Our hydrotherapist Claire discusses why we ask for a signed referral form from you primary care veterinary team before we let your dog partake in veterinary hydrotherapy.
Why a Veterinary Referral Is Required for Canine Hydrotherapy
At Pawsitive Relief, your dog’s safety and welfare always come first. While we are fortunate to have a veterinary professional in-house, we still require a referral from your dog’s primary veterinary practice before commencing any hydrotherapy sessions, including fun and fitness swims.
This ensures that all professionals involved in your pet’s care are working from the same information, maintaining continuity across your dog’s treatment and overall health management.
Legal Framework: Why Vet Involvement Is Essential
Under the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966, the diagnosis of disease and the prescription of treatment in animals may only be carried out by a registered veterinary surgeon. Hydrotherapy, when used for rehabilitation or fun and fitness, therefore requires veterinary authorisation.
The Veterinary Surgery (Exemptions) Order 2015 allows suitably trained paraprofessionals to provide treatment only when they are:
· Acting under the direction of a veterinary surgeon
· Working from an established veterinary diagnosis
· Treating an animal deemed fit for that activity
Continuity of Care: Keeping Everyone on the Same Page
Although we have a vet in-house, your dog’s own veterinary practice holds the most complete and up-to-date medical record, including:
· Diagnostic findings and imaging
· Surgical history
· Medication use
· Underlying or concurrent health conditions
Requesting a referral allows us to work collaboratively with your vet, ensuring hydrotherapy complements rather than conflicts with existing or future treatment plans. This shared approach supports safe and continuous care, which is widely recognised as best practice in veterinary medicine (Levine et al., 2010).
Why a Referral Is Still Needed for Fun & Fitness Sessions
It’s a common misconception that fun or fitness swims don’t require veterinary approval. While these sessions may not be targeted rehabilitation, hydrotherapy still places physiological and biomechanical demands on the body.
Many dogs attending fitness sessions may have:
· Early or undiagnosed joint disease
· Previous orthopaedic injury or surgery
· Cardiac or respiratory conditions
· Neurological or spinal changes
· Breed-related predispositions
Water exercise significantly alters joint motion, muscle recruitment, buoyancy, resistance and cardiovascular workload, even in apparently healthy dogs (Marsolais et al., 2002). Without veterinary input, there is a risk that swimming could exacerbate an underlying condition or place inappropriate strain on the dog.
A veterinary referral confirms that:
- Your dog is fit to participate in water-based exercise
- There are no hidden contraindications
- Appropriate limits and precautions are in place
- Fitness sessions remain safe, controlled and enjoyable
Veterinary Evidence Supporting Referral-Led Hydrotherapy
Veterinary literature supports hydrotherapy as a clinically significant intervention, not simply recreational activity. A UK survey of canine hydrotherapy practice found that all dogs undergoing hydrotherapy were treated following veterinary referral, reinforcing its role within veterinary-led care pathways (Monk et al., 2006).
Studies also demonstrate that changes in water depth and movement significantly affect limb kinematics and loading patterns, meaning exercise must be carefully selected based on the individual dog’s health status (Marsolais et al., 2002).
In Summary:
Even for fun or fitness sessions, a veterinary referral:
- Complies with UK legislation
- Confirms your dog is safe to swim
- Identifies underlying or developing conditions
- Maintains continuity between all professionals involved
- Supports responsible, evidence-based hydrotherapy
Reference List
Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966
UK Government. Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966
Veterinary Surgery (Exemptions) Order 2015
UK Government. Veterinary Surgery (Exemptions) Order 2015
Marsolais GS, McLean S, Derrick T, Conzemius MG. (2002)
Kinematic analysis of the hind limb during swimming and walking in healthy dogs.
American Journal of Veterinary Research, 63(4), 567–573
Monk ML, Preston CA, McGowan CM. (2006)
Effects of early intensive postoperative physiotherapy on limb function after tibial plateau levelling osteotomy in dogs.
Veterinary and Comparative Orthopaedics and Traumatology, 19(4), 259–265
Levine D, Millis DL, Flocker J. (2010)
Principles of canine rehabilitation.
Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice, 40(3), 635–649