The mission of Springbank Pet Hospital's Rehabilitation Program is to improve your pet’s quality of life by providing the highest quality rehabilitation and pain management services. We will work with you and your regular veterinarian to create a tailored in-hospital and at-home treatment program specific to your pet’s needs.
What is Animal Rehabilitation?
Animal rehabilitation is the use of therapeutic exercises combined with additional modalities such as hydrotherapy, low-level light therapy (therapeutic laser), ultrasound, thermotherapy, neuromuscular electrical stimulation, therapeutic massage, and acupuncture to improve the recovery of patients with both acute and chronic conditions.
How Will My Pet Benefit From Animal Rehabilitation?
Animal rehabilitation can restore, maintain and promote optimal function and mobility; enhance recovery postoperatively; alleviate pain; improve circulation, coordination and range of motion; provide confidence and comfort in geriatric patients. Healthy, athletic animals and working dogs can also benefit from our conditioning and weight loss program.
Is My Pet A Candidate For Rehabilitation?
Pets of all ages, sizes and breeds can benefit from animal rehabilitation. Any animal suffering from chronic pain, arthritis, obesity or muscle weakness can experience an enhanced quality of life as a result of rehabilitation.
Conditions That Respond Well To Rehabilitation:
-Orthopedic Conditions ie: Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tears, Arthritis, Hip Dysplasia, Fractures.
-Neurological Conditions ie: Degenerative Myelopathy, Intervertebral Disc Disease.
-General Health/Wellness ie: Athletic Conditioning, Cardiovascular Fitness, Obesity-Weight Loss.
What is Animal Rehabilitation?
Animal rehabilitation is the use of therapeutic exercises combined with additional modalities such as hydrotherapy, low-level light therapy (therapeutic laser), ultrasound, thermotherapy, neuromuscular electrical stimulation, therapeutic massage, and acupuncture to improve the recovery of patients with both acute and chronic conditions.
How Will My Pet Benefit From Animal Rehabilitation?
Animal rehabilitation can restore, maintain and promote optimal function and mobility; enhance recovery postoperatively; alleviate pain; improve circulation, coordination and range of motion; provide confidence and comfort in geriatric patients. Healthy, athletic animals and working dogs can also benefit from our conditioning and weight loss program.
Is My Pet A Candidate For Rehabilitation?
Pets of all ages, sizes and breeds can benefit from animal rehabilitation. Any animal suffering from chronic pain, arthritis, obesity or muscle weakness can experience an enhanced quality of life as a result of rehabilitation.
Conditions That Respond Well To Rehabilitation:
-Orthopedic Conditions ie: Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tears, Arthritis, Hip Dysplasia, Fractures.
-Neurological Conditions ie: Degenerative Myelopathy, Intervertebral Disc Disease.
-General Health/Wellness ie: Athletic Conditioning, Cardiovascular Fitness, Obesity-Weight Loss.
Are you a Veterinarian ready to refer?
For Veterinarians with questions or to refer a case, please complete the Veterinary Referral Form.
Are you a new or existing client seeking rehabilitation services for your pet?
We do not require a referral from your veterinarian however we do request to have updated medical records on file prior to your first appointment.
Please fill out the New Client Form.
Please fill out the New Client Form.
Services Available
Laser Therapy
Laser Therapy, or “photobiomodulation”, is the use of specific wavelengths of light (red and near-infrared) to create therapeutic effects. These effects include improved healing time, pain reduction, increased circulation and decreased swelling.
Laser Therapy has been widely utilized in Europe by physical therapists, nurses and doctors as far back as the 1970’s. Now, after FDA clearance in 2002, Laser Therapy is being used extensively in the United States and now this ground breaking therapy is at Springbank Pet Hospital.
Laser Therapy has been widely utilized in Europe by physical therapists, nurses and doctors as far back as the 1970’s. Now, after FDA clearance in 2002, Laser Therapy is being used extensively in the United States and now this ground breaking therapy is at Springbank Pet Hospital.
Veterinary Medical Acupuncture
At Springbank Pet Hospital, we offer medical acupuncture for our patients. Medical acupuncture is the use of acupuncture treatments to help patients recover from injury and illness. Acupuncture is the application of slim, sterile needles to specific points, leading to improved comfort and function of specific muscles, organs and nerves. Animal acupuncture is a safe and effective treatment for easing pain and comforting your loved one while they heal. Many of our rehabilitation appointments combine the use of physical medicine modalities, including acupuncture, because it leads to improved comfort and faster return to function.
