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modalities used at Animal Doctor include: |
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Nutritional
consultation: We focus on preventative care and holistic treatment
for disease. A holistic approach to pet care looks at the whole animal.
Since there is truth to “you are what you eat,” we recommend
and sell high quality foods with balanced nutrition. Whether you home prepare
your pet’s food or decide to feed a commercial brand, we will guide
you in appropriate nutrition and supplements that may help your pet. By
decreasing grains alone, you can decrease the inflammatory cycles in your
pet. Dr. Jodie has also been trained in Chinese and Western herbs and can
recommend an appropriate herbal medication for your pet’s needs. |
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Rehabilitation
evaluation: Rebecca McCracken, DVM is an experienced veterinary
rehabilitator. She also practices veterinary spinal manipulation (chiropractic).
VMST is a technique used to help correct and rebalance they way your pet
uses their spine and limbs. Lameness, altered weight bearing and altered
gait all create stress on the spine and limbs. Dr. Becky's initial evaluation
will include a full examination of your pet’s musculoskeletal system
including gait analysis, joint dysfunctions, muscle girth and symmetry,
a pain evaluation and more. Dr. Becky will then develop a treatment plan
specifically for your pet’s needs. Your pet’s treatment plan
will involve a team approach, so that you will be able to participate. The
plan will also include setting treatment goals, so that together we can
monitor our success. |
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Therapeutic exercises:
Once we’ve made a complete and accurate diagnosis of the physical
issues, we will design an exercise regime. This will vary from one pet to
the next, based on your pet’s willingness to do the different types
of exercises, current level of fitness and the specific disease process.
As your pet progresses, the exercises will be adjusted in difficulty and
skill level – to keep it both fun and challenging (sometimes for you
and not just your pet!). The exercises may be designed to increase range
of motion, strength, balance, body awareness, weight bearing, etc. We’ll
show you how to perform the exercises at home, and we’ll provide you
with written instructions that you can take with you. |
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Massage:
If you’ve ever had a professional massage, you can appreciate the
benefits it can offer to your rehabilitating pet! Therapeutic massage can
decrease pain and inflammation (by increasing venous blood and lymph drainage),
increase blood flow and endorphin release and can be mentally calming. This
reduces recovery time, increases trust, enhances performance and improves
general health and well-being. You may request Marie, Lauren or Cassandra,
trained animal massage therapists, employed by the Animal Doctor. Your pet
companion will crave their gentle touch and they can teach you some
soothing moves! |
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Reiki:
Energy healing has long been practiced in Eastern traditions. While it may
be difficult to prove on paper, anyone who has experienced energy work understands
its benefits. It can move energy blockages and stagnation, helping your
pet both physically and emotionally. Reiki classes for self-training or
reiki treatment appointments may be scheduled. This service is provided
by Reiki Master Jeanette Lesada. Click
here to read to read about Reiki from Jeanette |
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Acupuncture: Acupuncture has been practiced in China for
over 8,000 years, and has been accepted here in the United States since
the 1970’s. It is used in human medicine as an excellent treatment
for pain and nausea (and now many insurance companies are covering acupuncture
treatments for cancer patients, to manage their pain and nausea). It can
decrease the pain and inflammation that occurs in many of the pets needing
rehabilitation, but is also very effective at treating many other underlying
diseases including those of the skin, heart, kidney, liver and immune system.
Dr. Jodie and Dr. Becky are certified veterinary acupuncturists. |
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Underwater Treadmill
Therapy: Exercising on a treadmill, combined with the warmth and
buoyancy of water, can be of great benefit to your pet. We control the water
level, speed of the treadmill and time spent in the tank, depending on your
pet’s abilities. The warmth of the water can decrease pain, muscle
spasms, swelling, etc. The buoyancy of the water takes weight and pressure
off of the limbs, allowing your pet to exercise sooner than on dry land,
which minimizes muscle atrophy and lack of use after surgery or injury.
