Dog hydrotherapy treatment service hopes to make a splash in Perth

A Perth vets has opened a new hydrotherapy unit for dogs.

Tay Valley Vets and Equine Centre has installed the special pool at its city practice.

The unit will be used to treat a range of canine ailments, including arthritis and obesity.

Practice partner Harvey Carruthers, said demand for the service has grown in the area.

He said: “We treat so many dogs with arthritis, or injuries such as cruciate disease that we started to look for ways to improve the treatment on offer without just relying on medication.

“Hydrotherapy can provide rehabilitation, pain relief and controlled exercise all under the guidance of trained vets and canine hydrotherapists. It can also help those older dogs that seldom get enjoyable exercise, or overweight dogs.”

The canine hydrotherapy pool at Tay Valley Vets is the first fully sunken, easy access pool to be built by a private vet in Scotland. It measures 4×2 metres.

Hydrotherapy has been a common treatment for horses for a number of centuries, but has only recently become popular for dogs.