Upon deciding the topic of my next post I realized that, although I have discussed how to become certified in canine rehabilitation, I never gave a proper introduction to what canine rehab really entails. There is a misconception, both among the general population and the veterinary community, that canine rehab consists mainly of laser therapy and underwater treadmill; however, just like in human PT although it is fun at times to have extra equipment the greatest asset of a successful canine rehabilitation practitioner is a pair of good hands and a well developed plan of care.

The difference between a canine rehab practitioner, regardless if it is a veterinarian or a physical therapist, and other specialties in the veterinary field is our ability to focus on the functional status of the dog, instead of a specific disease or pathology. It is not uncommon for dog owners to hear from an orthopedic surgeon that at the 8-weeks follow-up following a surgery for a cruciate ligament tear their dog is now clear to resume off-leash activities. I have also seen similar scenarios in the human world as well with surgeons clearing the patient to resume certain activities while in my opinion they weren’t ready for it, afterwards from the surgeon’s perspective the anatomy of the patient has been fixed regarding that injury. The surgeon is not wrong, but clients are always amazed when we explain and demonstrate on their dog the different compensation mechanisms that could lead to other injuries, the lack of muscle strength on the surgical leg, and how to properly progress their dog back to the desired physical activities. With that in mind, it is worth mentioning to always look for a veterinarian or physical therapist that has advanced training in animal rehab to work with your pet. Those professionals would have a CCRT/CCRP/CCRA behind their name.

The same principles from human PT can be applied to canine PT. During the initial evaluation a canine PT should look at functional activities (gait, floor transfers, stairs, etc), joint ROM and mobility, muscle strength and flexibility, response to pain, soft tissue mobility, and neurologic deficits. It is also vital to do a detailed subjective evaluation with the owner going over the patient’s medical history. When needed, it will be necessary to refer the patient to a specialist (neurologist, orthopedic surgeon) and in rare occasions send the patient to an emergency vet, usually if the pain level is too high or if there is a life threatening condition that might warrant further tests and possibly even humane euthanasia. Keeping track of outcome measurements is also important, such as goniometry, girth measurement, pain assessment, body score, and others to make sure that the patient is progressing as planned. Then, along with the pet owner, develop short-term and long-term goals, and emphasize owner compliance with HEP from the very beginning.

As far as treatment options, therapeutic exercises are the “bread and butter”, and a home exercise program needs to be established and properly progressed. Underwater treadmill can be used for a variety of patients and conditions, and are great for gait training. Manual therapy including soft tissue massage and joint mobilization, pain modalities (laser therapy, shockwave, ultrasound, TENS), NMES, and other adjunct therapies would also be part of the plan of care. A canine PT can also do fittings and adjustments for carts, braces, prosthetics and other assistive devices.

I hope this post gives you a better understanding about canine rehabilitation. As always, feel free to contact me by email or social media if you have any questions, topics that you would want to learn more, etc.

~TheK9PT