Karen AngelHartley does balancing exercises and gets a massage as part of her physical therapy. Canine rehabilitation is a growing field that, in cases like Hartley's be used as an alternative to surgery.When Bryan Lindsay’s miniature dachshund ruptured a vertebral disc that paralyzed her hind end last April, he faced a choice: pay $7,500 for an operation to remove pressure from her spinal cord, with no guarantee that she would ever walk again, or try twice-weekly rehab for $80 a session.
Canine rehab is a growing field. This year Americans are expected to spend almost $19 billion on veterinary care, including rehab, up from about $15 billion five years ago, according to the American Pet Products Association in Stamford, Connecticut. “Awareness has increased tremendously, and it has become quite mainstream,” says Dr. Darryl Millis, a professor of orthopedic surgery at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine in Knoxville and director of the arthritis and sports medicine program at the college’s Veterinary Medical Center. “The expectations of clients are to have rehabilitation on their pets similar to what they might have for their own injury or surgery.
Interest is growing globally, too. The institute now offers its training program in Australia, Switzerland, England, Belgium and Brazil and lectures at conferences around Europe, according to institute founder Janet Van Dyke. The University of Tennessee certificate program is offered in about 15 countries.
Still, Millis sees room for improvement in raising awareness so dog owners seek treatment before the injury or disease has progressed. It's"frustrating," he says, to see dogs with advanced orthopedic conditions like severe arthritis and hip dysplasia because their conditions could have been treated sooner. To help dog owners recognize symptoms of lameness and educate them on how to seek appropriate treatment before the condition has advanced, Millis launched MyLameDog.com.
As part of her physical therapy, Hartley receives acupuncture treatment while techs use baby food as a treat to distract her.Terri Martin believes that long-term rehab created a better quality of life for her elderly cockapoo, Biscuit, who passed away two years ago at age 22. Biscuit suffered from chronic arthritis that limited his mobility and led to boredom.
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