Vet Clinics Looking Hard at Physical Rehabilitation Specialty

Animal physical rehabilitation is one of the fastest growing areas within veterinary medicine. Many Veterinary Clinics throughout the country are taking a look at this fascinating way to more quickly relieve pet pain and promote wellness. Critically injured pets are not the only animals helped by physical rehabilitation. It actually helps many pets with a multitude of different conditions lead more comfortable lives.

Among the benefits that physical rehabilitation for veterinary clinic pets provides are:

- Post-operative recovery, especially orthopedic and neurological cases

- Lessening general neurological conditions

- Reducing osteoarthritis pain

- Providing general pain management

- Treating sports injuries

- Providing conditioning

- Assisting with weight management

- Calming of boarding pets with basic massage techniques

- Hastening recovery from a fracture or a ruptured cranial ligament

- Treating hip dysplasia

Various types of equipment and techniques are used, dependent on the condition or complaint being addressed. Some of these are:

- Land treadmill

- Underwater treadmill

- Heated therapy pool with resistance pads

- Acupuncture

- Exercise room with rubberized core floor

- Therapeutic modalities: low level laser, therapeutic ultrasound, electrical stimulation, shockwave therapy, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy

- Therapeutic exercise equipment: balance board, agility walker, and physioballs

In addition to the sometimes, elaborate equipment and methods above, a set of well-trained hands can work wonders. Special massage increases blood flow and helps resolve muscle tension. Rebuilding of muscle mass and core strength can be accomplished with targeted therapeutic exercises. Increased flexibility can be achieved with passive range of motion exercises. Proper application of cold and heat pads can provide relief from muscle spasms and tension, and pet discomfort following surgery.

The cost of animal physical rehabilitation varies with the condition being treated and the severity of that condition. This cost, however, is not exactly the amount of the invoice. Doses of pain or anti-inflammatory medication can usually be reduced, lessening the overall cost. Additionally, your veterinarian may be able to train you to conduct some of the rehabilitation at home.

The amount of time required to help the pet feel better varies, and that again is a function of the condition and severity of the condition being treated. Just like humans overdoing it following trauma, it is easy for pet owner to let a pet do too much too soon. A dog that needs eight weeks of post-operative rehabilitation usually feels better within three weeks, but caution is required. Full recuperation will not be achieved until much later and the surgery area could be damaged by too much activity before complete healing. Well-spent money on physical rehabilitation could easily be wasted by excessive strain and possibly making the surgery unsuccessful.

Animal physical rehabilitation is the next step in pet wellness. Following the models of human health care, this should not be a surprise. More and more Vet Clinics are investigating becoming more involved in this growing and evolving field. Watch local press releases and newspapers to find out when a neighborhood veterinarian becomes certified in canine rehabilitation.

Your Mount Pleasant Vet Clinic can provide you more information. Dr. Marian Shuler Holladay at Shuler Veterinary Clinic [http://shulervetclinic.com/staff/svc-staff] has recently been Certified in Canine Rehabilitation.