Acupuncture can be used for many conditions, including:
Acupuncture is remarkably well tolerated, by even sensitive dogs and cats (even rabbits, guinea pigs, birds and other creatures tolerate it well!). Many patients become excited to come to the vet clinic!
If you have additional questions about acupuncture, or if you are wondering if your pet may benefit, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Acupuncture can be used for many conditions, including:
- Muscle spasm or pain
- Soft tissue injuries
- Back or neck pain
- Arthritis
- Weakness
- Urinary or fecal incontinence
- Post-operative recovery and pain management
- Orthopedic injuries including hip dysplasia, knee injuries, shoulder injuries, elbow dysplasia, etc
- Kidney disease
- Nausea or decreased appetite
- Diarrhea
- Constipation/obstipation/megacolon
- Cancer
- Eye diseases including dry eye (KCS) and glaucoma
- Auto-immune diseases
Acupuncture is remarkably well tolerated, by even sensitive dogs and cats (even rabbits, guinea pigs, birds and other creatures tolerate it well!). Many patients become excited to come to the vet clinic!
If you have additional questions about acupuncture, or if you are wondering if your pet may benefit, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Electroacupuncture
While Acupuncture is the stimulation of specific points in the body, Electroacupuncture sends electric currents to those areas to stimulate the nerve endings deep inside the tissue below acupressure points. As with regular acupuncture, needles are placed in the areas of concern on your dog. However, with electroacupuncture, the veterinarian will also hook up wires to the metal on some of the needles to send an electric frequency to the area. Electroacupuncture increases stimulation through electrical frequencies to treat specific areas within your pet’s body. Electroacupuncture works as a great addition to the rehabilitation treatment plan and is used often to treat chronic pain.
Veterinary Spinal Manipulation Therapy
Veterinary Spinal Manipulation Therapy offers a non-surgical, drug-free option for correcting bone, disc, and soft-tissue disorders related to altered spinal alignment and movement. When vertebrae are involved in trauma, or wear and tear, the joints between them become jammed, often affecting the nerves in these areas. Since the nerves are the communication links between these joints and brain and spinal cord, messages to the rest of the body become interrupted, leading to pain and reduced function. Veterinary Spinal Manipulation Therapy focuses on the restoration and preservation of health by removing communication barriers and restoring normal function.
This therapy is not limited to injured or sick pets. Healthy and athletic animals are also candidates for Veterinary Spinal Manipulation Therapy examination and care. Maintaining proper structural alignment permits optimal function of the muscles, nerves and tissues supporting the joints, resulting in improved movement, agility, endurance, and flexibility. Veterinary Spinal Manipulation Therapy works well alongside traditional veterinary care, as a complement, rather than an alternative.
Most animals accept the exam and adjustments, without pain. When a painful area is found, our doctor will use the gentlest techniques to reduce pain before delivering an adjustment. In cases of acute or extreme pain, our doctor may delay the complete adjustment until your pet can be relaxed.
Some animals show immediate improvement; most animals show visible improvement after 1-3 treatments. Sometimes there is a 24-48 hour period of tiredness. Acute problems often respond quickly, while longstanding problems take longer. Chronic conditions respond well to regular supportive treatment every 2-6 months. Working and performance animals can benefit from regular check-ups so that problems can be identified and treated before they impact performance.
Even when your pet is not in pain, regular wellness visits are just as important, since pain is often one of the last signals the body gives when there is an underlying problem.
Conditions that may benefit from Veterinary Spinal Manipulation Therapy:
This therapy is not limited to injured or sick pets. Healthy and athletic animals are also candidates for Veterinary Spinal Manipulation Therapy examination and care. Maintaining proper structural alignment permits optimal function of the muscles, nerves and tissues supporting the joints, resulting in improved movement, agility, endurance, and flexibility. Veterinary Spinal Manipulation Therapy works well alongside traditional veterinary care, as a complement, rather than an alternative.
Most animals accept the exam and adjustments, without pain. When a painful area is found, our doctor will use the gentlest techniques to reduce pain before delivering an adjustment. In cases of acute or extreme pain, our doctor may delay the complete adjustment until your pet can be relaxed.
Some animals show immediate improvement; most animals show visible improvement after 1-3 treatments. Sometimes there is a 24-48 hour period of tiredness. Acute problems often respond quickly, while longstanding problems take longer. Chronic conditions respond well to regular supportive treatment every 2-6 months. Working and performance animals can benefit from regular check-ups so that problems can be identified and treated before they impact performance.
Even when your pet is not in pain, regular wellness visits are just as important, since pain is often one of the last signals the body gives when there is an underlying problem.
