Rehabilitation is the practice of physical therapy on animals performed by a licensed veterinary professional.

Rehab modalities can include photobiomodulation (laser therapy), massage/manual therapy, pulsed electromagnetic frequency therapy (PEMF), acupuncture, therapeutic exercise, underwater treadmill therapy, extracorporeal shockwave therapy, as well as supplements and medications to achieve the objectives set by the rehab team. For more information, visit our services page.

Rehab is designed to alleviate pain and improve mobility, so we try our best to avoid discomfort and make rehab a pleasant experience for pets. Occasionally, after a therapy session there may be some mild muscle discomfort, similar to after a good workout in the gym.

Lots of pets can benefit from rehab!

o Arthritis or other degenerative joint diseases

o Musculoskeletal injuries

o Neurologic injuries and disease

o Hind end weakness

o Incontinence

o Senior pets who are slowing down with age due to muscle loss or chronic pain

o Pets requiring custom braces, orthotics, prosthetics, wheelchairs or carts

o Conditioning for sports or for working breeds

o Pre and post operative TPLO or CCL surgery

o Pre and post FHO or hip surgery

o Pre and post operative luxating patella surgery

o Pets with hip dysplasia or breeds prone to hip dysplasia

Visit our Common Conditions Page for more information!

The rehabilitation veterinarian will determine an individual treatment plan for your pet. The length will vary based on the pet’s condition, but generally we recommend therapy once to twice a week.

Send us a message, fill out this form, or give us a call for more information!

Photobiomodulation AKA Laser therapy, therapeutic laser, or cold laser:

This therapeutic process is known as photobiomodulation, using red light from the spectrum that is not visible (infrared). Not all infrared lights are lasers, laser is focused and has a coherent waveform. Therapeutic lasers have a specific wavelength of light known to penetrate into tissues and to provide energy directly to the cells. The cells absorb the light energy which helps them in turn produce more of their own energy to support healing and upregulate some of their natural processes, which helps reduce pain by altering the signals through pain nerves. It also helps reduce inflammation and improve circulation. The energy is applied directly to the affected tissues via a special probe. We use a class 3B laser, which is a low enough power laser that it cannot result in thermal injury and there is little chance for eye injury, however we still use protective eyewear.

The amount of energy needed varies depending on the depth of the target tissue, the type and size of the tissue, and the haircoat color of the patient (darker pigmented skin and fur absorbs more energy).

Effects are cumulative, so several treatments are typically recommended before we assess response.

For more information, visit our services page.

Hydrotherapy (Underwater Treadmill):

Your pet will walk in an enclosed treadmill with the water raised to a specific level dependent on the condition being treated, as different levels of water can affect the movement of specific joints.

The water’s buoyancy provides support for the patient’s body weight, thus reducing load on the joints. The drag of moving the limb through the water helps to build strength more quickly, and the hydrostatic pressure helps to improve circulation. We use underwater treadmill therapy to provide low impact strengthening, assist in gait retraining following injury, and provide exercise for patients who may otherwise be unable due to home or climate conditions.

We start with very short sessions, and gradually increase time and speed depending on your pet’s progress. To make things more challenging; depending on the patient and their condition, this may include intervals of walking faster or trotting, changes in water height (to provide less support), or walking against resistance jets.

A trained therapy technician will assist your pet in the treadmill for as many sessions as needed until your pet is comfortable walking on their own (if they are able).

In addition to the treadmill workout, patients also perform targeted land-based exercises and stretching, these vary pending their specific condition and needs, and are also progressed according to patient comfort and function.

Sessions are recommended weekly to twice weekly to start, then typically decrease in frequency as your pet progresses. It typically takes a good month of regular workouts to see progress – like you going to the gym; you can’t expect to see results if you only go once every couple of weeks!

Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT):

Shockwave therapy uses focused super-pulsed sound waves (not electrical) that can deliver energy deep into tissues. The energy from the high intensity shockwaves triggers the body’s own repair mechanisms, which helps speed healing.

It can stimulate blood vessel growth, reduce chronic inflammation and pain in the case of osteoarthritis, and stimulate collagen production which is important in tendon and ligament healing. It is also often used to stimulate bone growth in the case of poorly healing fractures. Shockwave treatments are tolerated very well by our canine patients. The intensity of the soundwaves starts out very low and is only increased to a level the patient can comfortably tolerate. We typically perform one to three treatments spaced one week apart, depending on the condition being treated.