FAQs

Similar to a doggy daycare, Buddy requires 3 vaccinations for our clients: Rabies, DHPP, and Bordetella (kennel cough). Though not required, we also strongly recommend that your pet be vaccinated against Leptospirosis and Canine Influenza.

The Bordetella vaccine needs to be administered at least 5 days prior to your appointment. Proof of vaccines must be submitted to us prior to your arrival - you can upload them to your client portal, on our intake form when booking an appointment, or via email to hello@buddyk9.com

Some exceptions are made for new puppies, please email or call for details.

Our hydrotherapist is fully qualified and trained to treat a variety of conditions, but is not a vet. Your own vet should always be satisfied that your pet is a good candidate for hydrotherapy.

It enables the hydrotherapist to have all the medical information about the pet and ensure they are in a suitable state of health for hydrotherapy or swimming.

You can get the process started by downloading our vet referral form and having your provider fill it out. The PDF is designed to be filled out and signed digitally so you can email it back to us at hello@buddyk9.com

You don’t need much, but please bring your pet in on a short leash, and a towel to dry them after. If you would like a shampoo add-on during their rinse and have a particular shampoo you want us to use, please bring that.

If you haven’t already uploaded or emailed it to us, please bring any vet referral documents, and vaccination records for your pet.

You may want to consider wearing clothing that you don’t mind getting splashed or a bit wet. Please wear non-slip flat shoes since our floor is usually wet.

We recommend to replace the walk with the swim. Short walks for potty is fine but you do not want to over-exert your dog prior to or after the session.

This allows the hydrotherapist to have a fair evaluation of their movement in the pool and how they appear after their session to determine if the next treatment needs to be adjusted.

We ask you not to feed your pet 3 hours before or after the swim to prevent sickness and gastric dilation volvulus (bloat).

We cannot allow owners into the pool with their pets, however we do encourage you to stand alongside and encourage them while swimming. In certain cases if the owner’s presence causes the pet to move unfavorably, our hydrotherapist may ask you to wait out of sight.

Of course, since we’ll be treating them in the water. However, we will towel dry them after the session, so they will be damp, but not dripping. We will rinse your pet with fresh water after every session to remove the pool chemicals, and we offer a small uncharge if you’d like a quick shampoo. We do not offer any blow dry or grooming.

PLEASE BRING A TOWEL WITH YOU TO THE SESSION

It’s OK - not all dogs can swim! Our treatment sessions are always performed with a life jacket or non-flotation harness so the hydrotherapist can easily lift or maneuver them as necessary. Someone will be in the water with your pet at all time to ensure they are safe. Even if they can’t swim, our hydrotherapist will manipulate their muscles and movements manually in the water. No worries!

Hydrotherapy sessions are always private for the health & safety of the dog. We do not allow more than one dog in the pool during treatment.

For fun & fitness swims, we can accommodate more than one pet (but our booking system cannot handle that) so please book a single session, and call or email to let us know if there will be more than one dog. Additional dogs are charged at the same price and can be paid before or after the session.

Your initial assessment will be around 60 minutes, and each individual treatment session is roughly 30 minutes.

Please note that your dog may only be actively swimming or walking on the treadmill for a fraction of that time depending on their condition and physical health. Your Hydrotherapist will develop a custom treatment plan including working & rest times for each patient individually.

Your hydrotherapist will select certain treatments in the pool or treadmill based on the condition and physical health of your dog. One is not better than the other, they simply treat different things. During your initial consultation, the hydrotherapist will design a treatment plan and answer any questions about why they would use the treadmill vs swimming specifically for your pet.

Our hydrotherapist is trained in canine first-aid, but as an added precaution we have partnered with an emergency vet just across the road if needed. There are several other veterinary hospitals within a two minute drive of our studio.

Yes, we have dedicated spots in the lot directly in front of the studio. As we all know, parking in LA is annoying, so please be courteous to others and move your car as soon as your appointment is finished, and do not arrive to your appointment too early.

As a courtesy to yourself and others, we do our best to keep all appointments running on time. If you are running a few minutes late, we’ll try to make-up the time and still give your pet their full treatment. If you are running very late, please give us a call. Your pet’s time in the pool or treadmill will be reduced if you are more than 10 minutes late for the session.

Missed sessions are charged at the full amount.

We would love to not have one, but unfortunately, we have to implement a cancellation policy to ensure clients are able to book and we are able to stay in business. Since we can only treat one pet at a time, it is crucial that we operate efficiently.

We understand that life happens, and we will try our best to work with you to reschedule appointments if needed. However, as a standard, the following policy is in effect:

We require a minimum of 24-hours notice for any cancellation. Cancellations made within 24 hours of the appointment or non- attendance at a booked session will be charged at the full session price. It is up to the discretion of Buddy’s staff members to grant any exception to this policy.

No-Shows will be charged at the full session price, billed to the card on file. We will forgive one (1) missed appointment, but I understand that subsequent missed appointments will be charged at full price.

If you are late for your appointment, the session may be truncated or cancelled and charged at the full session price. It is at the discretion of the therapist if all or part of the treatment can be completed at the scheduled time. We will try our very best to accommodate the appointment if possible.

This depends on each dog's individual condition. The frequency of the swims can be discussed with the hydrotherapist at the initial session.

We allow up to 45 minutes for the initial session to allow us plenty of time to calmly and slowly introduce the new environment to your pet. All patients will start off with a buoyancy aid and have the hydrotherapist with them at all times. In extreme cases, the treadmill can be used as an alternative to the pool.

Swimming in cold temperatures will reduce blood circulation and may lead to stiffening of muscles and cramping. There is an undercurrent in the ocean which will make it harder for your dog to swim in and can potentially cause problems. Water-born diseases and pollution could also put your dog in danger. Our pool is heated to to promote blood circulation. We also test our water throughout the day to ensure it is safe for your pet. Hydrotherapists are trained specialists and get in the water with your pet to ensure they have the correct movement and are not furthering any injuries.

At this time, we do not accept any form of pet insurance. This may change in the future, but for now you are encouraged to speak directly with your insurance provider as many will reimburse you directly for hydrotherapy treatment.