Precision in Motion: Understanding Your Dog’s Gait with Hydrotherapy

Oct 1 / Dr. Priya Streram
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Have you ever watched your dog walking in an underwater treadmill and wondered what exactly is happening in there? To many pet parents, hydrotherapy looks like just another form of exercise: the therapist guides your dog into the chamber, the water fills, the belt moves…and that’s that. But behind every session is a carefully calculated program that uses the science of water to target mobility, strength, and healing in ways land exercise simply can’t replicate.

You might be thinking, “Isn’t walking on land enough? Or couldn’t my dog just wade at the beach or swim in a pool?” Those activities have their own benefits, but they’re not the same as a structured underwater treadmill session. In fact, the design of the treadmill, the height of the water, the speed of the belt, and even the direction of movement work together to influence joints, muscles, circulation, and confidence differently. In this post, I’m going to break down how underwater treadmill therapy uniquely supports mobility and why it’s far more than just “walking in water.”

The Underwater Treadmill Is an Engineering Marvel!

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1. The moving belt allows for consistent, measurable movement.
The treadmill belt allows us to gently ensure a dog keeps walking at a steady, controlled pace. On land, they can stop, sit, wander, or change speed at will, but in the treadmill, we can set the rhythm, track duration, and objectively monitor their progress and fatigue over time.

2. The adjustable water height allows for controlling gravity and resistance to movement.
With a change in water level, we can literally decide how much of the dog’s body weight is supported. Higher water means less loading on sore joints but more resistance when moving through water. Lower water forces them to break surface tension and bear more weight. It's like turning gravity up or down based on the goal.

3. The adjustable speed allows for built-in progression and challenge.
Because the pace is controlled, we can start gently and gradually add difficulty by increasing speed. This lets us personalise the workout and safely build strength, stamina, and coordination over time.

4. The incline and decline options allow for custom load distribution.
Changing the angle of the treadmill shifts how much weight the forelimbs or hindlimbs carry. We can offload painful joints, strengthen weaker limbs, or retrain weight-bearing patterns simply by adjusting the incline.

5. A Controlled, Focused Environment
Inside the tank, there are no distractions, no dogs running by, no uneven ground, no weather or noise to affect focus or endurance. The therapist can provide hands-on guidance, sensory cues, or gentle support to correct posture, balance, and limb use in real time.

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As a therapist, i absolutely love the underwater treadmill because it helps me understand the dog's movement!

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One of the most powerful advantages of the underwater treadmill is how the water naturally slows and magnifies movement. This gives therapists a clear view of the dog’s biomechanics in a way land exercise simply can’t reveal.

When we watch dogs move in water, we can see exactly how they are loading their limbs, whether one leg is placed more centrally or outward, if a limb is being swung instead of stepped forward cleanly, or if the dog is favouring one side.

The water also makes it easy to observe stride length and symmetry. We can tell if one side is taking shorter steps, whether stride length improves as pain decreases or strength returns, and when both sides finally match in rhythm and reach.

Subtle weaknesses, neurological signs, and balance issues also become more obvious in the tank. Knuckling, delayed paw placement, forelimbs stepping faster than hindlimbs, drifting to one side, tripping, or struggling to stay centred on the belt are all things we may not catch on land.

These observations help us fine-tune sessions in real time and track even the smallest improvements. In water, gait isn’t just seen, it’s truly understood.
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Bringing it home...

Land Walking: This is your dog’s everyday stroll. They carry their full weight, which can stress joints, and their pace may vary depending on energy, distractions, or mood.

Wading / Shallow Water: Imagine your dog splashing in a shallow stream. It gives some resistance and support, but the water depth is uneven, so their movement isn’t consistent or targeted.

Swimming: Floating and paddling in a pool is fun and easy on the joints since there’s no weight-bearing. But because there’s no solid surface, we can’t control how their joints move or strengthen them in a specific way.

Underwater Treadmill: This is where science meets play! The treadmill combines water support with a steady walking surface. The speed, water height, and incline are adjustable to give the perfect balance of resistance and support. This controlled environment helps your dog build strength, improve stride, and move more confidently—like a personal trainer tailored just for them.
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