Meet Our Pack
Ivy
Ivy was the inspiration for Paws in the Pool. She had always led an active life, travelling, camping, and hiking. At 10 years of age, she began having mobility issues and was diagnosed by our veterinarian as having arthritis. We began taking her to an underwater treadmill, which literally changed her life in that she could once again hike, run, and play. However, she did not like being confined in the treadmill, and it took quite a bit of time to get her into it each week.
Karla
I first became a believer in the healing power of water when I hurt my knee training for a marathon. My physical therapist prohibited running on land for three weeks and prescribed water running in the pool. I was amazed when I came out of the pool stronger than if I had continued training on land.
I began my training at La Paw Spa in 2013, where I completed my Level 1 Heart to Heart Canine Aquatic Training. I returned in 2014 to complete Level 2 with a more specialized training. After completing these courses, I attended Rocky Mountain School of Animal Acupressure and Massage to obtain my canine massage certification. In 2016, I attended what I consider to be my most extensive and intensive training through Greyfriar's Rehabilation in Vancouver, Canada, and earned my certificate in Canine Hydrotherapy. I plan on continuing my training in both canine massage and hydrotherapy.
Our boxer, Waldo, was diagnosed with Degenerative Myelopathy (DM) within a year of my last training. DM is often compared to ALS in humans, and has a fatal prognosis. I had learned at Greyfriar's that warm water swimming and floating can promote longevity and, more importantly, improve quality of life. Although it was heartbreaking to have my own dog diagnosed with this devastating disease, I was able to provide him with care that I believe comforted him and slowed the progression of his deteriorating mobility issues.