About Us

Committed to caring for your pet

West Wales Canine Hydrotherapy opened in 2016, and offers the largest swimming pool for dogs in South Wales. At 26' x 13' (8m x 4m) our pool gives your pet 32,000 litres of warm safe water to swim in.


We have gained a reputation for care and excellence since we opened in 2016, see reviews from happy customers.


Patients come from far and wide to benefit from our hydrotherapy facilities, not only from the surrounding area of Carmarthenshire, but from the Pembrokeshire west coast, Aberystwyth in Ceredigion, to the east we have patients from Builth Wells and Brecon in Powys, and all areas in between.


The clinic is located just north of Carmarthen on the outskirts of Peniel in a former church - Capel Y Groes (Chapel of the Cross) - a tranquil setting for you and your pet to come and visit, away from busy roads, with the beautiful rolling countryside and unspoilt views all around. We have large grounds, with ample parking, and a big green space to allow your pet to "powder their nose" before coming into the old church for their swim.


West Wales Canine Hydrotherapy is an independent small business, run by Katharine and Tim Deane, who have two Border Collies, Scrumpy and Brandy.


Katharine is a member of the National Association of Registered Canine Hydrotherapists or NARCH for short. NARCH requires members to have passed the Level 3 Certificate in Hydrotherapy for Small Animals, be fully insured and maintain the highest standards of treatment.


In addition to this minimum training requirement, Katharine has gone on to undertake further study and now holds a Diploma in Hydrotherapy for Small Animals, giving you peace of mind that your pet is in the best qualified hands. A hydrotherapist can only study the diploma once the certificate has been gained. Here are details of the subjects covered in the certificate and diploma courses.


Before engaging a canine hydrotherapist you should ensure that they hold at least the basic qualification of a Certificate in Hydrotherapy for Small Animals.

In addition to a certified qualification NARCH requires members to undertake an additional 20 hours of continued professional development each year. CPD ensures that hydrotherapists keep in touch with new ideas and techniques in animal health. This can be achieved by attending lectures, courses and reading published research material.


If you intend to use your pet insurance to cover your dog's hydrotherapy treatment, you can be sure that as West Wales Canine Hydrotherapy is a member of NARCH you should have no trouble making the claim. Most insurers require therapists to be a member of a recognised association. This is because NARCH has a strict code of practice which its members must follow. NARCH ensures its members are qualified and that they carry out regular continued professional development. You should check that your insurance policy covers hydrotherapy before beginning treatment.


You can be assured your pet is in the best hands. With a Diploma in Hydrotherapy for Small Animals, Katharine is better qualified than many other canine hydrotherapists. As a Registered Canine Hydrotherapist (RCH) Katharine is required to follow a code of practice and ethics set out by NARCH and is fully insured, with Public Liability and Professional Indemnity cover.


NARCH logo The National Association of Canine Hydrotherapists