Types of Services available:

Prehab

Underwater Treadmill

Cryotherapy/Heat Therapy

Low level Laser

Ultrasound

Electrical Stimulation

Pulsed Electrical Therapy

Exercises

Massage

Acupressure

Reiki

Recreational Swims

Do it yourself grooming for disabled dogs

Wheelchair Fittings

Prehab

Animals preparing to undergo surgery, can often benefit from "prehabilitation", or the use of techniques to help reduce pain and assist in muscle strengthening before undergoing surgery. In addition to the pain relief provided for the animal, prehab can also decrease atrophy and help with compensations that occur from a limb that is injured.  For example, utilizing the underwater treadmill ensures limited muscle loss during injury in a semi weightless environment so as not to further injury to the animal.  Rehab also helps to decrease recovery time of various surgeries such as Cranial Cruciate Ligament repairs and Hip surguries.

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Under Water Treadmill

This modality relies on the principles of buoyancy, hydrostatic pressure, surface tension, viscosity, and resistance to achieve therapeutic benefits. These principles have the following implications in recovery of various types of injuries:

• Water pressure can reduce swelling and edema.
• The limbs bear less body weight in water, which reduces the load on painful joints to allow more comfortable exercise.
• Water resistance is useful for muscle strengthening and cardiovascular training. The buoyant effects of water enable many patients to perform exercises in water that they cannot do on land.
• Exercising in water is effective for improving strength, muscular endurance, cardiorespiratory endurance, range of motion, agility, and psychological well-being, while minimizing pain. It is also an excellent form of exercise for weight loss.
  

Many conditions benefit from hydrotherapy, especially those disorders in which an animal is reluctant to use a limb or there is a lack of strength, range of motion, proprioceptive ability (the ability to know where the feet are placed), or weight-bearing status. An animal that will not use a limb on land will frequently use it in the water.
The underwater treadmill at Canine Wellness Centre has variable control over speed, resistance, and depth, which allows for a tailored and progressive therapy plan for every patient, from Chihuahua to St. Bernard. The tank has jets which can be turned on or off, depending on the amount of resistance desired. Also, the treadmill lowers into the pool so that recovering clients can benefit from swimming where indicated.

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Cryo / Heat Therapy

Cryo and heat therapy is the use of cold and/or heat over an injured or healing area of the body. Following an injury there are two phases of inflammation:  1) phase 1 inflammation, the breakdown period, which usually lasts 48 - 72 hours;  and 2 ) phase 2 inflammation, the healing period.

Cryotherapy, the use of a moldable cool pack or a bag of cold peas:

• Decreases nerve conduction velocity (which decreases pain perception)
• Decreases the rate of cytokine release (which decreases inflammation)
• Causes vasoconstriction (decreased blood flow) followed by a rebound vasodilation (increased blood flow) 
• When used immediately after surgery or an injury, decreases bleeding at the surface and deep in the tissue.

Overall, cryotherapy is used to decrease pain and inflammation and speed healing. Cryotherapy is typically applied for 10 minutes, removed for 10 minutes, and then applied for 10 minutes for the first 72 hours post-surgery or injury (phase 1 inflammation).  

Heat therapy, the use of a moldable heat pack or warm, moist towels:

• Increases the collagen's (healing tissue) ability to stretch
• Increases blood flow
• Decreases pain 
• Increases enzyme activity (which speeds healing).
• Increases muscle contractility and stretching capability

Like cryotherapy, heat therapy is used to decrease pain and inflammation and speed healing.  The difference is that cryotherapy is used by itself during phase 1 inflammation, and heat therapy is typically used along with cryotherapy during phase 2 inflammation.  Heat therapy should be used no earlier than 72 hours post-surgery or injury.  When cryotherapy and heat therapy are applied together, they are typically done as follows:  cryotherapy for 10 minutes; heat therapy for 10 minutes; cryotherapy for 10 minutes.  This sequence is repeated up to 3 times daily.

Low-Level Laser Therapy

Low-level laser is a newer advance in rehabilitation.  Unlike high-powered surgical lasers that are used to cut through tissues, these 'cold' low level lasers are non invasive, there are no reported adverse effects when used properly.  LLL is used in rehabilitation to help accelerate healing at the cellular level allowing increased tissue repair and cell growth of structures such as skin, tendons, ligaments and muscles.  It also has a therapeutic effect in the management of chronic pain, as seen with dogs suffering from osteoarthritis.  There are also studies showing that there is improvement seen with peripheral nerve injuries when LLL is utilized.

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Therapeutic Ultra Sound

Therapeutic ultrasound is the use of sound waves which are passed through tissue creating certain physiological effects.  Though the handheld probe looks similar to a diagnostic ultrasound probe (ie the ones doctors use to see a fetus) this unit operates at a different frequency and does not receive information back like the diagnostic ultrasound.  The uses of therapeutic ultrasound include:

• Increasing circulation
• Increasing contractility of muscle fibers (to increase range of motion)
• Decreasing scar tissue 
• Decreasing pain and muscle spasm
• Decreasing inflammation
• Accelerating wound healing

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Electrical Stimulation

Tens:

Transcutaneous Electrical Neuromuscular Stimulation decreases pain by providing a low level electrical current which disrupts the normal pain perception pathways. TENS may be applied to acupuncture points as well.

Neuromuscular Stimulation :

Using a low level electrical current, neuromuscular electrical stimulation decreases swelling and allows muscle contraction and recruitment after orthopedic or neurological injury.