The resistance of the water increases strength, flexibility and range of
motion, all leading to more comfort and a faster recovery. The underwater
treadmill at Animal Doctor also features jets, similar to a human hot tub
or spa. The jets create a current, providing a more challenging exercise
session for those pets requiring it, or the jets can simply provide a warm
water massage for those pets not yet able to exercise on the treadmill. |
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Therapeutic Ultrasound:
Although the technology is the same, therapeutic ultrasound is different
than the diagnostic ultrasound that gives us images of tissue. Therapeutic
ultrasound causes a vibration at the level of the cells, changing the enzyme
activity and cellular metabolic rate. This process has many therapeutic
benefits including increased blood flow, tissue healing, tendon repair,
protein synthesis and reduction of scars, spasms, pain and inflammation.
This treatment can be performed as often as daily, for maximum effect. |
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Laser Therapy:
The use of light energy to affect the underlying tissues can be used to
influence lymph, circulation, nervous system and wound/surgery healing.
Similar to ultrasound, the light energy causes a change in energy level
at the cellular level. This accelerates healing and enhances immune cells
(to prevent infection), while decreasing pain (by releasing endorphins).
The laser can also be combined with acupuncture points for additional therapy
to deeper organs/issues. |
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Neuromuscular
Electric Stimulation: This is the use of an electrical current
to stimulate the contraction of a particular muscle or muscle group. This
can help to facilitate proper use of the muscle after disuse, or atrophy.
It will also decrease pain, inflammation, joint swelling and can facilitate
tendon and fracture healing. This modality is commonly called E-stim, and
is yet one more option offered as part of a rehab package at the Animal
Doctor Holistic Veterinary Complex in Muskego. |
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Education for
at-home care: An important part of your pet’s rehabilitation
success will be determined by your at-home care, including: |
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1)
Weight management is a very important facet of rehab. The less excess weight
your pet carries while trying to recover, the better. A healthy pet’s
anatomic structure causes them to carry 60 – 65% of their total body
weight on their front limbs. If your pet has hind limb lameness, they will
shift even more weight to their front limbs, potentially creating new problems.
And if they already have a sore front limb, you can imagine how every pound
counts!
2) Appropriate home environment: This will differ from
pet to pet and will often require some planning on your part. Pets who are
rehabilitating need good, solid footing (hard wood floors, linoleum and
tile can be slippery, especially when wet). You may need to lay down slip-resistant
throw rugs, carpet runners, etc. to ensure your pet can get around without
falling. Well lit areas are also important to prevent tripping/falling.
Additionally, depending on your pet’s injury, there may be other things
that he/she can’t do, like go up and down stairs, jump on and off
the bed, etc. You may need to purchase baby gates or crate train your pet
to protect them from further injury when you’re not home to supervise.
3) Exercises or manual therapies for you to perform at
home in between your sessions at Animal Doctor: We will teach you the exercises
or massage techniques appropriate for your pet. We will also guide you in
any other at-home therapies, including icing or heat application.
4) Progress monitoring: it is very important to monitor
your pet’s progress daily. It will help you to decide if what you’re
doing at home is appropriate, and help the staff at Animal Doctor decide
if we need to change our treatment plan. The purpose of the program is to
return your pet to health faster than they would without it – exhausting
them, or causing further lameness, will lengthen the healing time.
5) And of course, you are welcome to call us to talk through
ANY questions or problems you’re experiencing at home. |
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| Rehabilitation
should be fun and beneficial. It will build a stronger relationship between
you, your pet, and our staff here at Animal Doctor. It will also help
your pet to become stronger both physically and emotionally – a
win-win situation all the way around. |
| There
are many diseases that can benefit from physical rehabilitation, here are
some of the most common reasons to engage your pet in physical rehabilitation
or fitness: |
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Athletic Preparedness
/ Conditioning: agility, hearding, hunting, search & rescue,
police work |
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Muscle and Tendon
Injuries : These soft tissue injuries include everything from mild
sprain or strain to a full tear of a muscle or tendon. They also include
tendonopathies (formerly considered tendonitis), which are considered a
chronic degenerative change within a tendon that causes pain and inflammation
and often precludes a tear. Generally these injuries, unless severe, are
not considered surgical, but instead are ideal for physical rehabilitation.
