Using Rehabilitation Therapies for Pain Management

Rehabilitation therapies are great nonpharmaceutical methods for pain management in pets. David Dycus, DVM, MS, CCRP, DACVS, orthopedic staff surgeon at Veterinary Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Group in Annapolis, Maryland, says rehabilitation can even sometimes help lower the dosage or frequency of some of the pharmaceuticals that may be prescribed.

The biggest thing where rehabilitation can help with pain control is when it comes to losing body weight, Dr. Dycus continues. There are a number of avenues veterinarians can utilize for painful patients, such as stretching, electrical stimulation, laser therapy, and therapeutic ultrasound.