Heat therapy is used frequently in conjunction with massage and to warm up the muscles prior to stretching. It can also decrease muscle spasm and pain.

Massages are recommended regularly for sporting dogs, working dogs, service dogs, and geriatric patients, but massages can be included in any healthy lifestyle. A good massage therapist can relax muscles, improve blood flow, and allow energy to move freely through the body again. At AWRC, we offer several types of massage depending on the patient needs.

At AWRC, we are proud to offer Class IV LASER therapy provided by Companion. This modality has been shown to release natural endorphins, providing intensive pain relief. It also aids all stages of tissue healing and supports collagen production, greatly speeding up healing of wounds, soft tissue injuries, and minor fractures. It is directly anti-inflammatory because it increases dilation of blood vessels and activates lymphatic drainage. It also stimulates nerve cell regeneration, making it a vital tool in spinal injuries.

Although LASER is most notably used for natural pain relief and wound healing, it has dramatic effects on other common conditions such as hot spots, lick granulomas, and other dermatological disorders, ear infections, anal gland inflammations, gingivitis/stomatitis, cystitis, pancreatitis, arthritis, intervertebral disc disease, brachial plexus and other neurological injuries and even limber tail syndrome. At AWRC, we use the LASER on every patient post-operatively to decrease swelling around the incision and even at dental extraction sites. We have found that in using the LASER, the pet is far less likely to lick at the incision or experience other common post-operative conditions such as seromas or swelling.

Therapeutic ultrasound uses sound waves to improve blood flow, tissue healing, and also to heat tissues. The heat generated from the therapeutic ultrasound penetrates deeper than other forms of heat, allowing the therapist the ability to help alleviate adhesions and stretch out tight muscles and tendons.

Common conditions treated with therapeutic ultrasound include: alleviating tight flexor tendons to provide a better stretch, relaxing tight muscles occurring from injuries (such as iliopsoas strains) or arthritic pain, improving wound and fracture healing and helping with cases of calcific tendonitis. It is also useful in cases of joint contracture after immobilization and over scar tissue.

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation is another method of applying electrical current to relieve pain. In addition to providing local decrease in pain and spasm, its use also releases endorphins in the body, creating yet another level of comfort. The location of the pads that transmit the current can also achieve different effects. We can choose to place the pads directly over a joint or painful region, over the nerve root that is painful, over trigger points, or even on the opposite limb in cases of phantom pain syndrome.

Our underwater treadmill uses all of the amazing physical properties of water to help our pets recover strength, endurance, and comfort more quickly than with exercise and pain management alone. Being in the water increases circulation, improving blood flow and speeding up healing. The buoyancy of the water takes the weight off of the painful joints, allowing the pet to use the limb in a fluid, normal fashion, thus improving range of motion in the joint. It is also an amazing tool for gait retraining when animals are learning to walk again after spinal injuries. Even fearful animals have learned to accommodate to the water in a short amount of time. We are proud to partner with Hudson Aquatics and have purchased their newest Aquapaws treadmill. The pet can step right in to the tank without steps or ramps. The large interior space can handle even the biggest dog and the therapist inside it. The treadmill can be inclined for a harder challenge and the 2 sets of jets can be used for resistance in cases of athletic conditioning or as a whirlpool to improve circulation and relieve pain.

One of the most forgotten aspects of veterinary medicine is the proper conditioning of our athletic patients. Our trainers and owners teach the skills of the sport to the dog, but equally important are the conditioning of our heart and muscles. Muscles need to learn “muscle memory” and they need to develop endurance. The joints need to be flexible and the tendons and ligaments strong. The heart needs regular exercise to function efficiently at an event. Conditioning should make up the vast majority of training for a canine athlete. Those dogs that lie on the sofa all week and then compete as weekend warriors are run a very high risk of injury. At AWRC, it is our commitment to promote the importance of conditioning the athlete’s body so that injuries can be prevented.