Closed December 24, 2025 - January 2, 2026
We specialize in aquatic training and exercise for your pet. Our Hudson, AquaPaws Jr. underwater treadmill system or H2O Oasis underwater treadmill system are perfect ways to enhance the health and well being of your dog. Whether due to an injury, neurological condition, relaxation or fun your dog or cat can benefit from our unique and individualized services. Our pool is all for fun. We want your pet to live a better quality of life. Multiple veterinarians refer their clients to Aquatic Paws: Merrifield Animal Hospital, VCA SouthPaws Veterinary Specialist & Emergency Center, Pender Vet, Caring Hands Animal Hospital (Merrifield), The Veterinary Holistic Center, Critterfixer's Mobile Veterinary Care and Mainstay Veterinary Practice, Town & Country Animal Hospital and Companion Animal Hospital in Springfield to name a few. We have also partnered with Paws Of Honor in helping retired Service and Military working dogs live their best retirement life.
Puppies must be 4 months or older for the underwater treadmill and 5 months or older for the pool.
ACCOLADES!
Northern Virginia Magazine
October 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 & 2025
Best Pet Care
https://www.fox5dc.com/video/967391
https://www.fox5dc.com/video/967394
https://www.fox5dc.com/video/967392
https://bestdoglife.com/2020/08/25/aquatic-therapy/
https://bestdoglife.com/author/perster1105/
TOP Pet Care Provider Washingtonian 2019
Lisa was a registered nurse for 23 years. She learned the art of Pet Massage under the tutelage of Jonathan Rudinger, founder of the PetMassagetm Training and Research Institute in Toledo, Ohio. Jonathan is a leader in pet massage.
Bill is Lisa's right hand man, CEO, CFO, repair man, accountant....... yep, without him she would not have opened Aquatic Paws. Bill was in the US Navy for 20 years, retiring in 2004. He now works as a government contractor by day and whatever needs to be done at Aquatic Paws, by night.
The vision for Aquatic Paws came about with the diagnosis of Degenerative Mylopathy (DM) on my German Shepherd, Beamer. In December 2013, I noticed he was having difficulty walking. He started to drag his back paw, causing open sores and was no longer able to jump into the car. After extensive research and multiple veterinarian visits, it was determined Beamer probably had degeneragive mylopathy, DM. Typically the timeline for diagnosis to having to be "put down" is 12-15 months. This was unacceptable! I started to research medicines and alternative therapies to help Beamer. Two re-occurring modalities were massage and weightless exercise.....swimming. There was no place locally I could safely take my dog to swim privately. Thus the concept of Aquatic Paws was born. I trained to become a Canine Massage practitioner. Twice a week for well over a year Beamer enjoyed his therapeutic massages! Sadly, just over two years into the disease, his quality of life declined and he crossed the Rainbow Bridge in March 2016. But his legacy will live on with Aquatic Paws.