There are many responsible pet owners out there that know getting professional expertise is a must in order to provide the best quality of life for their four-legged friend. However, canine rehabilitation is still a growing field, which can make it difficult for, even the most experienced pet owner to find quality animal rehabilitation. Fortunately, it does not have to be very difficult; you just need to know what to look for.

Working with a veterinarian or physical therapist with a certification in canine rehabilitation therapy will ensure that your pet receives rehabilitative care from a professional with the proper training. Simply look for these credentials after their name: CCRT (canine rehabilitation therapist), CCRP (certified canine rehabilitation practitioner) or diploma of Canine Rehabilitation.  An individual with one of these certifications has received formal training in canine anatomy and physiology, canine behavior and handling, common conditions and injuries, physical therapy assessment techniques, manual therapy, physical modalities (e.g., ultrasound, laser, TENS/NMES), therapeutic exercise, neurological rehab, and more. In particular, physical therapists are regarded as rehabilitation experts given their four or more years of schooling on the subject—before any kind of training with canines has begun. Physical therapists have the letters BScPT, MScPT or MPT behind their names.

Unfortunately, there are a lot of clinics out there that buy equipment, such as  a laser or  underwater treadmill and then claim to offer rehabilitative services without employing a professional certified in canine rehabilitation. A responsible and effective rehabilitation program goes well beyond any one piece of equipment.  Canine rehab is an involved process that requires extensive knowledge about body systems, tissue healing times, health conditions, joint anatomy, and much, much more.

Of course, equipment does have it’s place in effective rehabilitation when used appropriately, as part of treatment plan. However, no piece of equipment should ever be used as a stand alone treatment and more should be done if an animal is to receive top-quality care.  A professional trained in canine rehabilitation will be able to provide just that.