4 Things Every Pet Owner Should Know About Animal Rehab from the Ft Lauderdale Area’s Top Vet
DPC Veterinary Hospital is one of the few Fort
Lauderdale vets offering comprehensive pet care including pet rehabilitation.
If your four-legged pal is suffering from an injury, recovering from surgery,
has a chronic condition or is having mobility problems due to old age or
arthritis, pet rehabilitation may be helpful in bringing him or her back to her
normal self.
For most Fort Lauderdale veterinary clinics, pet
rehabilitation consists of owner education and pharmaceuticals. At DPC Veterinary Hospital we take a more tailored
approach.
Pet Rehab
Therapies
Just like humans, rehabilitation programs should be
designed for the condition. A cardiac patient needs a rehab program that
focuses on aerobic therapy and would not seek out a program that centered on
balance, strength and flexibility that is offered by specialists helping joint
replacement patients. The same goes for your pet. Not all therapies are
appropriate for all conditions.
So the first step pet rehabilitation is a through exam
to determine what the issue(s) is and then design a program that will yield the
most beneficial results. Those programs can include:
- Pet
Massage. This is not just
petting. Pet
massage is deliberate strokes designed to ease pain from strains,
muscle spasms and joint pain associated with old age. Pain relief is a
principal benefit however, just like petting pet massage improves your
pet's emotional health.
- Veterinary
laser treatments. Professional
athletes have been using laser treatments to
ease muscle strains and encourage healing of injuries for decades. Using light
energy to enhance healing works just as well on a Fort Lauderdale
poodle as it does on a Miami Dolphin. Great for pain relief and relaxation.
Perfect for post-operative healing.
- Exercise. Just like physical therapy for people, pets
can benefit from exercise targeted to address a specific area. DPC has
steps, balls, ramps, weights etc. that can be instrumental in returning
your pet to its natural healthy self.
- Injections. In some cases injections may be the most
appropriate treatment for a condition. At DPC those injections can include
homeopathic as well as anti-inflammatory.
Pet
rehabilitation usually involves two or three treatments a week as well as
exercises at home. Rehab requires a commitment. Your dog will love it, it
really is a question if you have the time.
If
you think your pet can benefit from rehab but you have questions, please don't
hesitate to call us now and we will be delighted to share our programs with
you.