Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation

Physical therapy and rehabilitation is available for dogs and cats of all ages and at all stages of life.  As with human medicine, it may be prescribed following orthopedic and neurosurgery, for the treatment of chronic pain, athletic and traumatic injuries, age-related diseases, and weight management, among other conditions. At VERC, our physical rehabilitation team is focused on diagnosing and managing patients with painful or functionally limiting conditions, particularly those dealing with neurologic and/or musculoskeletal pathologies.

The needs of each patient are unique, and treatment plans are customized.

Reasons Your Pet May Be Referred To Our Service Osteoarthritis Elbow and hip dysplasia Ligament tears Sports injuries Fibrocartilagenous embolism Patella luxation Orthotics and assisted devices Post-op orthopedic management Degenerative myelopathy IVDD (post-surgical and non-operative) Lumbosacral disease Vestibular disease Wobbler’s disease Strains and sprains Weight Management Senior care and gentle exercise programs

Treatment Plans May Include   VERC-Rehab emphasizes a multimodal approach to treating functional limitations. Individualized treatment programs are tailored to the owners’ goals and the patient’s underlying medical status. A typical program would likely include any of the following: Targeted therapeutic exercise Acupuncture and electroacupuncture Manual therapy (joint mobilizations, stretching, massage, trigger point therapy) Photobiomodulation, or cold laser therapy Extracorporeal shockwave therapy Pulsed electromagnetic field therapy Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES)

Benefits

The benefits of Physical Rehabilitation are proven to help both humans and pets return to full function quicker than patients who do not receive physical rehabilitation. In a few sessions, you may see an improved range of motion and a reduction in pain in your pet. Physical rehabilitation is a fun experience for most pets. We use treats to encourage patient participation in the therapeutic exercise; if your pet has any allergies, please inform your physical rehabilitationist.

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Helpful Professional Links:

• American Association of Rehabilitation Veterinarians
• The University of Tennessee Department of Canine Rehabilitation