Dr. Molly Flaherty (left) watches as Reggie walks the treadmill.
Penn Vet's Ryan Hospital has introduced hydrotherapy to its roster of canine rehabilitation therapy services through the addition of an underwater treadmill.
By leveraging the physical properties of water—including buoyancy, resistance, and hydrostatic pressure—hydrotherapy provides a unique, low-impact treatment protocol that allows dogs to exercise without placing their full body weight on their joints, while building strength against water resistance. The hospital’s new underwater treadmill, installed during summer 2024, is specifically designed to support dogs suffering from degenerative joint and muscular conditions, recovering from surgeries, and experiencing neurologic injuries.
The underwater treadmill functions similarly to traditional human exercise equipment found at gyms, with control over speed and resistance – except for the fact that a plexiglass and metal chamber sits on top of the revolving belt. Once filled with heated water, the chamber allows canine patients to engage in rehabilitation exercises and gait retraining in a controlled environment. The interior of the tank features resistance jets, which can be utilized for increasing exercise difficulty and massage therapy. And a built-in water treatment and filtration system ensures sanitation and patient safety.
Hydrotherapy can be especially helpful for senior dogs experiencing pain and decreased mobility due to arthritis, hip dysplasia, knee injuries, degenerative neurological disorders, spinal injuries, and unintentional weight gain. Treatment outcomes for patients experiencing these and other presenting symptoms often include improvement in overall range of motion, strength, and mobility, a decrease in pain levels, and weight loss, when appropriate.
“For many dogs with sore joints who are limited in their ability to move on land, water therapy is often the best route for them to exercise and engage in rehabilitation,” said Ryan Hospital Clinical Instructor of Rehabilitation Medicine Molly Flaherty, DVM. “In water, we can take up to 63% of a dog’s body weight off of their joints, allowing for safe movement and strength-building without the stress and discomfort that land-based rehabilitation can impose.”
For patients seeking hydrotherapy services at Ryan Hospital, the process begins with a comprehensive evaluation. Each patient undergoes an intake assessment to identify specific needs, mobility limitations, and pain levels. Based on this assessment, a customized treatment plan is developed. While hydrotherapy can be used independently, it is often combined with complementary treatments available through Rehabilitation Therapy Services, including land exercise, acupuncture, laser therapy, and manual therapy, based on individual pet requirements.
Dilly, who works at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, performs his exercises.
“Dogs tend to really enjoy the water therapy, and it helps build trust between them and our team,” said Flaherty. “These types of interactions make the rehabilitation process beneficial from a physical health perspective, and also an enjoyable experience for patients.”
Ryan Hospital is one of only two venues currently offering hydrotherapy services in the city. The addition of an underwater treadmill represents a significant step forward in accessible, comprehensive rehabilitation resources for canine patients and their caregivers.
“The addition of an underwater treadmill is a significant milestone for our Rehabilitation Therapy Services,” said Ryan Hospital Director, Chief Medical Officer, and Associate Dean of Clinical Enterprise Brady Beale, VMD, DACVO. “With the new equipment, we are not just adding a service; we are expanding treatments for our patients. In addition to complementing our existing Sports and Performance Medicine and Orthopedic Surgery offerings, this equipment allows us to increasingly tailor our treatment plans to the unique needs of each canine patient we serve and ensure the best possible outcomes.”
New patients seeking hydrotherapy services are currently being accepted, and no referral is necessary. Pet owners interested in utilizing the new underwater treadmill service can schedule appointments by contacting Ryan Hospital at (215) 746-8387, or visiting www.vet.upenn.edu/veterinary-hospitals.