Physical Rehabilitation

What to Expect During Treatment & Therapy

Our experienced therapy and rehabilitation professional can create a custom therapeutic treatment program for your pet, tailored their specific needs. Therapy may include a combination of techniques, exercises and more.

We will determine the best therapies based on your pet's condition, capabilities and specific requirements.

Treatment & Therapy Options

Physical rehabilitation can help your dog recover from injury, surgery or disease, quickly and gently.

Our Powder Springs rehabilitation professional will create a customized physical rehabilitation program for your pet that may consist of one or more of the following techniques, combined with conventional medications when necessary:

• Therapeutic Physical Exercise

  Therapeutic physical exercise is the cornerstone of any great physical rehabilitation program.

  A number of exercises are appropriate for a plethora conditions and offer many benefits for your pet. With targeted physical exercises, we can:

  • Improve cartilage and ligament health
  • Improve muscle mass and strength
  • Prevent or reverse osteoporosis
  • Increase circulation
  • Decrease pain
  • Reduce obesity
  • Improve function and mobility
  • Improve flexibility and range of motion
  • Improve balance and senses
  • Increase endurance and stamina
• Manual Techniques

  Manual techniques refer to massage, passive range of motion, stretches and joint mobilization.

  These are all important components of any rehabilitation program and can help alleviate pain, increase circulation, promote relaxation and improve tissue extensibility.

• Hot/Cold Therapy

  We use superficial hot and cold applications in addition to other treatments.

  Often, hot or cold therapeutic aids are applied before or after exercise to increase tissue extensibility.

  They can also promote relaxation, relieve pain, increase circulation, and minimize inflammation.

Treatment & Therapy FAQs

Read our most frequently asked questions about treatment and therapy for pets, or contact us to ask a different question.

• Why does my pet need physical therapy?

  Physical therapy is an essential element in your pet's recovery, whether they have been impacted by injury, trauma, surgery, chronic pain, neurological condition or other circumstance.

  With a custom rehabilitation and therapeutic program, we can focus on pain management and prioritizing his or her overall health while reaching your pet's goals, which may include building your pet's balance and coordination, endurance and stamina. 

  All of these are conducive to healing, with the goal of ensuring your pet feels their best and that the two of you get to spend many more years together.

• What conditions can physical therapy be used to treat?

  Physical therapy can be used to treat a wide range of conditions your pet may have, such as:

  • Osteoarthritis
  • Recovery after major surgery (hip surgery, cruciate repair, limb amputation, etc.)
  • Spinal injuries
  • Disc disease (IVDD)
  • Soft tissue injuries
  • Obesity
  • Chronic pain
• What rehabilitation services do you offer?

  The following are some of the physical rehabilitation services we offer at Powder Springs Animal Clinic:

  • Stair Work
  • Balance Surfaces
  • Stretch
  • Cavaletti Jumping
  • Hot and Cold Therapy
  • Massage
• How long will my pet need to attend physical therapy?

  Based on your pet's condition, and an assessment from our experienced veterinary specialists and therapy team, we can determine your pet's unique therapeutic requirements, including the duration of their customized treatment program.

• What can I do at home to achieve the best results possible from physical therapy?

  Depending on your pet's condition and requirements, at-home exercises may help promote healing and progress in physical therapy.

  Always consult your veterinarian and/or therapy team on if and when at-home exercises should be part of your pet's treatment, and which ones would be helpful.