Hydrotherapy is a remarkable part of physiotherapy that has helped people recover from injury, improve mobility and reduce pain for centuries, but hydrotherapy can often be a fantastic treatment for cats as well.
Because it provides gentle pressure, improves circulation and encourages relaxation, it is a beneficial all-round physiotherapy treatment that can be applied to a wide variety of conditions, but a vet is likely to use hydrotherapy as part of a pet physiotherapy package.
A very common use of hydrotherapy is in the immediate recovery period after joint surgery, two or three days after treatment to ensure that wounds are closed and cleaned. Typically, when a joint, bone or muscle is repaired or reset it needs to be carefully rested with as little pressure put on it as possible.
However, relaxing is hard enough for people, and with pets, it can be nearly impossible, so hydrotherapy is often used to help reduce the strain on a paw that has been operated on, as well as the pain that results after surgery.
As well as this, much like human hydrotherapy, it can be used to help treat orthopaedic conditions such as arthritis, helping to restore joint motion, reduce inflammation and relieve related pain, as well as build up stronger muscles.
It can also help provide a low-impact form of exercise, which is very useful for older cats who might struggle with age-related health issues, but also can be an important part of a weight-loss programme for cats suffering from obesity and unable to effectively exercise otherwise.
The latter programme typically involves not only a dedicated hydrotherapy pool but also a treadmill that provides some resistance and encourages cats to move their legs around without putting pressure on the joints and increasing the risk of injury.
There are many other situations where hydrotherapy might be the primary treatment, and it is always worth discussing with a pet physiotherapist or vet if hydrotherapy might be best for your cat.