The Animal Rehabilitation Center is a service of the Animal Emergency & Referral Center.
We work with your primary care veterinarian and our surgeon to offer a comprehensive program combining traditional physical applications with current therapies to help minimize or reverse functional impairment. These therapies are professionally designed to meet the specific needs of each patient to improve mobility, manage pain, increase strength, and ultimately improve the quality of life for your companion animal.
All consultation and treatment services are available by appointment only; a referral from your regular veterinarian or veterinary surgeon for rehabilitation is required.
Patients are referred back to their primary practices for regular or routine veterinary care. Your veterinarian can email medical records prior to your appointment. See below for contact info.
Benefits of Canine Physical Rehabilitation
- Reducing pain
- Promoting healing
- Restoring and/or maintaining movement
- Building muscle mass
- Increasing cardiovascular fitness
- Combating obesity
- Improving physical condition in sporting & working dogs
- Training for use of carts and braces and other such equipment
Canine rehabilitation adapts different manual techniques and modalities used by physical therapists in human patients and applies these same techniques to dogs. It can promote a more rapid recovery from neurological or orthopedic disorders and surgery, helping to avoid complications associated with prolonged rest, as well as help prevent obesity and improve physical and cardiovascular fitness.
Dr. Wendy Byrd, CCRT, CVAT
Dr. Wendy Byrd has been a licensed veterinarian since 2008. She has career experience in general, surgical, and emergency practice settings. Her interest in physical wellness and pain management led her to pursue and complete her certification in animal rehabilitation. As a certified animal rehabilitation therapist (CCRT), Dr. Byrd provides this necessary specialty service in the evolving field of veterinary medicine. Dr. Byrd is also a certified veterinary acupuncture therapist.
Services Offered
Electrical Stimulation
Electrical stimulation is the therapeutic application of a controlled electric current. This modality is effective for the treatment of various orthopedic and neurologic diseases to assist with the management of acute or chronic pain, accelerate healing, and to delay muscle atrophy.
Therapeutic Laser
Low-level laser therapy is a painless treatment that uses clinically tested wavelengths of light to stimulate natural biological processes leading to faster healing and pain relief. Cells in the body absorb laser energy that stimulates the body to release pain relieving compounds, increases circulation and energizes the cells to participate in the healing process. Many times laser therapy can take the place of pharmaceuticals and surgery to treat long-term, degenerative diseases.
Therapeutic Exercise
Therapeutic exercise is an essential and noninvasive form of treatment designed for use in a variety of musculoskeletal and neurological conditions. These activities strengthen specific muscles, increase flexibility, minimize pain, develop coordination and body awareness, as well as improve movement quality. Each patient receives a home therapeutic exercise plan so owners can be involved in their companion’s healing and physical wellness.
PEMF Therapy
PEMF uses pulsing magnetic fields, developed by pulsing a small amount of battery current through coils of wire to initiate normal biological cellular reactions that result in improved circulation and provide pain relief.
Hydrotherapy
Our underwater treadmill has many benefits and is effective in rehabilitation for post-operative orthopedic surgery, neurologic injury and osteoarthritis pain relief. Exercise in water can improve strength, endurance, and joint function while minimizing pain in a safe, supportive environment.
Acupuncture Therapy
Shockwave Therapy
Therapy Videos
Click below for “homework” therapy videos as assigned by our team!
Contact Information
AERC Animal Rehabilitation Center
1009 Treetops Boulevard
Flowood, MS 39232
Phone: 601.939.8999
Fax: 601.709.0078
Email: aerc@cvm.msstate.edu
All consultation and treatment services are available by appointment only; a referral from your regular veterinarian or veterinary surgeon for rehabilitation is required.
