Physical therapy at home
Dogs recovering from surgery, spinal injury or neurological conditions such as intervertebral disc disease (IVDD), (FCE), degenerative myelopathy typically see a professional animal physical therapist to speed up and increase the chance of a successful recover.
This treatment (also referred to as rehabilitation) is typically conducted up to several times per week. In many cases your specialist will also teach you excercises that should be done at home between visits. This will often include stretches, massage and excercises to help your dog regain strength and movement.
In addition to massage and excercise, you can also purchase physical therapy equipment for dogs to use at home. This should be done in consultation with your physical therapist who can guide you through their proper use.
We have included below some of the rehabilitation equipment and resources that can be bought online and used at home.
This treatment (also referred to as rehabilitation) is typically conducted up to several times per week. In many cases your specialist will also teach you excercises that should be done at home between visits. This will often include stretches, massage and excercises to help your dog regain strength and movement.
In addition to massage and excercise, you can also purchase physical therapy equipment for dogs to use at home. This should be done in consultation with your physical therapist who can guide you through their proper use.
We have included below some of the rehabilitation equipment and resources that can be bought online and used at home.
Cold laser therapy
Lasers work through a process known as photobiostimulation. The energy delivered by the laser has the following benefits at a cellular level:
Talk to your physical therapist about using one of these cold laser units at home to treat:
Generally though, skin wounds are recommended to be treated every 1-2 days, and other pathologies such as arthritis, surgery, disc disease can be treated every 2-3 days.
- Increasing production of cell fuel (ATP, or adenosine triphosphate)
- Reducing inflammation and pain
- Increasing circulation at the injury site
Talk to your physical therapist about using one of these cold laser units at home to treat:
- Post Orthopedic Surgery – for reducing pain, swelling and inflammation and accelerating healing
- Post spinal surgery- for reducing pain and accelerating healing
- Arthritis– hip, elbow, carpus, tarsus: to reduce inflammation, swelling and pain
- Tendon injury – to reduce pain and accelerate healing
- Ligament injury including cruciate injury- to reduce pain and accelerate healing
- Wounds slow to heal including suture reactions- accelerates healing
- Back pain – for reduction of pain, and inflammation
- Fracture repair – to accelerate healing
- Wound healing: wounds healing by secondary intention can have their healing time dramatically reduced.
Generally though, skin wounds are recommended to be treated every 1-2 days, and other pathologies such as arthritis, surgery, disc disease can be treated every 2-3 days.
TENDLITE has a powerful yet very safe medical grade LED with 3000 mW input of the proven and therapeutic 660nm red light wavelength. Now you can use this medical office LED light therapy device in the comfort and convenience of your home.
These units generally retail for around $180.
These units generally retail for around $180.
Electromagnetic loop therapy
Assisi is the most well known, and well researched provider of electromagnetic loop therapy. These units are only available with a prescription from your vet.
Read more about how electromagnetic loop therapy might help recovery for dogs following an IVDD event.
Read more about how electromagnetic loop therapy might help recovery for dogs following an IVDD event.