​Most people love the holiday season and there is so much to love about them. There is cheer in the air and everyone seems to have a smile. While the holiday season may be a happy time for us, it isn’t always so for our pets. As a matter of fact, it can be quite stressful and sometimes potentially dangerous too. So how can you ensure that your pet is able to make it through the holiday season in a stress and anxiety-free manner? Here are some of our tips that can help for different situations:

​For many, the holidays also mean travel. But it may not always be possible to take your pet with you every time you head out of town. This means you will either rely on a pet-sitter or kennel to house your pooch. This may cause stress and anxiety to your pet. You can help reduce this anxiety by doing at least a couple of runs with a pet-sitter or boarding facility before you go out on vacation. This will help him become more familiar with strange surroundings or a new person. It’s also a good idea to ensure they have a favourite toy or blanket for comfort even a piece of your clothing with your familiar smell.

​If you plan to take your dog along with you on a road trip, it will go far more smoothly for everyone if you ensure he uses up some of his energy before loading up. Depending on the age of your pet, playing with a toy/ball or even taking them on a long walk can help expend some of the nervous energy. Also, don’t feed your dog breakfast just before you hop in the car. Feed them a relatively light meal 3 to 4 hours before you hit the road. There’s nothing worse than a gassy passenger in the car.

​If you are planning to spend time at home during the holidays and are going to be entertaining a lot, the constant stream of guests can be quite upsetting to your pooch. If your pooch tends to get very nervous around strangers, its best to create a safe space for them in any room of the house. This will give them the quiet time they need while the festivities are on. Don’t compel your pet to be where all the noise and people are if they prefer to be in a quiet room or they want to sleep in their own bed. Allow your pet to decide exactly how much socialising they are comfortable with. Also spend some quality time with your pet around this time so their routine doesn’t feel to out of place. 

​While you may like to decorate your house and your Christmas tree with twinkling lights, decorations such as these may send your pooch into a frenzy. If you notice your pet becoming anxious or nervous when they see the blinking lights, simply use some other décor. After all, your pet is a family member and you want her to enjoy the holidays as much as everyone else, don’t you?

When choosing holiday décor, consider whether it can pose a threat to your pooch if they swallow a decoration. Sometimes a simple thing like securing your Christmas tree so it can’t be knocked down will prevent an injury to your pet.

​Dogs are exposed to a variety of loud noises throughout the holidays. The hustle and bustle of everyone cleaning the house and decorating it, clanging of pots and pans from all the holiday cooking, Christmas carolling and more. Fireworks are the added noise factor that can upset your dog immensely. 

Fireworks often causes stress and anxiety in our pets. It goes without saying that you need to keep your pet away from any common areas where people are lighting fireworks.  Place your pet in a quiet room when firecrackers are being lit; this can help keepthem calm and safe. 

​Try to maintain regularity in your pet’s routine and don’t change their diet either. While the holiday season can be an exciting time for you and your family, following these tips can also help ensure your pet is safe and happy as well.

You may also want to read:
• Tips to Keep your Dog Calm and De-Stressed This Holiday Season
• Top 7 Tips To Keep Your Dog Happy This Christmas

​Hydrotherapy is a form of non-weight bearing, low-impact exercise that is extremely effective in the rehabilitation of painful, weak and sore joints. The non-weight bearing conditions are first treated with controlled swimming movements. The entire body gets proper support from the floatation. The limbs are able to move very freely and there is no jarring like that which occurs while exercising on any hard surfaces. 

Swimming is proven to be one of the best forms of exercise because almost all the muscles that are used in movement are also involved in this activity. You don’t have to worry about any stresses that come from running on concrete or any other hard surfaces.

It isn’t uncommon for the terms swimming and hydrotherapy to be used interchangeably. But the fact is that these are essentially different in terms of the effects and benefits they offer. When a dog is swimming it means they are completely buoyant in the water and this is very different from hydrotherapy. 

The latter is an aquatic exercise that is carried out in a much more controlled manner, which means the pet’s body isn’t overburdened in any way. Hydrotherapy is water healing and its value lies in the buoyancy, warmth and pressure that it provides. Some of the primary benefits of this form of exercise include:

• Relief from stiffness, pain and swelling 
• Promotes relaxation
• Joint mobilization
• Muscle restoration & maintenance
• Increased range of movement, balance, flexibility and endurance
• Stress-free, gentle and zero-impact exercise
• Improving cardiovascular function and circulation
• Improving the dogs physical well being
• Increased co-ordination
• Allows exercising for pets with disabilities
• Cardio-vascular conditioning and improvement
• Improves quality of life
• Perfect opportunity for you to bond with your pet
• Pre and Post-operative conditioning after any kind of orthopaedic surgery 
• Increases energy levels in aging canines 
• Very good for general convalescence
• Improves mental stimulation 
• Can help provide relief in degenerative joint disease
• Helps in injury prevention 
• Builds general fitness 
• Improves stamina 

Dogs that require improvement with core strength,cardiovascular strengthening, flexion, proprioception, extension, gait improvement, muscle building, will surely benefit from hydrotherapy. 

