What is veterinary rehabilitation?
Veterinary rehabilitation focuses on helping animals maintain or improve mobility, function, comfort and physical ability. It is performed within a veterinary care framework and begins with an evaluation of the individual patient.
Rehabilitation may be considered for dogs recovering from surgery or injury, living with mobility changes, managing long-term physical limitations or needing support as they age.
What can veterinary rehabilitation include?
Depending on the patient and the veterinarian-directed plan, rehabilitation may incorporate a combination of services and techniques such as:
- Therapeutic exercise
- Underwater treadmill
- Aquatic exercise
- Therapeutic laser
- Mobility and strength assessment
- Balance and coordination activities
- Other rehabilitation modalities appropriate to the patient
Not every service is appropriate for every dog. The rehabilitation approach is based on the individual patient's evaluation, medical history, needs and goals.
Why does rehabilitation begin with an evaluation?
A rehabilitation evaluation gives the veterinary team an opportunity to understand the patient's current mobility, function, medical history, comfort and goals.
The evaluation helps determine whether rehabilitation is appropriate and provides the information needed to develop an individualized plan.
Rehabilitation and canine fitness are different
Veterinary rehabilitation and canine fitness can involve some of the same equipment or movement activities but they serve different purposes.
Veterinary rehabilitation is medical care provided within a veterinarian-directed treatment plan.
Canine fitness and conditioning are non-medical activities intended for otherwise appropriate dogs participating in general fitness, conditioning or performance programs.
Dogs with medical concerns, injuries, unexplained mobility changes or rehabilitation needs should be evaluated through the appropriate veterinary process rather than beginning with a general fitness program.
What should owners expect?
The rehabilitation process varies from patient to patient. ATC's team may review medical records, observe movement, assess physical function, discuss the owner's goals and determine which services are appropriate.
The goal of the evaluation is not simply to select a piece of equipment or treatment modality. It is to understand the patient and determine an appropriate rehabilitation approach.
