About the Book
Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation for Animals: A Guide for the Consumer is the essential guide to help pet owners navigate the veterinary physical therapy and rehabilitation field throughout the animal's lifespan. It will assist you in: how to find a qualified therapist, what to expect on the initial visit, explaining the process of goal setting and treatment intervention plans. It offers descriptions of physical modalities, therapeutic exercises, and a wide variety of conditions affecting the pet in the areas of orthopedics, neurology, oncology, metabolic illness, and congenital deformities. This book also addresses interesting topics such as aging pets/geriatrics, arthritis, injury prevention, stem cell procedures, reiki, braces and splints, wheeled carts and artificial limbs. Included are numerous patient case studies and anecdotal stories covering over five animal species.
Review
A body in motion tends to stay in motion, according to Isaac Newton. And that is the basic philosophy behind physical therapy and rehabilitation in humans and animals. In Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation for Animals, Susan Davis describes physical therapy as the science of applying physics and biomechanics to patients with injury, illness, loss of function, physical abnormality, and other impairments. With humans and animals, trained physical therapists combine their knowledge of anatomy with kinesiology and physiology to treat patients.
Choosing to focus mainly on canines, Davis describes, in great detail, the many reasons why and how physical therapy may work to aid the healing process. Listing injuries and conditions from cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) tearing/rupturing to hip dysplasia to stroke and seizure, she explains proper exercises that will aid in recovery, thus allowing the dog to live on, happy and healthy.
Drawing on over 30 years’ experience in physical therapy and using real life examples, this book explains the need for and benefits of physical therapy and rehabilitation. While many of the conditions described might sound completely foreign to the average person, Davis provides very understandable solutions. This book is easy to read and interesting to say the least.
Fifty years ago, when physical therapy was just beginning to blossom as a common practice, people would have looked at Davis like she was crazy, but now, after reading this book, it seems like everyone should be aware that this is an option (and a rather good one) for animals recovering from anything from neurological conditions to arthritis. Using a plethora of techniques including, but not limited to, laser treatment, shock therapy, and massage, Davis has undoubtedly helped hundreds of dogs in her career.
Interesting....
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