Veterinary physical rehab offers many benefits with few drawbacks. Rehab primarily focuses on reducing pain and inflammation while restoring mobility and function. Additional benefits can include faster recovery from surgery or injury, enhanced quality of life, and chronic condition management to help alleviate clinical signs and slow disease progression. If your pet is struggling with pain or mobility issues, or you just want to keep your dog more active in winter, rehab offers many effective solutions for improving overall wellbeing and quality of life.

Every case will be looked at individually and treatment plans designed accordingly. Typically pets come in once or twice weekly for sessions with the practitioner to work in the underwater treadmill, land exercises, therapeutic massage, therapeutic laser treatments as well as other options. Visits may involve some or all of these things.  

Hydrotherapy is a form of physical therapy for dogs that utilizes the buoyancy of water to eliminate stress on joints. This form of rehabilitation is low-impact and can help improve strength, range of motion, and endurance. Warm water is used to help loosen muscles and speed recovery. The treadmill will encourage your dog to walk without the stress of gravity.

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Therapeutic lasers use light energy to stimulate tissue growth and healing. The main clinical benefits include decreased inflammation, decreased pain and improved wound healing.

Goals and expectations will vary greatly depending on each patient and family. Many patients that come to rehab are temporary for several months until they get the all-clear to stop coming as they are fully healed and recovered from an injury or surgery. For our long-term patients, there are many options for at-home care plans for families to do that will complement our in-clinic therapies. Our goal is to set expectations, adjust if or as needed, and get every dog to their peak performance and highest quality of life.