Frequently Asked Questions

The therapies and approaches we use are safe and approved for animals. They also are administered by certified rehab veterinarians or practitioners and trained staff. Our practitioners will assess your pet and develop a custom plan based on his/her needs and your goals. Certain modalities and exercises may leave your pet sore after his/her appointment, but it is the equivalent of what you may feel after a hard work out. If your pet has been prescribed pain medications, please make sure to give these medications as directed/prior to your session.

This is dependent on the type of surgery and concurrent conditions your pet may have. Generally, the recovery process spans eight to 12 weeks for most procedures for a healthy pet. When you meet with your practitioner for your initial visit, he/she will assess your pet and propose a plan and timeline for recovery.

Rehabilitation is a multi-faceted process that requires constant contact and assessment — that’s why it’s important that we see your pet regularly (we recommend at least once per week). Our practitioners develop a customized program that is tailored to your pet’s specific needs and condition. We assess pain, weight bearing on individual limbs, muscle mass measurements, and more.

In most cases, we recommend rehabilitation one to two times a week. However, this can be adjusted to fit your pet’s needs as well as your schedule and budget.

The cost of your initial rehabilitation consult is incorporated into most VSC surgical packages. Any sessions after the initial will incur additional cost. We recommend that you book your rehabilitation appointment the same day your pet is discharged from surgery, as the schedules book up far in advance.

During your pet’s appointment, the practitioner and/or trained assistants will hold your pet and perform all of the recommended exercises and treatments. You may observe your pet or wait for him or her in the lobby. Most pets do better without mom and dad in the room as an added distraction.

A CCRT or CCRP is a veterinarian or a licensed veterinary technician who has completed additional course work and training in canine physical rehabilitation and also completed his/her certification exam. In the best interest of our clients, we believe rehabilitation is more successful when administered by a CCRP veterinarian or practitioner, who is specialized in the field. Several of our practitioners also are certified in acupuncture, pain management, and more.

Meet our practitioners, and learn more about the rehab services we offer.

ArthramidVet® is a synthetic, hydrophilic sterile gel product that is injected directly into joints. This type of product has been used in both horses and dogs for the management of osteoarthritis.

Upon injection into joints, ArthramidVet®, a uniquely cross-linked polyacrylamide hydrogel, adheres to the synovial lining through its ability to exchange water molecules. Over a period of 14 days, the gel becomes integrated into the synovial lining and its immediate surrounding tissue of the inner capsule by a combination of cell migration and vessel ingrowth forming a thick, cushion-like membrane consisting of vessel integrated gel covered by a new and hypercellular synovial cell lining.

ArthramidVet® is marketed for use in the treatment of osteoarthritis. Typically, any arthritic joint can be injected.

We start with 1 treatment & see how well things heal. Sometimes repeat treatment may be needed depending on the severity of the osteoarthritis in the joint and your patient’s response. Typically, it is recommended to wait 6 weeks between repeat injections to see maximal results.

This depends on the exact diagnosis & extent of degeneration. ArthramidVet® takes up to 2 full weeks to encapsulate in the joint capsule, but it can take up to a full 6 weeks to see maximal results for your pet.

Diagnostic Imaging (i.e. radiographs, musculoskeletal ultrasound, CT, or MRI) is sometimes performed to ensure ArthramidVet® is the correct treatment.

The patient is put under light sedation for the duration of the procedure.

Your pet will be dropped off in the morning and discharged later that afternoon.

Depending on the specific joint being treated, ultrasound guided injections are sometimes performed to ensure the extent of the injury is treated.

Like any injection, this procedure may involve some minor discomfort afterwards typically only lasting up to 72 hours post procedure. Following the procedure, your veterinarian will prescribe appropriate medications for pain.

For the first 48 hours following injection, your pet should be rested. This is best done in a crate or small room with outside bathroom breaks for 5 minutes, 2 to 4 times per day. The activity for the first 4 weeks following the injection should be limited to leashed walks 2 to 4 times daily for between 5 and 10 minutes to start. Each week, the total time during each walk can be increased by 3-5 minutes as long as your pet tolerates it. After 4 weeks, your pet can gradually return to his/her normal activity. The progression can be discussed with your veterinarian based on your pet's progress and response to treatment. In most cases, your veterinarian may recommend rehabilitation to optimize the procedure’s outcome. Following the procedure, shockwave therapy is recommended for 6 weeks post injection. We do not recommend the use of any form of corticosteroid medications such as Prednisone, Methylprednisone (Depo-Medrol), or Triamcinolone (Ketalog/Vetalog) for 2 weeks after the injection.

Some insurance companies still consider ArthramidVet® too new of a treatment to be covered. However, some insurance companies are recognizing the value of ArthramidVet® treatments and are providing owners with reimbursement. Please check with your insurance provider to see if this will be covered. We are happy to provide any necessary documentation for them.

There are a variety of measures that can be used to measure progress. While pain improvement may be a part of the goal, it is not often an objective way to measure progress. Initially, strength and stability followed by an improvement in function are most common. Improved functional movement and tissue healing then hopefully lead to a significant reduction in pain. We typically like to recheck your pet about 3 weeks post-injection to monitor their response, at which point a formal rehabilitation program may be recommended to maximize the effects of the injections.