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WesternU / Pet Health Care / Pet Health Center / Pet Physical Rehabilitation

Pet Physical Rehabilitation

Physical Rehabilitation in pets works to alleviate impairment and functional limitation by designing, implementing, and modifying therapeutic interventions that include exercise, manual therapy, wound management, orthotics and prosthetics, electrotherapy, pain management and promoting quality of life in all life stages.

A specialist will work directly with you to establish the right plan for your pet’s unique condition or injury, or on a post-operative plan after join surgery.

  • What are the goals?

    The primary goals of our pet physical rehabilitation center are to decrease pain, swelling, muscle atrophy, and spasms; improve muscle strength and overall function; remodel scar tissue; accelerate healing time; and prevent injuries, impairments, and functional limitations. These objectives aim to enhance the overall well-being and quality of life for pets.
  • Who are our patients?

    Pets may need physical rehabilitation for a variety of reasons. This includes pets with certain conditions, or after undergoing certain procedures, such as…

    • Neurologic conditions: Pets with nerve damage or neurological disorders that affect movement and coordination.
    • Post operative care: Pets recovering from surgery, needing support to regain strength and function.
    • Obesity: Pets requiring weight management to improve mobility and overall health.
    • Soft tissue injury: Pets with injuries to muscles, tendons, or ligaments needing targeted rehabilitation.
    • Orthopedic injury: Pets with fractures, joint issues, or other bone-related injuries needing structured recovery plans.
    • Geriatric issues: Older pets experiencing age-related decline in mobility and function.

    These patients benefit from tailored rehabilitation programs aimed at improving their quality of life and promoting optimal recovery.
  • Our Treatments & Services

    We offer a variety of treatments to serve your pet’s needs. These treatments may vary depending on your pets’ unique situation and are chosen after a full assessment based on your veterinarian’s or specialist’s recommendation. Services provided are…

    • Conditioning Exercises: Used to help improve muscle mass, strength, motility, coordination and balance.
    • Rhythmic Stabilization: Often used post injury or surgery to passively increase motion, improve muscle strength, balance, and stability.
    • Proprioceptive Exercises: This treatment helps your pet by improving body awareness, balance, and coordination.
    • Laser Therapy: Just as in humans, this targeted therapy acts to decrease inflammation, reduce pain, strengthen muscle and tissue, and improve wound healing in animals.
    • Strengthening Exercises: Aimed at increasing strength, balance, and conditioning. These exercises may help prevent future injuries.
    • Thermal Treatments: Used to treat muscle spasms, reduce pain and increase blood flow.
    • Joint Mobilization: Targeted to improve range of motion, promote relaxation, reduce swelling, inflammation and more.
    • Electrical Stimulation: A low-risk, highly effective treatment using low-voltage electrodes to help strengthen weak muscles, reduce swelling, and help injured muscles heal faster and with less pain.
    • Massage: Non-invasive option to improve your pet’s mobility, comfort, and provide pain relief.
    • Orthotic or Prosthetic Casting and Fitment: May be used to supplement/replace lost limbs, freeze joints to aid in the healing process, provide support to arthritic limbs and more.
    * Pets must be fully assessed to establish specific needs. Plans may be subject to change as your pet’s treatment plan progresses. 

     
  • Our Diagnostics

    Diagnostics are useful tools used to assess your pet’s needs in conjunction with a veterinarian or specialist’s review. We offer a variety of diagnostics to get a complete view of your pet’s situation to determine a care plan. These tools may include…

    • Gait Analysis
    • Thermal Imaging
    • Goniometry
    • Body Composition Analysis
    • Behavioral Evaluation
    • Physical Evaluation

     
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    WesternU Pet Health Center

    Opens State-Of-The-Art Pet Rehabilitation Center
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    A man wearing maroon medical scrubs stands with folded arms in a room with agility equipment and orange cones.

    Zachary Morris Registered Veterinary Technicion & Certified Canine Rehabilitation Specialist

    Zach is both a Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) and a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner (CCRP). He began my work with small animals at the age of 10 with his local 4-H club, then moved up to his high school’s FFA program raising and showing livestock. For the past 14 years, he has been working in the veterinary field as a shelter volunteer, ASPCA national field responder, veterinary assistant, surgery technician, emergency technician, veterinary research associate and, most recently, a canine rehabilitation practitioner. He attended courses through the University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s Rehabilitation Practitioner program. When not at work, Zach spends time with his wife and 4 children, going to school events, music lessons, art classes, cheer practice and trying to squeeze in time for family camping with their 4 dogs.