Daisy running agility after rehabilitation for a ruptured knee ligament.

Concerned with putting Ryzza through surgery because of her age,
physical rehabilitation was used as an alternative to treat her
low-grade luxating patellas.  Within just a few weeks of therapy
Ryzza was no longer having luxating episodes and was offering
behaviors (like dancing) that she had never done before.

Dr. Michelle working with Aryn, a Police Dog
who was shot in the line of duty.

What types of problems can be helped with Physical Rehabilitation?

Rehabilitation can help with many different types of problems, including difficulty getting up and down, gait problems, stiffness due to arthritis or immobilization, decreased strength due to injury or advancing age, fractures, nerve injuries, hip dysplasia, back injuries, or any condition which causes pain and reduces the animal's ability to move around well and to lead a good quality of life.  Geriatric patients can lead a higher quality of life for longer, and obese patients can lose that excess weight.

What does the Rehabilitation Session Entail?

The first session begins with an assessment of the animal's current function, including range of motion, strength, a neurological screening, assessment of their functional mobility, and a gait analysis.

After the assessment is made, the Rehabilitation Practitioner will advise the owner on what types of treatments would be appropriate, and how often the animal should attend Rehabilitation sessions. The Practitioner will also teach the owner to do any home exercises that may be included as part of the animal's treatment protocol.

If time allows, a treatment will be provided at this initial session.

How much does it cost?

We provide individual treatment plans and use different treatments on each case. We cannot determine which treatments will be needed without first accessing the animal.

The Initial Evaluation, which includes a full functional assessment of the animal, is a more expensive visit. The cost for subsequent sessions varies according to the amount of work that needs to be done.

Do most of the dogs use the Underwater Treadmill?

We utilize the underwater treadmill for the majority of our cases. The combination of buoyancy, resistance, and the warmth of the water is a great combination for most of our patients.

Most dogs take readily to the Underwater Treadmill.  While some start walking in it immediately, it usually takes dogs a few minutes to "get the hang of it", but once they do then the animals are quite willing to walk in the water.  A staff member always accompanies the animal into the tank for safety and reassurance.

Is the Underwater Treadmill Clean?

We check the water daily for pH, alkalinity, chlorine content, and the clarity of the water, similar to the way in which a pool is maintained. The water is re-circulated through several filters to remove hair and impurities before being returned to the reservoir. However, the water is not sterile so we do not place any animals with open surgical incisions or wounds in the underwater treadmill.

What if a dog has an "accident" in the Underwater Treadmill?

Not a problem!  We will just drain the contaminated water directly to the sewer rather than re-circulating it.  A quick disinfecting of the treadmill and we are ready for the next patient.