Bow Wow Ow: Post-Surgical Rehab Isn't Just for Humans

Still on the table, she gets outfitted with tiny sunglasses to protect her eyes in the laser therapy. Light penetrates the tissue and "activates" the cells to trigger anti-inflammatory effects that reduce swelling and pain. Aurora is also put through an obstacle course, where she looks a bit like a circus animal, jumping over hurdles. The vet tech then uses rubber resistance bands to gently pull on her legs to strengthen the muscles, very much like a human workout.

Why pet physical rehab?

This isn't the first time through pet rehabilitation for Tucker, who works as an adjunct professor of computer information systems at a local community college and also shows silky terriers in competitions. That was an avocation she took up in 2003 and it keeps her active, as she must do some running in the events too. Among her current pack of four show dogs is 14-year-old Charlie, who underwent surgery last year to correct a luxating knee cap and stabilize his knee after a ligament rupture. Three months of rehab followed. Now, Tucker says, "he runs like a younger dog."

Tucker also understands the value of rehabilitation — not just from her dogs' experience, but also her own. She went through 12 weeks of physical therapy after a knee surgery; six years ago, she fell on a show course. "The therapy was successful, and I can run again."

In Aurora's case, physical rehab can help this dog stave off another torn ligament. Ashley Barker (no joke; her actual name), the licensed veterinary technician who works with Aurora, explains that a dog who tears one ligament has a 50 percent chance of tearing another without treatment. Also without the surgery, Aurora would be more susceptible to developing arthritis.

Tucker has been around dogs a long time and has seen the downsides to injuries. "When they don’t do the physical therapy, they never regain that range of motion."

Jane Tucker's silky terrier, Aurora, works with pet physical therapist Ashley Barker after having surgery for a torn cruciate ligament.

Nick Hagen

October 15, 8 a.m.: Commerce Village Veterinary Hospital

The halfway point for Aurora

Eight weeks post-surgery, the bones have healed. The goal now for Aurora is to build muscle mass on her small frame. Aurora's gait is noticeably better; only a slight limp remains. "She still favors it a bit," Tucker says. "But she’s using it more." Barker says she’s about 70 percent there. One big positive sign: Aurora can easily walk up and down stairs.

As Aurora's endurance has increased, Barker has upped her time on the water treadmill from five minutes in that first session to 18 minutes now. The treadmill pace has also increased, to build strength. Just as in other settings, dogs like Aurora thrive on positive reinforcement, eager to please. "You did it!" Barker exclaims. "Good girl!"

In this session, Aurora still struggles a bit with the obstacle course, finding ways not to put her weight on the injured leg. But Barker has a not-so-secret weapon to coax Aurora into doing it properly: dog treats.

After the workout, Aurora gets to chill to relaxing music while Barker rubs her with lavender essential oil for her hot stone massage. Barker gently stretches the dog's iliopsoas, the main hip extender muscle, and Aurora shows her approval for the massage with a lick to Barker's chin. "It's her favorite part." 

A growing field

Physical rehabilitation for pets began roughly 25 years ago but has grown more in recent years, to the point that many pet insurance providers now either include rehabilitation in policies or offer it as an optional rider. Beate Egner, CEO and executive director of the Veterinary Academy of Higher Learning in Germany, a leader in this field, says vet enrollment in her organization’s courses have increased by 62 percent this decade.

Still, many pet owners — and even many vets — aren't aware of the rehab option, says Kara Amstutz, CEO of the Canine Rehabilitation Institute and president of the American Association of Rehabilitation Veterinarians. She says some of her patients travel three hours, coming from as far away as Iowa and Illinois, for her services in Springfield, Missouri.

Amstutz estimates that today roughly 3,000 professionals worldwide are certified to practice animal rehabilitation therapy. That includes vets and vet technicians and even those who perform physical therapy on people. And the practice goes far beyond dogs. Amstutz has performed sports medicine and rehabilitation techniques on cats, goats, guinea pigs, rabbits, large wild cats (while sedated or pulsing them with electromagnetic fields while the animal is safely inside their cage) and an elephant. That large girl, at a zoo in Springfield, had a laceration of the trunk and some ear wounds that required laser therapy. Egner says many conditions cannot be fully resolved without rehab. When an animal isn’t using a limb properly, "muscle atrophy develops pretty fast." 

One of the main reasons dogs get euthanized, Amstutz says, is because they’re in pain or have lost mobility. "So if we can keep the dog comfortable and moving independently, they’re going to have a longer lifespan and a better quality of life." But these procedures aren’t cheap. Tucker paid $1,200 for Aurora's 12-session treatment, and Amstutz says the cost can be as high as $300 per session in larger cities. In some cases, to reduce costs, vet techs can train owners on some exercises they can do with their pet at home. Tucker helped with some of Aurora’s initial rehab, working with the dog on flexing and stretching the leg. She also cuts back on other life expenses — learning DIY home repairs rather than hiring a handyman, for instance, so she can afford to tend to her dogs. "They're my fur babies, and yes, they're figured into the budget."

November 26, 9 a.m.: Commerce Village Veterinary Hospital

Aurora's feeling better

The little dog can now nimbly lean back and forth on her hind legs, while her front paws perch on a yellow ball shaped like a giant circus peanut. Aurora easily jumps six inches onto a little platform and doesn’t favor her back paw on the obstacle course anymore. "She’s not hopping when she walks or runs," Barker says. “She’s running like a normal dog.” Barker gives Aurora’s owner a high five.

And Aurora has gained muscle mass. At the start, her injured leg had atrophied by three centimeters. Now, it’s equal in size to her other hind leg. Aurora could return to the show circuit by February. "Things were hurting, and now nothing hurts," Tucker says. “She’s saying, 'Yeah, that made me feel better.'"