It is required that all patients be referred by their veterinarian and/or examined by a musculoskeletal veterinarian prior to starting rehabilitation sessions. It is also required that a complete summary of health and any diagnostic images be shared between health care providers. We are more than happy to communicate and provide feedback to your veterinarian.

Yes, you are encouraged to stay for your pets session. Most dogs prefer to have their owners with them and we are here to help you learn. Be sure to ask as many questions as possible throughout our sessions, there is no such thing as a silly question. Once your pet is comfortable with us and their new surroundings, it is ok to leave them in our care if you need to pop off and get the odd jobs done.

The number of sessions required will depend on the condition that is being treated. This will be discussed with you in our initial conversation and in our initial session together. Each patient may differ in their response to treatment, with chronic conditions requiring more frequent treatments, extending over a longer period of time.

We understand that budget and time constraints need to be considered, and will always work with you to provide the best outcome for your pet.

For most conditions your rehabilitation professional will educate and support you to be able to perform therapeutic exercises at home for your pet. This ensures that your pet is able to do small amounts of exercise more frequently to be able to enhance their mobility and muscle development. It is important to follow the guidelines that are specified in your clinic summary, to ensure that your put doesn’t become tired or tender from over exhaustion. This is particularly important in the recovery process post surgery or injury when the tendon, ligament and or bone structures are more fragile.

Please ensure that your dog is on a secure collar or harness and lead, unless directed otherwise. It is a good idea to bring some treats that you know your dog will love. We do supply some treats, however if your dog has a dietary sensitivity, please supply your own.

Canine rehabilitation is a quickly evolving therapy that shows that dogs, just like people, can benefit from targeted exercise programs and other therapeutic modalities to decrease pain, improve fitness, and restore functioning and mobility. Canine rehabilitation is built on the same principles as physiotherapy for humans, which are to restore, maintain, and maximise strength, function, movement, and overall well-being. Canine rehabilitation emphasises on examination, evaluation, diagnosis, and physical interventions. Additionally, it values the relationships between the animal, owner, veterinarian, and other animal health care providers.

Canine rehabilitation comprises many different modalities such as massage and stretching, laser therapy, nerve and muscle stimulation, physical exercises, EMS, TENS, acupuncture, water therapy and much more. It is a much-needed service for pets who are recovering from major surgery or an injury, but it also helps pets regain their strength and mobility and lose excess weight. At Canine Freedom and Mobility, we’re passionate about offering animal rehabilitation because we know how important mobility and freedom is for our pets.

Like us humans, our pets are not immune to the traumas of degenerative disease, injury, or a congenital defect. With canine rehabilitation, we’re able to give pets and their owners the chance of returning to a normal, happy life.

Therapeutic laser, also known as Photobiomodulation, is a therapy in which a light source is placed near or in contact with the skin, allowing the light energy, also known as photons, to penetrate tissue where it interacts with the body’s cells resulting in photophysical and photochemical changes that lead to alterations at the molecular, cellular and tissue levels of the body. Light induces a complex chain of physiological reactions in diseased and damaged tissues to accelerate wound healing and tissue regeneration, increase circulation, reduce chronic and acute inflammation, reduce acute and chronic pain and help restore normal cellular function.

Therapeutic laser can be used for conditions such as, pain, inflammation, soft tissue trauma, wound healing, bone healing, otitis, abscesses, bacterial/fungal infections, pyoderma, urinary tract disorders, arthritis, IVDD, neurological/orthopaedic disorders and many more. Whilst performing therapeutic laser for these conditions, it is imperative that optimal technique and energy levels are used to maximise the absorption into the targeted tissues.

Therapeutic exercises are a performed movement to improve, correct, restore and maintain function and strength. These exercises are specifically designed to meet all patient needs and abilities, starting with gentle massage and range of motion techniques, to high intensity balance and endurance exercises. Our most important tool in starting therapeutic exercises is our hands, it’s amazing what you can achieve without any equipment whatsoever. From there, it’s about getting fun and creative with your exercises, whilst still specifically targeting intended areas through movement.

A musculoskeletal exam is an exam specifically targeted to assessing the muscles, tendons, ligaments and bones of the musculoskeletal system. Each area of the body is thoroughly examined, with all information then being considered as a whole. This ensures that the whole body is evaluated, and that any secondary compensatory issues that may look more prominent at the time, are not mistaken as being the primary concern.

A musculoskeletal exam should be performed by a veterinarian with further knowledge and qualifications such as a Rehabilitation Therapist. Techniques such as gait and posture analysis, lured movements, weight shifting exercises and manual palpation, should be used within an exam.

The changes to tissues structures, reduction in range of motion and pain responses shown by our patients, can lead use to the diagnosis of injuries and degenerative conditions such as Medial Shoulder Instability, Iliopsoas Strains/Tears, partial Cruciate tears, Hip Dysplasia, early stage IVDD and Elbow Dysplasia and many more.