Fitness, Rehab & Aquatics

Personalized care to support comfort, mobility, and overall wellbeing.

Have you ever seen a dog at a gym? Probably not. But if pets could sign up for memberships, plenty of them would. Humans have gyms, trainers, physical therapy, and massage to stay strong, flexible, and comfortable as life goes on. Pets, on the other hand, are usually told to “take it easy” once they slow down. In veterinary medicine, movement therapy is often reserved for rehabilitation after surgery or injury when in reality, many pets could benefit from thoughtful, guided activity long before that point.

Fitness & Aquatics program

Aspire’s Fitness & Aquatics program uses tools like underwater treadmills and targeted conditioning equipment to bring proactive physical wellness into everyday veterinary care. Aquatic therapy allows dogs (and cats!) to move comfortably while reducing stress on joints, making it a great option for seniors, working companions, and pets managing weight or stiffness. Staying comfortable often starts with keeping the body in motion. Just as people rely on massage, stretching, and strength training to stay loose and energized, pets benefit from regular, purposeful movement. Aspire is committed to rethinking how physical wellness is supported in veterinary medicine by offering safe, approachable options that help pets maintain mobility, comfort, and enjoyment of life for years to come.

Rehab program

For dogs and cats that have conditions that require more oversight and expertise during exercise sessions, Aspire is pleased to also offer formal rehab services. 

Common scenarios that require rehab instead of fitness sessions include knee injuries (CCL tear), hip or elbow dysplasia (arthritis), soft tissue injuries, back pain, and neurologic conditions like intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) and degenerative myelopathy. 

For patients in our rehab program, frequent veterinarian-led monitoring is intentionally paired with their exercise sessions to ensure they are rebuilding strength appropriately, maintaining proper biomechanics, and minimizing risk of re-injury as they transition back into fitness programming. This continuity allows us to adjust intensity, progression, and recovery strategies in real time, like the use of laser therapy, to support safe return to activity and long-term durability.

Many patients who complete a structured rehabilitation program are then able to return to fitness-based physical activity. Because rehabilitation and fitness services are housed under the same roof at Aspire, patients remain within a coordinated medical framework throughout their entire journey.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • The starting point and the goals are the true difference.
  • Rehab often starts with a mobility deficit with a goal of getting back to baselines (e.g. I had an injury like an ACL tear and am trying to get back to normal function).
  • Fitness starts at baseline with a goal of improving. The exercises may be similar, but the duration or degree of difficulty will increase over time to build power and stamina. Improving fitness and conditioning goals are not just for working dogs. Goals can vary and are all equally important – from wanting to hike a bit further to increasing your run time on an agility course. No goal is too small or too lofty.

  • As part of a balanced weight loss program – for cats too!
  • Dogs needing additional mental or physical stimulation
  • Dogs engaged in a conditioning program that need cross training
  • Puppies for the purpose of social exposure and healthy lifestyle habits
  • Dogs or people with medical conditions that make long leash walks accomplishable
  • Environments that restrict the availability of prolonged movement (living on a busy road or in an apartment building).
  • As part of an injury prevention or recovery rehabilitation program

  • Your pet may be a good candidate if s/he does not have a history of limping, injury, heart disease, respiratory illness, and dogs with managed conditions such as stable arthritis
  • If your pet has a history of heart disease, respiratory condition like asthma, or progressive or changing arthritis a consultation with one of our veterinarians will be required before scheduling
  • If your pet has had recent surgery with a healing incision, infection (urinary tract, respiratory), or diarrhea, s/he will need to wait until this condition has resolved fully before participating in hydrotherapy
  • Consult appointments are available to discuss your pet’s specific circumstances and answer questions/concerns if needed

  • All sessions are monitored by an assistant.
  • Dogs are acclimated to the hydrotherapy chamber and never rushed.
  • Floatation devices are used until more advanced levels of conditioning are achieved.
  • If your dog is adverse to hydrotherapy, there are other fitness options available that we can talk about!

  • Absolutely! Many cats can be taught to perform fitness routines and can even be acclimated to the underwater treadmill

  • We want our fitness and conditioning program to be widely available to all members of our community. You do not need to be a veterinary client to bring your pet for underwater treadmill sessions but we do require a proof of vaccinations and an annual physical exam with an Aspire Veterinarian to ensure your pet remains a suitable candidate for a fitness program. 
  • Underwater treadmill and land exercise appointments are booked in 30min timeslots. Packages are available, contact us for more information. Discounts are available for Wellness Plan members.