Emotional support animals provide companionship, comfort, and support, especially in situations where we find ourselves anxious. But what if our pet needs emotional support? This is the case of Henry, an adorable golden retriever who went viral after showing his bravery during one of his hydrotherapy sessions.
The New York-based pup showed his confidence and strength during one of his sessions while being accompanied by his favorite rubber duck. "This is Henry. He brings his emotional support duck to his hydrotherapy sessions. They get along swimmingly," a social media site that rates dogs shared on Instagram.
The video of Henry went viral almost immediately, gaining nearly 14 million views on his Instagram account. "Let’s go ducky!!!" his owners wrote in the caption. He also gained fans after showing how much of a good boy he was during his session.
"Love the cute puppy holding the duck on the leash," one person wrote, adding, "And he’s got rhythm too the song is perfect for this." "Look at that little pep in his step!! He so confident with his ducky by his side!!," another online user commented, adding, "He knows as long as his Ducky floats, so can he! You got this, Henry!"
Henry comes from a family of champions, as his two golden retriever parents seem to have been recognized by the American Kennel Club. Henry can also be seen in other videos swimming at home, and during the rest of his session, joined by other emotional support friends, including a pony, an octopus, a turtle, and a rubber chicken.
Hydrotherapy for Dogs
Online users wondered about the benefits of hydrotherapy in pups after Henry went viral, which is great for dogs with ACL injuries or orthopedic injuries. It also helps in the case of neurological problems, post-surgical, recovery, weight loss, and metabolic conditions.
“The low-impact nature of hydrotherapy exercise allows for its use in patients of all ages, including geriatric patients with arthritis and muscle atrophy or wasting,” Dr. Kern explained to the American Kennel Club.