Animal Rehabilitation
When we think of physical therapy (referred to as rehabilitation for pets), we often picture humans recovering from injuries or surgery. But animals—from playful puppies to senior pets, can also benefit tremendously from specialized rehabilitation care. Animal rehabilitation is an emerging field that combines veterinary knowledge with therapeutic techniques to help animals move better, feel less pain, and live fuller lives.
Whether it’s a dog recovering from knee surgery or a senior cat with arthritis, animal rehabilitation offers compassionate, evidence-based treatments that make a real difference. In this blog, we’ll explore how animal rehabilitation works, what treatments are available, and why it’s becoming an essential part of modern veterinary care.
Why Animals Need Rehabilitation
- Common conditions (arthritis, post-surgery recovery, injuries)
- Preventive care for aging or athletic animals
Types of Rehabilitation Techniques
- Manual therapy (massage, joint mobilization)
- Hydrotherapy (underwater treadmill, swimming)
- Therapeutic exercises
- Laser therapy, acupuncture, and other modalities
Benefits of Rehabilitation for Animals
- Pain relief
- Improved mobility and quality of life
- Faster post-operative recovery
- Weight management and conditioning
What a Typical Session Looks Like
- Assessment process where the therapist will watch how your pet moves, do a complete physical exam, measure joint angles to assess range of motion and measure thigh and shoulder circumference to assess muscle mass
- Custom treatment plan geared toward improving the pet’s strength, mobility, minimizing pain and also addressing expectations of the pet owner
- Owner involvement and home exercises which is vital for achieving the best outcome
Finding a Qualified Animal Rehab Professional
- Certifications to look for (e.g. CCRP, CCRT, CRPM)
- Working alongside veterinarians
Success Stories
An 11 month old Border Collie Mix presented for not using his left hindlimb after having several surgeries on that limb. He had a lot of muscle atrophy in that limb and refused to put it down and walked on three legs. We started with physical therapy exercises to encourage weight bearing on that leg but after a few sessions of in hospital sessions and the owners doing exercises at home, we were unsuccessful at getting him to use the leg, so we had to change our plan. I added treatments using an NMES (neuromuscular electrical stimulation) machine to stimulate his muscles to contract. After a few sessions of using this modality, he was starting to use the leg more. As he became more mobile, he started pulling on his walks which led to aggravating his other hindlimb and we had to adjust his program again. At this time, we added in underwater treadmill therapy. After about 6 months, he had regained the muscle mass in his leg and he was back to acting like a puppy.
A 15 year old Cockapoo presented after falling off of the bed and injuring his cranial cruciate ligament. He had a history of kidney disease so he could not take anti-inflammatories and the owner did not want to pursue surgery at his age with his kidney disease so we started a rehabilitation program. We did weekly acupuncture, in person sessions with therapeutic exercises and the owner had a home program to follow as well. Being a senior pet, his assessment revealed other areas of his body in need of treatment so we addressed his entire body with his rehab plan and did not just focus on his injured leg. Jager did great with his treatment plan and became much more active at home and we were able to improve his overall muscle mass in both hindlimbs. The owner was so pleased with the results, she continued to bring him for acupuncture and exercises every 1-2 weeks as maintenance.
Final Thoughts
Rehabilitation therapy can be very effective at improving your pet’s mobility no matter what stage of life they are in, but it requires consistency and commitment. One assessment with a few home exercises is unlikely to achieve good lasting results. Regular follow ups to discuss how the pet is doing with the exercises or scheduling in person sessions so the therapist can see the pet doing the exercises and make adjustments as needed is very important for getting the most out of the rehabilitation program. Rehabilitation takes time to see results and sometimes there will be setbacks, but it is well worth the time and effort to see our pets moving more comfortably.