If are a regular reader of Patrick’s Blog, you have seen some of the features by guest bloggers.
Here are some great suggestions about physical rehabilitation from Susan E Davis, PT. Susan is a licensed physical therapist and owner of Joycare Onsite, LLC. Susan offers canine and small animal physical therapy in New Jersey (I wonder if she has treated some pets owned by the Real Housewives of New Jersey?).
5 Secrets of Physical Rehabilitation and Physical Therapy (PT) for Animals
1. It speeds up the normal healing process: Low level lasers, electrical stimulation, and massage increase blood flow and enhance cell metabolism to facilitate recovery. After many years of providing PT to the human population, I have been able to compare the response to PT in animals and have found it to be consistently faster. Animals are very accepting of their circumstances and have fewer barriers to cross. They love human contact and readily absorb the therapeutic benefits of PT.
2. The benefits are more than just physical: When animals begin to feel better physically, they are more likely to interact with the family, bring out their toys to play, and resume their favorite “job” of protecting you, patrolling the property, etc. The treatment enhances their emotional and social well-being also. In my experience working in a shelter, I have seen animals rescued from abuse that have lost their ability to physically function due to psychological trauma. The quiet gentle soothing touch of a physical therapist performing massage or light stretching can unlock anxiety and help the animal regain their confidence and trust.
3. PT is not just for “rehab” after an injury or surgery: PTcan also be used in chronic conditions such as arthritis, for general wellness and helping to manage your pet’s weight or endurance level, and for performance enhancement in agility, working and show dogs.
4. West meets east: PT works amazing well with Eastern forms of medicine such as Reiki and acupuncture. Although PT is considered to be “traditional” medicine in the human field, it is called “complementary” in the veterinary world. It can be combined beautifully with ancient forms of healing to produce optimum results without counterproductive effects.
5. It plays a huge role in prevention: Early use of PT after an injury or surgical procedure can reduce abnormal scar tissue formation, promote proper postural alignment and prevent future arthritic conditions or wear/tear on joints and tendons. A good therapist can also teach valuable ways to prevent problems as your dog ages such as starting core strengthening exercises and training in use of a ramp for a young Dachshund to avoid future spinal issues.
This article was also featured on TeddyHilton.com. See EXCLUSIVE: Secrets Of Pet Physical Therapy
Please feel free to leave your comments or communicate with me through email (patrick@patrickmahaney.com) or Twitter (@PatrickMahaney).
Thank you for reading my article. To receive my next veterinary posting via email, please press the “Don’t Miss a Blog Post” button on the right upper corner of this page or follow this link.
Make sure to follow my adventures in veterinary medicine by friending Patrick Mahaney: Veterinarian Acupuncture Pain Management for Your Pets on Facebook.
Here are some great suggestions about physical rehabilitation from Susan E Davis, PT. Susan is a licensed physical therapist and owner of Joycare Onsite, LLC. Susan offers canine and small animal physical therapy in New Jersey (I wonder if she has treated some pets owned by the Real Housewives of New Jersey?).
5 Secrets of Physical Rehabilitation and Physical Therapy (PT) for Animals
1. It speeds up the normal healing process: Low level lasers, electrical stimulation, and massage increase blood flow and enhance cell metabolism to facilitate recovery. After many years of providing PT to the human population, I have been able to compare the response to PT in animals and have found it to be consistently faster. Animals are very accepting of their circumstances and have fewer barriers to cross. They love human contact and readily absorb the therapeutic benefits of PT.
2. The benefits are more than just physical: When animals begin to feel better physically, they are more likely to interact with the family, bring out their toys to play, and resume their favorite “job” of protecting you, patrolling the property, etc. The treatment enhances their emotional and social well-being also. In my experience working in a shelter, I have seen animals rescued from abuse that have lost their ability to physically function due to psychological trauma. The quiet gentle soothing touch of a physical therapist performing massage or light stretching can unlock anxiety and help the animal regain their confidence and trust.
3. PT is not just for “rehab” after an injury or surgery: PTcan also be used in chronic conditions such as arthritis, for general wellness and helping to manage your pet’s weight or endurance level, and for performance enhancement in agility, working and show dogs.
4. West meets east: PT works amazing well with Eastern forms of medicine such as Reiki and acupuncture. Although PT is considered to be “traditional” medicine in the human field, it is called “complementary” in the veterinary world. It can be combined beautifully with ancient forms of healing to produce optimum results without counterproductive effects.
5. It plays a huge role in prevention: Early use of PT after an injury or surgical procedure can reduce abnormal scar tissue formation, promote proper postural alignment and prevent future arthritic conditions or wear/tear on joints and tendons. A good therapist can also teach valuable ways to prevent problems as your dog ages such as starting core strengthening exercises and training in use of a ramp for a young Dachshund to avoid future spinal issues.
This article was also featured on TeddyHilton.com. See EXCLUSIVE: Secrets Of Pet Physical Therapy
Please feel free to leave your comments or communicate with me through email (patrick@patrickmahaney.com) or Twitter (@PatrickMahaney).
Thank you for reading my article. To receive my next veterinary posting via email, please press the “Don’t Miss a Blog Post” button on the right upper corner of this page or follow this link.
Make sure to follow my adventures in veterinary medicine by friending Patrick Mahaney: Veterinarian Acupuncture Pain Management for Your Pets on Facebook.