08/08/2026
After years of working in the pool, I never expected this to become a problem.
For over 15 years, I’ve spent a huge part of my working life in the pool.
It’s a job I absolutely love. I’ve had the privilege of working with hundreds of dogs, helping them recover from injury and surgery, manage chronic conditions, build strength and fitness, and simply feel better in themselves.
But over the years, something I never really thought about started to catch up with me.
Working for hours at a time in a warm, humid pool environment, with constant exposure to the water and chemicals, gradually began to take a toll on my skin.
What started as occasional irritation became increasingly difficult to manage.
Over the last year in particular, my skin has deteriorated to the point where I’ve had to restrict the amount of time I can spend working in the pool.
And that has been incredibly frustrating.
Because when you’ve built a business around something you love, the last thing you want to do is turn work away or reduce your availability because your own body is telling you that you can’t keep doing things in quite the same way.
For a long time, I’ve simply tried to manage it.
But I’ve had to accept that managing it isn't a long-term solution.
So, after many years of doing things one way, a change is coming to Stage 1 Hydrotherapy.
I’ve been working quietly behind the scenes to find a solution that allows me to continue doing what I love, while also making sure Stage 1 can continue to grow and provide the level of care I expect for every dog that comes through our doors.
And, finally, I think I’ve found the answer.
More to come… 🐾
