VETERINARY PHYSICAL REHABILITATION

Rehabilitation is the application of physical therapy treatments to animals

Why Rehabilitation?

• Increase strength, endurance, mobility, and performance
• Reduce pain, swelling, and inflammation
• Accelerate healing of injured tissues
• Restore and maintain range of motion, flexibility, and muscle mass
• Improve balance and coordination
• Provide conditioning and weight loss
• Improve and prolong quality of life

Common Conditions Treated

• Pre-and post-operative orthopedic surgery
• Cruciate ligament tears
• Hip and elbow dysplasia
• Fracture, joint luxation (dislocation), trauma
• Medial shoulder instability
• Arthritis
• Back injury and intervertebral disc disease
• Muscle strains, tendon injuries, muscle weakness and atrophy
• Paralysis, degenerative myelopathy, other neurologic diseases

YOUR PET’S APPOINTMENT

Initial Consultation

During your first visit, Dr. Cross will observe your pet’s movement, noting any problems with gait,
standing, sitting, etc. She will then carefully examine your pet’s joints, muscles, flexibility, pain
sensation, and neurologic function. Measurements of joint range of motion and muscle mass may be
taken to objectively monitor progress with treatment.

Review of any radiographs and a thorough history completes the initial evaluation. We also
take time to discuss your specific concerns and goals.

With this information, we will develop an overall treatment plan customized to your pet’s individual
needs. We will finally discuss and practice specific initial treatments to be performed at home.

Therapy Sessions

For most pets, further therapy sessions with Dr. Cross will be recommended to reach the goals set
during your initial consultation.

AVAILABLE SERVICES

Manual Therapy

• Myofascial release, joint mobilizations, massage, stretching, passive range of motion
  
• Increase flexibility, improve neurologic function, decrease muscle spasm, pain relief
  

Thermotherapy/Cryotherapy

• Pain relief, increase blood supply to healing tissues, decrease swelling, muscle relaxation
  

Therapeutic Ultrasound

• Decrease scar tissue formation, increase strength of new tissue, speed healing, deep heating, muscle relaxation, increase tendon extensibility

TENS and Neuromuscular Stimulation

• Use of a small electric current to block pain signals or to stimulate muscle contractions
• Pain relief, prevent muscle atrophy
  

Therapeutic Exercise

• Balance boards, wobble disc, theraballs, cavaletti rails, weave cones, tunnels, etc.
  
• Improve flexibility, strength, and function
  
• Facilitate limb use
  
• Neurologic re-education: proprioceptive and balance training to improve coordination, mobility, and neuromuscular communication

Therapeutic Splints, Supports, and Carts

Pain Management Consultation

Referrals

While most of our patients are referred by a primary veterinarian or surgeon, we do
accept self-referrals. Please be sure to bring your pet’s medical history.
Referral forms and client questionnaire are available here.