I just spent some time at the Vet Hospital with Dr. Hady in the physical therapy department. I am always amazed at the things that these doctors do with animals and the similarities between human PT and animal PT. There are multiple similarities, some of which include ball balance, balance board, and electrical stimulation. Mostly used in dogs with leg problems, the electrical stimulation are simply two pads attached to wires that, when emitting electrical currents, will stimulate the muscle to extend and contract. This works the muscle in the inner thigh and can also help with stimulation of the lateral and medial quads and knee extensors.

The balance ball and balance board are used for core strengthening as well as overall balance. This is important because, when dogs lose most of the movement in the back legs, they have to make up for the missing parts and support with their core. Placing the animal on top of a large therapy ball, they can rock the dog side to side or back and forth to help the body adjust to the changes in balance. Having the dog stand on the balance board does something similar, but works mostly on the legs and their ability to adjust to stay erect.

Underwater treadmills and land treadmills work very similarly to the way people use them in the sense of strengthening of legs. However, the doctors must know how to match the gait of the dog because, unlike people, dogs have four legs and at different speeds, the legs mirror each other in different forms. When walking, the dog moves in a lateral motion, with the front and back legs of the same side moving in sync. But when the dog moves into a trot, it moves to vertical motion where the front leg and back leg on opposite sides move together.

The tunnel is another tool the PTs use to work on extension and contraction, as well as strengthening of both the back and front legs. As the dog moves to go through the tunnel, it must crouch down and use the thighs, the gluteus, and chest to support the body as it crawls through to the other side. The tunnels used are simply child play tunnels, but must be mesh so the animal does not feel threatened in the enclosed space.

In dogs with severe hind leg injuries, a doggy wheelchair, called a dog cart, is used to support the back end. As shown in the picture at top left, it consists of a metal frame and one large supporting wheel on each side. Straps run from the front side the the other to support the neck, while more straps run across the middle and back to support the chest and groin area. Although very useful for long walks, dogs cannot tolerate these carts for extended periods of time and it is recommend of only place them in the carts for 10-20 minutes intervals.