Building a unique therapy pool
Time was of the essence. After measuring Mac and the threshold of the family’s home, the preliminary sketches were turned into a drawing with complete measurements, materials were ordered, and construction began.
First on the agenda was finding a custom liner to fit the vessel as canine therapy pools are not built every day. After hearing the story, Highbury Pools Ltd., a vinyl liner manufacturer in London, Ont., stepped up to the plate and generously donated a custom fabricated liner and shipped it out within two days after being given the liner diagram.
The therapy pool was constructed of 19-mm (0.75-in.) thick plywood, with additional support lumber used in the corners, base, and along the top edges. The bottom edges were reinforced with galvanized angle iron. All joints were glued and then fastened with screws. It was a utilitarian design, but it worked.
Finally, the pool’s ‘fill-and-dump’ design eliminated the need for a pump, filter, heater, and chemicals. It was designed to be filled via the home water supply and be warm enough for therapy. The ideal water temperature is 21 C (70 F), which would be cool enough to prevent Mac from overheating during exercise, but warm enough to prevent him from getting chills and muscle cramps.
Since the water would be held for a few days before it was dumped and changed, it was important to keep it warm. To do this, the interior walls comprise reflective insulation under the liner, while the exterior walls are covered in 51-mm (2-in.) thick Styrofoam insulation. A custom cut 51-mm thick Styrofoam board was also designed to fit down onto the water’s surface to eliminate heat loss via evaporation. A small hole was cut into the lid to enable the use of an immersion heater. This heater, which was donated by Pet Valu in Orillia, Ont., would normally be used in a large aquarium, but in this application, to maintain the water temperature, it worked perfectly.
Once the therapy pool was assembled, it was delivered and set up in the family’s home within a week.
The water therapy regimen
Mac being a ‘water’ dog would be lifted into the therapy pool. Thanks to the water’s buoyancy, he started to use his front paws in a swimming motion, and by holding his harness, Mac would not gain any forward momentum. Essentially, it was an aquatic treadmill without his paws touching bottom. Mac’s hind legs were motivated simply by working them in a cycling motion.
The therapy routine initially involved four 30-minute sessions per week, which helped Mac start to regain muscle mass. In fact, after only two weeks of therapy, Mac wagged his tail for the first time since the accident. As therapy continued, Mac’s progress could be measured after each session.
During these therapy sessions, which were conducted solely by the family, Mac’s ‘older brother,’ Jackson, the family’s other golden retriever, would not leave his side. Mac loved the opportunity to get into the water and after five weeks of therapy he was able to take his first tentative steps.
For this project nobody knew if water therapy would indeed help. If it did not work, the outcome of Mac not being able to walk again was predetermined and would be tragic. However, if it did work, the therapy pool was a unit that would not be used for much more than a few months. Therefore, there was no point in being too elaborate in terms of its design or cost.
