Mon – Fri: 7:30 AM – 6 PM
Sat: Closed
Sun: Closed
Before starting a regimen of physical therapy, your pet should be evaluated by a qualified veterinarian to review health history, assess overall physical health and determine what specific problems your animal has before deciding on appropriate therapy. The exercises presented here are reminders for our clients who have already received demonstrations and hands-on training on how to do them on their animals. Without proper evaluation and instruction, one could potentially harm an animal using these techniques. Do not use these exercises if your animal resists or shows signs of pain when you do them. If you have questions or problems regarding these procedures, please make an appointment with one of our doctors for further instruction or clarification.
This technique is used to diagnose problem areas but is often therapeutic in and of itself as it can help loosen tight vertebral joints. You must always be very gentle when motioning. Less is always more with this technique because it allows the animal to relax and trust you as well as allowing you to sense more through your touch. It’s the Zen part of touch and massage; heavy hands only get in the way of things.
Usually, this is paired with motioning of the spine but this technique helps side to side flexibility of the spine. While holding the individual vertebrae in a semi-stationary position, put your other hand around the pelvis and move in a side to side manner creating a hula effect on the lumbar and thoracic spine. Work your way up the spine moving your hands accordingly.
Often times our older patients will begin to have problems with how far they can extend their hips or shoulders. Stretching these joints can be helpful for active dogs as well. To stretch the hip, cup the front part of the knee with your palm and gently push it back which will straighten the whole leg. You can massage the thigh muscles at the same time if they seem tight or sensitive. To stretch the shoulder, you cup the elbow and advance it forward slowly straightening the whole front leg. Massaging the deltoids (the muscles behind the humerus) can also help loosen the shoulder up while stretching. Obviously, these exercises will stretch and extend all the other leg joints as well.
The exercises presented here are reminders for our clients who have already been shown through demonstration and hands on training how to do them on their own animals. Without proper evaluation and instruction, one could potentially harm an animal using these techniques. Do not use these exercises if your animal resists or shows signs of pain when you do them.
The exercises presented here are reminders for our clients who have already been shown through demonstration and hands on training how to do them on their own animals. Without proper evaluation and instruction, one could potentially harm an animal using these techniques. Do not use these exercises if your animal resists or shows signs of pain when you do them.