Watsu for canine healing

First, what is Watsu? Wastu is a form of body therapy performed in water. It encompasses muscle stretching, massage, yoga and Tai Chi, all to relax and rejuvenate the body. For dogs it’s basically Tai Chi in the water, but you hold a dog in your arms while you do it. Canine aquatic therapists combine Watsu and swimming to help naturally relieve pain in arthritic dogs or help a dog heal from surgery or injury. Watsu is used by trainers to reduce aggressive tendencies in shelter dogs or to build trust.

Often after major surgery, a water therapist uses the slow, flowing movements of Watsu to relax their client. The hissing of the water against the dog’s limbs helps blood circulate and promotes healing. This also gives the dog a chance to acclimate to upcoming therapy sessions. Since most patients are unable to swim for about two weeks after surgery, Watsu gives the doctor the opportunity to get the dog into the water without performing any rehabilitative manipulations.

Watsu helps loosen joints and muscles while the dog is still recovering. Many aquatic therapists mix Watsu with other forms of therapy, but due to its non-invasive technique, Watsu is often used in the early stages of therapy. The different limbs can be naturally isolated and stretched by the movement of the water. The stretch on the body is not undone. The water does all the work.

Any dog ​​can be stressed beyond their limit after going through a traumatic experience like major surgery. Many pets end up with Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. Watsu is used by many practitioners to help dogs overcome post-traumatic stress. With his warm and gentle technique, the dog loosens up and relaxes. A less stressed dog heals faster and adapts more quickly to other forms of therapy.

Watsu is wonderful for geriatric and arthritic dogs. Many therapists break up a thirty minute session by Watsuing their client for the first ten minutes before moving on to swimming. Watsu helps loosen stiff joints, relieving pain and helping the dog perform better when swimming. Many geriatric dogs love the soothing motion of water moving their limbs. Slow, gentle stretching helps relax muscles and relieve pain Even if your dog doesn’t swim, Watsu helps relieve aches and promotes healing and is readily accepted by most dogs.

Trainers who work with shelter dogs use Watsu as a way to defuse aggression and fear. Since most aggression comes from fear, using water is one of the best ways to counter it. When you put a dog in a warm pool, it builds confidence and relaxes them. Even dogs that are afraid of water tend to like Watsu. Building trust alleviates fear, and once fear is addressed, aggression often goes away.

New forms of canine therapy are being developed all the time. Many of the same techniques used for people are now effective in helping canines rehabilitate themselves. There is no doubt that Watsu is very effective in helping dogs heal faster.