Growing Number Of Pets Benefit From Rehabilitation And Other Therapies

A Guest Blog By:

Linda Wasche, LW Marketworks, Inc.

Lindaw@LWmarketworks.com / 248-253-0300

   Just as many baby boomers suffer from arthritis, achy muscles and stiff joints, so do many pets.  And more of these pets are benefiting from the same types of therapy that humans have long relied on including exercise, acupuncture, lasers, underwater therapy and massage.

In Allen Park, Michigan the newly-opened Water Gait Veterinary Rehabilitation is the newest of only a handful of pet rehabilitation centers in Southeast Michigan.   Water Gait, named after the water therapy used to treat many pet conditions and the movement or gait that veterinarians observe in assessing a pet’s condition, treats dogs, cats and even rabbits to alleviate pain and help pets regain mobility.  The new state-of-the-art center features an underwater treadmill, therapy pool, exercise area and more.

Patches in the underwater treadmill

Veterinarian Dr. Joyce Balnaves works with Patches in the underwater treadmill used to treat older cats and those with muscle weakness.

   

  Water Gait Veterinary Rehabilitation is at 15220 Southfield Road in Allen Park, Michigan. “Pets suffer from the same injuries and health conditions as humans,”  says veterinarian Dr. Joyce Balnaves, founder of Water Gait Veterinary Rehabilitation.  “Rehabilitation is essential in treating pain and improving mobility so that pets can live an active and pain-free life.”

Water Gait Veterinary Rehabilitation treats pets that are recovering from surgery, have been injured, or are suffering from chronic conditions such as arthritis, disc disease and hip dysplasia.   Some conditions are due to normal aging; others may result from an injury.  Dogs are increasingly being called into physically-demanding roles to assist police departments, serve in the military and as service dogs to humans with disabilities demanding higher levels of performance over longer periods of time.

 Balnaves says that Water Gait Veterinary Rehabilitation is one of a growing number of pet rehabilitation centers opening around the U.S.   The Canine Rehabilitation Institute (www.caninerehabInstitute.com) has graduated more than 1,000 veterinary and physical therapy professionals since it opened in 2002.  Of the 27 veterinary schools in the U.S., 17 now offer some form of rehabilitation training, and a new specialty college, The American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation (www.vsmr.org), was approved for formation last year by the American Veterinary Medical Association AVMA (www.avma.org). 

“As more pet owners consider their pet part of the family, they want the same treatment options that are available to humans,” Balnaves said.  “And, like humans, pets are living longer.  Pet owners want to make sure that their pet is able to get around and  function while enjoying a good quality of life.”

 

Water Gait Veterinary Rehabilitation provides a number of treatment options.  Acupuncture, which uses fine needles to stimulate the nerves, is typically used to treat pain from arthritis and other conditions. Laser therapy helps speed up healing, reduce pain and increase circulation.  Water therapy, using underwater treadmills and therapy pools, strengthens muscles and helps improve a pet’s range of motion and flexibility.  Exercise and massage relax and stimulate muscles, reduce pain and improve circulation.

Pet rehabilitation centers, such as Water Gait Veterinary Rehabilitation, work in conjunction with a pet’s primary care veterinarian who diagnoses the pet’s health problem and makes a referral to a rehabilitation facility.  In this way, the primary care veterinarian obtains a complete picture of the pet’s health and can rule out any other underlying medical issues.

Scooter – therapeutic laser treatment

Dr. Joyce Balnaves uses the newest class IV therapeutic laser treatment on Scooter who is being treated for back pain and osteoarthritis.

Cost of pet rehabilitation typically ranges from $50 to $150 per session or more, depending on the seriousness of the pet’s condition and the particular treatments being administered.    Prior to treatment, a thorough physical rehabilitation exam is conducted.

For information, go to www.watergaitvetrehab.com or call 313-422-3318.

How can you tell if your pet is in pain?  Dr. Balnaves says to look for these signs:

• Difficulty jumping up or down
• Crying when getting up or down
• Reluctance to play or exercise
• Unusual posture
• Lameness or weakness
• Uneven wear on nails
• Sensitivity to being touched or petted

About  Dr. Joyce Balnaves, DVM, CVMA, CCRT

Dr. Balnaves has been a veterinarian since 1986.  She is certified in veterinary medical acupuncture (CVMA) and is a certified canine rehabilitation therapist (CCRT).  She also has training in pain management, medical massage, manual therapy and therapeutic laser treatment. She is a member of the American Association of Rehabilitation Veterinarians, International Veterinary Association for Pain Management, Michigan Veterinary Medical Association and Southeast Michigan Veterinary Medical Association. She holds a doctor of veterinary medicine (with honor) and bachelor of science (with high honor), both from Michigan State University.   Dr. Balnaves live in Canton with her husband Michael, sons Sean and Ian, three cats, a rabbit and Water Gait mascot Jake, a Sheltie.