Visit Our New Veterinary Rehabilitation Program
in Frederick County, MD
Consistent winner of Frederick's Best Vet, 2007-2022!
Buckeystown Veterinary Hospital is pleased to offer our newest service: the Veterinary Rehabilitation Program.
Is there a more beautiful sight than a senior pet running and playing or a working dog in prime condition? A happy, agile, and pain-free pet brings joy to all of us—the hope of such an outcome for arthritic, injured, or elderly pets is one we are now able to extend to clients.
The Buckeystown Veterinary Rehabilitation Program has this goal: improving health, comfort, and quality of life for our patients. Rehabilitation modalities available in our modern new facility include:
- Underwater treadmill
- Therapeutic laser
- Therapeutic ultrasound
- Electrical stimulation (NMES, TENS, and so on)
- Manual therapies
- Therapeutic exercise
- Customized home exercise programs
We are pleased to offer the new class IV therapeutic laser to our rehab patients. The therapeutic laser is used to provide pets with faster recovery times and enhanced clinical outcomes for pain relief, age-related diseases, rehabilitation, chronic disorders, and more. Read more about the uses of this therapeutic laser—visit the Companion Therapy Laser website.
Aside from addressing mobility issues associated with degenerative diseases such as arthritis, a strong rehabilitation program benefits a variety of patients. Here are some vital areas of care:
Post-Surgical Rehab—Improves and expedites return to full function, while custom home exercise programs complement in-hospital rehab treatments
Pre-Surgical Rehab—Improves surgical outcomes by addressing weight loss and muscle imbalances prior to surgery
Neurologic Rehab—Regaining function after trauma or surgery of the brain and spinal cord
Performance & Working Dogs—Optimizes and maintains condition and expedites return to competition or work following injury
Weight Loss & Conditioning—Underwater treadmill workouts maximize muscle use, burn calories, and minimize impact on a dog’s joints
In the same way that physical therapy benefits human patients, our animal companions recover more quickly from surgery or injury, improve in agility and mobility, and experience less pain with a comprehensive rehabilitation program. In many cases, a solid rehab plan can delay or prevent more drastic measures, such as surgery or even euthanasia of an animal companion.
Don’t write off your pet as too crippled, beyond help, or just getting old—Contact Us to see if your pet could benefit from our Veterinary Rehabilitation Program.
Acupuncture
When appropriate, acupuncture will be recommended as a component of your pet's rehabilitative plan. By inserting thin, flexible needles into specific locations on the body, acupuncture modulates the nervous system and stimulates release of the body's own pain-relieving compounds. Acupuncture also increases circulation, relieves muscle tension, and improves immune function. Treatment can often be scheduled to occur during your regular rehab appointments. Contact Us for more information or to ask if acupuncture could be useful for your animal's diagnosis.
Read this article about the specialty of Veterinary Rehabilitation from the Journal of American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA).
Check out this short video discussing the benefits of pet rehabilitation
Veterinary Rehabilitation appointments are available:
Mondays – Fridays: morning, afternoon, and evening hours
Saturdays: mornings only
Please Note:
Rehab Services are by referral and a medical diagnosis is required. We request that your vet or specialist send pertinent information for your first rehab visit. Proof of rabies vaccination required.
Meet Our Veterinary Rehabilitation Staff
Karen K. Miller, DVM
Dr. Miller is the owner and driving force behind the introduction of rehabilitation therapy at Buckeystown Veterinary Hospital.
Heather Holtzman, RVT, CCRP
Heather is a registered veterinary technician in Maryland and recently completed her CCRP certification.
Deanna Ridgely, RVT, CCRP
Deanna is a registered veterinary technician and has recently completed her CCRP certification. Deanna has been a registered technician for 19 years and employed with Buckeystown Veterinary Hospital since 2000.
