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Animal
Physical Therapy
Recent
research confirms that animal
physical therapy works as well as physical therapy for humans! |
| “It’s
advanced very rapidly in the last 10 years, in line with people’s
expectations of their own physical therapy. We’ve seen more and more
people participating in physical therapy for their own injuries, and
that’s spilled over into veterinary medicine as well.” Michael Andrews - President, American Animal Hospital Association |
Thinking back to beloved family pets that suffered
serious injuries or grew too old too fast, I can’t help but imagine the
extended life they might have been granted if physical therapy for dogs
had been an option.
This page will address:
Could your dog benefit?
Specific benefits of physical therapy for dogs
What is required of you during physical therapy?
How to find a therapist in your area
How much does it cost?
What is Animal Physical Therapy?
Physical therapy for dogs uses many effective techniques in order to promote healing, relieve pain and help with recovery for musculoskeletal injuries:
- Treadmills
- Hydrotherapy
- Ultrasound
- Lasers
- Heat & Cold
- Electrical Currents
- Stretching
Massage (research keyword) is also commonly used on dogs to promote well-being and increase healing before or after surgery or injury.
 |
Taylor Tips! Do you enjoy a good massage? Of course you do! My owners indulge me every once in a while, and I absolutely love it! |
In recent years pet owners have begun to line up with their four-legged friends at the physiotherapist’s office for an assessment.
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Could My Dog Benefit from Animal Physical Therapy?
Thousands of dogs have benefited from this relatively new healthcare option.You should consider animal physical therapy to improve your dog’s mobility and promote a greater quality of life, especially if your dog has:
- Recently undergone orthopedic surgery and requires immediate rehabilitation
- Neurological problems
- Chronic pain due to old age or un-diagnosed problems
- Recently experienced a trauma or injury
- A bit of a weight problem
- A higher susceptibility to injury
Specific Benefits of Animal Physical Therapy
One of the best parts of physical therapy for dogs is that it often satisfies our cultural need for a “quick-fix”. Experts say that results are often rapid and that many pets show some type of improvement after just one visit. The majority of dogs reach full recovery in about two to four months.
Specific benefits include:
- Quicker recover from injury
- Increased mobility and flexibility
- Improved endurance and agility
- Reduced need to for pain medication
- Helps dogs loose weight
- Reduced pain
- Muscle gain
- Conditions athletic or working dogs
- Helps aging dogs suffering from osteoarthritis and mobility problems
- Helps to prevent disease, injury, neurological disease and stress
Are all of these benefits, resulting as easy as a few doctors visits? Well…not quite that easy. You will also need to work one-on-one with your dog outside of the therapist’s office. But with a little team work, you and your dog could be on the road to prevention or recovery.
What is Required of Me During My Dog's Physical Therapy?
The animal physical therapy process may indeed be trying on you and your dog at certain points along the way.“Homework” is involved in physical therapy for dogs. According to rehab specialists, this homework is very important for long term success.
Homework may include applying ice three times a
day for a week or learning massage and at-home exercise techniques.
Though the homework may differ from patient to patient, the necessity
for it to be done consistently and correctly does not.
It may take a little work to find the right animal physical therapy doctor for you and your dog. Since the rehab process can take some time, it is crucial for the doctor/patient relationship to be strong. It is also important that the doctor of your choice is licensed and certified.
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Start by asking your veterinarian for a recommendation. This is a relatively new field, so it may take some searching to find a qualified fit for you and your dog. The University of Tennessee maintains a comprehensive list of facilities throughout the world. Click here to search by state or country. |
What is the Cost of Physical Therapy for Dogs?
The unfortunate part of every great innovative therapy is the cost. You can expect to pay around $150 - $200 for an initial consultation which includes a physical exam, neurological exam and gait analysis.After the initial appointment, the cost per visit will vary according to the type of therapy needed and also special considerations for the individual patient. Expect an average of $75 per day and between $500 and $1,500 for end-to-end therapy.
Keep in mind that this is usually much less expensive than a hospital stay if you go without physical therapy for dogs. If you are on a budget, the therapist can work with you to reduce the number of visits per week or to require less visits by beefing up the homework.
| Pet Insurance is something to consider if you plan to move forward with this potentially high-cost treatment. |
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Also see...
Illnesses & Remedies for condition-specific treatments
Dog Vet Care to find a homeopathic vet in your area
Most common alternative treatments for your dog
Back to Health & Wellness Dog Care from Animal Physical Therapy
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