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Pulsed Electrical Magnetic Field Therapy

Pulsed Electrical Magnetic Field Therapy (PEMF) provides pain relief from common problems associated with hip dysplasia, arthritis, muscle, tendon or ligament injury, and old-age stiffness and soreness. PEMF can help your animal feel better, usually within 1-2 weeks. You will commonly see a difference in the way your dog gets up and around in the morning, with less stiffness, and more bounce to his step. You will notice your pet enjoys PEMF therapy, because they doze off as they are being treated. It is relaxing and pleasant. Many times, a dog or cat will place the injured, sore area right on the PEMF bed.

For background on the principles of PEMF, it is believed that there is an electrical field around each joint that plays an important part in the continual regeneration of cartilage and connective tissue. If osteoarthritis or inflammatory joint disorders are present, there is a disturbance in this electrical field.  PST allows reconstruction of the disturbed electrical field, which returns the natural regeneration capabilities and reactivates the cartilage and connective tissue to increase production of proteoglycans and collagen (the building blocks of cartilage) to aid in repairing the cartilage defects.  PST does this by pulsing an electro magnetic field  to the treatment area. 

We can  provide one week to one month rentals.

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Exercises

At Canine Wellness Centre, exercises are an integral part of each rehabilitation program we provide.  An exercise may be as simple as doing passive-range-of-motion (PROM) to improve or maintain a joint's flexibility, to specific exercises geared to retraining an animal to walk after full or partial paralysis. Exercises are devised specifically for each individual client, to improve the overall recovery from the specific injury.  Here are some general types of exercise that we perform at Canine Wellness Centre:

• Passive range of motion (PROM) exercises increase nutrition availability at the joint cartilage, stimulate new cartilage production, and is used to increase range of motion at the joint.
• Stretching exercises increase circulation and muscle flexibility.
• Proprioceptive exercises are exercises used to help the animal know where their feet are in space.
• Strengthening exercises (stairs, underwater treadmill, caveletti's, physio balls etc..) are used to strengthen individual muscles or muscle groups.
• Canine Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation flexibility exercises uses proprioceptive input to improve muscle flexibility and strength. Proprioceptors are sensory nerve-ending in muscles, tendons, and joints. They provide a sense of the body's position by responding to stimuli from within the body.
• Ambulation exercises are exercises used to reeducate a paretic animal (severe loss of function of  their limbs) how to walk. 

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Acupressure

Acupressure is the light pressure at specific points in the body to create a physiological change.  Acupressure has been used in human medicine for over 5,000 years, and in animals for over 3,000 years.  Current studies have demonstrated that these specific points have thinner skin, increased mast cells (which release histamine and other chemicals), blood vessels and nerve endings directly under the points, making them invaluable for overall wellbeing. Acupressure in rehabilitation is used to relieve pain and muscle spasms, and to increase nerve regeneration and circulation. 

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Massage

Massage has long been a component of human sports medicine and rehabilitative therapy, and it is gaining wide acceptance as a therapy for cats and dogs. Massage has many benefits: increases blood circulation

• improves oxygen delivery to tissues
• improves removal of metabolic waste products
• relieves pain by releasing endorphins (the body's natural pain killers)
• accelerates muscle recovery
• breaks down scar tissue
• promotes mental and physical relaxation

Massage may have immediate benefits to a patient, but it usually takes regular treatments to bring about significant improvements in a particular condition. It is often used in conjunction with other therapeutic modalities to enhance the effectiveness of those modalities.

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Reiki

Reiki is a Japanese holistic healing method that aids in stress reduction, deep relaxation, and promotes overall well being.  It’s based on the idea that the “universal life force energy” flows through the practitioner to the patient.  Reiki can never do harm and is always used for the highest good of the patient.  What is so remarkable about Reiki is that it will automatically go to where the animal needs it most be it spiritual, emotional or physical healing. Reiki will adjust itself for the one receiving it.  Animals live in the energy world, making them very sensitive to Reiki energy.  For animals who are healthy, Reiki helps to maintain their health, enhance relaxation and provides an emotional sense of peace and contentment.  For animals that are injured, Reiki is a wonderful healing method as well as a safe compliment to Western Medicine, Chinese Medicine and homeopathy. 

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Recreational Swims

Whether you are looking for conditioning during the winter months, or a fun and safe  place to swim your dog, we at Canine Wellness Centre can assist you.  We have many clients who enjoy the benefits of swimming for their four legged friends.  Session lengths are from 15 minutes to 30  minutes depending on your dogs fitness level.  Stand pool side and enjoy watching rover fetch his favourite toy.... On Sundays we also have "open" swims from 11am - 1pm where you can drop in without an appointment and let your dog swim for 15 minutes while you chat and drink your morning coffee while comparing doggie stories with fellow dog friendly people.

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Do-it-yourself Grooming

Due to the nature of our centre, we have found an increasing number of clients who require special assistance for their recovering or paralyzed pet.  We now have a 3' x 5' basin with a ramp and special arms that can support your dog while washing.  If your dog uses a wheelchair, the dog can easily walk into the basin with their cart, and get washed comfortably and effortesly.  We also provide towels, shampoo, and grooming style blowers to dry your dog afterwards.  All you have to do is dry and go, leave the mess to us.

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Wheelchair fittings

Canine Wellness Centre provides custom fittings for Eddies Wheels dog carts.  These wheelchairs are by far the best on the market and can help with dog's who have lost mobility due to disc disease, or orthopedic injury.  Eddies wheels carts are designed to allow dogs to explore the woods, wade in the river, and play with other dogs, and we have learned that most dogs enjoy their life with wheels.

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