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Questions for Canine Rehabilitation and Fitness Facilities
Rehabilitation and organized fitness, especially swimming,
has become a more popular option for companion animals, whether as
rehabilitation following an injury or surgery, for general physical fitness and
conditioning, or for weight loss. Because of this, facilities, whether animal
hospitals, specialty referral clinics, kennels, or specialized facilities for
fitness and rehabilitation are opening nationwide. The pet owner and handler,
however, must be educated and aware of the service that is offered as well as
the training of the staff involved in the care of their animal companion. The
following is a list of questions that you might ask prior to enlisting the
services of a fitness or rehabilitation facility.
- What services are available?
- Aquatics
i.
Pool: A pool allows for non-weight bearing exercise for range of motion,
strengthening, and conditioning without joint stress. It is especially
appropriate for animals with arthritic conditions.
1.
Is it indoor/outdoor?
2.
Is it heated or not? To what temperature? The temperature should be at
least 80 degrees and not over 100 degrees. As the temperature increases, muscle
relaxation and comfort increases, but duration of activity should decrease.
ii.
Underwater treadmill: The underwater treadmill is appropriate for
gradually increasing weight bearing especially for animals following surgery.
It might also be used for swimming smaller dogs. It is a great transitional
activity to land-based activities and focuses on range of motion, strength, and
endurance.
- Manual therapy
i.
Massage, joint mobilization, and other specialized techniques by a
trained (licensed or certified?) person.
- Modalities: These should only be utilized by a
trained individual and can cause damage if used incorrectly.
i.
Ultrasound: Ultrasound provides a deep heating for pain relief and
improved flexibility and extensibility of muscle, tendon, and ligament tissues.
ii.
Electrical stimulation: Electrical stimulation is used for a variety of
reasons: to strengthen muscles, to relieve pain, and to reduce swelling.
- Exercise
i.
Treadmill: The treadmill should have rails and use should be supervised
to protect the animal.
ii.
Special equipment to enhance balance, strength, proprioception (sense of
joint and body position), and range of motion.
- Is the equipment used at the facility specific for use
with animals?
- Who performs rehabilitation or fitness training?
- Licensed veterinarian? Does the vet only supervise or
actually perform the treatment? What experience or training does the
veterinarian have concerning rehabilitation and fitness?
- Licensed physical therapist? By Maryland law, a
licensed physical therapist might not identify herself as such, as physical
therapy is a protected term and refers to evaluation and treatment of
individuals (humans) only.
- Veterinary technician? As Maryland does not license
technicians, is this technician registered with the state (meaning that he
or she has passed national boards) or has he or she only received training
on the job? What experience or training does the technician have concerning
rehabilitation and fitness? These topics may not be covered in technician
training programs.
- Layperson? Not licensed or registered, but may be
very experienced!
- Who supervises the treatment?
- Legally, all “treatment” of an animal in Maryland must
be under the supervision of a veterinarian. The exception to the rule is
when you treat your own animal.
- Is the veterinarian on site or on call?
- Is a veterinarian referral necessary?
- A reputable facility will always ask for referral from
your primary care veterinarian or specialist, including a statement of your
animal’s ability to physically withstand the rehabilitation or fitness
activity prescribed.
- If you are pursuing rehabilitation or fitness
following your pet’s surgery, consultation with your veterinary surgeon is
essential. Consider the surgery to be an investment, not only a financial
investment, but also an investment into the health and well-being of your
pet. A reputable facility will not consider pursuing post-surgical
rehabilitation with your pet, unless consultation has been made with the
surgeon. Your pet’s surgeon might have a specific protocol to be followed.
- Certainly you should consult your vet prior to
beginning any exercise program for your pet. A seemingly normal animal
without obvious problems, after a 10-minute swim, might have more obvious
problems with limping/lameness/injury following that swim.
- If the facility requires a referral, more than likely,
the staff will be reporting your pet’s progress to your vet.
- Is a thorough evaluation necessary prior to beginning a
rehabilitation or fitness program? Who will perform this evaluation?
- Take warning if the facility does not require an
evaluation or a referral. Activities at this facility are at your own risk.
- If the facility requires a veterinary evaluation prior
to beginning treatment, you can be assured that there will be veterinary
medical personnel familiar with your pet and his/her specific medical
history and status.
- A physical therapist specially trained in canine
rehabilitation might evaluate and form a treatment plan with specific
functional goals for your pet. This person is trained to identify
neuromusculoskeletal signs which might or might not be expected for your pet
following surgery or with a specific diagnosis. If the therapist identifies
anything that is unexpected or unusual, you should expect to be referred
back to your primary care or surgical veterinarian.
- Is this person trained in canine rehabilitation and by
whom? Is he/she licensed/registered/certified and by whom?
- A veterinarian might not be specifically trained in
rehabilitation and, likewise a physical therapist might not be trained in
animal anatomy, physiology, etc.
- The University of Tennessee has the only (US) program
affiliated with both a veterinary and a physical therapy program.
- What liability/releases are necessary? Is the facility
insured?
- How is treatment progressed?
- Visual assessment
- Heart rate
- Respiratory rate
- Body temperature
- Function, gait, or use of limb
- Based on expected healing times (post-surgical cases)
- Is the facility clean? Is there non-skid flooring?
- What is the cost of treatment?
- Per session?
- Package plans? If x sessions cost y dollars, are you
reimbursed if you attend only x-1 sessions? In other words, if you don’t
use it do you lose it?
- Is the first session (if there is an evaluation) more
expensive?
- Is treatment reimbursable by pet insurances? Check
with your insurance prior to beginning treatment.
- Does the staff communicate with my dog’s primary care
veterinarian? With the surgeon?
- Are treatment protocols determined by my veterinarian or
by the staff of the facility?
- How experienced is this facility/staff with a dog with
hip dysplasia? Degenerative myelopathy? Other medical conditions?
- Does the facility require vaccinations for my (and
other) dogs? Especially Bordatella.
- What activity is recommended prior to and/or after
therapy? On days off? Is this person qualified to give you this advice?
- Owner compliance with a home program is necessary for
reaching goals. Progress and improvement will not occur with only one day
of activity per week.
- Question the facility’s motivation if their
recommendation is exercising at this facility every day. A day off (or of
rest) is necessary to assess your pet’s response to the new activity,
whether swimming or manual therapy. Think cross training-- walk a day, swim
a day, walk, swim, etc. And don’t forget Frisbee on weekends!
     
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