Questions for Canine Rehabilitation, Wellness, and Fitness Centers
from Concerned Pet Owners

| Part I | Part II | Part III | PDF Version (full article) |

By:
Amie Lamoreaux Hesbach, MSPT, CCRP
For Paws Rehabilitation, LLC
Mid-Atlantic Animal Specialty Hospital, LLC
Huntingtown, Maryland

Part II

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 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 injury or surgery. If the therapist identifies anything that is unexpected or unusual, you should expect to be referred back to your pet’s primary care veterinarian or surgeon.

 

What consents or liability releases are necessary? Is the facility insured?

How is treatment progressed?
Treatment will be progressed differently if the supervising staff member is medically trained or a layperson. Treatment might be progressed by visual assessment, heart rate, respiratory rate, body temperature, functional mobility, gait, or use of a limb. Progression, especially of post-surgical cases, might be based on expected tissue healing times, considering other factors as well. Obviously, a goal of fitness activities is not only to improve your pet’s mental and physical well-being, but also to concurrently preserve the safety and health of your pet.

Is the facility clean? Is there non-skid flooring?

What is the cost of treatment?
Some facilities might offer a “package” leading to cost savings over time, and yet others will charge “a la carte” per treatment or per unit time. Will you be reimbursed if you attend fewer sessions if you paid for a “package”? Will your pet insurance reimburse you for this treatment? Check with your insurer prior to beginning treatment.

Does the staff communicate with your dog’s primary care veterinarian? With the surgeon?
If your dog is receiving treatment as rehabilitation following surgery or for another medical condition, you should expect that the facility’s staff communicate with your dog’s primary care veterinarian (at the least). There might be treatment protocols which have been specified by your dog’s veterinarian or veterinary surgeon. Certainly you should inquire as to the staff’s experience with dogs with similar medical conditions as your dog.

Remember to ask if the facility requires vaccinations for your dog to receive treatment. You might be expected to show proof of vaccination or titer, especially for Bordatella.

What activity is recommended prior to and after therapy? On days off? Is this person qualified to give you this advice?
Your compliance with a home program is necessary for reaching your and your pet’s functional goals. Progress and improvement will not occur with only one day of activity per week.

Question the facility’s motivation if the 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 a hike in the woods on the weekend!

Specific Questions Concerning a Swim Center…
Swimming is becoming a popular activity for dogs and is recommended especially for dogs with arthritis or dysplasia, but also for conditioning and rehabilitation. Swimming in a controlled aquatic environment, such as an indoor or heated pool, offers buoyancy, resistance, and warmth. Prior to swimming, owners should trim their dogs’ nails, brush and/or bathe their dog, and cease feeding for 1-2 hours prior to activity. Always offer plenty of water before and after exercise. Don’t force your dog to swim! Swimming is not the best exercise if it “stresses out” your dog. Believe it or not, there are dogs who are not “meant” to swim.

If swimming is an option, what emergency procedures or services are available?
At a minimum, the swim center staff should be trained in Pet First Aid. An “on call” veterinarian should be available in case of an emergency. The facility should have a working relationship with a veterinarian or veterinary hospital which will respond or be available, even if the facility is open on weekends or evenings. If the rehabilitation facility is veterinarian-supervised or in a veterinary hospital, emergency equipment, medications, and trained staff should be available.

Continued

| Part I | Part II | Part III | PDF Version (full article) |