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PHYSIOTHERAPY & REHABILITATION
After veterinary school, Dr. Dowdell continued with advanced training by doing a general internship at the Animal Surgical and Emergency Center in Los Angeles, California. She then did a surgical internship here at WestVet which was completed in 2010. Dr. Dowdell’s interest in physiotherapy and rehabilitation began early on in her veterinary training. She obtained her acupuncture certification in May of 2008 from Colorado State University and was trained in rehabilitation at the Canine Rehabilitation Institute in Florida. Dr. Dowdell has worked extensively with the surgeons at WestVet and with our former Physical Therapist, Dr. Paulekas. She has a clear passion and enthusiasm for physical therapy.
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Land Treadmill |
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Canine Cavalletti |
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Hydrotherapy Treadmill |
Come on, Get your paws wet!
Pets can now benefit from the same advanced therapeutic techniques utilized in human medicine to restore function, mobility and peak athletic performance.
Surgical patients who have undergone orthopedic or neurologic surgery receive physiotherapy starting at the moment that they leave the operating room and continuing throughout their stay at our hospital. When discharged, a physiotherapy consultation with Dr. Dowdell scheduled with your suture removal appointment.
Services offered by WestVet include:
- Post-operative orthopedic and neurological rehabilitation
- Osteoarthritis Management
- Preseason Conditioning for hunting dogs
- Acupuncture
- Pain Management
- Therapeutic Massage/Manual Therapy
- Range of Motion and Stretching
- Strengthening and Endurance Training
- Gait Training
- Aerobic Conditioning
- Weight Loss Programs
- Sports Conditioning for sport and agility dogs
- Muscle and Movement Re-education
- Therapuetic Exercise
- Heat/Cold Therapy
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Click below to learn more about the following services:
Physiotherapy | Acupuncture | Hydrotherapy | Rehabilitation
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Physio Ball |
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Incline Walks |
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Electrical Stimulation |
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Manual Therapy |
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Acupuncture performed on Tequila |
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Tequila before acupuncture |
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Tequila after acupuncture |
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Underwater Hydro-Therapy
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Vestibular Balancing Board |
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Cavaletti Training to
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PHYSIOTHERAPY SERVICES
The WestVet Physiotherapy Center is the most comprehensive animal rehabilitation center in the state of Idaho and surrounding regions and is home to state-of-the-art physiotherapy equipment and highly trained staff members.
What is Physiotherapy?
Physiotherapy is therapeutic exercise that is performed in conjunction with physical modalities such as hydrotherapy, cryotherapy, ultrasound, neuromuscular electrical stimulation, and acupuncture to improve the recovery of patients with both chronic and acute conditions.
What are the Benefits of Physiotherapy?
Physiotherapy can restore function and mobility; speed recovery from an injury, improve circulation, range of motion, and coordination; alleviate pain; and increase confidence and comfort level even in patients who cannot return to full mobility.
Is Physiotherapy Appropriate for My Pet?
Pets of all ages can benefit from physiotherapy. Any size or breed of dog that is suffering from chronic pain, arthritis, obesity, or muscle weakness can experience a greater quality of life as a result of physiotherapy. Post-operative rehabilitation is especially important for pets who are recovering from an orthopedic or neurological injury.
Neurological conditions and spinal injuries often treated with physiotherapy:
- Disc disease (hernias) – traumatic, acute, and chronic disc injuries
- Wobbler’s disease
- Paralysis, paresis
- Weakness in the muscles
- Peripheral nerve injury
- Degenerative myelopathy
- Brain or spinal tumors
- Surgical interventions that should be followed up with proper physiotherapy include: ventral slot, spinal stabilization, dorsal laminectomy, spinal fracture repairs
Orthopedic conditions and injuries commonly treated with physiotherapy:
- Arthritis
- Hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia
- TPLO
- Patella luxations
- OCD
- Sprains, strains
- Traumatic injuries
- Most, if not all, orthopedic surgical interventions should be followed up with proper physiotherapy.
Other conditions commonly treated with physiotherapy:
- Deconditioning
- Obesity
- Abnormal gait, biomechanics or posture
- Inflammation, swelling
- Chronic pain
ACUPUNCTURE
Acupuncture is the insertion of very fine needles into anatomically defined points on the body. Stimulation of these points produces physiological changes which modify pain, decrease muscle tension, improve circulation, enhance the immune system, and stimulate neurological function.
