Rehab Services

Cryotherapy & Thermotherapy

Cryotherapy and Thermotherapy is the use of ice or heat to decrease pain in joints, muscles and other soft tissues.

• Cryotherapy is the use of ice to decrease blood flow to the area with the goal of reducing pain caused by inflammation.
• Thermotherapy is the use of heat to relax muscles, ligaments and tendons, making them more flexible and elastic. This can allow for increased range of motion and decreased pain in joints.

Electrical Stimulation

• Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) – A treatment that utilizes sensory level stimulation to decrease pain, this is called electroanalgesia. TENS produces a tingling or buzzing sensation which decreases the brain’s awareness of pain. It can be used to decrease pain after surgery, for arthritis, or muscle soreness.
• Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) – A treatment that stimulates nerves and muscles to prevent loss and strengthen specific muscles. This can be used for recovery from orthopedic or neurological surgeries, other neuromuscular injuries or paralysis.

Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT)

Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy, also known as ESWT or Shockwave Therapy, is a non-invasive treatment that utilizes high-energy sound waves to stimulate the body’s natural healing response. It has been shown to promote nerve and tendon healing, decrease pain and inflammation, and increase blood supply to the treated area. Common conditions treated with extracorporeal shockwave therapy are:

• Tendon Disorders or Injuries​
• Myofascial Trigger Points
• Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD)
• Degenerative Joint Disease or Arthritis
• Lumbosacral Stenosis or Cauda Equina syndrome

Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy (PEMF)

Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy is the use of specific electromagnetic frequencies to reduce inflammation, relieve pain, and accelerate healing. PEMF has the unique ability to evenly penetrate through soft tissue and bone to reach the targeted treatment area. At Animalia Rehab, we use the Assisi Loop and the Respond Bed.

Therapeutic Laser

Therapeutic laser, also known as photobiomodulation, cold laser, low level laser, or class IV laser has a broad range of applications. Laser therapy is the use of specific wavelengths of light to decrease pain and inflammation as well as to promote tissue healing. Laser therapy can decrease pain and inflammation or speed up recovery time for a number of conditions including:

• Soft tissue injuries like tendonitis, sprain, strain, partial tears, muscle soreness or fatigue, and trigger points
• Degenerative joint disease or arthritis
• After orthopedic surgery such as knee surgery (TPLO, TTA, Tight Rope, Lateral Suture) or hip surgery (FHO)
• Neurologic conditions like intervertebral disc disease (IVDD), fibrocartilaginous embolism (FCE), after back surgery (hemilaminectomy or ventral slot) or other nerve damage
• After a sports related injury

Therapeutic Ultrasound

Therapeutic ultrasound is the use of sound waves to create tissue heating or vibration for therapeutic effects. Uses for therapeutic ultrasound are:

• To increase elasticity of tissues after a joint/muscle contracture (Ex: Fibrotic gracilis myopathy)
• To decrease pain and relax muscles or trigger points
• To increase blood flow and decrease pain for tendonitis/bursitis (Ex: Biceps or supraspinatus tendon strain)

Orthotics & Assistive Devices

Harnesses and slings can be used to help support your pet after an injury, surgery or as they age.

A wheelchair can help pets that are unable to walk without support to regain some independence. Choosing the right wheelchair or cart for your pet can be overwhelming and most require precise measurements. Here at Animalia Rehab, we can help select, measure and order a cart and once it arrives, we will make sure that it is a perfect fit for your pet. Indications for a cart or wheelchair are:

• Degenerative Myelopathy (DM)
• IVDD, slipped disc, or other neurological conditions
• Paralysis
• Severe Hip Dysplasia
• Amputations

Hydrotherapy / Underwater Treadmill

The underwater treadmill utilizes the warmth, buoyancy, and resistance of the water to create a safe and comfortable environment for physical rehabilitation after surgery or injury and sports conditioning.

Benefits of hydrotherapy include:

• A low impact exercise for pets of all sizes and ages
• The water can take about 65% of body weight off joints or injured limb making it a great option for pets with arthritis, after orthopedic surgery, after a sports related injury or for weight loss

Land Treadmill

The land treadmill can be utilized in gait retraining following orthopedic or neurological injury or surgery. Treadmills can also be useful for sports conditioning, weight loss or management, to encourage the use of a limb after surgery, and to warm up tissues before therapeutic exercise or manual therapy.

Manual Therapy

Manual therapy is the use of several specific “hands on” techniques to help restore normal function to musclesand joints. These techniques include:

• Massage
  • Relaxing, pain relieving, or stimulating
  • Increase blood flow/circulation
  • Increase elasticity of muscles
  • Decrease scar adhesion
  • Pre or post workout
• Passive range of motion
  • Maintain or restore range of motion of joints​
  • Nerve stimulation for proprioception or to decrease pain
  • Bathes joints in fresh joint fluid
• Stretching
  • Maintain or restore muscle flexibility​
  • Decrease pain from muscle tightness or soreness

Sports Conditioning

Muscle weakness or tightness can increase your pet’s risk of injury during competition or training. We can design a home exercise, warm up/cool down, and manual therapy plan for your pet, tailored to their sport-specific needs. A customized in-clinic sports conditioning plan can be created including targeting strengthening exercises, underwater treadmill, manual therapy, laser and/or acupuncture.

Therapeutic Exercises

Therapeutic exercises can be used for a wide variety of injuries or disorders. We tailor all exercise plans for the specific needs of each patient. Some uses for therapeutic exercise include:

• Gait training uses intentionally placed obstacles to train the correct gait pattern for walking and trotting
• Muscle strengthening and building after surgery, injury, or as your pet ages
• Neurological re-education after a spinal or nerve related injury or surgery​
• Pain management with the use of active stretches and active range of motion exercises
• Sports conditioning

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese technique that promotes the body’s natural healing process through the placement of very thin needles through the skin at strategic points on the body to produce a physiologic response. Acupuncture is recognized by the National Institute of Health (NIH) and the World Health Organization (WHO) to be effective in the treatment of:

• Joint pain and arthritis
• Nerve pain or intervertebral disc disease (bulging/herniated disc)
• Weakness/nerve stimulation​
• Accelerate healing
• Enhance immune system function
• Preventative health

Chiropractic

Chiropractic is a conservative treatment approach that focuses on the musculoskeletal and nervous system. By locating areas of the spine and body that have lost normal biomechanics, chiropractors utilize adjustments. This treatment stimulates the nerves, spinal cord, and brain in order to restore proper motion and nervous system function.

Chiropractic care ensures optimal function of the nervous system, which controls every aspect of the body including muscles, joints, immune system, cardiovascular system and digestion. Below are a few common symptoms that would indicate the need for chiropractic care:

• Pain
• Hesitancy playing or jumping
• Chronic infections​
• Digestive issues
• Urinary incontinence
• Abnormal gait