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2 Hands 4 Paws , LLC dba: |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of qualifications do your therapists have to do this work? Who is a candidate for water therapy? What are the benefits of water therapy? How long are the appointments? What if my dog does not like to swim?
How do you get the dog in and out of the pool? How do I prepare for an appointment? How many sessions do you recommend? How soon will it take for me to see improvements in my canine friend? Can I bring more than one dog to my appointment? What if I want to swim with my dog? Can I bring my dog in just for exercise/conditioning? I have a senior dog, would water therapy be good for him? Do you have weekend and evening appointments? How much does it cost? Tell me about your discounted packages? Is there a way for me to help someone financially that needs therapy? What if I need to cancel my appointment?
Warm water therapy is provided by Licensed Massage Practitioners. It consists of swimming and massage in a warm water pool, with each session tailored to the individual client’s needs. What kind of qualifications do your therapists have to do this work? The staff at SplashDog are all Licensed Massage Practitioners (LMP) for humans as well as certified Small Animal Massage Practitioners (SAMP). Washington State requires a minimum of 500 hours of training to become an LMP (which most schools exceed by at least one hundred hours), making it one of the strictest in the country. In order to practice massage on animals, LMPs are required by state law to go on for an additional 100 hours of training specific to dog anatomy and physiology, among other topics. Who is a candidate for water therapy? There are a wide variety of reasons to consider warm water therapy. Some of the most common include post-operative (especially for knee and hip repair), weight loss, conditioning for show or sport, arthritis or just for fun. What are the benefits of water therapy? Water therapy, when combined with massage therapy, allows practitioners to work the soft tissues more effectively than massage on dry land alone. Massage benefits can include decreased heart rate, decreased blood pressure, calming the nervous system and of course relaxing muscles. Swimming provides the client a safe environment to exercise and build muscle, and can have a positive impact on flexibility and joint mobility. It is important to SplashDog staff to build strong relationships with our local veterinarians and the vets of our clients. We provide initial feedback to the referring vet, and can provide whatever level of detail your vet or surgeon would like to receive for future visits. How long are the appointments? We have 30 minute and 60 minute appointments available, either as a Therapy Swim or a Self-Swim. During self-swims, guardians are required to be in the pool area at all times. For Therapy Swims, we encourage guardians to watch the sessions and participate by providing positive feedback for their dogs. What if my dog does not like to swim? We are experienced dealing with dogs who do not like the water or have no experience with it. Our goal during the initial session is to build trust with your dog and get them acclimated to the pool environment. We have various tools we will use to help your dog adjust to the water. Many times, our canine clients who did not originally like the water come to enjoy their sessions.
We searched though out the country to find best pool to use for canine water therapy. Our facility features a 20-foot fiberglass pool, with a 24-hour circulating pump and four adjustable swim jets. We test the pool every day for water balance and use low levels of bromine in the spa which along with our oversized filtering system keeps the 90-92 degree water sparkling clean. How do you get the dog in and out of the pool? SplashDog staff will always carry dogs in and out of the pool when physically possible. The pool has steps that are wide and easy to negotiate. If your dog exceeds 80 lbs., they may be lifted in front legs/back legs. The dogs are lifted in to reduce risk of injury as the stairs and environment around the pool could be slippery. How do I prepare for an appointment? Before you arrive at SplashDog, please make sure your dog is cleaned and has been brushed to remove excess hair. You should also allow your dog to relieve itself before entering the facility. How many sessions do you recommend? Each client is assessed individually and a recommendation will be made at the end of the initial appointment. Factors such as age, condition and recent injuries or illnesses will all play a role in determining what program is recommended. How soon will it take for me to see improvements in my canine friend? This varies greatly depending on the condition of the dog, frequency and duration of visits. Many dogs will start to see improvements within a couple weeks, others with more severe conditions may take a couple months or more. Can I bring more than one dog to my appointment? We allow only one dog in the pool at a time at SplashDog. It is up to your discretion if you would like to bring another dog into the facility during your session. If it distracts the dog receiving therapy to have additional dogs there, we request that you make other arrangements. What if I want to swim with my dog? During both self-swims and therapy swims you are welcome to get into the pool with your dog. This can provide extra comfort for an anxious dog and can be a fun way to share time with your dog. Can I bring my dog in just for exercise/conditioning? Absolutely! You can use warm water therapy when your dog, for whatever reason, is not getting exercised enough or if you want them to get into top physical form for competition or show. Or if you just want to treat your healthy dog to a day of fun, they will be thrilled! I have a senior dog, would water therapy be good for him? Water therapy is ideal for geriatric dogs. We do ask that you check with your vet before starting water therapy if your dog has any health issues. Do you have weekend and evening appointments? Yes. Please contact us for details on days and times. How much does it cost? Tell me about your discounted packages? Therapy swims: 30 minutes = $45, 60 minutes = $85 Self-Swims: 30 minutes = $35, 60 minutes = $65 A ten percent discount applies when you prepay for a combination of any 5 sessions. Is there a way for me to help someone financially that needs therapy? At SplashDog, we have set up a scholarship fund to assist dogs in the community whose guardians may not be able to afford swim therapy. Inquire with SplashDog staff for details on how to contribute. What if I need to cancel my appointment? We have a 24 hour cancellation policy. If you cancel within 24 hours of your appointment, you may be responsible for the full balance of that appointment. |
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Copyright © 2004-2008 SplashDog Spa |
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