Rehabilitation Treatment Information
The following is an overview of treatment options we may choose to use during your pet’s recovery:
The following is an overview of treatment options we may choose to use during your pet’s recovery:
Therapeutic MassageTherapeutic massage increases circulation to improve healing, decreases pain and reduces swelling. Therapeutic massage can be used for acute or chronic problems, but the pressure and intensity of the massage will vary with the pain level of the patient. Therapeutic massage increases blood flow - which improves oxygen delivery to tissues; and breaks down scar tissue. Therapeutic massage also promotes mental and physical relaxation.
We can teach you how to do basic massage at home. Should your pet need more massage than we can accommodate, we are able to refer you to a canine massage therapist for more frequent treatments. 
Laser TherapyLaser therapy uses L.A.S.E.R (Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation) to repair tissues through photobiostimulation. Put simply, the cells in the injured areas use the energy of the laser to aid their healing. Laser therapy has been shown to relieve pain from muscle and joint soreness, relieve symptoms of arthritis, relax muscle spasms and increase blood flow to an area, helping wounds to heal. For best results we should shave the area being treated to maximise the energy delivered to deeper tissues, however we do still get good effects in the unshaven patient. We are proud to have a class IV laser for our laser treatments.
Laser treatments incur an additional fee per treatment. We also offer outpatient treatments under your veterinarian instruction. 
Neuromuscular Electrical StimulationNeuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) is the administration of a low level electrical current that decreases swelling and allows muscle contraction and recruitment after orthopedic or neurological injury. Indications for use of NMES are atrophy (muscle wasting), swelling and pain.
Orthotics and ProstheticsCustom orthotic braces and even prosthetic limbs are available. These devices are used to support an injured limb while it heals, to correct a deformity or to encourage correct limb use.
We also supply carts to patients that are paralysed and various harnesses are available to help dogs that are unable to walk without support. View our products page for further details. |
ThermotherapyThermotherapy is the therapeutic use of physical agents or means to heat or cool the body. Superficial heating of an area increases blood flow, reduces pain, increases extensibility of fibrous tissues, and aids in muscle relaxation. Cold (cryo) therapy decreases cellular metabolism, leads to constriction of blood vessels, reduces pain, and reduces muscle spasms. This is commonly continued at home as part of your home exercise plan
Active Therapeutic ExercisesActive exercise involves your pet moving themselves or moving their own joint. The exercises must never cause overuse or strain so personalised programs are created and monitored to reach the desired effect.
Examples of Active exercises include: Sit-to-stand Exercises - Standing Exercises – Walking – Dancing -Wheelbarrowing - Stair climbing - Cavaletti rails – Therabands - Physioball Exercise - Balance Board - Weight shifting -Trampoline ... 
Underwater Treadmill (available at K9 Aqua on the same premises)The underwater treadmill is designed specifically for veterinary use and uses water to support your pet's weight while walking or running. The treadmill can be used in the very early stages of learning to move well again; the higher the water level, the more of your pet's weight that is supported.
As strength and correct movement improves, the water level is lowered each session to further increase strength. Underwater treadmills can decrease recovery time from surgery, improve arthritis through low impact exercise, and improve cardiovascular fitness. Swimming where the legs are not touching a surface is considered less specific and does not provide as much joint extension as the underwater treadmill. However, there are some cases where we are happy to send your dog to swimming. We can refer you for this service. |
Passive Therapeutic Exercise including joint mobilisationPassive exercises consist of passive range of motion (PROM) and stretching exercises. These exercises are performed to help maintain or improve flexion and extension of joints, help the body's awareness of neuromuscular structure and function, and improve flexibility of muscles, tendons and ligaments. Passive exercise means movement not initiated by the patient, so you will be moving your pet’s joints through a range of motion. Passive range of motion exercises (PROM) are very important if the patient is not using a body part or has limited movement of a body part.
Joint mobilisation can be of great benefit to joints and allows for greater movement. Mobilisation of the spinal column can provide relief from spasms and pain. The use of mobilisation is important to restore function to many patients. There are grades (degrees) of mobilisations that a rehabilitation practitioner can apply to a joint depending on variables of the joint itself. If full chiropractic services are needed, we can refer you to a veterinary chiropractic therapist. Joint compression and distraction is also used with stretching to achieve the desired result. 
AcupunctureAcupuncture is the insertion of very fine needles into specific areas on a dog to treat a diagnosed condition. These specific points are called acupuncture points. In veterinary practice, acupuncture may be used alone to treat musculoskeletal pain, or in conjunction with other therapies.
Statistically, 80% of dogs will receive some benefit from acupuncture. The benefit varies for each individual dog. When starting acupuncture, we recommend 4 sessions at one week intervals to see if acupuncture is right for your dog. If it helps, we then span our sessions dependant on your dog’s tolerance of acupuncture and response to treatment. At this time, we only offer musculoskeletal acupuncture. If you need acupuncture for other illness, we can refer to a veterinary acupuncturist. Online booking available for your convenience. Simply grab your diary and book when you're ready!
Click here to email us if you have any queries or would like further information prior to making an appointment. 
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