When treating the animal, it is very important that understanding the animals' behavior to ensure safe handling and to facilitate complete assessment for the animal's pain.

 

How Do You Know If Your Pet Needs Animal Physical Therapy?

 

Many times, it is obvious that your pet may be suffering from pain. They may show the typical signs of pain, such as limping, crying, or panting.

 

Other times, pain in your pet is not so obvious, especially when the pain stems from chronic long-term medical problems such as degenerative joint disease.

 

 

Subtle signs of pain that may go unnoticed include,

 

• Difficulty rising from sleeping or lying down.

• Hesitation to climb the stairs or get up on furniture.

• Reluctance to go for walks or only wanting to go on short walks.

• Longer naps or decreased appetite.

 

Your veterinarian is always your best resource for your pet’s overall health and well-being. Once a full assessment by your veterinarian has been completed, they will refer your pet to an animal rehabilitation center, if necessary.

 

 

Indications

 

Like conventional physiotherapy, animal physiotherapy can be used in,

• Musculoskeletal conditions including, soft tissue injuries such as rupture of ligaments, tendons, and muscles, bursitis, and bone or joint diseases.

• Neurological conditions including central and peripheral nerve injuries, degenerative myopathy, and balance/vestibular problems.

• Pain management is one of the main parts of animal physiotherapy.

• In some animal groups (especially in athletic dogs and racehorses) there are performance problems. So improving strength and endurance is essential for them.

• In addition to that obesity, depression, and elderly care are also indicated in animal physiotherapy.

 

 

Benefits of physiotherapy in veterinary

 

• Maintain and restore normal range of motion in the musculoskeletal system where movements are restricted and painful.

• Limit the impact of injury and disease process.

• Optimize the healing process and accelerate return to functions, independence, and performance.

• Release muscle spasm and mobilization of joints to gain pain relief and restoration of normal movement patterns.

• Increase cardiovascular endurance in animals.

• Improve balance and coordination.

 

 

Physiotherapy strategies used in veterinary.

 

 

Exercise therapy.

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In the rehabilitation program of the animals, therapeutic exercises may be used to improve aerobic capacity and endurance, coordination and balance, postural stabilization range of motion, and strengthen of weak muscles.

Simple exercises that animals can easily understand and follow are used for this such as walking with the owner, stair climbing, and swimming. Strengthening exercises include such as trolling, hill walking, and pulling weights.

In gait training, animals with neurological and orthopedic conditions often required assistance to stand and walk, such as physio rolls and slings.

 

 

Electrotherapy

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Various electrical modalities can be used on animal patients for various conditions such as wound healing, soft tissue injuries, inflammatory arthropathies, and pain relief.

 

 

Heat and cold therapy

 

It is a very simple and effective treatment method for pain relief, to reduce inflammation, swelling and to control bleeding.

 

Hydrotherapy.

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Hydrotherapy is very helpful to animals who unable to maintain their posture and gait. That allows a higher level of exercises to be performed on the ground. Because of reducing the risk of damage to joints and healing tissues by fallen.

 

 

Physiotherapy approaches in the veterinary team.

 

Rehabilitation of an animal is provided by all members of a veterinary team. Each member participates at different levels within their professional training and experience.

The qualified animal physiotherapist can select the best recovery plan for each animal client. This allows an animal to return to normal after an accident or surgery.

 

The behavior of an animal, the level of understanding of the owner, and their emotions can influence the outcomes of physiotherapy intervention.

 

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References

 

https://todaysveterinarypractice.com/physical-rehabilitation-for-veterinary-practices/

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