Sometimes our four-legged friends need a little help slimming down, shaping up, or bouncing back from an injury.
That's where an animal therapy center in Lehigh County comes into play.
The Animal Therapy Center in Bethlehem Township offers therapeutic services for pets.
Most of its patients, according to Dr. Kim Mayers, are recovering from surgery or suffering from a congenital problem.
One of those dogs is Molly, a one-year-old Corgi diagnosed with hip dysplasia.
"Her hip isn't formed properly. It causes her pain," Dr. Mayers said.
The pup is undergoing therapy to avoid surgery.
With the help of the doctor and a physical therapist, Molly does aquatics exercises to improve her muscle strength.
The center has a resistance pool and two underwater treadmills.
"The water is warm, that is soothing for the muscles and can help. You can also get really good hip extension," Mayers said.
After even just 20 minutes of activity, it's clear Molly is tiring out.
But her doctor said it's helping, even after just two months of treatment.
"She is definitely stronger," Dr. Mayers said.
But not all of the canines that walk into the facility are there to treat a medical problem.
Some are just there to exercise.
Janet Frank brings her 8-year-old Labrador retriever named Annie in for movement.
The agility dog is competing in a national contest in April, and Frank is trying to keep Annie's weight in check.
"I felt like she needed to take a few pounds off," Frank said. "Being cooped up in the winter isn't fun for a lab, this gets her some activity because I don't want to walk her in the winter."
Dr. Mayers said the facility also has clients interested in just keeping their dog active.
"We do have dogs that come in for general conditioning. So, an older dog that is having some trouble moving, getting in the car," Dr. Mayers said.
The center also provides services for cats.
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