Grace Veterinary Services provides limited physical rehabilitation, primarily characterized by development of home exercise plans and supervision of rehabilitation as prescribed by other practitioners.
Physical rehabilitation is very common in human medicine, but often its benefit for pets is overlooked or underemphasized. Physical rehabilitation can help:
- reduce pain
- improve mobility and range of motion
- provide mental stimulation
- slow physical decline in the face of chronic disease
- help a pet prepare for surgery AND help a pet recover from surgery
- AND MORE!
What does physical rehabilitation for pets look like?
Although aquatic exercise (swimming, underwater treadmill) is often the first thing that comes to mind with veterinary physical rehabilitation, there is so much more that we can do – much of it with normal supplies that you find at home or at a hardware store!
Physical rehabilitation can include (but is not limited to):
- Massage
- Heat therapy and cold (cryo) therapy
- Modalities (therapeutic laser, therapeutic ultrasound, shockwave, TENS/NMES, PEMF))
- Therapeutic exercise (range of motion, balance, strengthening, stretching)
- Home exercise programs
- Aquatic exercise
Patients of Grace Veterinary Services may have a rehabilitation plan which is a combination of the above including exercises performed by a therapist, modalities performed by a therapist, and a home exercise plan to be performed by pet parents at home. Pets tend to find rehabilitation enjoyable as it is a combination of physical activity, mental stimulation, and positive reinforcement. Even cats can enjoy physical rehabilitation!
Check out the Resources page for references and additional rehabilitation information.