Overview

Rehabilitation benefits many pets, including those with orthopedic and neurologic conditions (both post surgical and non surgical),those with arthritis and pain management needs, canine athletes, and pets needing help with weight management.

In addition to our inpatient and outpatient services, we provide continuity of care for our tertiary postoperative and medical patients, helping and assisting owners in the transition of their pet from hospital to home.

All patients seen by the Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation service receive a full assessment and an individualized treatment plan based upon the patient’s needs and level of function, coupled with owner and clinician expectations.

We offer the following services

• Land and underwater treadmill exercise
• Massage and laser therapy
• Cryotherapy and heat therapy
• Range of motion exercises, stretching, and massage
• Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES)
• Therapeutic exercise
• Gait training/proprioceptive patterning
• Therapeutic ultrasound
• Evaluation and measuring for mobility aids (carts, orthotics, prosthesis)
• Acupuncture

The goal of physical rehabilitation is to manage pain and support mobility.

Utilizing a variety of tools we can help:

• Improve function, strength and range of motion
• Achieve a faster and more complete recovery following an injury
• Improve endurance and agility
• Increase mobility after a severe orthopedic or neurologic injury
• Improve and prolong quality of life
• Achieve weight loss in overweight and obese animals
• Decrease pain and swelling
• Provide ambulation assistance to patients who need carts, orthotic devices, or prostheses

Contact Us

• Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Phone: 919-513-6999
• Email: NCStateRehabilitation@ncsu.edu

Our Specialties

Our treatment program emphasizes a return to normal function so that pets can enjoy the activities they love. Some common conditions we treat include:

• Postoperative cases (e.g. total hip replacement, cranial cruciate ligament repair, spinal surgery)
• Neurological conditions (e.g. degenerative myelopathy, fibrocartilagenous embolism (FCE), spinal cord injury)
• Traumatic injuries and intensive care cases
• Wound healing
• Geriatric conditions
• Obesity
• Osteoarthritis
• Pain management

There are numerous benefits to physical therapy:

• Decreasing pain through rehabilitation can decrease the need for medications.
• Rehabilitation decreases healing time and increases recovery rate
• Dogs can lose 1/3rd of the muscle mass in their rear leg after surgery for a ruptured cruciate ligament and it can take over a year to regain it.
• Rehabilitation has positive psychological effects for both pet and owner.

What to Expect

The Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation team is happy to work both directly with you or through your primary veterinarian. Our goal is to establish a rehabilitation treatment plan that helps support a healthy lifestyle for you and your pet.

Appointments and Referrals

Call 919-513-6999 to schedule an appointment. Our hours are Monday through Friday,
8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Questionnaires

Please fill out the questionnaire below and email it back to ncstaterehabilitation@ncsu.edu or bring a physical copy to your pet’s appointment. Thank you.

• New Patient Questionnaire (Canine)
• New Patient Questionnaire (Feline)
• Recheck Questionnaire (Canine and Feline)