Canine Physical Rehabilitation at The Sams Clinic

Our canine conditioning and post-operative rehabilitation program is unique and exceptionally successful because our orthopaedic surgeon, Dr. Sams, and our rehabilitation specialist, Sarah Johnson, designed the program together and continually update the protocols and patient care, in many instances, tailoring the programs to patients with specific needs. The goal of the clinic's rehab program is to educate our clients while improving our patients' quality of life—decreasing their pain and safely returning them to full function.

Please note that before beginning rehabilitation therapy at The Sams Clinic, all geriatric, unhealthy, injured and post-operative dogs must be evaluated by Dr. Sams or Dr. Klopp. Any patient in a canine rehabilitation program is required by law to be evaluated by a doctor at that clinic. Any patient referred another veterinarian must be evaluated by Dr. Sams or Dr. Klopp.

Indications for Canine Physical Rehabilitation

• Post-operative care
• Muscle or joint injury
• Arthritis
• Pain management
• Weight loss
• Geriatric

  General Benefits of Canine Physical Rehabilitation

• Improves recovery from injury or surgery
• Decreases pain
• Speeds the healing processes
• Improves balance, body awareness and coordination
• Improves functional muscle strength, endurance, mass and range of motion
• Minimizes muscle atrophy
• Improves biomechanics of movement
• Increases performance in daily functions or sport
• Educates clients and provides a home program
• Has a positive psychological effect on both pets and clients

  Exercise & Fitness Programs

  Core Strengthening and Conditioning Exercises Rehabilitation specialist Sarah Johnson has designed many unique exercises for dogs using various types of balls, balance boards/cushions/boxes, ladders, cones, tunnels, scooters, doggy leg weights and other props. The ground treadmill is also used to increase muscle strength and endurance along with aerobic capacity. It's also useful for weight reduction. You're invited to participate in your dog's therapy and learn a home program, or you may leave him or her with us.

  Benefits of Core Strengthening and Conditioning Exercises

• Makes exercise fun—dogs love it!
• Challenges dogs by making them think
• Prevents boredom due to activity restriction
• Builds confidence
• Helps overcome fears of movement and sounds
• Improves dog manners: sit, stay, down etc.
• Improves balance, body awareness, co-ordination and proprioception [the ability to sense the position and movement of the body]
• Improves functional muscle strength, endurance, mass and range of motion
• Increases performance in daily functions or sports