The goal is to decrease the inflammation in the region, which is required
for healing to begin - then, the rehabilitation will focus on exercises
and lifestyle management to facilitate complete healing and full return
to normal function. Modalities to decrease the inflammation may include:
cryotherapy, ultrasound, laser, e-stim, massage, joint mobilization exercises,
therapeutic exercises and acupuncture. |
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Post-Surgical
Rehabilitation : Any post-operative orthopedic problem can benefit
greatly from physical rehabilitation. The rehab program will aid in healing
by decreasing the inflammation and pain and by reducing the risk of re-injury.
The pets are able to reach normal range of motion faster, allowing the pet
to regain functionality and comfort sooner. Good post-operative care will
ideally also be able to precent long term changes and damage from occuring.
Depending on the surgery performed, many different modalities may be appropriate
for your pet. The modalities may include: ultrasound, laser, e-stim and
acupuncture for pain and inflammation. Additional treatment modalities may
include: therapeutic exercises, massage, stretching, manual therapy, underwater
treadmill sessions and specific at home care and management. |
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Obesity:
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Hip Dysplasia:
This genetic orthopedic disease results in laxity in the hip joint and inflammation
of the joint capsule. This disease can progress to chronic pain and arthritis,
depending on the dog. If the disease is severe, hip surgery is the definitive
treatment although many dogs are well managed with physical rehabilitation
and strict weight management. Rehab can slow the process of the degeneration,
decrease pain and regain or maintain hip function. The rehab modalities
that may be included are: exercise to strengthen the muscles that support
the hip, acupuncture, ultrasound, e-stim, manual therapies, massage, underwater
treadmill, lifestyle management and neutraceutical support. |
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Osteoarthritis
/ Degenerative Joint Disease (OA/DJD): This degenerative joint
disease affects the articular cartilage and causes inflammation of the joint
capsule and hypertrophy (growth) of the surrounding bone. The disease is
a chronic progressive disease that left untreated can lead to pain, inflammation
and server muscle loss. Enhancing the joint nutrition with the supplementation
of neutraceuticals and by performing manual therapy, we can help to prevent
further damage and restore the comfort and function of the joint. This can
allow an arthritic dog to live comfortably for much longer. The physical
rehabilitation may include: therapeutic exercises, acupuncture, manual therapies,
massage, underwater treadmill and ultrasound or laser. |
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Intervertebral
Disc Disease (IVDD): This spinal condition varies in severity,
resulting in variable prognosis and treatment options. Whether the lesion
is mild to moderate and therefore medically managed, or a severe lesion
requiring surgery, physical rehabilitation will decrease the healing time
and increase the likelihood of returning to normal function. There are manual
therapies that can decrease the inflammation around the spinal cord and
help manage the pain. Additional modalities that may be included in the
rehab plan are: therapeutic exercises, e-stim, maunal therapy, laser, acupuncture
and education on lifestyle management. |
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Degenerative
Myelopathy : |
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Fibrocartilaginous
Embolism (FCE): This neurologic disease is rarely treated surgically.
Physical rehabilitation is used to retrain the dog's neurologic system to
regain function. Modalities may include: manual therapies, therapeutic exercises,
underwater treadmill, massage, laser, ultrasound and acupuncture. |
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Digit Injuries:
This may include fractures or dislocations of the toes and may be associated
with open wounds. The treatment will depend on the nature of the process,
and may be surgical, medical or require splinting. Physical rehabilitation
is limited due to the size of the bones involved, but can be used to decrease
pain and inflammation and to retrain gait after the injury has healed.
Modalities may include: cryotherapy, laser, ultrasound, joint mobility
exercises and therapeutic exercises after the injury has healed. |
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| Reserve
an appointment and consultation today at Animal Doctor Romp & Rehab
for your loyal companion and friend! |
