rehab services for dogs

when to call rehab4dogs

• After veterinary surgery
• If limping, lame or favouring one leg over another 
• Stiffness in the morning, finding it hard to get up
• Can’t stand, walk or run normally - mobility issues
• If your dog is in muscular pain
• If your dog has arthritis

rehab4dogs can help… 

Here is how rehab4dogs can assist you with your dog’s recovery in 5 easy steps:

1. Give a detailed assessment of your dog’s current injury, movement and pain.
2. Perform Canine Myofunctional Therapy (massage) on affected muscles, tendons and ligaments.
3. Engaging your dog in the physical and mental areas of rehab to prevent further injury.
4. Develop a series of exercises specific to your dog’s condition.
5. Working with you and creating an individually tailored plan for your dog’s ongoing wellbeing.

mobility issues / injuries

There are many mobility issues that our canine friends can have which restrict their movement and full participation in life. Here are a few of the more common ones to keep an eye on. Call or email Monikato find out how rehab4dogs can assist with these issues.

limping

Has your dog been racing around the backyard or park with you? If he/she is active and energetic they can sometimes slip or move the wrong way causing pain and/or damage to their joints with the following possible outcomes:

Cruciate Ligament often referred to as ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) or CCL (Cranial Cruciate Ligament) crosses through the middle of the knee joint and acts as a stabilizer for the joint. When torn, the Tibia (the shin bone) and the Femur (the thigh bone) which form the knee joint, slip and slide over each other causing pain and discomfort. This type of injury often requires surgery and there are various surgical techniques used to stabilise the joint such as Extracapsular (nylon band), Tibial Tuberosity Advancement (TTA), Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy (TPLO), Tightrope CCL and Triple Tibial Osteotomy (TTO) for example.

Luxating Patella (Dislocating kneecap) is more common in small dogs. It is a degenerative condition (becomes worse with time). If your dog suddenly becomes lame in a back leg gives an ‘ouch’ cry and then a few minutes later is walking without pain he/she may have a Luxating Patella. This happens when the kneecap moves sideways, out of position. Just as quickly, the kneecap can slide back into position and the dog can walk normally again. If this continues your Vet should be consulted as the problem could become worse and may require surgical intervention. 

Canine Hip Dysplasia (CHD) is a deformity of the ball and socket joint of the hip. Instead of the joint being a silky smooth 'ball and socket' with a snug fit, it is more like a 'square peg in a round hole' that grinds and grinds away as your dog walks. This can become very painful and lead to Canine Arthritis. In some instances surgery, Femoral Head Osteotomy (FHO), is performed to alleviate the pain where the femur head (the ‘ball part’) is surgically removed. Rehabilitation in this instance is required to build muscle to support the ‘new’ structure of the joint. 

Arthritis is often an 'old age' condition though not limited to and is caused by a number of changes in the structure and function of the bones, joints and ligaments. It can occur in almost any joint but is common in the hips, along the spine, knee and elbow joints. A very common cause of arthritis is the condition Hip Dysplasia (HD). 

having difficulty getting up

As your dog gets older his/her joints may get a little creaky, and her back and/or legs may stiffen. If they have put on a little weight, this means there maybe additional stress on tired joints. Eventually, some older pets begin having trouble moving or even getting up.

If your pet is generally in good health, difficulty in getting up could be caused by the onset of Arthritis. Years of chasing Frisbees or balls can cause joints to break down, a condition that Vets call osteoarthritis or degenerative joint disease.

Look out for these symptoms:

• Your pet has begun to have trouble walking, getting up or climbing stairs
• The discomfort came on suddenly
• The stiffness is mainly in the hips
• Muscles are wasting
• One or more legs are dragging
• Your dog has a limp that doesn't go away
• One or more legs is in an awkward position
• Your pet can't get up
• The nails are broken, cracked, or bleeding
• Pads are wearing unevenly
• Your pet is lame first in one leg and then another
• He has pain when jumping off a bed or changing position