Here at Two Hands Four Paws, one question we frequently encounter is, “Why are maintenance rehabilitation sessions for your pet important?” This topic is close to our hearts, and we’d love to dive into why these sessions are crucial for your pet’s long-term health and happiness.
Exercise: Keeping Muscles Strong and Joints Flexible
Just like us, our pets benefit immensely from regular exercise to keep their muscles strong and joints flexible. Our maintenance rehab sessions often involve gentle stretches, hydrotherapy for dogs, and therapeutic exercises. Picture your dog splashing around in our full-size pool, or walking in one of our underwater treadmills. Not only does this build strength and endurance, it also keeps their spirits high as the science shows that being in water bumps up your endorphin levels, both human and animal! Regular sessions prevent stiffness, reduce the risk of injury, and help manage post-surgical recovery or conditions like arthritis. Whether it's dog ACL surgery recovery, or a recovery from surgery to stabilize a luxating patella or a herniated disc, our specialized programs ensure optimal recovery and health.
The Science Behind Maintenance Rehabilitation
Muscle Atrophy Prevention: When pets (and people!) are inactive due to injury or surgery, they develop muscle atrophy, where muscle tissue shrinks from disuse. Regular physical therapy, including water therapy for dogs, stimulates muscle fibers, preventing atrophy and maintaining muscle mass. When you are searching for dog physical therapy near me, know that studies have shown that hydrotherapy can be particularly effective in this regard because the buoyancy of water reduces stress on joints while providing resistance for muscle strengthening.
Joint Health: For pets suffering from conditions like arthritis, maintaining joint flexibility and reducing inflammation are key. The hydrostatic pressure of water not only calms animals, it helps to decrease joint swelling and improve circulation. Exercises performed in water can enhance the range of motion without the weight-bearing stress that land exercises impose.
Neurological Benefits: Regular rehabilitation can also have significant neurological benefits. For pets recovering from nerve injuries or living with a condition like degenerative myelopathy, consistent physical activity can promote neuroplasticity—the brain's ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections. This is crucial for regaining motor function and coordination. We also know that dogs recovering from a stroke-like event can regain the ability to walk much faster with aqua therapy for dogs.
Holistic Care: Body, Mind, and Spirit
Our approach to rehab is holistic. We’re not just treating a body part, we’re nurturing the whole pet. Maintenance sessions often include soothing massages, ice, heat, stretching, acupuncture, and a lot of TLC. This holistic care ensures that your pet feels great both physically and emotionally. We’ve seen anxious pets transform into relaxed, happy companions thanks to regular, loving care at our facility. Canine rehabilitation contributes dramatically to their overall well-being.
Preventing Relapses: Staying Ahead of the Game
We’ve seen it time and time again – pets that complete an initial rehab program but don’t continue with maintenance sessions often experience relapses. These sessions help catch any early signs of trouble, whether it’s a slight limp or a bit of stiffness. By staying ahead of these issues, we can adjust your pet’s care plan to prevent more serious problems down the line. It’s all about proactive care to keep them in tip-top shape! Dog rehabilitation plays a crucial role in maintaining and improving your pet’s health.
Finding something small before it becomes a problem!
One of the most important things about continuing your canine physical therapy appointments is something we don’t always talk about a lot. But we should. We may find things that many clients never even notice. Sometimes their vets haven’t noticed it either. In the case of Lorna (our headliner here), we have a 15-year-old girl who has been coming to us consistently for years. We originally helped her recover from a hemilaminectomy. Her owners wisely made the decision to keep up her visits, to life-saving effect: In a routine exam, one of our technicians felt a slight enlargement of Lorna’s anal gland. We sent her off to her vet for further testing and then to a surgeon for a consultation. The tumor was small but it was cancer. Had we not been seeing her regularly it is doubtful her owner would have ever noticed it until it was too late. Catching things early can be vital in maintaining the health of your pet.
Your Pet’s Happy Place
Let’s be honest – our rehab sessions are fun! Pets love coming here because it’s a place where they’re pampered and cared for. Pet parents love coming here because they get to be a part of the session if they choose. Whether it’s the joy of an animal splashing in the pool or the comfort of a gentle massage, every visit is an opportunity for a really positive experience. We’re not just maintaining their physical health; we’re enriching their lives with joy and love.
For Cats Too: Feline Rehabilitation
Our services aren’t just for dogs. We also offer specialized cat physical therapy. And if you haven’t seen it before, there is nothing funnier than watching a cat swim in the pool and ENJOY IT!!!! For over a year we had two clients whose appointments were always at the same time. One of them was a dog recovering from a TPLO. The other was a cat recovering from a spinal surgery with cat hydrotherapy. For reasons known only to the cat she always felt the need to race this Labrador in the pool. She beat him end-to-end every time! Feline rehabilitation can help your kitty recover from an injury or manage a chronic condition, with our tailored rehab programs providing the care they need. Feline physical rehabilitation focuses on improving their quality of life and overall health.
So, Why Are Maintenance Rehabilitation Sessions Important?
Because they’re the key to a healthier, happier, and more vibrant life for your pet. Let’s keep those tails wagging and those hearts happy!
Warm regards,
Leslie & Bryan
Two Hands Four Paws Animal Rehabilitation Clinic