Here are some facts about hydrotherapy and why it is the best form of exercise for our canine friends:

• The warm water evenly relaxes the muscles, causing the blood capillaries to expand. This increases muscle heat & improves circulation which in turn reduces the pain, swelling and stiffness.
• The hydrostatic pressure that the water provides helps reduce swelling. It does this by moving away the fluids from the tissue in the affected area/s towards the heart. In turn, this helps the body dispose the waste product very easily. 
• Since the water offers buoyancy, the weightless environment helps reduce the pain while it takes the pressure of the weight away from the affected areas. 
• This form of controlled swimming helps strengthen the muscles and gives them the workout they need without causing any major stresses.
• Since there is a higher level of movement, the muscles have to work much harder than they would on a firm surface. 
• Hydrotherapy is extremely useful if your pet is lame or sore. It’s an ideal treatment for conditions such as lameness, arthritis, soft tissue and joint-related problems. 
• It’s proven to be effective in treating hip problems, spinal injuries, ligament damage, sciatica, muscle weakness and cruciate ligament damage too. 
• It’s a great way to help maintain general fitness and it aids in weight loss as well. 
• Hydrotherapy is proven to be effective in reducing inflammation and pain.

​If your pet has arthritis, that can lead to painful & swollen joints. These conditions can make it very difficult for them to exercise or even walk comfortably. In fact, your dog may find it challenging to get up if they have been lying down for a very long period of time. 

The inactivity ultimately takes its toll on your pet’s body and they may start to gain weight as well. This impacts their health even further and adds more pressure on the joints. All of these problems can be addressed very effectively with hydrotherapy. 

Swimming your pet in a special indoor heated pool is one of the best ways to speed up recovery post-surgery as well. It helps improve general fitness, stamina and muscle tone and conditions and strengthens the body. Your dog will also learn how to swim and will begin to shed those extra kilos if they are overweight. A five-minute swim is equivalent to a 5 kilometre walk. 

• Knee surgeries
• TPLO surgery
• Full hip replacement
• Anterior cruciate ligament surgery
• Amputation of a limb
• Femoral Head and Neck Excision
• Luxating Patella
• Elbow & hip dysplasia in old and young dogs
• Degenerative joint disease
• Fractures
• Neurological disorders
• Weakened spine
• Soft Tissue Injuries
• Osteoarthritis
• Osteochondritis Dissecans (OCD)
• Early signs of cognitive dysfunction

Hydrotherapy typically begins 4 to 6 weeks after their operation. Consult your vet about when the best time is to start hydrotherapy for your pet, post and pre-surgery. Your vet would need to fill in a Vet Referral form . You’d have to give this to the Hydro-therapist before starting on any treatment. This will help ensure your Hydro-therapist designs the perfect treatment plan for your pet. This treatment is extremely effective and can reduce your pet’s recovery time by at least 50%. 

Some Additional Facts

Many pet parents wonder whether swimming their dogs in rivers, oceans or dams has the same benefits. If your pet has a condition, swimming in these settings has a number of disadvantages. While it’s true that a dog can swim very freely in these waters, the temperature of the water is cold and some of the points you need to consider include:

• The cold temperature constricts the blood vessels that lie just under the skin. That restricts the flow of oxygen and blood to the vessels.
• It also causes the blood to flow away from essential muscles and peripheral limbs risking muscle strain and pain. This reduces the efficiency of the muscles. 
• The water can prove to be very cold for your arthritic pet even in the summer months. This can increase the stiffness in their joints. 
• Lack of proper muscle control while swimming can result in an accident or drowning. 
• The pet will be exposed to eye, ear, skin and gastroenteritis problems.

Swimming is a great form of exercise for pets young and old. Hydrotherapy isn’t only for pets that have become injured, are recovering from surgery or are overweight. These sessions can be a source of entertainment and fun for your healthy pet as well. It helps them burn energy, stimulates their mind and canines have a ton of fun retrieving a Frisbee or ball in the water.  K9 SWiM has also hosted dog parties where clients have booked the pool for their dog’s birthday and invited some of their pooch friends along. 

Enquire at K9 Swim for hiring the pool for your club or party. Conditions Apply.

​The low-impact therapeutic effects of hydrotherapy make it the perfect form of exercise for pets that are suffering from arthritis, aching and inflamed joints. It helps your canine friends gain muscle tone and fitness and also offers a safe and fun way to get a full body work out. 

At our centre you can rest assured that your pet will be treated with the utmost care and safety. We are very passionate about what we do and your pets can enjoy some time in the warm water of our indoor pool. Our centre is unique and the modern complex has been purposefully designed and built for dogs’ fitness, fun and rehabilitation. In fact, we are one of a kind in all of NSW. 

The indoor heated pool and underwater treadmill is great not just for rehabilitation and fun but for conditioning swims as well. While it’s a great place for older dogs, we also run classes for puppies as well. Based on the specific needs of your pets, you can choose from:

• Swim sessions for dogs and pups
• Puppy Splash – learn to swim
• Senior Dog programs
• Weight Loss programs

When it comes to maintain the long-term wellbeing of your dog, ensuring they are in peak physical condition is what matters the most. The positive muscle toning, strengthening effects and overall fitness benefits that hydrotherapy provides is a whole lot of fun and a great way to get your pet to expend his energy in a healthy and consistent manner. When you choose to bring your dog to K9 SWIM you know that they are getting the best attention from certified and professional Hydro-therapists. No matter what age or size your dog is, we have a program for them.

The Hydrotherapy Centre has an indoor heated pool along with an underwater treadmill and provides services from fun or conditioning swims to rehabilitation. Courses and seminars will be run in the training room within the centre in the near future. 

The Wellness Centre is all about Holistic health with the following practitioners practicing out of the centre:

• Sam Sherrington - Canine Osteopath
• Rob’s Veterinary Alternatives. 
• Tranquil Pet Spa -Jacqui Auld’s dog grooming 
• Sharon Osmond-Canine massage, photonic therapy and herbal treatments

For more information, feel free to browse our website.
​Or why not drop by and check out the new centre for yourself.