©Anthony Duran via Unsplash
Milan confirms its status as an 'animal lover' with a unique service: a pool reserved for dogs, designed not simply for leisure activity, but as a clinical and rehabilitation tool. It's called 'Doggy Pool' and it's in operation at Clinica Veterinaria Europea, in the physiotherapy department.
This isn't an independent leisure center, but a structured and comprehensive medical facility, where each visit is preceded by a personalized clinical assessment. The aim is to use water as a therapeutic medium to maintain the animals' functional capacities, thanks to a progressive approach tailored to the physical and emotional needs of each individual.
How the therapeutic pool works
The facility is designed according to rigorous veterinary criteria. The water, maintained at a constant temperature of 28 degrees, is treated without chlorine by electrolysis with magnesium salts, a gentler solution for the skin and respiratory tract. The area is separated from other clinical areas and disinfected on a regular basis, while access is via non-slip ramps that allow safe, gradual entry.
All activities are supervised by qualified veterinary physiotherapists and canine educators, who adapt the intensity and type of exercise to the dog's condition. Buoyancy reduces joint stress, facilitating movements that would be painful or difficult in a dry environment. At the same time, the natural resistance of water enables controlled muscle strengthening.
Rehabilitation, prevention and quality of life
Hydrotherapy can be integrated into post-operative care protocols, after trauma or in the presence of orthopedic and neurological pathologies. For older dogs, it helps preserve mobility and muscle tone, while for sporting dogs, it becomes a tool for physical preparation and injury prevention.
Alongside the strictly rehabilitative dimension, the Doggy Pool also offers a gentle introduction to water for puppies and adult dogs discovering it for the first time, as well as supervised fun activities, always under professional supervision. Exercise sessions on the water treadmill are also included in the functional recovery programs. Each course begins with an assessment and continues with rigorous follow-up, with checks before, during and after the activity.
Source: Clinica Veterinaria Europea
(©GreenMe.it 2026/Managing editor: Julie Morgan - The Press Junction/Picture: Anthony Duran via Unsplash)