Rehabilitation and Therapy

There are many canine rehabilitation and therapeutic modalities these days. We are very fortunate to have such an array of treatments at our disposal. Our dogs can have as much of a chance as their human companions when it comes to recovering from an illness or surgery.

Rehabilitation and physical therapy is becoming more common and accepted in small animal practices. From orthopedic to neurological conditions it is a means to enhance recovery. Preventative medicine and wellness is becoming the norm for all levels of animal health care.

Whether a dog has had an injury, surgery, is an older dog, or is just out of shape, a rehabilitative or therapeutic program needs to address all aspects ranging from; tissue healing, joint anatomy, and musculoskeletal physiology. This includes the entire body from its nutritional status to its psychological state.

The most important aspect to remember is to not re-injure the injured part and to maintain its physical condition. The next goal we need to strive for is to return the injured or affected body part back to its normal strength and character. The final goal is to rehabilitate the entire body by increasing its strength, coordination and endurance. This will offset any imbalance that may have occurred while healing.

You can achieve conditioning of the tendons, ligaments and cartilage to some extent from passive range of motion exercises. Just the mechanical action alone will help these tissues maintain their strength or condition. Muscles need active contractions to preserve their strength.

With dog health, muscle and bone are the most affected by healing and rehabilitation. After adequate healing has taken place, the next step is to emphasize strengthening exercises. This focus eventually shifts from strengthening to overall body conditioning. This will be a combination of strength workouts and endurance workouts.

After your dog has done this workout, it should receive a snack to replenish the nutrients that have become depleted. This snack is a small amount of simple carbohydrate, a meat source, calcium and phosphorus.

In the end of the day, both you and your dog will be in the best shape ever! Remember, our dog is what gets us out of bed in the morning, takes us for walks, swims and gets us doing all the goofy antics that young children engage in. We are so fortunate to have them in our lives, to provide them with dog therapy!

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Some informational links:

Complementary, Alternative and Holistic Veterinary Medicine (information on alternative and holistic treatments)

Wound Wear (various braces for canine leg injuries)

Canadian Horse and Animal Physiotherapy Association (information on rehabilitation for animals)

Four Leg Physiotherapy (rehabilitation for pets)

Professionals in Animal Physiotherapy (Australia)

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