When recuperating from orthopedic procedures, dogs need more than just strict rest, just as people do. Surgery experts have found that six weeks of complete cage rest after surgery does not result in healthy dogs or happy owners. When a dog is rehabilitated, the muscles around the weaker bones or joints are carefully strengthened, allowing the dog to return to normal activity gradually.

In many respects, rehabilitation treatment in veterinary medicine is similar to physical therapy in humans. The anatomy of each species is unique to it. The extreme stresses placed on its joints, bones, tendons, and muscles create considerable variations in its behavior.

Benefits of Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy

The effectiveness of their activity accelerates the healing process while also having a positive psychological influence on them. Following surgery, animal companions may find it helpful to get rehabilitative therapy.

Improves Weight Bearing

Because the animal must utilize the post-operative limb, any safe activity that encourages limb use may be done on the animal without risk of injury. Various therapeutic exercise techniques are effective in promoting weight bearing on any post-operative limb that has undergone surgery. For personalized care, you can search online by typing ‘dog rehab near me‘. 

Extends Range of Motion

One of the most important goals is to restore as much hip extension as feasible. It may aid the recovery of extension via a passive range of motion. Consider the possibility that the animal is resistive to the movement. Physiotherapy will be required in such instances to mislead the animal into extending its hip joints.

Strengthening

It is critical to address the atrophy of the hindlimb muscle mass after surgery. Several treatment techniques are used to strengthen the muscles in the hips and thighs. Dogs that cannot move on their own are often treated with neuromuscular electrical stimulation and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. Visit this link for preventive care to keep your pet healthy and strong.

Pain Reduction 

Blood tracking from the surgical site resulted in adhesions to the distal muscle, and soft tissue damage that occurred concurrently with the procedure may cause discomfort. Modalities and massage are examples of treatments that may be utilized to treat this condition. Following vet surgery, West Chester Veterinary Medical Center prioritizes post-operative monitoring and pain management.

Conclusion

Dogs may lose up to one-third of their muscular mass after undergoing specific procedures in a couple of weeks. The same pet may need more than a year to regain the muscle mass lost during the surgery. Following rigorous physiotherapy stretching or exercise treatment sessions, weight-bearing should be maximized, range of motion (ROM) or muscle extensibility improved, soft tissue healing encouraged, and pain alleviation.

Rehabilitation methods make it easier and less stressful for patients to return to their normal activities in their day-to-day lives. Many variables influence the likelihood of a pet returning to normal function, including whether the animal is a working dog or a house pet, the severity of the injury, and the overall condition of the creature’s body and mind.