Ft Lauderdale Vet on 4 Things You Should Know About Animal Rehab

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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.