Singapore’s first dedicated animal rehabilitation clinic
Established as Singapore's first full-service veterinary rehabilitation clinic. Every therapist, piece of equipment, and room exists for one purpose: rehabilitation.
Our purpose-built underwater treadmill allows precise control of water depth, speed, and resistance — critical for post-surgical cases where uncontrolled movement is dangerous.
All sessions are supervised by qualified veterinary professionals. Our therapists hold the Level 3 Certificate in Hydrotherapy for Small Animals (UK), working under Dr. Sara Lam.
We measure muscle circumference, gait quality, and functional mobility scores at regular reassessments — so recovery progress is visible and verifiable.
Every dog receives dedicated individual attention. No shared pool sessions. Every session is tailored to your dog's condition, abilities, and recovery goals.
Your dog is assessed for suitability, including a review of their history, gait analysis, and current condition. A personalised treatment programme is created.
Your dog is introduced to the water environment calmly, entirely at their own pace. Our team uses a low-stress handling approach — no force, no rush.
Guided exercise on the underwater treadmill or in the pool. The therapist controls depth, speed, and duration in real time, adjusting to your dog's response.
Post-session cool-down, thorough drying, and coat care. Your dog should leave the clinic comfortable and relaxed.
Session notes recorded, progress measurements taken at regular reassessments, and home exercise recommendations provided where appropriate.
WhatsApp us at +65 8798 7554 to discuss your dog’s needs and schedule an assessment.
Evidence-based outcomes across surgery recovery, arthritis, and chronic conditions
Water buoyancy reduces your dog's effective body weight by up to 60–90%, allowing movement and muscle activation without stressing damaged or post-surgical joints. This makes hydrotherapy safe during recovery phases when land exercise would be harmful.
Dogs recovering from TPLO, TTA, fracture repair, or spinal surgery typically regain full weight-bearing 30–40% faster with hydrotherapy as part of their programme. The water environment enables controlled movement before the patient is ready for land-based exercise.
Warm water (28–32°C) promotes vasodilation, reduces joint stiffness, and triggers the release of endorphins. Many dogs show immediate reductions in pain scores after their first session, particularly those with chronic arthritis or degenerative joint disease.
Water provides 12–14 times more resistance than air, making each movement more effective for muscle building. This is critical for dogs with muscle atrophy following injury, surgery, or neurological conditions — and for senior dogs losing muscle due to age.
For dogs with IVDD, degenerative myelopathy, or other neurological conditions, the sensory feedback from water contact and the supported movement environment helps retrain neural pathways and improve motor function over time.
Hydrotherapy burns significantly more calories than equivalent land exercise due to water resistance, without the joint impact that makes conventional exercise difficult for overweight dogs. Combined with dietary management, it's one of the most effective weight loss tools in veterinary rehabilitation.
The resistance of water provides an effective cardiovascular workout at lower speeds and intensities than land-based exercise. This is especially valuable for dogs who cannot exercise at normal intensity due to orthopaedic or respiratory conditions.
The warmth and buoyancy of water allow joints to move through a fuller range of motion with less pain. Clinical measurements at RehabVet show joint range of motion improvements of 15–25% within 4–6 sessions for many arthritis patients.
Many dogs develop a positive association with hydrotherapy sessions, particularly when introduced gradually using our low-stress handling approach. The combination of physical improvement and positive experience supports overall wellbeing during difficult recovery periods.
Unlike most exercise modalities, hydrotherapy sessions at RehabVet are accompanied by regular reassessments — muscle circumference measurements, gait analysis, and functional mobility scoring — so you can see your dog's progress in concrete terms.
Our hydrotherapy for dogs in Singapore addresses a wide range of conditions, from post-surgical recovery to age-related mobility issues.
Dogs recovering from TPLO, TTA, femoral head ostectomy (FHO), fracture repair, or spinal surgery benefit enormously from early hydrotherapy. We coordinate with your primary vet to begin sessions as soon as it is safe to do so — typically 10–14 days post-surgery once wound closure is confirmed.
Arthritis is the most common reason dogs are referred for hydrotherapy in Singapore. The warm water environment significantly reduces joint pain and stiffness, allowing dogs with severe arthritis to exercise safely and maintain the muscle mass that supports joint health. Read more about arthritis treatment.
IVDD patients — particularly Dachshunds, French Bulldogs, and Corgis — often present with hind limb weakness, ataxia, or paralysis. Hydrotherapy provides a supported environment for these dogs to work on strengthening and neural retraining, often alongside laser therapy and physiotherapy.
Dysplastic joints cause lifelong pain and progressive degeneration. Regular hydrotherapy sessions help dysplastic dogs maintain muscle mass around affected joints, reducing the load on dysplastic surfaces and slowing disease progression significantly.
