  • Two in the second week
  • One in the third week
  • Monthly booster sessions as needed


More Infomation

What to expect from your visit

Firstly we will discuss your Vet referral/consent form and any conditions your dog presents with. We may ask you to walk up and down with your dog a few times to do a gait assessment. We will record your dogs weight.

Your dog will then be showered to remove surface dirt and to warm the muscles up prior to the swim. A floatation device or harness will then be fitted to your dog. We will then introduce your dog to the pool, allowing plenty of time to acclimatise the dog and ensure it remains a positive experience.

After the swim, we will guide your dog out of the pool and back to the shower area, where the harness will be removed and the dog showered down to wash off the chlorine and warm down the muscles.

The dog will then be towel dried with a fresh clean towel, and blow dried if appropriate.

We will then discuss with you how the session has gone, including any after care advice. You will be given a welcome pack to read after your session this includes what to do before and after your dogs hydrotherapy sessions.


All dogs swum at Hill's Canine Rehabilitation must have gained their vets CONSENT (not direct referral) . This safeguards your dog from any medical conditions that may be present and would dictate the intensity and progression of their session.

  • Rehabilitation Swims

    For dogs that have recently undergone surgery/injury, each program will be individually tailored, working in close proximity with your veterinary centre. Treatment can be determined by the length of time between surgery/injury and receiving hydrotherapy, as a dog seen within 2 weeks after surgery/injury is much more likely to recover quicker, based on a twice weekly programs. The program is individually tailored in conjunction with advice from your vet. These will take place either weekly or fortnightly.

  • Fun and Fitness Swims

    For dogs that do not require hydrotherapy for a particular condition. This session will improve general fitness, giving the dog an enjoyable cardiovascular workout. We are able to increase the intenstiy by using the anti-swim jets and toys.

  • Puppy Swims

    These are designed for puppies over the age of 12 weeks. It is a great way to introduce your puppy to water and reassures you that should your puppy fall into water or perhaps require hydrotherapy in the future, they will have the confidence to swim. It also helps to build their confidence in new surroundings and with new noises (e.g. the hairdryer!). The emphasis is on fun and enjoyment not the length of swims. 

  • Weight Managment Swims

    For dogs struggling with their weight these sessions are ideal. Swimming is a great workout in a totally non weight bearing environment. We supply an information booklet, weighing your dog every session to help monitor your dog an it's progress.

  • How can I pay?

    Payments can be made by either cash, card, bank transfer or cheque

  • What frequency should my dog attend Hydrotherapy?

    Ideally we like to have patients coming twice a week for the first month. The reason for this is because they will gain muscle strength and bulk at a better rate, hopefully seeing a quicker recovery time and signs of improvement. If you’re unable to do this it is better to come once a week than irregular visits of varying frequencies. 

  • Will my Insurance Company pay for the Sessions?

    Many of the pet insurance companies cover the cost of hydrotherapy treatment. It is catogorised under complimentary therapy. 

    However, please check directly with your insurance company. Hill's Canine Hydrotherapy cannot be held responsible if your insurance company decides not to pay your claim for hydrotherapy for whatever reason.

  • How many Sessions will my dog need?

    We recommend that the animal receives a course of at least 10 sessions in order to see an improvement in their condition. Average frequency of swims is twice weekly initially, reducing as the condition improves. Extended courses are also recommended to maintain success long term in some of the chronic conditions such as chronic arthritis.

    The hydrotherapy clinic is a very relaxed and friendly environment. We ease the animals into the sessions so that they are calm and happy. They all gain confidence quickly and do enjoy the sessions. Lots of our patients get so excited coming to see us, it's great!