While physical therapy for humans has been around for many years, animal rehabilitation therapy is a relatively new field within veterinary medicine.To ensure that your pet receives the highest quality of care and the best outcome for his or her condition, ask the following questions when deciding where to rehabilitate your pet... Is the rehabilitation site a veterinary hospital? While you may not realize it with the abundance of natural light, warm timber beam ceilings, the aroma of lavender and a feeling of tranquility, Integrative Pet Care is a licensed veterinary hospital.We focus exclusively on rehabilitation and holistic veterinary services. Our hospital was specifically designed to cater to our clients in need of rehabilitation with specialized equipment, flooring, ambiance and team members.Our veterinarians have over 45 years of combined experience in veterinary medicine and more than 15 years in veterinary rehabilitation.All therapies and exercise activities are prescribed and directed by our veterinarians - this oversight is critical in achieving optimal outcomes and preventing additional injury.
Are veterinarians on-site to supervise the care and treatment your pet receives? In addition to creating rehabilitation treatment plans for patients, Integrative Pet Care veterinarians provide certified veterinary acupuncture and chiropractic services as well as weight loss, nutrition and holistic healing consultations.So they are available to check in on the pet's progress and make on-the-spot adjustments or intervene in the event of an emergency.You may come across boarding facilities and doggie day care centers that have installed a pool or even underwater treadmills and are marketing themselves as places for physical therapy.Be sure to ask them who is there every day to supervise and be responsible for your pet's care.The answer should be a licensed veterinarian with experience in animal rehabilitation.
What kind of training and background does the animal rehabilitation therapy staff have? In addition to our experienced veterinarians, Integrative Pet Care also has two practitioners with a background in physical therapy (BSPT & DPT) that work with our patients and advise on all rehabilitation cases.Our animal rehabilitation therapists (ARTs) complete a rigorous initial training period and are evaluated and tested before performing therapies.Our rehabilitation staff also attends weekly training sessions to discuss and study the latest in animal rehabilitation.Off site certification programs with the University of Tennessee in Cooperation with Northeast Seminars and the Canine Rehabilitation Institute are a part of every one of our ARTs' education. Read more about our staff's training and qualifications here. How is the rehabilitation site regarded within the veterinary community? As one of the few stand alone veterinary rehabilitation centers in the country, Integrative Pet Care has gained a favorable reputation for our service and focus.Our veterinarians have lectured to other veterinarians at university educational seminars on rehabilitation.The American College of Veterinary Surgeons selected Integrative Pet Care as an educational lab site for their international fall symposium in 2007.The University of Tennessee, College of Veterinary Medicine has named Integrative Pet Care one of only six pre-approved externship sites in the country for its canine rehabilitation certification program and we are an approved site for the Canine Rehabilitation Institute externships as well. We regularly receive referrals for rehabilitation from the top surgeons and the best veterinarians in the Chicagoland area.
Click here to read a good article, by Dr. Narda Robinson, outlining the reasons for close veterinary oversight in an animal rehabilitation facility
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