Why Veterinary Rehabilitation?
Previously, this area has been serviced enthusiastically by people providing a leisure swimming facility and extending their services into hydrotherapy for both veterinary practices and physiotherapists. This has been without direct veterinary influence.
There is now, however, a growing body of vets and ACPAT physiotherapists who are concerned that provision of physical rehabilitation should be provided through a more regulated and structured service as it is, without doubt, a veterinary discipline.
Gable Cross is one of the very few independent, veterinary run, facilities in the country. Along with the SMART Clinic and Linhay Veterinary Rehabilitation.
What is veterinary rehabilitation?
Improvements in veterinary surgery and medicine have allowed us to dramatically enhance the quality of life for animals with a variety of medical and surgical conditions. However, the emphasis has centred on diagnostic procedures, medical management and surgical treatment.
Veterinary rehabilitation involves the use of predominantly non-invasive techniques including physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, exercise therapy and acupuncture. The specific aim is to effectively manage pain and restore mobility following surgery, injury or disease thereby promoting an early return to function and improving quality of life for your pet.
All rehabilitation programmes will be tailored to the individual needs of your pet, and will be discussed with you and your vet before treatment begins.
Physiotherapy
In addition to hot and cold therapies, manual joint mobilisation, massage, range-of-motion exercises and stretching, physiotherapy may involve the use of therapeutic ultrasound, neuromuscular stimulation, laser, and TENS machines.
Hydrotherapy
Our aqua treadmill provides an ideal environment for reduced weight bearing exercise, allowing dogs to begin rehabilitation much earlier than on dry land. Working on the treadmill improves muscular strength, cardiovascular fitness, endurance, joint motion and balance. In addition to the aqua treadmill, our 4.8x3m heated pool provides a safe environment for animals to swim. This can improve muscle strength and general fitness.
Exercise Therapy
Exercise programmes will be tailored to individual patients and many exercises can be performed at home, allowing you to become actively involved in your pet's rehabilitation.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture can be useful in the management of a variety of conditions either as an adjunct or an alternative to more conventional treatment. It can offer pain relief where traditional analgesics have not been effective or have not been well tolerated. Animals generally accept needling well, and indeed many become very relaxed during treatment.
How will your pet benefit?
Orthopaedic Surgery
Your veterinary surgeon may advise hydrotherapy for weight loss or muscle strengthening before surgery. Following surgery, he or she may recommend rehabilitation as part of a pain management programmeand to improve mobility and a return to normal function and gait. Gait abnormalities following surgery, injury or disease can cause compensatory changes and a vicious cycle of pain, reduced mobility and even injury.
Pain management
Pain can cause misuse or disuse of the affected area, compensatory changes and a reduction in quality of life. Acupuncture and various aspects of physiotherapy are employed for the treatment and management of both acute and chronic pain.
Health and Wellness
Aspects of rehabilitation can be very beneficial for weight management, geriatric support and athletic conditioning.
