We believe in multi-modal pain therapy. This means using a combination modalities, exercises, and medications if needed to block pain at different points in the pain pathway. It is important to find the combination that works best for you and your pet to give them the best quality of life possible.
Exercise is medicine! Therapeutic exercises are designed to build muscle to support injured or weakened areas, improve balance and coordination and increase flexibility.
It is important to note that rehabilitation is a team effort. Our mission is to provide you with ample resources, but between visits it is up to you to keep up with any prescribed exercises or therapy.
Don’t fret, we are not asking you to spend hours at the “doggy gym”. We want to work with you to achieve success and in most cases this could require as little as 5 min twice a day. We tailor all of our programs to meet the individual needs of the guardian and pet and will help you work these treatments into your daily life.
Laser therapy, also known as photobiomodulation is a medical treatment that uses specific wavelengths of light to penetrate the tissues, resulting in therapeutic effects. This non-invasive, painless treatment helps accelerate the body’s natural healing processes.
Laser therapy works by delivering photons, or packets of light energy, to the cells in the treated tissues.
This has several effects:
Increased ATP Production:
The light energy stimulates mitochondria to produce more ATP (adenosine triphosphate), the energy currency of cells, enhancing cellular function and repair and helping the cells to eliminate waste products from the cell.
Reduced Inflammation:
Laser therapy can reduce the production of pro-inflammatory mediators and increase antioxidants, leading to reduced swelling and inflammation which also helps to reduce pain.
Pain Relief:
The therapy blocks pain signals to the brain in multiple pathway providing pain relief. One of these pathways is inhibition of COX-2 and prostagandins which is the same pathway that NSAIDs work on. Another is increased natural endorphins.
Enhanced Circulation:
It improves blood flow to the treated area, promoting faster tissue repair, development of new blood vessels and reduced healing times.
Regeneration of neurons:
Laser therapy helps to increase axon regrowth thereby increasing motor function after nerve injury.
Osteoarthritis
Post-Surgical Healing
Chronic Pain
Wound Healing
Inflammatory Conditions
Neurologic Conditions
The therapist will calculate the dose to be applied and the treatment area. Your pet will need to wear special goggles to protect their eyes as will everyone else in the room.
If they are not comfortable wearing the goggles then a dark towel or blanket will be used to cover their eyes.
Both acute and chronic pain can result in muscle tension and or spasm. Muscle contraction/tension reduces blood flow to the affected muscles. By increasing blood flow, muscles receive adequate oxygenation and are able to flush out waste products.
Massage can reduce inflammation, release endorphins, and help scar tissue to align in a way that is more like the original tissue.
Our pets also benefit from the relaxation of massage just like we do.
Our pain management philosophy first involves how we identify pain in animals. Our assessment extends beyond the physical exam and includes observations reported by you, the pet owner.
While acute pain can be very obvious in many cases, chronic pain can be much more subtle and there may be changes in behaviour that are less obvious or change slowly over time.
The best treatment for pain is what is called multimodal (combination) therapy. While we try our best to use the modalities we have such as laser, massage and PEMF to manage pain, medications are often required for the successful treatment of pain.
We will work with you and your veterinarian to provide optimal treatment of your pet’s pain. Chronic pain can take time to unwind since the nervous system has been stimulated for some time, the effects are not always instant. This process may require both trial and error and time to find the best combination of therapies.
Pulsed electromagnetic field therapy is a non-invasive treatment that uses electromagnetic fields to stimulate and encourage the body’s natural healing processes. PEMF therapy can aid in pain relief, reduce inflammation, improve circulation, and enhance overall well-being.
PEMF devices generate electromagnetic pulses that penetrate the body’s tissues at the cellular level. These pulses stimulate cell repair, enhance cell function, and improve the overall health of tissues and organs. PEMF improves the exchange of ions like calcium and potassium, crucial for cellular metabolism. Stimulation from PEMF can also cause dilation of blood vessels, improving blood flow and oxygen supply to tissues. Better circulation aids in faster healing of wounds and reduction of inflammation.
PEMF therapy can reduce pain by increase calcium ion signalling. The release of the intracellular calcium interferes with the pain pathway by increased binding of calcium to calmodin
In some studies, PEMF therapy allowed for a decrease or discontinuation of NSAID therapy for some patients. It can reduce the pain of osteoarthritis by limiting the effects of pro-inflammatory cytokines and increasing anti-inflammatory cytokine release
PEMF enhances the body’s ability to repair and regenerate tissues, making it useful for wounds, fractures, and other injuries. By increasing the vascularization, tissue perfusion and oxygenation it helps these tissues heal.
Arthritis and Joint Pain, injuries and wounds, neurological disorders, post-surgical recovery and chronic pain.
PEMF is non-invasive and painless and most pets generally find PEMF therapy comfortable and relaxing. The treatment is non-invasive and does not cause discomfort.
There are rings that are placed around or adjacent to the affected body part. We have a bed the pets can lay on. This therapy can purchased or rented to be used at home or provided on a therapy visit by one of our staff. This modality can even penetrate through bandages or casts making it a great option for post-operative care.
Treatment generally last between 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the condition being treated.
The frequency of sessions will depend on the severity and nature of the condition. Some pets may require daily sessions initially, followed by maintenance sessions.
Many pets experience immediate relief from pain and inflammation but the benefits are cumulative, with improvements often becoming more noticeable after several sessions.
PEMF therapy is generally safe with very few side effects. Some pets may experience slight discomfort or tingling during initial sessions, which usually subsides.
Not Suitable for All Pets: PEMF therapy should not be used in or around pets AND PEOPLE with implanted electronic devices (like pacemakers) or those with certain types of cancers. Always consult with your veterinarian before starting PEMF therapy.
Metal can interfere with the therapy so metal collars must be removed if they are within the treatment field.
Benefits of House Calls:
Convenience, stress reduction for pets, personalized home environment assessment.
How to Prepare:
Please find a space that is comfortable for both you and your pet but that also has space for them to move around a bit.
We may have them lay down so having their bed handy is also a great plan. Going outside for a brief walk may be part of the exam so having a leash and your jacket handy is also ideal. Have a list of any questions you might have.
We will bring our own treats, but having some of your pet’s favourites handy is a good idea.
What to Expect:
A typical house call starts with getting to know you and your pet and making sure everyone is comfortable. We then will go over the history and questionnaire you were provided with. This is also a time to ask questions and discuss your goals. After that we will examine your pet. Depending on the problem area this may be done part in standing and part laying down. We may go for a short walk outside to see them move as well. After that we will go over the findings and discuss your goals.
We will then formulate a plan based on these goals.
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