Pet RehabilitationTherapy For Quality Of Life

physical_therapyOur rehabilitation team at Care First Animal Hospital at Glenwood provides your pet with a comprehensive physical evaluation and individualized treatment plan. Whether you have a dog or cat, competitive athlete or elderly pet having mobility issues, you will receive a plan suited for your pet’s unique needs.

The Benefits Of Pet Rehabilitation Therapy

Rehabilitation therapy has been proved to be just as effective for pets as it is for humans. The veterinarians at Care First use effective techniques to provide healing, reduce pain and assist in recovery for musculoskeletal injuries. In addition to a quick recovery of two to four months, we’ve seen cats, dogs and other pets enjoy the following benefits of physical therapy:

  • physical_therapy2Weight loss/muscle gain
  • Quicker recovery from injury
  • Improved endurance and agility
  • Reduced pain and dependence on medication
  • Increased mobility and flexibility
  • Disease, injury and stress prevention

In addition, it’s quite possible that our rehabilitation program can improve your pet’s mobility and promote their health, especially if they have:

  • physicaltherapyUndergone orthopedic surgery
  • Chronic pain
  • Recently experienced a trauma or injury
  • Neurological problems
  • Age-related pain or immobility
  • A weight problem
  • A high susceptibility to injury

Treatments Offered

  • physical_therapy5Heat and Massage 
  • Laser Therapy
  • Acupuncture
  • Water treadmill (hydrotherapy) 
  • Strengthening and Stretching exercises and circuits

Because the goal for your pet is optimal health, your veterinarian recommends a multi-modal treatment approach. This includes state-of-the-art medicine and surgical technique, advanced pet physical therapy, and the ancient healing art of acupuncture, to give your pet the very best chance of a long and healthy, pain-free life.

Benefits include:

  • Decreased pain
  • Faster recovery
  • Increased strength, endurance, flexibility and function

Surgery Patients In Pre-habilitation

Physical therapy six weeks PRIOR to surgery promotes optimum readiness for surgery. In addition, this unique approach gives your pet an opportunity to train for the underwater treadmill BEFORE surgery. This ensures a smoother transition to recovery after surgery. An added benefit of pre-hab is weight loss in overweight patients as they recover more optimally without the burden of additional and unhealthy weight.

Post-Surgery Rehabilitation

physicaltherapyPost-op pet physical therapy is recommended beginning 1-2 weeks after surgery, and twice weekly for 5-10 weeks following their post-surgery recheck by the surgeon.