By Jennifer Thompson
It started with a disease.
Many pet owners in the Porch Press circulation are familiar with Tori Rice, owner of Pet Au Pairs. She has pet-sat, dog walked, and protected many of the four-legged family members who could not join the rest of the family on an out-of-town foray for whatever reason. Deliberate and thoughtful in conversation, soft and even in her tone, Rice is a perfect combination of approachability and responsibility; just what parents wants when leaving their homes and inter-species family members in her care.
But then life happened. The messy part, not the part we think of; but day-to-day living just the same. Her flat-coat retriever Ava; her heart child, the dog lover’s dog that bypasses the logic and the intellect and just takes your heart and holds it in their focused eyes and wagging tail; began to hurt.
“When my sweet Ava was suffering from hind quarter ataxia due to spondylosis, my veterinarian suggested that we try swimming, I was immediately fascinated by the idea and did tons of research. It didn’t take long to realize that swimming was the therapy for Ava,” Rice recalls.
Canine water therapy is well established overseas and on the west coast, but has been slower to develop here. Some intown dog spa and rehabilitation centers offer underwater treadmills, but the cost of building and maintain a canine pool has made this particular therapy harder to find. Rice drove her dog 45 minutes each way in her search to help Ava have a quality of life.
Two things happened…well, maybe three. One: Rice saw how warm water swimming and canine water therapy helped Ava. Two: Rice connected the dots of her own journey. “Having been a water lover and a dog lover for my entire life, it quickly became obvious to me that swimming with dogs was the perfect addition to my work with animals.” And three: why do intown residents have to drive so far to help their canine family members?
So Rice had a choice. There is this dream that you didn’t know you had, but once you have it, you recognize it. You have a life, a mortgage, and bills to pay. What do you do?
She couldn’t ignore what she found. “I enrolled in a course with the founder of the Association of Canine Water Therapy in Washington state, and was off to follow a dream just several months after hearing about canine hydrotherapy. It took quite a bit longer than that to get a pool, but I was a woman on a mission.”
It also took more money. But ah, what a pool; a heat-bathed, music-touched, color calmed pool of water. The approach is deceptive. A garden shed in a lovely private yard, meant only for its owner to enjoy. But open the door and enter a space geared to soothe, to engender a feeling of safety at the most primal; a space for dogs. Humans react, humans respond, but this is about the dog. Owners can stay and interact, but the therapy is between Rice and the animal.
“The foundation of my training is creating a safe environment for the pups to receive all of the benefits on warm water swimming,” Rice explains. “Entering and exiting the pool safely is crucial. Once in the pool, I work to facilitate a safe healing experience for the pups and their humans. I have studied canine anatomy and massage techniques and am a Reiki practitioner. Honestly, being in the water is the true magic of swim therapy.”
The benefits of water therapy are well established in humans. These hold true for dogs as well.
All exercise in the pool is non-weight bearing, so there’s no strain on tight muscles and tired joints. The resistance of water is five times that of air, so a 5-minute swim is like a 5-mile walk. What could be better?” Rice asks.
Unlike the outdoor water dived into with such relish on a hot summer day, therapy pools are heated to a temperature found to be best for healing strained joints and soothing weakened muscle tissue. Rice explains, “The pool itself is tested twice daily to be certain that the water is optimal. The temperature is between 86 and 92 degrees, depending on the needs of the client. The pH is between 7.4 and 7.6, which is ideal for my canine friends. The design of the fiberglass swim spa makes it possible to use minimal chlorine – the level is between 1 to 1.5 ppm; you’ll find that quite a bit less that tap water which is generally 4 ppm. I also use an ultraviolet light filter for additional sanitization. And, since the pool is completely indoors, the only debris that enters the pool is dog fur and whatever else is on their coats. The main pool filter utilizes diatomaceous earth, which removes far more particulates than a cartridge or sand filter.”
More than anything, the new age music, soothing heat, and soothing colors invite the human to dive in. That’s even before the jets are seen. The dog is entering a whirlpool; synonymous with luxury. “The jets have multiple functions, primarily circulation of water and directing it into the filtration and sanitization channels. Since the pool is designed for dogs, the capacity of the pumps and filters is capable of moving much more water than a pool for humans. The swim jets at the long end of the pool can be used for resistance in training athletic dogs (and myself),” Rice laughs.
During the session, Rice is always with the dog; and lest it appears from this writing that it is fun and games, far from it. She is always gauging, working, adjusting to the dog’s needs, and working the muscles that need stimulation to bring healthy, strong energy back to injured areas. All dogs, from the large Great Dane to the Dachshund, from the youthful timid to the senior arthritic, can benefit. “Any dog (or human) can benefit from exercise in warm water. A vigorous swim can help mature and athletic dogs maintain healthy bone density and muscle mass, staying in shape for their next agility trial. Seniors can continue regular exercise, even when they have troubles with arthritis and other age-related conditions. Youngsters can develop self-confidence and be assured that they’re ready for their first vacation at the beach or lake.” Dogs who are recovering from injury, hip and elbow dysplasia, slowing from the progression of degenerative myelopathy and spondylosis, and emotionally challenged dogs with depression or lack of confidence, can benefit from overcoming the fear of moving from land to water travel.
From the tactile, the emotional, to the circulatory, to the skin, water therapy touches all levels of a living being. But a dog can’t speak. A dog cannot know what is being done even when the dog may trust. The reaction of those not involved say it all. Rice recalls, I have one client, a Wheaten terrier who had disc surgery last year; she seems to never enjoy her swims. But we do it anyway because the benefits are so tremendous. She has rebuilt incredible muscle tone in her hind legs. Her surgeon couldn’t believe how quickly and completely she recovered.”
What is best of all? This is in our neighborhood, run by someone known and trusted by many already. A woman on a mission has brought natural, healing therapy to the canine nations that exist alongside our own, making their way through this world and time. Ava did not live to see the result of her inspiration, but she is remembered every day. Go to www.atlantadogpaddle.com to find out more.
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