Many different options and treatment modalities are available for treating injuries in dogs. It is extremely important to work with a veterinary rehabilitation professional. A skilled, certified therapist will tailor a treatment plan best suited for the healing stage of the dog and their unique lifestyle. Learning about the options in therapy can help owners understand the choices or suggestions made when working toward getting our canine partners back to their normal active lives.
Laser therapy: A more specific term is photobiomodulation. Using infrared light to activate the mitochondria in tissue cells, it stimulates growth of new, healthy cells and encourages vasodilation that increases the delivery of fresh, oxygenated blood to the affected area. Laser treatments can improve nearly any condition that benefits from decreased inflammation, pain relief and increased blood flow. This includes everything from acute problems like wounds, “hot spots” and skin/ear infections, to chronic, long-term orthopedic disease.
Ultrasound: Therapeutic ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves that cause vibrations in soft tissue, generating heat and increasing blood flow. This helps to heal injuries by stimulating cells and oxygen to the affected area. Ultrasound therapy can also help reduce muscle spasms, decrease swelling and inflammation, and break down scar tissue.
Extracorporeal shockwave therapy: ESWT uses acoustic waves of high pressure and velocity produced outside of the body. This differs from ultrasound because of the lower frequency, minimal tissue absorption and lack of thermal effect. It is used for a variety of soft tissue and orthopedic ailments, such as insertion desmopathies, tendon and ligament calcification, microfractures, osteoarthritis and back pain. ESWT also works well for wound healing.
Hydrotherapy: The Underwater Treadmill offers low-impact, high resistance therapy with the buoyancy of water to reduce pressure on your pet's joints. It can improve muscle strength, cardiovascular endurance and range of motion. The specialized tank is filled with warm water that helps relax muscles, allow deeper stretching and increase range of motion. Our rehab technicians control the water level (to increase or decrease resistance) and treadmill speed to suit each patient's needs. It is especially useful for pets with injured or painful joints.
Physiotherapy: Manual therapies include massage, therapeutic stretching, and range-of-motion exercises adapted from techniques used in human physical therapy. Our rehab technicians use manual therapy during sessions in the Rehabilitation Center and will teach you how to correctly perform exercises with your pet at home for additional benefit.
Strength, coordination, flexibility and balance therapies: These exercises help to improve coordination and balance using specialized equipment that includes Cavaletti poles, physioballs, rocker and wobble boards, and therapy bands. By learning to balance on uneven or mobile surfaces, your pet will become more aware of where their feet are, increasing stability and strengthening nerve signals. This is especially helpful for pets with conditions that cause them to lean to one side or have frequent falls.
Targeted pulsed electromagnetic field: The tPEMF Assisi Loop is a painless, non-invasive tool that helps to decrease pain, reduce inflammation and speed healing for both soft and hard tissue injuries. After injury, the body naturally releases nitric oxide to stimulate the healing process. The Assisi Loop uses electromagnetic technology to enhance this process, resulting in faster healing and less pain for your pet. Microcurrent electricity can penetrate bandages and casting material, making it an excellent therapy for pets with orthopedic injuries and post-surgical recovery. tPEMF therapy is most effective when used several times per day for the first stage of treatment, followed by a tapering dose. It can be used for maintenance for pets with chronic or degenerative diseases. With a prescription, you can purchase a device for use in the comfort of your home, and our rehab staff will train you on how to use it properly for your pet's condition.
Pulsed electromagnetic field: PEMF therapy is available in other forms, such as beds or larger portable units such as Magnawave. Each one has a slightly different delivery and stimulates cellular structure in its own unique way.
Electrostimulation Therapy: E-stim is similar to NMES (NeuroMuscular Electrical Stimulation) therapy for humans and is especially useful for pets with orthopedic or neurological conditions.
Conductive patches (electrodes) attached to strategic areas provide low-voltage current, stimulating motor nerves. Electrical impulses cause your pet's muscles to contract and relax.
This treatment helps to decrease pain, relieve muscle spasms, improve strength, prevent muscle atrophy by increasing muscle mass, and improve circulation and joint mobility.
Acupuncture: This modality falls under the category of complementary and alternative medicine. It uses needles to initiate changes in the soft tissue, help normalize homeostasis and promote self-healing. Some basic therapeutic goals are release of physical and emotional stress, activation and control of immune and anti-inflammatory mechanisms, acceleration of tissue healing, and pain relief secondary to endorphin and serotonin release.
The primary goal of rehabilitation and physical therapy is to return to normal function and activity. The guidance of a certified professional is of utmost importance and can make the process much smoother and more efficient. There is no “cookie cutter” plan for various injuries; each dog is different, each owner is different, and each recovery is different. We are fortunate to have so many options available to us now in canine rehabilitation and sports medicine.
Meredith Wille LVT CCRP CCFT
Steel City Canine Rehabilitation and Fitness
Contact Meredith at steelcityK9rehab@gmail.com
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| Meredith and her pharoh hound (Tess Castro of Back the Bark Images) | Meredith and Emoji (Tess Castro of Back the Bark Images) |