Monday, June 15, 2015

Rehabilitating your Pet after Injury or Surgery

Major illnesses and health emergencies can be scary – and once you’ve received the care you need to treat immediate problems, the question of overall health and wellness remains. If you have a pet that has been injured or received treatment through surgical intervention, there are rehabilitative programs that can help them enjoy renewed strength and ability.

Rehabilitation is responsible for:

Improving Mobility

It’s normal for your pet to be a little stiff after surgery. To help increase mobility, our vet clinic’s rehabilitation programs incorporate underwater treadmills. With an underwater treadmill, pets place less than their full weight on recently treated limbs, making it easier for them to walk and exercise. With warm water, there’s also an increase in blood flow and a feeling of relaxation, making the underwater treadmill gentle and therapeutic.

Strengthening Muscle

It’s especially important to ensure that muscle is healthy and strong after your pet has been treated for a major injury, but without stimulation, it’s possible for muscles to weaken. By using electro-muscular stimulation, we gently strengthen muscles to help your pet regain full function.  We can also use technology like ultrasound and cold lasers to create gentle tissue stimulation.

Promoting Better Healing

Overall healing after emergency treatment or surgery is a combination of many therapies that help your pet experience improved wellness. A good at-home care plan for when your pet has left our clinic, as well as appropriate hot and cold therapy, or even massage, helps create the right environment for better healing.

We offer rehabilitation programs that help your pets get back to their normal lives after care at a veterinary clinic. If you need more information on rehabilitation services, or muscle therapy for your pet, call our referral veterinary clinic in Arlington, TX today.

Tuesday, June 2, 2015

Pet Health Questions & Answers

Looking after your pet’s health and wellness is an important part of providing good quality of life though every age of development and companionship.  We help pets and their families get off to a good start by answering some of the more common questions about pet health and wellness.

What’s the Best Way to Prevent Health Problems? A standard preventive health program for your pet includes all proper vaccinations, medications for heartworm, as well as the right choice in food and exercise for their age. While it’s not possible to prevent some conditions, like genetic predispositions to health issues, it’s entirely possible to prevent problems like weight gain, worms, and other more common concerns. Your general veterinarian can prove vaccinations or refer your pet to our office if they need specialized care.

What Should I do if My Pet has been Behaving Strangely?  In many cases, strange behavior is a good indicator of health problems that require attention from a veterinarian.  Things like anxiety, vomiting, loss of hair, limping or protecting a limb, should be taken seriously so your pet can get help right away.  In some cases, these changes could indicate an emergency where your pet needs to receive care the same day. We offer 24/7 emergency care in the event that your pet needs immediate medical attention.

How Can I Help My Pet Reach a Healthy Weight? Weight management programs are usually a good idea for overweight pets. Occasionally, some pets need more than a simple change in diet, though selecting the appropriate food, limiting over-feeding, and not giving your pet human food are all great places to start in helping them achieve a healthy weight. If you need guidance in helping your pet achieve a proper weight, our clinic provides programs to do exactly that.

Is There a Care Routine to Follow for Senior Pets?  Older pets need a daily routine that differs from what you would do for a puppy, perhaps. Senior animals need regular exercise for joint health and mobility, appropriate foods that are easy on their stomachs and provide them with the right nutrients at an advanced age, and more frequent interactions with your veterinarian to ensure their health is on-track.  Our clients with senior pet patients can benefit from our advanced imaging equipment, which helps us spot problems that often occur in older animals, such as the development of foreign masses or cancer.

My Pet Has Chronic Back/Hip Problems. Can they be Treated? – In the event that your pet is suffering internal health issues, there are rehabilitation programs and surgeries that can help. While some chronic problems cannot be cured, they can be managed so your pet enjoys better quality of life and good mobility. We provide advanced diagnostics and neurosurgery services to help treat hip dysplasia and spinal cord problems in pets. Our facility also offers rehabilitative programs and equipment to help stimulate muscles and improve joint function and mobility. 

Have a Question We Didn’t Answer?  Please feel free to contact our Arlington veterinary clinic if you need further assistance or information about pet health and veterinary treatments.