The Charlotte region’s first freestanding canine rehabilitation facility is a wonderful resource to our arthritic and neurologic patients. Known as Vet-REC, (short for Veterinary Rehabilitation & Exercise Clinic of the Carolinas) this facility in nearby Indian Trail features a dedicated team that will provide an in-depth musculoskeletal consultation including a home exercise program.
For in-house therapy equipment includes land and underwater treadmills, an indoor exercise facility, laser therapy, therapeutic ultrasound, acupuncture and chiropractic. This clinic is a great new option for serving post-operative animals, arthritic patients, and animals dealing with chronic pain. We are thrilled to have a convenient option for referring dogs that need rehabilitation therapy, pain management, acupuncture, chiropractic or athletic training!
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What is dog rehabilitation, and how can it benefit my dog?
Canine rehabilitation is a specialty of veterinary medicine that focuses on improving strength, mobility, and comfort, typically for orthopedic or neurologic diseases.
Are there different types of rehabilitation or therapy for dogs?
There are different types of rehabilitation therapies for dogs. As I mentioned, sometimes we are helping post-operatively for neurologic or orthopedic conditions. Other times, we are helping try to get some mobility and strength back in our senior dogs that are dealing with arthritis. There are also sections of canine rehab that are focused more on helping our canine athletes and working dogs to make sure they are strong and ready or to help them recover from injuries.
We also break down canine rehab into different areas. One is pain management, using medications and therapies to help with comfort, versus strength training. Sometimes, we are also focusing on trying to get a better range of motion back in our joints.
What types of exercises and treatments are commonly used in dog physical therapy?
For pain management, we will utilize things such as laser therapy, acupuncture, massage, range-of-motion stretching, and some therapeutic ultrasound. Those, I would say, are probably most common. You also have to think about doing heat and ice support too.
For strength training, sometimes we'll utilize therapeutic exercises, which are putting your dog through different motions that will help focus on different muscle groups, like having them do little doggy push-ups or doggy squats. Also, the underwater treadmill is a very common modality that's used.
Can rehabilitation help my senior dog with arthritis?
It can. Canine rehab is not going to take away the arthritis. When we are treating patients who have arthritis, our goal is, one, to get them as comfortable as possible, usually utilizing supplements, medication, and some of those other modalities I mentioned a few minutes ago, as well as trying to build up their strength and range of motion so that their body can better compensate for those changes.
What is canine hydrotherapy, and how does it help dogs?
The hydrotherapy that I typically see most is utilizing the underwater treadmill. That's where they walk into this tank, and warm water rises from the bottom, which helps to warm up their muscles and the joint capsule. The water also takes the weight of their body off their joints and allows them to move, hopefully with a more normal range of motion. But it's also hard to walk in water, so it gives them a better workout than just walking on land. There are also facilities that you can utilize to help with swimming.
Are there any risks associated with dog rehabilitation?
I think there are risks with everything. I think it's important to talk to the doctor in charge of your dog's case about everything that's going on with your dog to figure out what is the best modality to use or which modalities are best to stay away from. When we're talking about trying to rehab from an injury or gain strength in a senior pet, there's always a risk of going too far and causing an injury or reinjury. Being careful, watching how your dog responds, starting off slow, and working up is important.
How soon can I expect to see improvements in my dog's condition?
This really greatly depends on what's going on with your pet, how severe their case is, and what modalities you utilize. For pain relief, our goal is to get a response pretty quickly. But if we're trying to gain strength, you can often be looking at several months.
Is rehabilitation suitable for dogs recovering from surgery?
This is another area where we just have to be careful. Yes, we can utilize therapy in post-operative cases, but it very much depends on your dog and what procedure they went through, and that will let us know where we start. Sometimes, we don't jump right away to doing strength training. Sometimes, we just work on range of motion and controlling inflammation for a while as their body heals, and then we can add strength training.
Are there any dogs that shouldn't participate in rehabilitation?
I would say no, but I think not every modality fits every dog. Again, I would just make sure that you, your vet, and your rehab team know exactly what is going on with your pet, both musculoskeletally, neurologically, and systemically, and they can help make a treatment plan that's best for your dog.
How can I find a qualified canine rehabilitation therapist?
I would just Google a canine rehabilitation therapist in your area. If you go to canineregabinstitute.com, you can also enter your zip code to find vets or people near you who can help. If you're in the Charlotte area, we have a couple of options here, including Vet Trail. It really kind of just depends on where you're at, but just look up areas by you and see what team is going to fit you best.
If you’re looking for veterinary care you can trust, call us at (704) 318-2228 or email [email protected]. We’re here to keep your pet healthy, happy, and thriving!