SERVICES
For the Love of Paws utilizes a variety of treatment modalities and techniques to facilitate recovery and healing in your canine family member. These include hydrotherapy, therapeutic exercise, modalities (MLS laser, PEMF, NMES, TENS) and manual therapy.
HYDROTHERAPY
Hydrotherapy utilizes the principles of buoyancy and resistance of water to exercise your pet safely while recovering from an injury or surgery. The buoyancy of water reduces impacts on joints allowing for a safe mode of exercise, while the water relaxes joints and muscles and assists in reducing swelling through the compressive effect of the water. The resistance of the water as your pet moves, allows the muscles to work and stretch more effectively as a safe and efficient non-weight bearing exercise. This is more tolerable following surgery and helps expedite recovery by reducing muscle atrophy and recovery time after surgery. Hydrotherapy has also revolutionized the ability to rehabilitate dogs with spinal injuries and paralysis by increasing mobility and improving balance, stability, strength, conditioning and gait. We currently utilize a pool for swimming and sun shelf for ambulation activities as hydrotherapy intervention.
THERAPEUTIC EXERCISE
Therapeutic exercise utilizes a variety of tools including inclined treadmill, stairs, cavalettis, inflatable balls, physiorolls, Fitbones, Fitpaws donut, rocker boards and Airex balance pads. All combined they create a fun obstacle course workout that enhances limb use, builds muscle, retrains gait, and improves strength and flexibility. This is especially useful for post-surgical recoveries that have progressed to higher impact exercise and for strength building to provide conditioning and prevent injury in athletic dogs. Depending on your pet’s needs, we will tailor an exercise routine and teach you how to implement at home. We utilize Canine Exercise Solutions, a web-based tool for you to access your home exercise program.
Biko Bands
For the Love of Paws is excited to offer the use of Biko PR Bands to strengthen muscles and joints and improve proprioception. It is an elastic resistance device that can help provide more stability and control for dogs suffering from conditions that cause hind limb weakness/paresis. For some patients, it is a mobility aid that helps to stabilize gait and prevent knuckling over. For canine athletes and working dogs, it is a resistance training device that improves performance and helps to prevent injury. The Biko PR Bands are recommended for numerous diagnoses including: vertebral or pelvic osteoarthritis, canine hip dysplasia, cruciate ligament tear/rupture and patella luxation repair (at least 8 weeks post-op), inactivity/overweight, degenerative myelopathy, intervertebral disc disease, fibrocartilaginous embolism, cerebellar ataxia, lumbosacral disease and neuropathy.
MLS LASER THERAPY
We utilize the Cutting Edge MLS therapeutic laser, which is an excellent device utilized to treat inflammation, reduce pain, accelerate healing time and restore mobility. Commonly called photobiomodulation, it utilizes specific wavelengths of light to target damaged cells, stimulate cellular activity and help them to regenerate faster. The benefits of MLS Laser Therapy include relief of chronic pain such as arthritis, relief of acute pain such as trauma or injury, strong anti-inflammatory effect, stimulates healing of damaged tissue, speeds recovery of the structural integrity of injured region, improves local blood circulation, and provides postoperative pain relief and faster wound healing. Most patients see positive results in one to three treatments. Acute conditions can subside with as few as one set of treatments, while chronic conditions can be managed with regular monthly treatments. Conditions commonly treated include arthritis pain, post-op (FHO, TPLO/TTA, extracapsular repair, luxating patella), wound healing, sprain/strain, tendonitis, hip dysplasia, intervertebral disc disease, degenerative joint disease, degenerative myelopathy and fibrocartilaginous embolism. It is a drug free option that can be incorporated into your pet’s treatment plan.
PEMF (pulsed electromagnetic field) Therapy
We utilize the Respond Systems Bio-Pulse PEMF Therapy System to stimulate cells and energize natural cellular processes. By using magnetic wavelengths and frequencies similar to those naturally occurring in the body, PEMF is able to positively influence electrical potential in the cells to help decrease inflammation, increase circulation, reduce pain and accelerate healing. Relief can be provided for common conditions such as hip dysplasia, arthritis, muscle, tendon or ligament injuries, fractures, neurological conditions as well as stiffness and soreness associated with age.
NMES (neuromuscular electrical stimulation)
NMES is utilized for the purpose of eliciting muscle contraction using electrical impulses for improving strength, decreasing muscle atrophy and restoring neuromuscular balance following musculoskeletal injuries. NMES helps to improve blood flow and circulation, reduce swelling and stimulate muscle fibers and nerves.
TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation)
TENS is a method of pain relief involving use of a mild electrical current. The electrical impulses can reduce the pain signals going to the spinal cord and brain, which may help relieve pain and relax muscles. They may also stimulate the production of endorphins, which are the body’s natural painkillers.
MANUAL THERAPY
Manual therapy encompasses the use of massage, myofascial release, soft tissue mobilization and joint mobilization. Each approach has its own goal to provide pain relief, reduce stiffness, improve movement, assist in tissue repair, speed recovery, maintain function and a healthy activity level for your canine family member. Pain from surgery, arthritis or other degenerative conditions suppress the immune system resulting in slower healing and compromised recovery. Manual therapy increases circulation which in turn delivers nutrients and removes waste products from the tissues to facilitate healing and encourage relaxation so the immune system can function at its best.
HARNESS & CART FITTINGS
For the Love of Paws is proud to carry and recommend Help Em Up Harnesses (www.helpemup.com) which have proven to be one of the best devices for helping post-op, injured or geriatric dogs get around. It helps you help them!
Carts can also be very intimidating. We are a proud endorser of Eddie’s Wheels (www.eddieswheels.com) and K9 Carts (www.k9carts.com) wheelchairs designed for on and off-road play that allow pets with mobility issues from neurological conditions (degenerative myelopathy, IVDD), osteoarthritis or progressive age-related weakness, the opportunity to enjoy a good quality of life. We would be happy to help you with evaluation, measurements and fitting for your dog.