Post-surgical

Dog Swimming for Muscle Wastage

Rebuild lost muscle after injury or crate rest — coach-led swimming.

WHAT IT IS

Muscle Wastage (atrophy) in plain English

Loss of muscle bulk from disuse — after injury, surgery, crate rest or long-term lameness. Usually obvious as one back leg looking noticeably thinner than the other.

WHY THE POOL HELPS

Muscle Wastage and warm water

Muscle only comes back if it is worked, and a sore limb will not be worked properly on land. Water lets you load the muscle while the joint stays unloaded.

RECOMMENDED SESSION

Swim Coach for muscle wastage

Weekly while rebuilding; muscle responds to frequency more than to long single sessions.

Thigh circumference measured at home with a tape, plus lengths completed here, gives you an honest picture over six to eight weeks.

£40 · 30 minutesCheck availability

WHAT OWNERS NOTICE

How muscle wastage tends to show up

one thigh visibly smaller

hip bones more prominent

shifting weight off one leg when standing

tiring far sooner than before

HOW IT WORKS

In the pool with muscle wastage

Resistance in every direction, so the whole limb works rather than just the strong parts

Effort can be increased in small steps by adding minutes, not intensity

Symmetrical stroke discourages the dog from favouring the strong side

Cardiovascular fitness returns alongside muscle bulk

YOUR FIRST VISIT

A first muscle wastage swim

We establish a baseline — how many lengths before the stroke changes — and build from there rather than from a fixed programme.

Before you book

If the wastage is from an undiagnosed lameness, get the diagnosis first. Building muscle around an unidentified problem is not a plan.

Written vet clearance needed (muscle wastage).

QUESTIONS WE GET ASKED

Muscle Wastage: questions

How long does muscle take to come back?

Weeks rather than days, and it depends on how long it was lost for and what caused it. Frequency of exercise matters more than the length of any single session.