How does physical therapy work for dogs?
Rehab in a dog can involve multiple pieces of equipment or “modalities” as we call them. Let’s go over half a dozen common modalities. 1. Passive range of motion (PROM ) exercises mean that someone manually helps your dog move a joint back and forth, mimicking its normal motion to improve flexibility. The most common exercise is what we call the “bicycle” motion. 2. Heat and cold therapy go hand-in-hand with PROM. Using warmth before the exercises prepares the muscles for activity. Using ice after physical therapy helps reduce inflammation and pain. It is very important to always have a barrier between your pet’s skin and the heat/ice source to protect the skin. It can be as simple as a thin towel. 3. An underwater treadmill is a special treadmill that is enclosed in a watertight container. Different levels of water can be added. The higher the water level, the less of the pet’s body weight is carried. The rehab vet would typically start out with a hig...