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K9 SWiM Hydrotherapy & Wellness Centre Opens

Whether your dog is a puppy, a senior with mobility issues or is recovering from injuries, the K9 SWiM Hydrotherapy & Wellness Centre located in Richmond (Western Sydney) has something to offer you.

Officially opening on October 21, this brand new purpose-built facility was specifically designed for dogs to deliver rehabilitation, fitness and fun swimming classes in an indoor heated pool. Additional services include natural therapies, grooming as well as an underwater treadmill. 

New K9 Swim Canine HydrotherapyCentre building housing a pool in Richmond



How did K9 SWiM start?

K9 SWiM is the brainchild of Sharon Osmond, a qualified Veterinary Nurse whose passion always was animal rehabilitation and physical therapies. Sharon completed many training courses to expand her knowledge and now holds qualifications in Myofunctional Therapy, Cranio Sacral, Ttouch as well as a Diploma in Animal Naturopathy

K9 Swim owner Sharon Osmond in a wetsuit hold onto a dog wearing a life jacket by the pool
When Curzon, one of her Weimaraners was diagnosed with hip dysplasia and arthritis, she knew the best thing she could do for her was to swim her in warm water to build up her muscles and give her stability. 

In 2013, she started K9 SWiM and in 2014, she won a scholarship through the Veterinary Nurses Council of Australia. She flew to the UK to complete a Certified course in small animal hydrotherapy before bringing her new knowledge and accreditation back to K9 SWiM.

Why is Canine Hydrotherapy beneficial to your dog? 

Canine Hydrotherapy is a wonderful non-weight bearing exercise that is great for dogs recovering from surgery or an injury. 
It is also really good for conditioning and training – for those dogs that are participating in sports and competitions such as agility, flyball and showing. 

Dogs can also just come and swim for fun in a safe environment and burn off some energy and enjoy themselves. Swimming is also great for weight loss and can be a gentle exercise for the senior dog.
Labrador Retriever gives a kiss to K9 Swim staff whilst swimming in the pool
The team at K9 SWiM get great satisfaction in helping the dogs that come in needing rehabilitation and watching their progress in strengthening and mobility. They work closely with vets, surgeons and referral hospitals to offer the best possible service for our four-legged friends. Here are just some of the conditions which hydrotherapy is used for: 

  • Pre and post-surgery recovery 
  • Arthritis 
  • Hip Dysplasia 
  • Orthopedic / Musculoskeletal conditions 
  • Muscle development 
  • Disabled dogs 
  • Aging dogs 
  • Limited range of motion, flexibility and balance 

However, dogs don’t need to have a medical condition to swim. It is also a wonderful cross training exercise that can help with your dog's general fitness levels as it improves tone and builds up stamina plus it’s also a whole lot of fun! It does not matter what their starting level of fitness is as an individual program will be planned based on their current condition. 
Dog in a blue life jacket swimming in the K9 Swim pool
With an estimated 59% of Australian dogs estimated to be overweight, the K9 SWiM Canine Weight Loss Program is designed to get the pounds off your pooches over an 8-week period.

Your dogs are assessed on your first visit and an ongoing exercise and an diet program is designed to get them safely to their ideal weight. ​All dogs under this program can swim as many times as they want in a week and you can join at any time.

Canine Underwater Treadmill


Dog using a canine underwater treadmill as part of canine hydrotherapy sessionHydrotherapy sessions with the Canine Underwater Treadmill provide additional resistance and buoyancy, which alleviates the pressure off your dog’s limbs and joints

The reduced weight-bearing load increases the functional use of their limbs. The warm water used in the treadmill helps reduce pain and inflammation, which can also make connective tissue more flexible and increase blood and oxygen in muscles. 

The best advertisement for any business are always its customers and you’ll find loads of testimonials from happy clients. One caught our attention because we saw one of their dogs in the DockDogs competition held at the Sydney Dog Lovers Show

Pearl and Daisy’s Story 


Groodle in a Superman costume leaps into the pool during DockDogs competition in Moore Park
Liz Barnes’ Groodles Pearl and Daisy have been competing in dog sports for over 9 years. She needed to find a way to build up their stamina and core strength without too much exertion on their bodies. 

"I was lucky enough to find K9 Swim where Sharon and her team have helped Pearl and Daisy build up their strength and stamina in the pool with low impact to their bodies." said Liz.

She also believes these regular swimming sessions at K9 Swim also aided Daisy in a speedy recovery after an emergency surgery she underwent in 2014 for Gastric Dilatation Volvulus (Canine Bloat) which was life threatening. Due to Daisy's fitness she was back competing in dog sports a month after surgery. K9 Swim is a great way to exercise your pooch and yourself as you can also get in the pool with your dogs.

If you’d like to check out this amazing new facility for yourself and discover how canine hydrotherapy could benefit your pooch’s health and wellbeing, then you’re in luck as their official Grand Opening is coming up!

When: Sunday 21st October 2018, from 10:00am to 2:00pm

Where: 853 Kurmond Road, North Richmond, NSW, 2754

To RSVP to this event, please call 1300 787 064 or email info@k9swim.com.au

To find out more, please visit www.k9swim.com.au 

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