Orthopaedic

Dog Swimming for Hip Dysplasia

Warm-water swimming for dogs with hip dysplasia — low-impact muscle building.

Enquire about a session 07359 881320

WHAT OWNERS NOTICE

How hip dysplasia tends to show up

bunny-hopping gait

reluctance to jump into the car

narrow back-leg stance

loss of thigh muscle on one or both sides

stiffness after rest

WHAT IT IS

Hip Dysplasia in plain English

A malformed hip joint where the ball and socket do not fit closely, causing abnormal wear, inflammation and — over time — secondary arthritis.

HOW IT WORKS

In the pool with hip dysplasia

Buoyancy removes the majority of weight-bearing load through the hip

Water resistance rebuilds gluteal and thigh muscle that a limping dog loses fast

28–32°C water keeps the joint capsule warm and mobile through a full range of movement

Swimming gives a symmetrical push from both back legs, which discourages the one-sided compensation seen on land

WHY THE POOL HELPS

Hip Dysplasia and warm water

Hip dysplasia is made worse by concussive loading — the trot on hard ground, the jump down from the sofa. In the pool the hip carries almost none of the dog's weight, so the muscles that stabilise the joint can be worked hard while the joint itself is barely loaded.

YOUR FIRST VISIT

A first hip dysplasia swim

We keep the first swim short. The dog enters by the ramp with a coach in the water, does a few supported lengths, and we stop well before fatigue — dysplastic dogs will keep going long past the point their muscles are done.

RECOMMENDED SESSION

Swim Coach for hip dysplasia

Weekly to start, dropping to fortnightly once muscle tone holds between sessions.

Owners usually notice the effort of the swim before they notice a change on land — a dog that struggled to complete three lengths in week one completing six comfortably a month later.

£40 · 30 minutesCheck availability

Before you book

If your dog is in an acute flare and yelping on movement, speak to your vet before booking. Swimming is for management and conditioning, not pain relief in an acute episode.

Written vet clearance needed (hip dysplasia).

QUESTIONS WE GET ASKED

Hip Dysplasia: questions

Can swimming cure hip dysplasia?

No. It is a structural problem in the joint and no exercise changes that. What swimming can do is build the muscle around the hip so the joint is better supported, and keep the dog fit without hammering it on hard ground.

My dog has had a hip replacement — can they swim?

Very often yes, but only once your surgeon signs it off, usually at a set number of weeks post-op. We need that clearance in writing before the first session.