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Pet Physiotherapy｜Post-Surgical Rehabilitation & Senior Pet Care
Pet Physiotherapy｜Post-Surgical Rehabilitation & Senior Pet Care
Pet physiotherapy is an important part of modern veterinary medicine. Through various non-invasive treatment methods, it helps pets reduce pain, restore mobility, and accelerate post-surgical recovery. Whether it's pet rehabilitation after surgery or senior dog care for ageing pets, dog physiotherapy can significantly improve quality of life. This article provides a detailed explanation of pet physiotherapy methods, suitable conditions, and benefits to help you choose the most appropriate rehabilitation plan for your pet.
What Is Pet Physiotherapy?
Pet physiotherapy (also known as animal rehabilitation therapy) uses various physical methods, including exercise, hydrotherapy, electrotherapy, and thermotherapy, to help animals restore or maintain body function. The goals are to reduce pain, strengthen muscles, improve joint mobility, accelerate tissue healing, and help pets regain their vitality.
Goals of Physiotherapy
- Pain Relief: Alleviating acute or chronic pain through various methods
- Function Restoration: Improving mobility, gait, and balance
- Muscle Strengthening: Preventing muscle atrophy, rebuilding muscle strength
- Promoting Healing: Accelerating surgical wound and tissue repair
- Slowing Degeneration: Reducing the rate of joint and nerve deterioration
- Improving Quality of Life: Making pets more comfortable and energetic
Conditions Suitable for Pet Physiotherapy
Dog physiotherapy and cat physiotherapy are suitable for various conditions:
Post-Surgical Rehabilitation
- After Orthopaedic Surgery: Fracture fixation, cruciate ligament surgery, hip replacement
- After Spinal Surgery: Disc surgery, laminectomy
- After Amputation: Adapting to three-legged life, strengthening remaining limbs
- After Soft Tissue Surgery: Tendon, ligament repair
Musculoskeletal Problems
- Arthritis/Degenerative Joint Disease: Most common in senior pets
- Hip Dysplasia
- Elbow Dysplasia
- Muscle Strains/Injuries
- Tendinitis
Neurological Problems
- Intervertebral Disc Disease: Paralysis, hind limb weakness
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Degenerative Myelopathy (DM)
- Vestibular Disease: Balance problems
- Nerve Paralysis
Senior Pet Care
- Maintaining Mobility: Slowing degeneration
- Weight Management: Reducing joint burden
- Muscle Maintenance: Preventing atrophy
- Pain Management: Improving comfort
Pet Physiotherapy Methods
Below are common pet physiotherapy methods:
1. Hydrotherapy
Hydrotherapy is one of the most recommended pet rehabilitation methods:
- Underwater Treadmill: Water buoyancy reduces joint load by up to 60% while providing resistance for muscle training
- Swimming Pool: Full-body exercise with zero joint impact
- Benefits: Strengthens muscles, improves cardiovascular function, reduces pain, increases joint range of motion
- Suitable for: Arthritis, post-surgical rehabilitation, weight loss for obesity, neurological problems
2. Laser Therapy
- Low-level laser penetrates deep into tissue, promoting cellular repair
- Reduces inflammation, relieves pain
- Painless, non-invasive, no side effects
- Each session approximately 15–30 minutes
- Suitable for: Wound healing, arthritis, soft tissue injuries
3. Therapeutic Exercise
- Passive Range of Motion: Therapist moves joints to maintain flexibility
- Stretching Exercises: Increasing muscle and joint flexibility
- Balance Training: Using balance boards, peanut balls, and other equipment
- Gait Training: Relearning correct walking patterns
- Strength Training: Targeted strengthening of specific muscle groups
4. Massage Therapy
- Relaxes tense muscles, relieves spasms
- Promotes blood circulation and lymphatic drainage
- Reduces pain, improves mobility
- Enhances the human-animal bond (owners can learn basic techniques)
5. Electrotherapy
- TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation): Pain relief
- NMES (Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation): Stimulates muscle contraction, prevents atrophy
- Suitable for: Paralysis, muscle atrophy, chronic pain
6. Heat/Cold Therapy
- Heat Application: Relaxes muscles, increases blood flow; used before exercise
- Cold Application: Reduces acute swelling and inflammation; used after exercise
7. Other Treatments
- Ultrasound Therapy: Promotes deep tissue healing
- Shockwave Therapy: Chronic tendon problems
- Acupuncture: Pain relief, promoting nerve recovery
- Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy (PEMF): Relieving pain and stiffness
Post-Surgical Rehabilitation Process
Pet rehabilitation is crucial for post-surgical recovery. Here is the general process:
Rehabilitation Phases
| Phase | Timeframe | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Acute Phase | 0–2 weeks post-surgery | Control pain and swelling, protect wound, passive movement |
| Subacute Phase | 2–6 weeks post-surgery | Gradually increase activity, begin hydrotherapy, light exercise |
| Recovery Phase | 6–12 weeks post-surgery | Strengthen muscles, improve gait, increase exercise intensity |
| Maintenance Phase | After 12 weeks | Maintain function, prevent re-injury, return to normal activity |
Why Is Post-Surgical Rehabilitation Important?
