Rehab therapy

Here at Franklin Vets, we are very excited to be able to offer rehab therapy (physiotherapy) for dogs with injuries, arthritis, and those recovering from surgery. Any animal that needs pain relief for ongoing conditions or trauma can benefit from rehab.

To help with pain relief and recovery, rehab uses a combination of hands-on therapy (massage, trigger point release etc.), stretching, modalities (such as ice, heat packs, and laser), and exercises – both in clinic and at home.

The goals of therapy involve alleviating pain and inflammation, gaining and maintaining strength and mobility, and helping dogs return to full function. Each treatment plan is tailored to each pet by a fully qualified Veterinary Rehabilitation Practitioner – Karli Houston, and the nurses at Papakura who have been trained to help with the exercise programs.

An initial assessment involves:

A full clinical exam to detail what the problems are and where areas of weakness may lay
Treatment – massage, stretching, joint mobilizations, laser etc.
Building a plan – demonstrating which exercises/stretches to work on at home to build strength.