Degenerative myelopathy, fibrocartilaginous embolism (FCE), and other neurological conditions affecting mobility respond well to the sensory stimulation and supported movement hydrotherapy provides. Progress can be slow but is often meaningful and measurable.
Obese dogs carry significantly elevated risk of orthopaedic disease, diabetes, and reduced life expectancy. Hydrotherapy enables effective calorie-burning exercise without the joint stress that makes conventional exercise painful or unsafe for overweight dogs.
Older dogs benefit from regular hydrotherapy as a maintenance programme — preserving muscle mass, joint mobility, and cardiovascular fitness as they age. Many of our senior patients come fortnightly or monthly for ongoing wellness sessions, not acute treatment.
Both pre- and post-surgical cruciate cases benefit from hydrotherapy. Pre-surgical: to maintain muscle mass and fitness. Post-surgical: to accelerate recovery and restore normal gait patterns. The underwater treadmill is particularly effective for cruciate cases because it promotes weight-bearing walking, unlike pool swimming.
Bring your dog's medical history, any imaging reports (X-rays, MRI), and a list of current medications. Avoid feeding a large meal within 2 hours before the session. If your dog has open wounds, skin conditions, or has been unwell recently, contact us before attending.
Your therapist will introduce your dog to the treadmill or pool environment gradually. For first-timers, much of the session may be acclimatisation rather than active exercise — this is normal and important. Sessions typically last 20–45 minutes. You are welcome to observe.
Your dog will be thoroughly dried before leaving. Some dogs are tired after their first few sessions — this is normal and indicates the muscles are working. Most dogs drink more water after sessions. Your therapist will give you home exercise recommendations and book your next session.
| Feature | Underwater Treadmill (RehabVet) | Swimming Pool |
|---|---|---|
| Water depth control | Yes — adjustable to the centimetre | No — fixed depth |
| Speed control | Yes — variable treadmill speed | No — depends on the dog |
| Suitable for non-swimmers | Yes | No |
| Weight-bearing exercise | Yes — promotes natural gait | Limited — swimming is non-weight-bearing |
| Post-surgical rehab | Excellent — controlled, safe movement | Risky — hard to control movement |
| Gait retraining | Yes — treadmill encourages normal walking | No |
| Muscle building | Targeted — resistance + walking gait | General — swimming uses different muscles |
| Best for | Surgery recovery, arthritis, IVDD, neurological rehab | General fitness, cardiovascular conditioning |
Hydrotherapy provides dogs with a low-impact, highly effective form of exercise that aids rehabilitation from injuries, surgeries, and chronic conditions. The buoyancy of water supports your dog’s body weight, allowing movement without stress on painful joints. The warm water relaxes muscles and increases circulation, while the resistance of water builds muscle strength more effectively than land-based exercise. Research in the Journal of Small Animal Practice consistently shows superior outcomes for dogs receiving hydrotherapy as part of their rehabilitation programme compared to land-based rehabilitation alone.
The frequency depends on your dog’s condition and treatment goals. For post-surgical rehabilitation, we typically recommend 2 sessions per week during the initial recovery phase, reducing to once weekly as your dog improves. Dogs with chronic conditions like arthritis often benefit from 1–2 sessions per week initially, transitioning to weekly or fortnightly maintenance sessions. Active dogs using hydrotherapy for fitness may attend once weekly. Your RehabVet therapist will recommend an optimal schedule during the initial consultation.
Treatment duration varies considerably depending on the condition. Post-surgical rehabilitation typically involves 8–12 weeks of hydrotherapy. Chronic conditions like arthritis benefit from ongoing maintenance — many dogs continue with regular sessions indefinitely for optimal quality of life. Neurological conditions may require longer rehabilitation periods of 3–6 months or more. Your therapist will set clear goals and milestones, regularly reassessing to ensure the programme remains effective and adjusting as your dog progresses.
Absolutely, dog hydrotherapy is worth it. The evidence supporting hydrotherapy’s effectiveness is robust and well-documented. Dogs recovering from surgery return to function faster, dogs with arthritis experience significantly improved mobility and reduced pain, and overweight dogs achieve healthy weight loss without joint stress. Beyond the physical benefits, many owners report that their dogs are happier, more energetic, and enjoy a noticeably better quality of life. At RehabVet, we see these transformations daily and consider hydrotherapy one of our most valuable therapeutic tools.
Hydrotherapy is used for: (1) Post-surgical rehabilitation — accelerating recovery from orthopaedic and spinal surgeries; (2) Arthritis management — reducing pain and maintaining joint mobility; (3) Neurological rehabilitation — retraining walking in patients with spinal cord injuries or IVDD; (4) Weight management — safe exercise for overweight dogs; (5) Muscle building — strengthening muscles weakened by injury or disuse; (6) Fitness and conditioning — maintaining health in active and senior dogs; (7) Pain management — natural pain relief through warm water therapy.
