Just as people need physical therapy for various orthopedic and neurological conditions, so do canine companions. By providing a comfortable and caring atmosphere geared towards helping animals find balance and good health, we strive to increase the speed of recovery from surgery, injury and disease. By increasing mobility, flexibility and minimizing pain we improve the quality of life for your pet.
All rehabilitation sessions are conducted by certified canine rehabilitation practitioners Sandra Dowd and Dara Fee. Our rehabilitation treatments are tailored to meet each pet’s individual needs. We can also create a specially-tailored home care plan for your pet.
Conditions that benefit from physical rehabilitation include:
Orthopedic Conditions
- Post-surgical recovery
- Hip and elbow dysplasia
- Cruciate ligament rupture
- Luxated patella
- Trauma
Neurologic Disorders
- Intervertebral disk disease
- Degenerative myelopathy
- Fibrocartilaginous embolism
- Wobblers disease
Geriatric Care
- Chronic arthritis
- Chronic dsease
- Quality of life care
Weight Management
- Nutritional Counseling
- Exercise
The following is a list of some of the canine physical rehabilitation services we perform. Click to learn more.
- Nutritional Counseling
- Weight Management
- Stretching
- Range of Motion
- Aquatic Therapy
- Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation
- Thermotherapy
- Cryotherapy
- Proprioception Exercises
- Therapeutic Exercises
- Therapeutic Ultrasound
- Massage Therapy
- Low-Level Laser Therapy (Cold Laser)
Nutritional Counseling
Our certified nutritional counselors will evaluate your pet’s overall health and create a nutritional program tailored to achieve hoptimal health and wellness. We will assist you in achieving and maintaining an ideal body weight for your pet.
Weight Management
Obesity is one of the most common comditions among older pets. Because many older pets experience decreased muscle mass and arthritis, obesity can cause ambulatory difficulties. Weight loss results in less joint pain, improved mobility and a decreased need for medication to treat arthritis.
Aquatic therapy is ideal for aiding in weight loss. The buoyancy of the warm water allows your pet to exercise in a pain-free environment.
Stretching
Stretching is vital to maintain good range of motion around a joint. If a patient has stiff joints, normal activities such as standing, walking and climbing stairs can be severely affected. By proper stretching, these functions can be preserved. After an injury or surgery, scar tissue forms, and soft-tissue contracts; this is when stretching is most important. Stretching takes tissue beyond its normal range of motion.
Range of Motion
Range of motion (ROM) is the movement of a joint through its available range. ROM exercise helps prevent joint contracture and improves muscle flexibility and promotes blood flow.
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Aquatic Therapy
Using the natural properties of water (buoyancy, resistance and heat) the underwater treadmill provides a low impact workout. The buoyancy of warm water decreases the weight bearing on joints therefore minimizing pain during exercise.
Our state-of-the-art underwater treadmill is effective for improving:
- Mobility
- Muscle strength
- Flexibility
- Endurance
- Circulation
- Weight loss
- Psychological well-being
Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation
Neuromuscular stimulation is a proven therapy to aid in treating muscle spasms while improving muscle strength. NMES increases circulation which promotes healing. In addition, post surgical pain and swelling are controlled. Neuromuscular stimulation improves:
- Muscle strength
- Blood supply to the area that assists in healing
- Post-surgical pain and swelling
Thermotherapy
Moist hot packs in several layers of towels are applied directly to the exposed area that needs treatment. The benefits of hot packs include: relaxation of tight muscles and tissues; deceased pain caused by muscle tension or spasms, and improved circulation to the affected tissue.
Cryotherapy
Cold packs are a frozen gel substance used to treat areas of pain and inflamation. The cold packs are wrapped in a wet towel and applied directly to the area in need of treatment. Cold packs aid in decreasing inflamation, swelling and pain.
Proprioception Exercises
Proprioception is the sense of knowing where a body part is in space. Proprioception training re-teaches the body to control the position of an injured joint. Cavaletties work on proprioception by providing a visual object for the patient to step over.
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Therapeutic Exercises
Therapeutic exercise is an important method to assist in an animal’s return to the best function possible. This pain free modality is used to improve balance, coordination and muscle strength. Common activities include: standing exercises, physio-ball work and controlled leash walks.
Therapeutic Ultrasound
Therapeutic Ultrasound is a painless, non-invasive technique that produces deep heating of tissues. The thermal effects of ultrasound allow for increased muscle stretch, blood flow and decreases muscle spasm. Ultrasound aids in the treatment of many conditions, including tendonitis, bursitis joint contracture, wound healing and bone healing.
Massage Therapy
Massage is the manipulation of the soft tissues of the body. There are several massage techniques that are used in physical rehabilitation to treat a variety of conditions.
Massage therapy has many benefits, including:
- Reduced pain and muscle tension
- Increased blood flow
- Improved oxygen supply
- Accelerated muscle recovery
- Relief of distress, anxiety and discomfort
Low-Level Laser Therapy (Cold Laser)
The low-level laser is a noninvasive therapy that promotes faster wound closure, reduction of scar formation and reduces pain. Low-level laser therapy is used to treat the following conditions:
- Arthritis
- Muscle, ligament, and tendon injuries
- Sprains and strains
- Ulceration, open wound, and burns
- Post surgical and soft tissue trauma
- Joints injuries
