Therapeutic exercises are the foundation of any pet rehabilitation program. Customized exercise routines help restore strength, flexibility, balance, and endurance – much like physical therapy in people.
A rehabilitation specialist will teach owners simple exercises to do at home or in the clinic. Key categories include:
- Passive Range-of-Motion (PROM): Gently moving an injured limb through its full range to prevent joint stiffness and muscle atrophy. For example, carefully bending and straightening a dog’s limp knee daily.
- Weight-Shifting/Balance drills: Encouraging the pet to shift its weight onto a weaker limb (often using treats or support) to improve stability and proprioception. This helps postural control, e.g., having a dog lean slightly to one side and hold balance.
- Strength Training: Active exercises like sit-to-stand repetitions or controlled stair-climbing to build muscle mass and joint support. These are scaled to the pet’s ability (e.g., assisted sit-to-stands for a recovering pet). Stronger muscles mean better support for injured joints.
- Stretching: Gentle stretches of limbs and neck to prevent tightness and maintain flexibility. This might include slowly extending the hind leg while the dog stands.
Each exercise plan is tailored to the pet’s condition by a certified rehab therapist. Over weeks of consistent therapy, pets typically show improved gait and willingness to move. In fact, pets with chronic mobility issues often regain a pain-free stride after diligent exercise rehab.
Refer your patient: We encourage veterinarians and vet techs to involve a rehab specialist early. Pets recovering from surgery, trauma, or suffering from chronic orthopedic disease gain substantial benefit from guided exercises. Rehab 4 Pets in Dallas-Fort Worth develops personalized exercise programs. If you have a patient with mobility or strength deficits, refer them via our vet referral form to incorporate professional therapeutic exercises into their treatment
Author:
Dr. Michele Broadhurst, DC, CCSP, FIAMA, CCRP, CAC, IVCA
DVM – Rehab 4 Pets (Clinical Director)