amberco canine hydrotherapy
amberco canine hydrotherapy is owned and run by Alison & Rod Hunt. Both have been involved with dogs for many years, having had numerous Labradors as pets and more recently as working gun dogs.
Through their love of Labradors Alison & Rod became involved with The Labrador Rescue Trust, for which they have now worked for several years, re-homing Labradors in need of new homes in the South West.
The introduction to Canine Hydrotherapy came in August 1999 after Bertie, one of their Labradors, underwent an operation for O.C.D. The orthopaedic specialist suggested hydrotherapy as part of Bertie's post operative maintenance program. Despite a round trip of over 100 miles to visit the nearest facilities, Bertie underwent hydrotherapy once a week for 3 months, and has made a full recovery. He is now a very fit & active dog who has been able to resume his duties in the field.
The speed of Bertie's recovery, the lack of muscle wastage experienced, and his generally improved state of fitness, convinced Alison & Rod of the many benefits to be derived from canine hydrotherapy. This combined with the lack of local facilities set the seeds for the creation of amberco canine hydrotherapy.
In early 2000 Alison & Rod decided on a change of career, and this was all the prompting needed to progress the idea of a canine hydrotherapy centre to serve the Central South West. The remainder of 2000 was taken up with planning, talking to vets, specifying equipment, identifying suppliers and training at other existing canine hydrotherapy centres.
Finally, after months of hard work, and with much appreciated assistance from Charlie Clarricoates of Charlie's Dog Training Centre & Hydrotherapy Pool and Brad Smith of Westcoast Products, amberco canine hydrotherapy opened in early 2001.
amberco canine hydrotherapy is open Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays 09:00 to 18:00 and Tuesdays & Thursdays 09:00 to 21:00. All dogs are swum by appointment, and by veterinary referral only.
For more information, contact Alison or Rod
amberco canine hydrotherapy is a member of the Canine Hydrotherapy Association.