Whole Health Mobile Pet Care

The fifth pillar of Traditional Chinese Medicine, for a healthy and balanced life, is exercise or rehabilitation. Dr. Williams was certified in Physical Rehabilitation from the Canine Rehabilitation Institute. She will work with you, your pet and your pets primary veterinarian on weight loss and conditioning, increasing/maintaining fitness for our canine athletes and working dogs and speed recovery from injury or surgery.  For more information about veterinary rehab, please see the American Association of Rehabilitation Veterinarians website. http://www.rehabvets.org

In addition, many animals we see are in pain, whether the result of an injury, surgery, or a degenerative condition such as arthritis. In some cases, we can provide alternatives to surgery, and in others, reduce or eliminate the need for prescription pain medication all to create an improved quality of life for your pet.  Generally speaking, the goals of our treatment plans are to increase your pet’s mobility and functionality by increasing range of motion throughout your pet’s joints, decreasing pain wherever he/she is sore and increasing overall flexibility. 

Just as in human medicine, adequate pain management in animals is necessary to speed healing. Studies have shown that physiologically, pain impedes healing—if the body is in a constant state of pain, the healing process becomes compromised.  At Whole Health, managing your pet’s pain goes hand in hand with our rehab protocols, and often reducing your pet’s pain is the first step toward increasing mobility. 

Our approach is to treat our patients using a wide range of treatment options as well as working closely with your pet's primary veterinarian's treatments and recommendations. These treatments include, but are not limited to: 

Manual Therapy 

Manual therapy is a part of physiotherapy. It uses a combination of joint and spine mobilization and manipulation as well as soft tissue kneading and stretching. It has similar effects to chiropractic care and is employed by those specially trained in this type of treatment.   

Laser - Respond 2400 class 3B

Photobiomodulation therapy or laser therapy uses light therapy to promote tissue repair, reduce inflammation and induce analgesia.   

Shockwave Pulse Vet X-trode (see above)
 

Massage 

Massage increases circulation to improve healing, decrease pain and reduce swelling. Massage can be used for acute or chronic problems; it increases blood flow, which improves oxygen delivery to tissues, and breaks down scar tissue. Massage also promotes mental and physical relaxation. 

  
PEMF (Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields)

(Assisi loop and Respond Mat)
Pulsed electromagnetic field technology used for pain, inflammation, wound healing, osteoarthritis, post-surgical healing.

 
NMES (Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation)

Neuromuscular electrical stimulation is a treatment that uses low frequency, low amplitude electrical impulses to stimulate nerves and cause muscles to contract. It helps with muscle strength, blood circulation, range of motion and muscle retraining. It can also be used in a TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) capacity to help with pain as well.

 Therapeutic exercise

• Passive exercise consists of passive range of motion (PROM) and stretching exercises. These exercises help maintain or improve flexion and extension of joints, help the body's awareness of neuromuscular structure and function, and improve flexibility of muscles, tendons and ligaments. PROM is very important if the patient is not using a body part or has limited movement of a body part.  
• Active exercise involves your pet moving him or herself (with guidance from a human).  We work with your pet in our gym and also instruct you on how to perform these exercises on your pet at home. These exercises work on strengthening, balancing, and improving core strength. 

Some examples include: 

1. Cavaletti's
2. Physioball exercises 
3. Balance board/BOSU exercises   
4. Therabands  
5. Weight shifting
6. Sit-to-stand exercises
7. Standing exercises
8. Wheelbarrowing
9. Stair climbing 

     Assistive devices (i.e., carts, orthotics, prosthetics) 

 We can evaluate your pet to help you determine whether he or she could benefit from custom fitted splints, braces, carts and even prosthetic limbs, and assist with the measurement, fitting, and use of any of this equipment. Assistive devices can be used to support an injured limb while it heals, to correct a deformity, or to encourage correct limb use. Carts are fitted to patients that are paralyzed or unable to walk without support. 

 What conditions do we treat? 

 In general, we can help pets who are suffering from:

• Soft tissue injuries such as sprains and strains
• Post-surgical recovery (e.g., cruciate repairs, hip surgery, fracture repairs, back surgery)
• Neurologic conditions such as bulging discs, degenerative myelopathy, and vestibular disease 
• Ailments commonly associated with aging (e.g. loss of conditioning, arthritis, hip dysplasia)   
• Arthritis or dysplasia 
• Tendonitis or bursitis 
• Limping, gait abnormalities or a change in quality of movement
• Reluctance to go on walks, play with other pets, or jump on the bed or sofa  
• Changes in appetite or behavior that suggest discomfort
• Changes in posture during daily activities
• Obesity or general health concerns   

 More specifically, we can help pets who have been diagnosed with the following conditions: 

•  Osteoarthritis  
•  Obesity  
•  Hip dysplasia
•  Muscle injuries  
•  Back injuries  
•  Spinal injury/IVDD (Intervertebral Disc Disease)  
•  Spondylosis  
•  Joint replacements  
•  Fractures  
•  Cruciate injury  
•  Amputation  
•  Shoulder OCD  
•  Elbow dysplasia  
•  Joint dislocation 
•  Patellar luxation  
•  Tendon injury  
•  Peripheral nerve injury 
•  Neuromuscular disease  
•  Fibrocartilaginous embolism (FCE)  
•  Degenerative myelopathy (DM)  
•  Cauda Equina Syndrome