Conditions that may benefit from Veterinary Spinal Manipulation Therapy:
- Neck, back, leg, and tail pain
- Muscle spasms and nerve problems
- Injuries from slips, falls, and accidents
- Jaw or TMJ problems, difficulty chewing
- Event or sports injuries
- Post-surgical care
- Bowel, bladder, and internal medicine disorders
- Maintenance of joint and spinal health
- Healing/helping with chronic internal medicine disorders
Water Treadmill Therapy
Springbank Pet Hospital is excited to offer H20 For Fitness, an underwater dog treadmill. This treatment provides a low-impact therapy that allows dogs to begin the rehabilitation process earlier than normal. It also allows the animal to transition more quickly to land-based therapy by increasing muscle strength and endurance with the natural properties of water buoyancy, resistance and heat.
The underwater treadmill is also indicated for obese or overweight patients. The water's buoyancy reduces weight-bearing stress while at the same time its resistance increases metabolic demand and improves muscle strength.
Some benefits of the underwater treadmill are:
The underwater treadmill is also indicated for obese or overweight patients. The water's buoyancy reduces weight-bearing stress while at the same time its resistance increases metabolic demand and improves muscle strength.
Some benefits of the underwater treadmill are:
- Water buoyancy reduces gravity, diminishing concussive forces.
- Water height is regulated to accommodate different-sized animals and adjust for weight bearing.
- Allows early intervention and faster recovery times.
- Water provides resistance throughout the range of motion, providing gentle, hydrokinetic exercise
- Warm water assists in pain reduction
Massage
Massage can help relieve muscle pain and stiffness, reduce stress and anxiety and even decrease pain. Massaging aids in improved circulation and lymphatic flow, which in turn ensures a healthy supply of blood, oxygen and nutrients to the tissues. Improving the flow of lymph fluids helps carry metabolic waste away from the muscles and organs. Massage is a great addition in the recovery process when healing from injury or illness.
Therapeutic Ultrasound
Therapeutic Ultrasound uses sound waves to stimulate the tissues below the skin’s surface. The sound waves can be either pulsed or continuous, with continuous providing a heating effect to the tissues. The heating effects of the Therapeutic Ultrasound facilitate an increase in blood flow to the surrounding muscles, ligaments and tendons which decrease swelling, promote healing, reduce pain and decrease scar tissue build up.
Conditions that can be treated include tendon injuries, previous injuries with scar tissue build up, and any type of muscle pain and/or spasms.
Pets do not normally need to be sedated for the treatment, however they will be required to be still, either lying down, sitting or standing (depending on the area being treated) for the full duration of the treatment. Treatment times vary depending on the area being treated and the severity of the issue. The area being treated is required to be shaved first, then an ultrasonic gel is applied and the treatments begins. The treatment is either a pulsed wave with no heat or a continuous wave that provides heat. If the continous wave is used, pets may sometimes react to the heat at which time the settings can be changed to remove the heat.
Conditions that can be treated include tendon injuries, previous injuries with scar tissue build up, and any type of muscle pain and/or spasms.
Pets do not normally need to be sedated for the treatment, however they will be required to be still, either lying down, sitting or standing (depending on the area being treated) for the full duration of the treatment. Treatment times vary depending on the area being treated and the severity of the issue. The area being treated is required to be shaved first, then an ultrasonic gel is applied and the treatments begins. The treatment is either a pulsed wave with no heat or a continuous wave that provides heat. If the continous wave is used, pets may sometimes react to the heat at which time the settings can be changed to remove the heat.
PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) |
Platelet rich plasma (PRP) is a highly concentrated blood sample that contains isolated cells (platelets) and the fluid portion of blood (plasma). When used as a therapy, PRP can help regenerate and heal tissues by:
If PRP therapy is an option for your pet, a small amount of blood is taken from your dog and is processed using a specialized system that concentrates the platelets and the plasma. Once the PRP processing is complete, it is injected directly into the area of injury.
What can PRP therapy be used for?
- Recruiting cells to an area of injury to clean up dead and injured cells
- Releasing proteins called “Growth Factors” which are responsible for tissue regeneration
If PRP therapy is an option for your pet, a small amount of blood is taken from your dog and is processed using a specialized system that concentrates the platelets and the plasma. Once the PRP processing is complete, it is injected directly into the area of injury.
What can PRP therapy be used for?
- Osteoarthritis
- Acute and Chronic Soft Tissue Injuries
- Tendon Injuries
- Muscle Injuries
- Certain Spinal Conditions