This is a concern for many of our clients, but 99% of the time our patients end up enjoying the therapy so much that they run into the treadmill room at their own volition upon arrival at the practice
Even if your pet doesn’t like water or swimming, he/she may tolerate the underwater treadmill because it is quite a different environment from anything they would have experienced before. First, your pet is acclimated to the dry treadmill space with treats and/or toys and praise. When they are feeling secure, we slowly add the water (it fills the tank from from underneath). We adjust the water level to make them feel as comfortable as possible, but usually never lift it above shoulder height. We also use treats and/or toys to make it a positive experience and give them enough time to get used to it. If necessary, we can put aside some extra time to make sure that we do not rush the process and create a negative connotation. However, if the stress experienced by the dog outweighs the benefits of the therapy, we will never force him/her to continue with it. The treadmill is not our only tool in the rehabilitation process and there are numerous other modalities that we use to achieve our rehabilitation goals.