Home Rehab: Conditioning

VHRC offers conditioning sessions for your athletic pet. This is a great supplement to your at-home training throughout the year, and is especially important during the winter months where inclement weather may affect the frequency and quality of your pet's work-outs.

Sessions include the underwater treadmill (which has an optional incline for increased rear end strengthening, and 6 jets for added resistance), a flat land treadmill, or an inclined land treadmill. Leg weights (from ¼ lb to 2 lbs) and back packs (filled with weights) can be added into your pet's work-out sessions for additional strengthening.

Goals of Conditioning:

• Increased strength
• Increased endurance
• Increased speed

Additional Benefits include:

• Strengthens periarticular muscles that help protect joints
• Helps strengthen muscles that act as shock absorbers
• Improved cardiovascular health
• Weight management
• Relieves stress
• Positive psychological effects by releasing endogenous opioids (natural pain killers)

Sessions are available during convenient evening and weekend hours.

A pre-conditioning exam is required to ensure there are no pre-existing medical conditions that could affect your pet's health and safety during his/her work-outs. This can be performed by Dr. Danoff or your primary veterinarian and must be completed within the last 12 months for animals 7 years and under, and within the last 6 months if older than 7 years.