Physical therapy in companion animals

Physical therapy is a known treatment method in human medicine; however despite the need for this technique in veterinary medicine, it has not found its place in Pets. The main goal of physical therapy is to improve the quality of a patient's life, re-establish the former abilities and prevention from orthopedic disorders. Physical therapy has benefits such as reducing pain and inflammation in osteoarthropathies and post surgery, prevent or minimize muscular atrophy in paralysis or paresis. Physical therapy includes a variety of techniques such as Thermotherapy, Massage therapy, Kinesiotherapy, Electrostimulation, Laser therapy, Hydrotherapy, and can be extremely useful when treating a wide range of conditions, especially orthopedic and neurological diseases. In addition, it can be effective on life quality of geriatric animals. Analgesia, reducing pain, ossification, improving of vascular circulation and muscular relaxation are produced by these methods. The clinician should be aware of the indications, contraindications and limitations of each technique. A combination of physical therapies can be very successful and can be used with surgical and/or medical treatments. Acupuncture can achieve much faster and more effective pain control than through physical therapy alone; combining the two techniques is often very beneficial, but note that laser therapy can interfere with acupuncture if applied at the same site, reducing its effect. Alternating treatment days is recommended.