As in humans, rehabilitation therapies can help pets recover from health conditions or injuries. The Central Houston Animal Hospital team understands that chronic pain can significantly reduce a pet’s quality of life, and our dedicated rehabilitation team offers a holistic approach to managing your furry pal’s pain. Here, we discuss the rehabilitation therapies we provide in our clinic and the conditions most likely to respond to rehab treatment.

What is pet rehabilitation therapy?

Rehabilitation therapy for pets uses many of the same techniques and equipment as therapy for humans. When modified for a pet’s anatomy, rehabilitation can provide natural pain relief, reduce inflammation, and improve overall function. Our veterinary rehabilitation team is dedicated to providing pets with the latest advances in evidence-based rehab medicine, including:

  • Regenerative medicine — Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy concentrates your pet’s natural blood healing factors and injects them into injured areas to stimulate healing.
  • Hydrotherapy — Underwater treadmill uses water’s resistance and buoyancy to help pets regain strength and mobility.
  • Extracorporeal shockwave therapy — ESWT is a non-invasive method to improve blood flow and stimulate healing in tissues with a poor blood supply.
  • Therapeutic exercise — Exercises using pet-specific equipment can improve balance, strength, coordination, and flexibility.
  • Manual therapy — Manual therapy includes stretching, massage, chiropractic, and joint mobilizations to improve range of motion and relax tense tissues.
  • Targeted pulsed electromagnetic fields — tPEMF uses magnets to create micro-currents in damaged tissue to reduce inflammation and improve oxygenation and blood flow.
  • Cold laser therapy — Cold laser uses light energy to stimulate cells and induce healing, while reducing pain and inflammation.
  • Acupuncture — Acupuncture uses tiny needles to stimulate the nervous system and create relaxation, anxiety relief, appetite stimulation, and pain relief.

Conditions that respond to rehabilitation therapy in pets

A few examples of conditions that respond well to rehabilitation therapy used alone or in combination with other treatments include:

  • Orthopedic injuries — Orthopedic injuries, such as fractures, ligament tears, tendonitis, or muscle strains, often occur in active dogs. Therapy can improve strength, flexibility, and range of motion after an injury to facilitate a smoother recovery.
  • Neurological disorders — Pets with neurological disorders, such as intervertebral disc disease (IVDD), degenerative myelopathy, or spinal cord injuries, often suffer from weakness and incoordination. Rehabilitation can help maximize or maintain muscle function, improve coordination, and enhance mobility.
  • Arthritis and joint pain — Arthritis is common among aging pets and causes stiffness, pain, and reduced mobility. Rehabilitation therapies can alleviate pain, reduce inflammation, increase strength, and improve mobility in arthritic pets.
  • Post-surgical recovery — Pets often require rehabilitation to aid recovery after orthopedic surgery. Rehabilitation therapies help accelerate healing, reduce swelling, prevent muscle atrophy, and restore mobility, so pets can more quickly return to their previous activity level.
  • Obesity management — Obesity can predispose pets to joint pain, diabetes, respiratory issues, or cancer. Rehabilitation therapies work alongside dietary adjustments to reduce inflammation caused by excess body fat or secondary conditions and to improve overall health.
  • Geriatric care — Aging pets may experience muscle weakness, balance problems, decreased mobility, and increased injury susceptibility. Rehabilitation therapies tailored to senior pets focus on improving strength, flexibility, and coordination to enhance independence in their golden years.

Rehabilitation therapies play a vital role in supporting pets’ health and well-being. Whether your pet is recovering from surgery, dealing with a chronic condition, or simply aging, rehabilitation therapies can improve their quality of life.

Our Central Houston Animal Hospital rehabilitation team offers various modalities and can assess your pet to determine their best treatment options. Contact us to schedule a consultation and learn how rehab can benefit your furry pal.