Canine rehabilitation is essential for dogs recovering from injuries, surgery, or chronic conditions. Our State Ave Veterinary Clinic team proudly offers specialized surgery and rehabilitation services for local pets. This Q&A guide can help pet owners new to the world of canine rehabilitation learn about and understand how therapy can help their pet.

Question: What is canine rehabilitation?

Answer: Canine rehabilitation, or physical therapy for dogs, leverages individualized exercises and treatments to aid recovery from injuries, surgeries, and other conditions that affect mobility. Improving mobility, alleviating pain, and restoring function, which lead to improved quality of life, are the goals.

Q: Why is rehabilitation important for dogs?

A: Rehabilitation is a means to speed recovery and reduce long-term disability. Your dog’s therapy plan will provide important benefits, including:

  • Reduced pain and inflammation — Rehabilitation modalities reduce pain and inflammation in damaged tissues.
  • Improved mobility — Rehabilitation encourages range of motion, flexibility, and strength, which restores function and enables better movement.
  • Faster healing — Post-surgical rehabilitation accelerates healing and results in more positive outcomes.

Q: What conditions benefit from canine rehabilitation?

A: Any condition that causes pain, makes daily living difficult, or keeps pets from participating in activities they enjoy can benefit from non-invasive rehabilitation therapies. We prescribe rehabilitation for pets who have:

  • Orthopedic injuries (e.g., fractures, ligament tears, or muscle strains)
  • Orthopedic surgeries (e.g., knee, hip, or spinal surgeries)
  • Degenerative disorders (e.g., arthritis, degenerative myelopathy, or intervertebral disc disease)
  • Obesity, with or without joint disease
  • Age-related weakness or muscle atrophy

Q: What are the most common canine rehabilitation therapies?

A: The rehabilitation therapies for each pet will vary based on their condition, pain level, and their tolerance of specialized therapy equipment. Most pets are happy to cooperate when tasty snacks are involved. Some therapies we may prescribe and are able to provide at State Ave Vet include:

  • Laser therapy — Photobiomodulation or cold laser therapy uses light energy to reduce pain and inflammation and stimulate tissue healing.
  • Manual therapy — Therapeutic massage, joint mobilizations, and trigger point therapy ease muscle pain and trigger points.
  • Electrical stimulation — Electrical stimulation can reduce pain signaling and stimulate dormant muscles to re-activate.
  • Therapeutic exercise — Customized exercise programs target balance, strength, and flexibility, which can be performed with equipment in the office or adapted for home use.
  • Hot and cold therapy — Heat or cold can relax muscles and provide immediate, soothing pain relief.

Not currently available at State Ave Vet but soon to be coming:

  • Hydrotherapy — Underwater treadmill or swim therapy uses water’s properties to ease stress on joints and provide resistance.
  • Shockwave or ultrasound therapy — Shockwaves or soundwaves penetrate deep into tissue to stimulate blood flow and healing.

Q: What should I expect during my dog’s rehabilitation sessions?

A: Our in-house certified canine rehabilitation therapist will assess your dog’s condition, review imaging test results and medical records, and ensure they understand your goals and lifestyle. Then, we will work together on a treatment plan that includes tentative frequency and duration. As your pet attends more sessions, we’ll assess progress and make changes, including slowing down or speeding up our expected recovery timeline.

Q: How can I support my dog’s rehabilitation at home?

A: Successful rehabilitation often requires home care to complement clinical sessions. Dr. Raul Casas-Dolz is certified in Canine Rehabilitation and will prescribe specific home-care exercises for each of your pet’s recovery phases, starting with gentle range-of-motion exercises until they gradually return to their previous activity level. Sticking to the prescribed treatment plan and consistent exercising are crucial to rehabilitation’s success.

Q: How long will my dog’s rehabilitation last?

A: Your pet’s rehabilitation duration varies depending on many factors. No two rehab plans look exactly alike—some dogs require only a few weeks of therapy, while others need ongoing sessions. We regularly assess dogs and adjust their treatments according to their response.

Rehabilitation with our qualified State Ave Veterinary Clinic team offers numerous benefits for dogs, including pain relief, improved mobility, faster healing, and enhanced quality of life. When needed, we can keep your dog after surgery to better facilitate their rehabilitation. Contact us to learn more about our rehabilitation services or to schedule an initial rehabilitation therapy assessment and consultation.