Dog rehab is a helpful and effective tool that aids the post-surgical recovery process so your pet can return to his or her regularly scheduled life. While we believe animals are resilient and are able to recover quickly, sometimes they need a little help.
How Dog Rehab Can Speed Up Surgical Recovery
Dog rehabilitation combines various therapeutic exercises with other healing modalities to reduce inflammation, jumpstart healing, and decrease pain. Pet rehab significantly aids in the recovery process after an animal has had surgery. When we work with animals who have just had surgery, we work on strengthening muscles and improving the connection between the muscles, the nerves, the tissues, and the joints. Before you know it, rehabilitation will help your dog return to his or her former glory.
Types of Rehab that Can Help Dogs Recover Faster
We base each dog’s rehabilitation plan on their medical history and the kind of surgery they received. The following are some of the rehabilitation techniques you can expect for a post-surgical recovery:
Deep Tissue Laser
Our Class IV Deep Tissue Laser can penetrate all the way to the tissue without causing additional damage. When used after surgery, this laser helps reduce residual pain from the procedure, reduce inflammation, and speed up healing.
Therapeutic Massage
Using massage as a tool for surgical recovery can significantly benefit an animal because it does the following:
- Increases circulation
- Reduces swelling in the tissues
- Enhances range of motion for joints
- Reduces anxiety for the animal
- Helps remove toxins
- Releases endorphins to make them feel calmer
Acupuncture
Veterinary acupuncture is used to stimulate certain parts of the body to achieve particular responses. Placing needles in specific areas encourages the body to produce a healing response. Post-surgical acupuncture stimulates nerves, increases blood circulation, relaxes muscle spasms, and releases endorphins and cortisol to help pets feel better. It is entirely safe and pain-free for pets. Many even feel so relaxed during the treatment that they fall asleep.
Hydrotherapy
By using an underwater treadmill, we can help dogs regain strength after a surgical procedure. Hydrotherapy gives pets thermal benefits from warm water, which can help to get deeper muscle penetration. This leads to an increased range of motion for muscles and joints. It also puts almost no weight on joints to aid healing and provides just enough resistance to build muscles.
Electrical Stimulation
We use Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) to trigger muscle contractions that can help regain strength without utilizing the muscles. This is incredibly helpful after surgery, especially when we are trying to get pets back into condition to bear weight and start other forms of therapy.
At Union Lake Pet Services, we use evidence-based medicine and dog rehab techniques that help pets feel their best. Whether your dog is recovering from surgery or has suffered an injury, we have rehab techniques that can help. To learn more about dog rehabilitation and what it can do for your pet, please call (248) 363-5061.
How long does it take to train a dog? Training a dog is an essential aspect of pet ownership. It makes it safer for your dog to be in public and can strengthen the bond you already share. But how long is the training process? Keep reading to learn more about dog training and the time it takes to be done properly.
How Long Does It Take to Train a Dog?
The simple answer is that it depends, but we provide good guidelines. Many factors can affect how long a dog takes to learn what you are trying to teach. Some of these include:
- The dog’s age (younger dogs can usually learn quicker)
- The dog’s breed
- The kind of training you are trying to achieve
Here is a general breakdown of how long it takes to train a dog with different levels of expertise:
Basic Obedience Training
If you want your dog to know how to follow basic commands, you can expect to work on training for about 4-6 weeks. Basic obedience training can teach dogs to listen to (and understand) a list of commands, how to walk on a leash, and how to interact with people and other animals. Some of the commands taught in basic obedience training are:
- Sit
- Stay
- Drop it/leave it
- Come
House Training
House training is essential to creating a comfortable and habitable space for all pets and people in your home. House training takes 4-6 months on average, but other factors can affect this timeline. For example, small dogs with a lot of energy often need a little more time to become fully house-trained.
Advanced Behavioral Training
If you want your dog to master basic obedience and unlearn some undesirable behaviors (like jumping on people or excessive barking), you can expect it to take 3-6 months. We often recommend working with a professional trainer if you are trying to correct negative behaviors.
Service Dog Training
Service dogs are invaluable members of society who assist people with particular needs. Whether you are trying to train a service dog for yourself or someone else, the process will probably take 18-24 months.
Dog Training Factors
How long does it take to train a dog? Every dog is different. While we have averages that can give us an idea of how long we need to work with dogs to learn specific skills, each case might vary. It is essential to be consistent with your training schedule. Dogs learn better when they are regularly exposed to the new skill. The kind of training you choose might impact your timeline as well. Of course, your dog’s temperament and attention span will also affect how long it takes to train.
The professional dog trainers at Union Lake Pet Services are here to assist with your training needs. We use positive reinforcement methods to help your dog learn in a safe space where he or she feels respected. To learn more about our services or to get started training, please call (248) 363-6262.