The Gold Standard in Physiotherapy and Hydrotherapy for dogs
When your dog undergoes surgery, the road to recovery can feel long and challenging—for both you and your pet. Whether it’s orthopaedic surgery, spinal surgery, or soft tissue repair, physiotherapy can be a crucial part of your dog’s healing process, helping them regain strength, mobility, and their joyful, active life. At The Canine Fitness Centre, we specialise in post-surgical rehabilitation tailored to your dog’s unique needs.
After surgery, your dog may experience pain, stiffness, and muscle weakness that can limit their mobility and overall quality of life. Veterinary physiotherapy is designed to address these challenges, speeding up the healing process and improving function while minimising discomfort. Here’s how it helps:
Our approach is personalised to your dog’s specific surgery and recovery stage. At The Canine Fitness Centre, we begin with a comprehensive assessment to create a tailored plan that targets key areas for improvement.
Initial Assessment
Your dog’s recovery journey starts with a detailed assessment of their surgical site, range of motion, pain levels, and overall health. This allows us to create a rehabilitation plan that suits their unique condition.
Treatment Techniques
If your dog has recently undergone surgery, physiotherapy might be the key to a smoother recovery. Look out for these common post-surgery challenges that physiotherapy can help address:
We have been looking after Paddy since 5 months of age in both the post-operative stage, and then from 11 months old after Surgery with our friends at The Moores Orthopaedic Clinic). His right radius grew abnormally resulting in a pretty dramatic deformity. With the help of 3D-printed surgical cutting and reduction guides Moores Ortho were able to correct the deformity. Our job has been to help build muscle, maintain muscle and re-educate how he walks so that he can get back to full action. Paddy is now living his best life.
It depends on the type of surgery, but in many cases, gentle physiotherapy can begin within days of surgery to prevent stiffness and promote healing. Always consult with your veterinarian before starting a programme or contact us directly to discuss your dog’s case.
Recovery times vary depending on the surgery and the individual dog, but most physiotherapy programs last between 4 to 12 weeks. Our team will provide a more accurate timeline after an initial assessment.
No, veterinary physiotherapy is designed to be gentle and supportive. We use techniques that promote comfort and minimise pain, ensuring your dog feels at ease during each session.
The goal of pre-surgical rehabilitation or “prehab” is to improve function capacity (aerobic condition, strength, ROM, etc.) before a surgical procedure which leads to more rapid postoperative recovery compared with patients who remain physically inactive through the preoperative period.
Patients who are in good shape going into surgery tend to have less surgical complications and faster recovery rates. In human trials there is evidence that patients undertaking prehab support recovered after surgery up to x2 faster.