Common Conditions

Orthopedic

For those dogs who have injury, disorder or disease affecting muscles, bones, tendons and ligaments, rehabilitation can be especially helpful.  

Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioners use treatment techniques and modalities similar to what human physical therapists employ when treating musculoskeletal and post-operative orthopedic conditions.  

• Manual therapy  helps to restore mobility, range of motion and decrease pain.  
  
• Therapeutic exercises work on improving strength, balance and function.  
  
• Modalities including heat, cold and laser therapy work to limit pain, inflammation and promote the healing process.
• Hydrotherapy in the underwater treadmill normalizes the gait pattern, restores functional mobility, strengthens limbs, and increases endurance; all while reducing joint compression. 
  

Common orthopedic conditions treated:

• Arthritis
  
• Cranial Cruciate Ligament Rupture
  
• Hip or Elbow Dysplasia
  
• Spondylosis
  
• Strains/Sprains
  
• Sports Injuries

Neurologic

Neurological rehabilitation addresses disorders or diseases that affect the neurological system including the brain, spinal cord or nerves.  Results of these impairments may include paralysis, ataxia, inability to walk, poor balance, vision deficits and incontinence.  


The goal of canine rehabilitation is to optimize and restore functional mobility.  

• Laser therapy promotes healing of neurological tissues.  
  
• Manual therapy can reduce tightness and stiffness caused by neurological processes.  
  
• Therapeutic exercises restore balance, improves strength and coordination. 
  
• Gait training in the underwater treadmill restores functional ambulation, while supporting balance deficits. Cart fitting and subsequent gait re-training can restore an immeasurable amount of functional mobility.
  

Common neurological conditions treated:

• Intervertebral Disc Disease
  
• Fibrocartilaginous Embolism
  
• Degenerative Myelopathy* (research)
  
• Wobbler’s Syndrome
  
• Nerve Injuries

Post-Operative

Senior Dog

Just as in people, dogs are vulnerable to injuries to the bone, ligament, muscle and tendon that require surgical intervention.  

Post-surgical rehabilitation is key in these situations to restore former function, minimize complications and speed recovery.  Typically, these dogs lose range of motion, strength and function.  Canine Rehabilitation Practitioners work to restore these deficits through the use of modalities (ice/heat, laser), manual therapy, therapeutic exercise and hydrotherapy with the underwater treadmill.

Common post-operative conditions treated:

• Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy (TPLO)
  
• Extracapsular Repair
  
• Femoral Head Ostectomy (FHO)
  
• Patella Luxation
  
• Total Hip Replacement (THR)
  
• Fracture Repair
  
• Shoulder or Elbow Arthroscopy
  
• Back and Neck Surgeries

Geriatric canine rehabilitation addresses many issues related to normal age-related deterioration.  Among these are loss in mobility, decreased strength, poor balance, decreased fitness levels and pain.  

• Specialized programs are designed to address these issues.  Laser therapy can help significantly in managing pain even to multiple areas.  
  
• Therapeutic exercise programs improve a dog’s strength, balance, endurance and general mobility.  
  
• Work in the underwater treadmill is particularly beneficial as it unloads the joints while exercising the body.  It is especially good at hind-limb strengthening, where much strength can be lost in senior dogs.  The underwater treadmill helps to reduce limping and increases fitness levels without the worry of increasing joint pain.
  

Common senior conditions treated:

• Painful Gait
  
• Arthritis
  
• Hind-Limb Weakness
  
• Overweight
  
• Degenerative Myelopathy
  
• Balance Disorders
  
• Decreased Activity Tolerance
  
• Cancer
  
• Osteoporosis