Option 1

1. Contact us by:
   a) Telephone: 01889 505111
   b) Facsimile: 01889 505777
   c) Online email: info@dogswims.co.uk
   
2. On your pet’s first appointment please bring with you:
   a) Registration Referral Form.
   b) Your pet’s vaccination certificate.
   
3. Please ensure that you do not exercise or feed your pet for at least three hours before swimming.

Option 2

1. Print the online our Terms and Conditions and the Registration Referral Form from this website.
   
2. Please read, fully understand, sign and date our Terms and Conditions.
   
3. Ask your Veterinary Surgeon to complete the Registration Referral Form and give your pet a thorough healthcheck.
   
4. Contact us to make an appointment by:
   a) Telephone: 01889 505111
   b) Facsimile: 01889 505777
   c) Online email: info@dogswims.co.uk
   
5. On your pet’s first appointment please bring with you:
   a) Registration Referral Form.
   b) Terms and Conditions.
   c) Your pet’s vaccination certificate.
   
6. Please ensure that you do not exercise or feed your pet for at least three hours before swimming.

At the First Appointment

We discuss your pet’s condition, your Veterinary Surgeon’s specific recommendations, observations and devise a swimming programme. These are given careful consideration before your pet enters the water. If your pet has experienced any of these conditions: congestive heart failure, enlarged heart, epilepsy, diabetes, bleeding (external and internal), asthma, chemotherapy, please advise us.

Your pet will be warm water rinsed. A sling will be fitted and access to the pool will be via an electric hoist.

The first swim could be restricted to as little as one minute, this will vary from dog to dog, injury to injury. There may be a rest period and second short swim. Your dog will take the correct swimming position on it’s own. The treatment will be paced with your pet’s natural ability and comfort level. In most cases, dogs will have had little exercise due to the condition and muscle groups utilised during swimming may not have been used for years.

After the swimming session your dog will be showered and dried. We also advise owners not to feed their pet for approximately one hour after swimming.

Subsequent Appointments

Each visit the swimming time may be increased as your dog improves. After the second swim your dog will be profoundly relaxed and muscles will be exercised. We will be continually assessing how your dog is coping with the exercise. Some days your dog may have more energy and other days tire more quickly. There will be short sessions of swimming with breaks, gradually increasing the length of time swimming.

Your dog will already have begun to build muscle mass by the third swim. Results are quite dramatic in a short period of time and we recommend that your dog has two treatments per week to enable a quick and safe recovery.