- Accelerates recovery time
- Reduces complications (joint stiffness, muscle atrophy)
- Restores maximum function
- Reduces long-term pain risk
- Improves surgical success rate
Senior Dog Care: The Role of Physiotherapy
In senior dog care, physiotherapy plays an important role in helping ageing pets maintain quality of life:
Common Problems in Senior Dogs
- Joint degeneration, slowed movement
- Muscle loss, hind leg weakness
- Difficulty standing up, struggling with stairs
- Poor balance, prone to falling
- Chronic pain, decreased energy
How Physiotherapy Helps Senior Dogs
- Maintains Muscle Mass: Prevents atrophy through exercise and hydrotherapy
- Keeps Joints Flexible: Passive movement and stretching
- Reduces Pain: Laser, massage, heat therapy
- Improves Balance: Balance training reduces fall risk
- Controls Weight: Exercise combined with diet management
Recommended Frequency for Senior Care
- Physiotherapy recommended once every 1–2 weeks
- Combined with home exercise practice
- Regular assessment and plan adjustment
Home Rehabilitation Exercises
In addition to clinic treatment, owners can perform simple pet rehabilitation exercises at home:
Simple Home Exercises
- Slow Walking: Control pace, allowing pet to use all four limbs correctly
- Sit-to-Stand Exercise: Strengthens hind leg muscles
- Passive Joint Movement: Gentle movement of each joint
- Massage: 5–10 minutes daily to relax muscles
- Balance Practice: Standing on soft mats or cushions
Environmental Modifications
- Lay non-slip mats
- Provide ramps for getting on/off sofas or cars
- Use orthopaedic mattresses
- Raise food bowl height
Pet Physiotherapy FAQs
Q1: How long does physiotherapy need to continue?
It depends on the condition. Post-surgical rehabilitation usually requires 8–12 weeks; chronic problems like arthritis require long-term maintenance treatment, possibly once every 1–4 weeks. The veterinarian will adjust frequency based on progress.
Q2: Is physiotherapy painful?
Most pet physiotherapy is comfortable and even relaxing for pets. Therapists closely monitor pet responses to ensure treatment stays within comfortable limits.
Q3: Can cats have physiotherapy?
Yes! Cats can also benefit from physiotherapy, especially for arthritis, neurological problems, and post-surgical rehabilitation. Treatment methods are adjusted according to feline characteristics.
Q4: How much does physiotherapy cost approximately?
Costs vary by treatment type and duration. Generally around $400–$1,000 per session. Equipment treatments like hydrotherapy and laser may cost more. Contact the clinic for detailed pricing.
Q5: At what age can dogs start physiotherapy?
Any age is suitable! Puppies can use it for developmental issues; adult dogs for injury recovery; senior dogs for function maintenance and senior dog care. Preventive physiotherapy is also becoming increasingly popular.
Petcore Veterinary Clinic Pet Physiotherapy Services
Petcore Veterinary Clinic provides professional pet physiotherapy and pet rehabilitation services:
- Rehabilitation Assessment: Detailed examination, personalised plan development
- Hydrotherapy: Underwater treadmill training
- Laser Therapy: Pain relief and healing promotion
- Therapeutic Exercise: Professional guidance
- Massage Therapy: Muscle relaxation
- Acupuncture: Combined with physiotherapy
- Post-Surgical Rehabilitation Plans: After orthopaedic and neurological surgery
- Senior Care Plans: Maintaining quality of life
Contact Us
- Yuen Long Clinic: G/F, 30A Fuk Tak Street, Yuen Long, N.T. | Phone: 2394-7300
- Sai Kung Clinic: Shop 2, 66 Yi Chun Street, Sai Kung, N.T. | Phone: 2394-4228
- WhatsApp: 9889-5518
- Website: www.petcore-vet.com
Whether it's post-surgical pet rehabilitation or senior dog care, dog physiotherapy can help pets reduce pain and regain vitality. Contact Petcore Veterinary Clinic today to arrange a professional physiotherapy assessment for your pet!