Physical Rehabilitation for Small Animals

Physical rehabilitation can improve your best friend’s quality of life.  When rehabilitation services are indicated for your pet, a rehabilitation specialist teams with your veterinarian to evaluate your pet and tailor an individualized plan.  The goal of physical rehabilitation is to return your best friend to optimal function.

Physical Rehabilitation Benefits

• Reduce pain
• Accelerate tissue healing
• Increase/maintain range of motion and muscle mass
• Increase strength
• Improve balance
• Improve ease of mobility
• Facilitate weight loss
• Facilitate recovery after surgery/injury/illness

Highlights of Service

Bourbon’s hips and elbows were so painful that at four months of age, she was unable to stand for more than five seconds at a time.  Hip and elbow surgeries corrected the root of the problem, but by then her muscles were so weak due to disuse that they were no longer able to support her.  Several months of rehab changed all that.  Today, Bourbon can walk, run and play, and even jump up on her owners’ bed

A thorough evaluation is performed at the initial visit with reassessments during the rehabilitation process.  An evaluation and assessment is vital to establishing a comprehensive and individualized therapeutic plan for your pet.

Therapeutic techniques and services may include:

• Therapeutic exercise focusing on range of motion, strength and balance
• Manual therapy techniques including joint mobilization and soft tissue massage/mobilization 
• Gait training (retraining your pet how to walk again), including cart and assistive device prescription
• Owner education and Home care programs
• Electrical stimulation for neuro-muscular re-education, strengthening, and pain and inflammation reduction 
• Cold/warm application
• Therapeutic ultrasound
• Hydrotherapy utilizing the Ferno K-9 Rehabilitation System.  The Ferno K-9 Underwater Treadmill System is designed for canine rehabilitation. This modality allows dogs to start rehabilitation earlier than normal since they are in a modified weight-bearing environment.

Common Indications for Physical Rehabilitation

	Surgery (post-operative) – orthopedic and neuologic conditions After muscle or joint injuries Arthritis/degenerative joint disease Pain management Weakness Swelling/edema management Decreased endurance Balance deficits Gait deviations  Wound Care
Electrostimulation helps reactivate muscles after long periods of disuse.

Underwater Treadmill

Walking into the chamber and having water raise up from underneath can sometimes be a little scary; however, the rehabilitation practitioner is always close by, if not in the chamber to help your pet.

A thorough evaluation is necessary to determine if this modality is appropriate to incorporate into your pet’s comprehensive rehab plan.  There are many benefits of therapeutic techniques in an underwater treadmill.  Benefits include decreased loading and concussive forces on joints (buoyancy), increased range of motion and endurance in addition to gains in strength and balance. 

Therapeutic techniques performed in the water can also help promote a more normalized walking pattern.  While this application is not appropriate for every patient, most patients—even if scared of the water—do very well.

Clinician

Courtney Arnoldy, DPT, BSPT, CCRP (Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner)

License/Certification:
Licensed Physical Therapist, Wisconsin Board of Physical Therapy Examiners
Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner, University of Tennessee

Physical Rehabilitation Appointments

Courtney is available for outpatient and inpatient appointments.  A referral from your veterinarian is required.  Please feel free to call with questions.