Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation

Summerfields Animal Hospital’s group of expert rehabilitation therapists include our licensed veterinarians, physical therapists and veterinary technicians. 

We are leading the industry in restoring mobility and improving the quality of life to post-operative, injured, overweight, geriatric, neurologic or compromised dogs through physical therapy and integrative veterinary care. Our hospital’s expert therapeutic team work hand in hand to provide the most comprehensive and best rehabilitation care tailored to the specific needs of your pet. Our rehabilitation tools include underwater treadmills, variable current pools, and other physical therapy modalities to aid recovery. We can also assist with other orthopedic conditions, as well as neuromuscular, age, weight management and other physical problems or impairments.

We offer:

• Acupuncture Therapy: Acupuncture is also thought to decrease pain by increasing the release of chemicals that block pain, called endorphins.
• Laser Therapy: Photons of light are emitted from the laser and pass through the skins layers reaching a targeted area where it is absorbed and interacts with the light sensitive elements in the cells. This initiates a series of events resulting in normalizing damaged or injured tissue, a reduction in pain, inflammation, edema and an overall reduction in healing time by increasing intracellular metabolism
• Thermotherapy: Therapeutic effects include increasing the extensibility of collagen tissues; decreasing joint stiffness; reducing pain; relieving muscle spasms; reducing inflammation and edema; aids in the post acute phase of healing; and increasing blood flow to the affected area provides proteins, nutrients, and oxygen for better healing.
• Cryotherapy: Studies have shown this lowers the skin temperature, reduces the nerve activity and increases pain tolerance.
• Active Compression Therapy:  Provides several benefits to include:
  • Removes edema – The buildup of fluids, or edema, can contribute to pain and swelling. By mimicking the body’s natural muscle contractions, active compression pumps edema out of the affected area to help speed up the healing process.
  • Improves lymphatic drainage – Poor lymphatic drainage can actually contribute to back pain. Active compression helps improve the flow of lymph fluid, which brings essential nutrients to the body’s tissues and removes cellular waste products.
  • Improves oxygen delivery and blood flow – Active compression also helps improve blood flow in the injured area, which allows more oxygen to reach damaged tissues.
  • Stimulates tissue repair – As more oxygen and essential nutrients reach the damaged tissue in the injured area, it is able to repair itself and heal more quickly.

• Electrotherapy Point Stimulation (E-Stim Therapy): This therapy combines acupuncture and trigger points with radiculopathy, dermatomal therapy, and structural realignment for a completely integrative approach to chronic pain management, making it the world’s most integrative therapy developed exclusively to fight pain
• Massage and Physical Therapy Exercise: Massage therapy can provide pain relief, soothe stiff sore muscles, reduce inflammation and swelling. Massage and gentle stretching help maintain range of motion for your pet’s joints
• Current Pool Therapy: This innovative technology works on the physics of resistance and buoyancy to encourage symmetrical development of muscle tone with much less trauma and concussion on joints and all soft tissues. Pets work in a controlled, consistent, relaxed manner, enabling them to  use limbs independently in a full range of motion while at a walk. Treatment sessions range from 10- 30 min. with water depth and treadmill varying depending upon therapeutic purpose for the animal. You will be impressed with the results in your pet after a few short sessions. Benefits include but are not limited to: more thorough, balanced development of all muscle groups, increased fitness, faster recovery from injuries, weight loss and increased range of motion.