Clean Run Magazine - August 2007 - 25

costs and services Since rehabilitation is a laborintensive process involving specifically trained and educated individuals, the cost can be high. But if you’ve already invested in veterinary expertise and perhaps even surgery, you’ll want to give your dog the best possible opportunity for full recovery. Costs for the initial exam vary according to the facility and the diagnostic tools used. After the initial exam, the facility should then design a treatment program and give you an estimate of costs per visit or per hour; yet, “Total costs are difficult to estimate because every dog, like every human, rehabs at his own pace,” says Stahr. Rehab centers should provide clients with home exercise routines and demonstrate how to do range-of-motion exercises, for example. Some clinics also make portable equipment available for home use. Caroline Adamson Adrian of VCA-Alameda East believes that educating clients in home exercise is one of the most important aspects of her job. She provides detailed handouts to show owners how to perform therapeutic manipulations and exercises with their dogs. If you are unable to provide therapy at home or must travel often to a rehab facility, you may need boarding services. This will certainly increase your costs, but it may be the only practical choice for the prescribed treatments. As Deborah Gross Saunders notes, “You could easily spend thousands on rehabilitation, especially if boarding is essential.” If you have pet health insurance for your dog, you may be able to receive reimbursement for some rehabilitation treatments. VPI Pet Insurance offers some benefits if the condition requiring rehabilitation is covered initially. But policies vary, so you may want to check availability of benefits for injuries most likely to occur in performance dogs before purchasing a particular policy from a specific insurer. COURTESY VCA-AEVH planning a visit It’s a good idea to visit a nearby rehabilitation center even before your dog may need its services. Some rehab centers offer conditioning programs which don’t require any specific injury but focus on your dog’s need to lose weight or get into better shape. Visitors interested in conditioning and rehabilitation will be welcomed by the professional staff as prospective clients. During the visit, you’ll be able to talk with the staff and learn about their certification and experience. Ask to see dogs using different modalities, and you’ll learn how the staff interacts with them and judge the comfort level of the dogs receiving therapy. This is also a good opportunity to assess the overall cleanliness of the facility. If there are boarding patients, find out how often the dogs are taken out of their kennels during the night and whether they are monitored round the clock. COURTESY VCA-AEVH the road to rehab As this article suggests, rehabilitation of an injured agility dog may not be cheap or easy. Because agility is a sport that places extensive and repetitive physical demands on our dogs’ bodies, we must have special sensitivity to their injuries. The demands of agility make it very likely that rehab will be a matter of when, not if. Preparation is the best way to make sure that you have the necessary information and planning to make decisions that are best for you and your dog. rehab facilities For more information about the rehab facilities mentioned in this article: • CARE Center Visit www.k9rehabcenter.com or email Dr. Glinski at K9rehabcenter@aol.com • Wizard of Paws Physical Rehabilitation for Animals Visit www.wizardofpaws.net or email Deborah Gross Saunders at wizofpaws@aol.com • Scout’s House Visit www.scoutshouse.com • VCA-Alameda East Veterinary Hospital Visit www.alamedaeast.com canine rehab certification programs • University of Tennessee www.canineequinerehab.com • Canine Rehabilitation Institute www.caninerehabilitation.com With a little research, you’ll be able to find a rehabilitation therapy center with the experienced staff, technologies, and techniques your dog will need. That way, you’ll be able to give your teammate—that incredible athlete—the best possible opportunity for recovery from surgery or injury. D pet insurance For information on VPI Pet Insurance, visit www.petinsurance.com Martha Faulk, a lawyer and author who lives in Fort Collins, Colorado, teaches agility through the Larimer Humane Society. She competes with her two rescues, RebaRae, Australian Cattle Dog, and SallyAnn, Australian Shepherd. Her Border Terrier, EmmaLou, MX, MXJ, and USDAA Performance National Standard semifinalist in 2005, is now retired. Contact Martha through marthfaulk@msn.com. 25 August 07 | Clean Run

http://www.k9rehabcenter.com http://www.wizardofpaws.net http://www.scoutshouse.com http://www.alamedaeast.com http://www.canineequinerehab.com http://www.caninerehabilitation.com http://www.petinsurance.com

Clean Run Magazine - August 2007

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Clean Run Magazine - August 2007