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Rebecca Paulekas, DVM, MPT |
PHYSICAL THERAPY & REHABILITATION
Dr. Becky Paulekas has over 20 years of physical therapy and veterinary experience and is one of only 3 individuals in the country to possess both DVM and MPT credentials. She obtained her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Washington State University and her Masters in Physical Therapy from the University of Southern California. Dr. Paulekas then continued her training by becoming certified in Veterinary Manual Therapy and Veterinary Medical Acupuncture through Colorado State University. Services offered by Dr. Paulekas include post-op rehabilitation; geriatric fitness; hydrotherapy; strength/endurance training; acupuncture; electro acupuncture; and therapeutic management of chronic pain; muscle weakness/atrophy; osteoarthritis; and obesity. Dr. Paulekas works in partnership with Dr. Brourman, Dr. Chandler and Dr. Murphy to develop customized post-operative programs for surgical patients in need of therapy during their recovery process. When she is not at WestVet, she also provides equine chiropractic and acupuncture services or enjoys camping and horseback riding with her husband and two sons.
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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 physical therapy starting at the moment that they leave the operating room and continuing throughout their stay at our hospital. When discharged, a physical therapy consultation with Dr. Paulekas is scheduled with your suture removal appointment.
Services offered by Dr. Paulekas 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
Click below to learn more about the following services:
Physical Therapy | Acupuncture | Chiropractic | 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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PHYSICAL THERAPY SERVICES
The WestVet Physical Therapy Center is the most comprehensive animal rehabilitation center in the state of Idaho and surrounding regions and is home to state-of-the-art physical therapy equipment and highly trained staff members.
What is Physical Therapy?
Physical therapy 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 Physical Therapy?
Physical therapy 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 Physical Therapy Appropriate for My Pet?
Pets of all ages can benefit from physical therapy. 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 physical therapy. 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 physical therapy:
- 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 physical therapy include: ventral slot, spinal stabilization, dorsal laminectomy, spinal fracture repairs
Orthopedic conditions and injuries commonly treated with physical therapy:
- 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 physical therapy.
Other conditions commonly treated with physical therapy:
- 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.
CHIROPRACTICS
At WestVet, we understand your pet is part of the family and they deserve the same standard of advanced health care you would expect for any other family member. One of the ways we strive to provide our clients with the most treatment options available is by offering chiropractic rehabilitative services with Dr. Becky Paulekas.
Dr. Becky Paulekas is trained to understand the anatomy and physiology of different types of animals and can exam your pet to determine if a chiropractic adjustment is necessary. Manual adjustments are performed to treat chronic and acute joint misalignments.
Chiropractic adjustments can be used in conjunction with acupuncture to treat certain conditions and chronic pain.
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.
Physical therapy 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.