June Rehab Blog
By: Dr. Robert Temple
Published June 1, 2024
An Introduction to the Rehab Blog
Hello Veterinary professionals, pet parents, and all others who have found their way here. The Companion Animal Rehabilitation team here at Vet Partners in Plymouth is happy to share that we will be starting a monthly blog in which we discuss common issues that warrant canine and feline rehab, treatment modalities, management techniques, and highlight our “patient of the month”. This first post will be aimed at introducing you to our team, what we offer, and how our rehab referral process typically works.
Meet Our Resident Rehabilitation Team Experts
My name is Robert Temple, an Associate Veterinarian with Vet Partners. I graduated from veterinary school from Colorado State University in 2021 where I developed an interest for canine sports medicine and rehabilitation. I am a Certified Companion Animal Therapist (CCAT) and love any opportunity to help dogs and cats regain mobility and comfort through rehab. In addition to rehab evaluations and therapeutic modalities, I have been trained in performing the Modified Maquet Procedure (MMP) to correct stifle instability secondary to cruciate ligament ruptures. Our goal is to be able to provide everything your pet needs under one roof.
Holly Johnson is our dedicated rehab technician! She is an experienced Certified Veterinary Technician, who is also a Certified Companion Animal Therapist (CCAT). She tirelessly spends her days performing hands-on therapies and executing our rehab treatment plans. Holly has a soft spot for our geriatric patients, putting an emphasis on the importance of optimizing and maintaining the quality of life of our patients and their people.
Rehabilitation Services Vet Partners Plymouth Provides
As we said before, our goal is to offer all things rehab under one roof. This often starts with our evaluation – during this exam we will assess the patient’s stance and mobility as they walk around the exam room, perform a hands-on orthopedic and neurologic exam, obtain measurements of joint range of motion as well as forelimb/hindlimb musculature, and locate sources of pain. Based on our findings in this evaluation we may recommend one of our many rehab modalities:
Hydrotherapy: The goal with hydrotherapy is to encourage appropriate ambulation in an environment that adds resistance and decreases strain on weight bearing muscles, joints, or healing bones. This is very beneficial in pre/post-op patients to prevent disuse atrophy and help support the other healthy limbs.
Shockwave Therapy: PulseVet technology uses high-energy sound waves generated by a sparkplug within fluid, which then transfers into the tissues of the body to stimulate and speed the body’s own healing process. These shockwaves release higher energy and result in deeper penetration than an ultrasound or laser. The high-energy sound waves help stimulate cells and release healing growth factors in the body that reduce inflammation and swelling, increase blood flow, and encourage rapid tissues healing.
Class IV Therapeutic Laser: Photobiomodulation therapy is achieved by administering a dose of light energy to tissue, resulting in decreased pain and inflammation, and accelerating healing times. Laser therapy can be utilized in acute and chronic conditions as well as for pre/post-surgical adjunctive therapy.
Platelet Rich Plasma: PRP is a form of regenerative medicine that has been proposed to treat inflammatory conditions that affect joints, ligaments, muscles, and tendons, such as osteoarthritis. It may also help with bone regeneration after a fracture.
MMP Surgical Cruciate Repair: The MMP, similar to the TPLO, works by redirecting the force generated by the large quadriceps muscles to compensate for the failed cruciate ligament. This is achieved by cutting, and moving forward, the part of the tibia (the tibial tuberosity) attached to the quadriceps muscle. The bone cut is called an osteotomy and the osteotomy is stabilized using a modern orthopedic implant material called an Orthofoam wedge. The porous titanium Orthofoam promotes remarkably rapid bone ingrowth and healing and this is key to the reduced convalescence and minimal pain seen with MMP surgery. This procedure is reserved for dogs that fit specific criteria for size and temperament, and the decision to perform this procedure over a TPLO is made by our staff following radiographic evaluation.
Hydrotherapy: The goal with hydrotherapy is to encourage appropriate ambulation in an environment that adds resistance and decreases strain on weight bearing muscles, joints, or healing bones. This is very beneficial in pre/post-op patients to prevent disuse atrophy and help support the other healthy limbs.
Shockwave Therapy: PulseVet technology uses high-energy sound waves generated by a sparkplug within fluid, which then transfers into the tissues of the body to stimulate and speed the body’s own healing process. These shockwaves release higher energy and result in deeper penetration than an ultrasound or laser. The high-energy sound waves help stimulate cells and release healing growth factors in the body that reduce inflammation and swelling, increase blood flow, and encourage rapid tissues healing.
Class IV Therapeutic Laser: Photobiomodulation therapy is achieved by administering a dose of light energy to tissue, resulting in decreased pain and inflammation, and accelerating healing times. Laser therapy can be utilized in acute and chronic conditions as well as for pre/post-surgical adjunctive therapy.
Platelet Rich Plasma: PRP is a form of regenerative medicine that has been proposed to treat inflammatory conditions that affect joints, ligaments, muscles, and tendons, such as osteoarthritis. It may also help with bone regeneration after a fracture.
MMP Surgical Cruciate Repair: The MMP, similar to the TPLO, works by redirecting the force generated by the large quadriceps muscles to compensate for the failed cruciate ligament. This is achieved by cutting, and moving forward, the part of the tibia (the tibial tuberosity) attached to the quadriceps muscle. The bone cut is called an osteotomy and the osteotomy is stabilized using a modern orthopedic implant material called an Orthofoam wedge. The porous titanium Orthofoam promotes remarkably rapid bone ingrowth and healing and this is key to the reduced convalescence and minimal pain seen with MMP surgery. This procedure is reserved for dogs that fit specific criteria for size and temperament, and the decision to perform this procedure over a TPLO is made by our staff following radiographic evaluation.
The Referral Process
If you are a veterinary professional looking to refer a patient to us for treatment, the process is quite simple. The referral form, along with the services we provide can be found on our website, or by following this link: https://myvetpartners.com/referral-form/. After completing the form, our technician Holly will reach out to the owner with the next steps and scheduling. After the appointment, you will receive a follow-up email with our findings and a copy of the evaluation form completed during the visit.
If you are a pet parent that is not a current client of ours, please reach out to your primary veterinarian to have them complete the above form and we will follow up as indicated.
Finally, if you are a pet parent that IS a current client of ours, please feel free to give us a call at (763) 337-4433, or send an email to [email protected]. We will coordinate next steps with you directly!
Finally, if you are a pet parent that IS a current client of ours, please feel free to give us a call at (763) 337-4433, or send an email to [email protected]. We will coordinate next steps with you directly!
June Pet of the Month
Our first patient of the month is Zoe Johnson! Zoe is a 12 year old Golden Retriever owned by our very own Holly. Zoe was our very first rehab patient! She was the guinea pig for much of our CCAT studying and technical practice. She continues to utilize our hydrotherapy treadmill and therapeutic laser every week to help keep her young and full of energy for long hikes with her mom. We love you Zoe!
