The centerpiece of AnWell’s treatment process is Hydrotherapy in the underwater tank: swimming, gaiting, up and down using powerful hydrojets as resistance or massage.

Hydro-treadmill therapy strengthens the patient's muscles with little to no pressure on the joints, due to the buoyancy of the water. When the water is warm, flexibility, mobility, muscle contractility and as circulation are increased.

The benefits of the hydro-treadmill include:

• Earlier return to exercise post-surgically
• Strengthening of the muscles surrounding painful joints in arthritic patients
• Weight-loss

Dogs that do not use a limb on land may use it in water. Dogs tend to move their limbs using an exaggerated range of motion on the hydro-treadmill, giving additional therapeutic benefits. The hydro-treadmill variables of speed, resistance, and depth can be controlled to provide a seamlessly progressive therapy plan. It also allows the therapists to introduce the patient to the water in a slow, controlled manner. The hydro-treadmill also allows AnWell to combine other rehabilitation.

Land Treadmill Therapy

AnWell also uses a special canine land treadmill to increase strength, balance and coordination and to:

• Stimulate bone growth and strengthening
• Vary the rate of incline to promote work on specific muscle groups
• Benefit certain stages of post-joint surgery rehabilitation

However, the land treadmill cannot reduce pressure on the joints with the hydro-treadmill therapy, so land treadmill therapy is used primarily for strengthening in the absence of pain, or reeducation of balance where the need for buoyancy is not a factor.

Cryotherapy and Hydrotherapy

Cryo- and heat therapy is the use of cold and/or heat over an injured or healing area of the body.

Cryotherapy, the use of a cold pack during the early phases of inflammation, decreases both inflammation and pain perception, and, after surgery, decreases both surface and deep tissue bleeding.

Heat therapy, the use of a heat packs or warm, moist towels, both decreases pain and inflammation and speeds healing.

Cryotherapy is usually used by itself during the early phases of inflammation, while cryotherapy and heat therapy are used alternately during the latter phases of inflammation.

Rehab Therapy

AnWell offers rehab services while your post-surgery pet boards or daily rehabilitation exercise programs during the week. Here, the patient is dropped off, then picked up before office hours close so that our trained staff can work with the patient throughout the day.

Exercise

Exercises are an important part of the rehabilitation services we provide. Canine exercises may range from passive-range-of-motion protocols to improve or maintain a joint's flexibility, to ambulation exercises to retrain an animal to walk. At AnWell, we tailor an individual exercise protocol for each patient. In general, canine exercise plans include:

• Passive range of motion exercises to stimulate new cartilage growth that would increase joint range of motion.
• Stretching exercises to increase circulation and muscle flexibility.
• Stairs and hydro-treadmill exercises strengthen individual muscles or muscle groups.
• Walking exercises to teach a paralyzed dog how to walk again.
• Weight shifting exercises to help the dog shift learn to use injured limbs or help to balance its walk

 Therapeutic Ultrasound and Phonophoresis

Therapeutic ultrasound is the uses sound waves which are passed through tissue creating certain physiological effects. The therapeutic ultrasound unit used together with medication is termed phonophoresis. Phonophoresis delivers the medication through the skin, which allows the delivery at the local level, reducing side affects related to oral or injectable delivery. Therapeutic ultrasound increases circulation, range of motion and wound healing while decreasing scar tissue, pain, muscle spasms, and inflammation.

Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation

AnWell uses Neuomuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) to prevent post surgery atrophy or injury or to increase strength for chronically underutilized muscles. NMES is the application of a low level electrical current which results in a muscle contraction which can be used to mimic strength training for dogs that are cannot bear weight or have limited use of a muscle or muscle group.

PetMassage™

Certified PetMassage™ Practioner Andrea Brin visits AnWell twice a month. She has completed course work in canine acupressure and rehabilitation. She operates Petpathways, Llc, and travels to different centers in Northeast Pennsylvania. We hope you will make use of this unique service for your dog.

• Dogs suffering from joint-related problems such as hip dysplasia and arthritis.
• Dogs who, through disease or advanced age, suffer from muscle wasting or muscle atrophy.
• Dogs whose pregnancy is placing strain on the back.
• Dogs recovering from orthopedic surgery that are approved by their doctors to start physical therapy.
• Conformation dogs - for increased range of motion (reach and drive).
• Performance dogs (obedience, agility, hunting, police, etc.), like human athletes, respond well to massage therapy as a routine part of their conditioning programs.
• Dogs who are boarded benefit from the TLC and stress reduction that massage provides.

  PVAH and AnWell Now Offer Acupuncture

Now, through Pleasant Valley Animal Hospital and AnWell Veterinary Rehab & Conditioning Center, Dr. Diane Gabriel-Fraynet, VMD and Veterinary Acupuncturist, offers acupuncture services . She is a 2001 graduate of the U of P Veterinary School, and 2006 graduate of the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society. She has been administering acupuncture on small animals with joint disease, intervertebral disc disease, inflammatory bowel disease,renal failure, allergies, and asthma, to name a few. Dr. Diane also uses acupuncture to faciliate and aid in the healing process of orthopedic surgeries.

See how acupuncture can benefit your pet by contacting Dr. Diane through our offices at 610-346-7854 (please speak with Matt or Sue in rehab) or via email.

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