Hydrotherapy accelerates healing through several mechanisms: warm water increases blood circulation, delivering more oxygen and nutrients to injured tissues; buoyancy allows early mobilisation without overloading healing structures; resistance exercise prevents muscle atrophy during recovery; hydrostatic pressure reduces swelling and oedema; and the relaxing effect of warm water reduces muscle spasm and pain, promoting a positive healing environment. Together, these effects create optimal conditions for tissue repair and functional recovery.
Hydrotherapy is a specific form of water therapy that uses controlled water conditions for therapeutic purposes. At RehabVet, our underwater treadmill allows precise control over water depth, temperature, speed, and resistance — creating a tailored therapeutic experience. General “water therapy” may refer to any therapeutic use of water, including swimming. The key difference is the clinical precision and evidence-based approach of structured hydrotherapy, which is designed and supervised by trained rehabilitation professionals to achieve specific therapeutic outcomes.
At RehabVet, our underwater treadmill water is maintained at 28–32°C (approximately 82–90°F). This temperature range is carefully chosen: warm enough to promote muscle relaxation, increase blood flow, and reduce joint stiffness, but not so warm as to cause overheating — an important consideration in Singapore’s tropical climate. The water temperature is continuously monitored and adjusted to maintain the optimal therapeutic range throughout every session.
Hydrotherapy may not be suitable for dogs with: open or infected wounds; uncontrolled infectious diseases; severe cardiac conditions; uncontrolled epilepsy; certain skin conditions; extreme fear of water that cannot be managed with gradual desensitisation; or immediately post-surgical before wound closure. Our veterinary team conducts a thorough assessment before beginning hydrotherapy to ensure it is safe and appropriate for your dog. If hydrotherapy is not suitable, we offer many alternative rehabilitation modalities.
Success rates for hydrotherapy are consistently high across a range of conditions. Post-surgical patients typically show 80–90% improvement rates in recovery speed and outcome quality. Dogs with arthritis frequently demonstrate measurable improvements in mobility scores, pain levels, and muscle mass within 4–6 sessions. Neurological patients’ success rates vary more depending on the severity and nature of the condition, but many dogs with partial paralysis regain significant function through consistent hydrotherapy combined with other rehabilitation modalities.
Yes, hydrotherapy is highly beneficial for older dogs. Senior dogs commonly suffer from arthritis, muscle wasting, reduced mobility, and general stiffness. Hydrotherapy addresses all of these issues simultaneously: the warm water eases joint pain, the buoyancy supports ageing joints, and the gentle resistance maintains muscle mass. Regular hydrotherapy sessions help senior dogs remain active, comfortable, and independent for longer. Many senior dog owners in Singapore consider regular hydrotherapy essential to maintaining their pet’s quality of life in their golden years.
Yes, hydrotherapy is one of the most recommended treatments for dogs with arthritis. The warm water reduces joint stiffness and pain, the buoyancy minimises weight-bearing stress on inflamed joints, and the resistance builds the muscle mass needed to support and stabilise affected joints. Numerous veterinary studies confirm that regular hydrotherapy significantly improves mobility scores and reduces pain in arthritic dogs. At RehabVet, arthritis management through hydrotherapy is one of our most common and successful treatment programmes.
After your dog’s initial assessment, you will be contacted to discuss the results and recommended treatment plan. If the assessment reveals any urgent concerns, our team will discuss emergency or priority treatment options with you promptly. For routine rehabilitation cases, we will outline the proposed hydrotherapy programme, including frequency, expected duration, goals, and costs, so you can make an informed decision about proceeding with treatment.
While gentle swimming or wading can provide some benefits, professional hydrotherapy in an underwater treadmill offers significantly superior outcomes. The controlled environment allows precise adjustment of water depth, speed, and resistance — something that cannot be replicated in a pool or natural body of water. Professional supervision ensures correct gait patterns, appropriate intensity, and safety throughout. Improper exercise can actually worsen many conditions, so we strongly recommend professional hydrotherapy for dogs with medical conditions. For healthy dogs, recreational swimming is excellent general exercise.
Our hydrotherapy team includes qualified veterinary rehabilitation professionals trained by leading hydrotherapy training institutions in the UK. All team members hold recognised qualifications in canine hydrotherapy and work under veterinary supervision. Our therapists undergo continuous professional development to stay current with the latest research and techniques in veterinary hydrotherapy. You can be confident that your dog is in highly skilled, experienced hands at RehabVet.