Pets across Kent will soon benefit from a state-of-the-art hydrotherapy suite at Pennard Vets in Sevenoaks, opening in time for Christmas.
The new facility will offer a full range of rehabilitation and wellness services to support recovery from surgery, weight management and improved fitness.
Leading the team are experienced hydrotherapists and physiotherapists Caron Stone and Esme Zendel, who provide one-to-one treatment using a warm-water underwater treadmill and tailored recovery plans.
Hydrotherapy currently runs three days a week at Pennard Vets’ Eardley Road site, but the move to the Sevenoaks practice 50 metres away will expand the service to five days a week, giving owners greater flexibility.
One of the many pets already benefiting from the hydrotherapy sessions is Henry, a 10-year-old Labrador.
His owner, Gina Nicholson, said: “Henry has arthritis and was getting very stiff, so we wanted to keep him comfortable and moving without putting pressure on his joints. We started physiotherapy and hydrotherapy last year, and Caron has been brilliant with him.
“He’s never going to run around like he used to, but the therapy eases his stiffness, keeps him agile, and he really enjoys his sessions. It’s wonderful to see him so happy and moving more comfortably.
“Henry was diagnosed when he was eight years old and everything we do is to maintain his mobility and keep him as comfortable as possible. We continue exercises at home with cold and heat pads to support what he does in the sessions.
“Seeing him less stiff and more agile gives us confidence that he’s getting the best care possible and I have 100% faith in Caron and the wonderful team at Pennard Vets.”
Pennard Vets was founded in Sevenoaks in 1890 and now operates eight practices across Kent. In 2021, it became one of the first independent veterinary practices in the world to transfer into employee ownership, and in 2022, it became the first veterinary practice in Europe to achieve B-Corp certification.