Acupuncture is valuable in the treatment of osteoarthritis and neurological disorders. It is commonly used in veterinary medicine to treat conditions where traditional treatments are not working or are contraindicated. Acupuncture and electrical stimulation are not painful to the patient. Most patients are very relaxed and comfortable during the treatment.
The following article appeared in the October, 2005 issue of Pet Friendly Magazine:
Local Pets Get the Point
Tequila lies quietly on the examination table with tiny copper-headed needles poking into her feet and legs. Tequila had been brought to her veterinarian, Dr. John Calhoun of Nampa because she was chewing at her feet and legs, causing open sores. A thorough examination failed to reveal any abnormalities. Dr. Calhoun recommended a trial of acupuncture to see if Tequila’s self-mutilating behavior and discomfort could be reduced.
The incorporation of acupuncture into veterinary treatment is becoming more popular among both veterinarians and pet owners. While the traditional “Western medical” approaches diagnose and treat a multitude of diseases, the addition of acupuncture gently stimulates the body’s innate healing mechanisms. The combination of the two can result in dramatic benefits for our beloved pets.
Acupuncture is an ancient art with earliest uses on animals traced to 200 BC in China. Acupuncture is defined as the insertion of very fine needles into specific, anatomically defined points in the body resulting in a physiological response. The stimulation of these points decreases pain and muscle tension, stimulates nerves, causes release of hormones and endorphins, stimulates the immune system, improves local blood flow and influences internal organ functioning.
It is important to first have a thorough examination by your veterinarian, arrive at a diagnosis, and determine the best course of treatment. If the condition is likely to be amenable to acupuncture, it is necessary to be referred to a veterinarian who has been trained in acupuncture. Many conditions can potentially respond to acupuncture including:
- Musculoskeletal conditions including arthritis and muscular or tendon injuries
- Chronic pain
- Neurological disorders including disc disease and peripheral nerve injuries
- Respiratory conditions
- Gastrointestinal disease
- Reproductive disorders
- Kidney or urological disease
- Dermatological conditions
What became of Tequila? Her lesions have healed, she rarely chews at herself or exhibits discomfort and she is happy, playful and noisy as all good parrots should be.
HYDROTHERAPY
The WestVet Physical Therapy Center houses Idaho’s only Ferno Aqua Paws Underwater Treadmill (nicknamed “the tank” by our technicians). Designed specifically for canine and feline rehabilitation, the tank offsets gravitational forces allowing early return to active exercise with minimal impact on the joints after surgery or injury. The tank is capable of varying resistance, speed, buoyancy and temperature. A customized rehabilitation program can be designed for your pet’s specific needs by varying these elements.
Hydrotherapy is proven to be one of the most effective treatment modalities for optimizing post-operative healing, strengthening weak muscles, and reducing obesity.
Hydrotherapy Programs
Hydrotherapy is available per session or can be purchased in programs. Each session in a program includes hydrotherapy and rehabilitative therapy (i.e. acupuncture, manual therapy, advanced strengthening and balancing exercises).
REHABILITATION PROGRAMS
Rehabilitation programs are available for your pet following a procedure performed at WestVet or your family care veterinarian. Rehabilitation programs are also available for conditions such as obesity, reconditioning, arthritis, neurological deficits.
Physiotherapy sessions are available individually or in programs.
Our neurological/osteoarthritis programs include acupuncture and hydrotherapy. Acupuncture is valuable in the treatment of osteoarthritis and neurological disorders. It is commonly used in veterinary medicine to treat conditions where traditional treatments are not working or are contraindicated. Hydrotherapy is beneficial to pets with neurological/osteoarthritis conditions because it offsets gravitational forces allowing early return to active exercise with minimal impact on the joints. The temperature of the water is 93-96 degrees Fahrenheit and helps to warm the sonovial joint fluid without the impact of walking on hard surfaces.
Our orthopedic programs consist of hydrotherapy, land exercises and manual therapy. The resistance of the water improves strength, endurance and prevents muscle atrophy. Land exercises and manual therapy can aid in faster return of normal gait pattern, reducing stress on unaffected limbs and preserve and increase muscle mass during the healing process.