Physical Therapy & Rehab

Physical therapy and rehabilitation is available for dogs and cats of all ages and at all stages of life. As with human medicine, it may be prescribed following orthopedic and neurosurgery, for the treatment of chronic pain, athletic and traumatic injuries, age-related diseases, and weight management, among other conditions. At VERC, our physical rehabilitation team is focused on diagnosing and managing patients with painful or functionally limiting conditions, particularly those dealing with neurologic and/or musculoskeletal pathologies.

The needs of each patient are unique, and treatment plans are customized.

Reasons Your Pet May Be Referred To Our Service

Osteoarthritis
Elbow and hip dysplasia
Ligament tears
Sports injuries
Fibrocartilagenous embolism
Patella luxation
Orthotics and assisted devices
Post-op orthopedic management
Degenerative myelopathy
IVDD (post-surgical and non-operative)
Lumbosacral disease
Vestibular disease
Wobbler’s disease
Strains and sprains
Weight Management
Senior care and gentle exercise programs

Treatment Plans May Include

VERC-Rehab emphasizes a multimodal approach to treating functional limitations. Individualized treatment programs are tailored to the owners’ goals and the patient’s underlying medical status.

A typical program would likely include any of the following:

Targeted therapeutic exercise
Acupuncture and electroacupuncture
Manual therapy (joint mobilizations, stretching, massage, trigger point therapy)
Photobiomodulation, or cold laser therapy
Extracorporeal shockwave therapy
Pulsed electromagnetic field therapy
Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES)

Benefits

The benefits of Physical Rehabilitation are proven to help both humans and pets return to full function quicker than patients who do not receive physical rehabilitation. In a few sessions, you may see an improved range of motion and a reduction in pain in your pet. Physical rehabilitation is a fun experience for most pets. We use treats to encourage patient participation in the therapeutic exercise; if your pet has any allergies, please inform your physical rehabilitationist.

Physiotherapy Modalities

Instructional Videos
Massage & Manual Therapies
Post-Op Hot Packs & Ice Packs
Supportive Slings, Braces, & Assistive Devices

Equipment

Treadmills
Therapeutic Exercise and Treatments
Cold Laser Therapy
Electrical Stimulator

Helpful Professional Links

A calico cat looking up meowing on a hardwood floor

Submit Referrals

We accept outpatient referrals to our Physical Rehabilitation department.

A patient can be referred by calling VERC at (808) 735-7735 or by submitting a referral online. If you have questions about a patient (referral or not), please get in touch with Dr. Brown at VERC.

Submit Referrals