Physical rehabilitation therapy is a new branch of veterinary medicine – but one that’s growing very quickly. So while there may only be one or two rehab centers in your area right now, you can bet there’ll be more in the future. How, then, do you choose the right rehab center for you and your pet?
As with any health care decision, you must think seriously about a number of factors when choosing a rehab center for your pet, including the quality of care you expect your pet to receive; the variety of services, modalities, and techniques being offered; and the training and expertise of the health care professionals who will provide that care.
Quality of Care
Many animal guardians today expect the same level of health care for their pets as they do for themselves. That means they want access to the latest research and technologies, state-of-the-art equipment and modalities, highly trained health care professionals, and significant support and education.
From your first call to a rehab center, you should get an idea of the level of care provided there. Does the person answering the phone take time to ask about your pet’s condition? Is she willing to answer your questions about rehab in general and that clinic in particular? Does she explain how the facility operates? Have they treated other animals with your pet’s condition?
You’ll also want to find out if a veterinarian at the rehab center will perform an initial examination on your pet before beginning therapy. In many states, veterinarians are required by law to do an initial examination on every animal they see, even for rehab. And while your pet has probably seen many veterinarians by this point, it’s important that the rehab center’s veterinarian perform an exam as well, not only to help determine an appropriate treatment plan for your pet, but also to avoid injuring (or reinjuring) him during therapy.
Variety of Modalities
At some rehab centers, hydrotherapy – often performed in an underwater treadmill specially designed for dogs – is the only modality offered. A critical tool in any rehabilitation program, hydrotherapy allows animals to exercise safely in a low-impact and highly supportive environment. Yet for many pets, hydrotherapy alone can’t effectively address all of their rehabilitative needs.
“We don’t go to the gym and use only one piece of equipment, and rehabbing pets shouldn’t either,” explains our Physical Rehabilitation Therapist Krista Johnson, MPT, CCRT. “Exercise in the hydrotreadmill alone cannot strengthen every muscle in a four-legged animal.”
If you want your pet to receive the highest level of care, you’ll need to find a rehab center that offers a variety of modalities and treatment techniques and a staff that’s qualified to implement them. At Scout’s House, in addition to hydrotherapy, we offer neuromuscular electrical stimulation, pulsed electromagnetic field therapy, low-level laser therapy, acupuncture, veterinary orthopedic manipulation, therapeutic exercise, massage therapy, and heat and cold therapy. And we’re adding more options regularly.
Provider Training
Access to a wide variety of modalities and techniques is important, but having a staff that’s trained to implement them is equally critical. California is still determining the regulations for veterinary rehabilitation therapy, which means that right now almost anyone can provide rehabilitative care. To protect your pet, look for a rehab center that has a licensed veterinarian on site so that a medical emergency can be dealt with immediately. But be aware that even if there is a veterinarian on site, that person may not be directly involved with the rehabilitation program, leaving the treatments to a licensed Physical Therapist (PT) or Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT).
The difference between a PT and an RVT is one of education and training. A PT, although licensed to treat only humans in some states, must complete at least six years of higher education, receiving a Master’s or higher degree from an accredited college or university, before taking the State Boards to become licensed to practice physical therapy. An RVT must take classes or complete a two-year program at an accredited community college and pass the State Boards to become licensed.
Most of the training a Physical Therapist receives is applicable to four-legged patients. Not only do PTs study such critical areas as kinesiology, orthopedic rehabilitation, neurological rehabilitation, wound management, and geriatric rehab, but they also learn how to correctly use all physical therapy modalities, such as e-stim and hydrotherapy, as well as manual therapy techniques, including joint mobilizations, proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation, and neurodevelopmental technique.
Whether it’s a veterinarian, a Physical Therapist, or a Registered Veterinary Technician overseeing the therapy program, be sure that person has been certified in canine rehabilitation by either the Canine Rehab Institute in Florida or by Northeast Seminar’s program offered at the University of Tennessee. Both programs offer comprehensive training in the art and science of canine rehabilitation therapy. You’ll know if your therapist has been certified if she lists “Certified Canine Rehabilitation Therapist” (CCRT), “Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner” (CCRP), or “Certified Canine Rehabilitation Assistant” (CCRA) after her name.
Physical rehabilitation can greatly improve your dog’s health and quality of life. Just be sure to choose top-of-the-line facilities and providers, as you would when seeking health care services for yourself. Your furry family members deserve the best!
Scout’s House founder Lisa Stahr was working as a communications consultant when a neighbor handed her an abandoned puppy with many special health needs. Scout’s courage and determination convinced Lisa of the power of rehabilitation therapy so she embarked on creating a state-of-the-art facility to healp other dogs. Scout died of a congenital kidney defect before Stahr’s vision became reality, but Scout’s House is dedicated to her memory.
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