Heat therapy should be used no earlier than 72 hours post-surgery or injury. This sequence is repeated up to 3 times daily. Exercises At TOPS Vet Rehab, exercises are an important part of the rehabilitation services we provide. Exercises are often devised specifically for each individual patient, so it is difficult to explain all the exercises we may prescribe for a patient. Stretching exercises increase circulation and muscle flexibility.
Proprioceptive exercises are exercises used to help the animal know where their feet are in space.
Weight shifting exercises are exercises used to help the animal shift their weight to the affected limb or side to make the animal walk more balanced. Hydro-treadmill therapy was originally developed for rehabilitating race horses in the 1970's. Until the mid-80's, this treatment option was limited to horses. In 1998, TOPS Vet Rehab introduced the world to the use of the hydro-treadmill for canine rehabilitation, thus providing a new rehabilitation tool for canine patients. Hydro-treadmill therapy provides the ability to strengthen the patient's muscles in an environment of little to no pressure on the joints, due to the buoyancy of the water.