The TheraPaw Program

Integrative Therapeutic Nutrition

Targeted nourishment during illness or injury is critical for optimal recovery. Our customized meal plans insure a species appropriate, biologically correct, naturally anti-inflammatory diet. Enhanced with specific amino acids, fatty acids, phospholipids and protein complexes, our diet recommendations can enhance muscle development, slow compensatory atrophy, speed wound healing and aid in controlling acute, post-surgical or trauma related inflammation.

Geriatric musculoskeletal health revolves around providing specific therapeutic nutritional plans that provide abundant antioxidants to scavenge free radicals, are easy to digest and assimilate and focus on slowing and preventing age related muscle wasting and atrophy. Additional trace minerals and specific vitamins are also necessary to fortify older tendons, ligaments, joints and an aging central nervous system.

Peak performance is fueled by the correct balance of healthfully sourced calories, fats and proteins. Supporting the working dog means specific integrated nutritional plans focused on enhancing endurance, stamina and injury avoidance.

Integrative Hormone Optimization

After pets are spayed or neutered, and as animals age, hormone levels decline until there are virtually undetectable levels of healthy sex hormones left in their bodies. There are multiple, documented negative effects that hormone imbalances cause in pets, including animals becoming over fat and under muscled (obesity and muscle atrophy), and predisposition to ligament strains and ruptures. Balancing the thyroid, adrenal and sex hormones in your pet’s body not only optimizes metabolism, immune function and overall vitality, it is critical for the avoidance of degenerative diseases.

Safe, natural hormone replacement therapy, thyroid balancing hormone therapy, adrenal balancing hormone therapy, Protein PolyPeptide Regenerative Hormone Therapy and Physiological Regulating Medicine are all available through TheraPaw^TM.

Integrative Movement Therapy^TM

The 4 goals of Integrative Movement Therapy^TM are:

• Controlled pain with the goal of eliminating all discomfort.
• Controlled inflammation, with the goal of eliminating recurrent episodes.
• Promotion of lean muscle mass that enhances structural integrity and minimizes compensations.
• Improved coordination, flexibility, strength and endurance.

Integrative Movement Therapy^TM consists of an individualized assessment of each animal’s medical condition, desired level of wellness or athletic performance. Our team works with you to identify each patient’s health challenges or obstacles and wellness goals so we can offer you a treatment plan that fits your budget and comfort level.

Integrative Movement Therapy^TM Modalities

Hydrotherapy utilizes the resistance and supportive properties of water to promote increased range of motion of joints, reduce swelling, and strengthen muscles. Walking on the underwater treadmill is a weight bearing activity that can also be helpful in stimulating balance and bone density. It also provides a safe opportunity to teach animals to walk again without the risks of slips, trips or painful falls. Utilizing the water jets in a deeper pool creates an endless current of resistance that allows dogs to swim weightlessly, which improves coordination, the brain-body connection, muscle mass and strength as well as range of motion and endurance.

Laser Therapy is light energy used to stimulate healing, reduce inflammation and pain, and reduce scar tissue formation. Some of the well known biological effects of laser are cartilage stimulation, immune system stimulation and improved blood flow. Indications for use of laser include reducing post-operative pain and inflammation, degenerative joint disease, neuritis, wound healing, joint swelling, tendonitis, tendonosis, bursitis, tendon/ligament injuries, muscle spasms, osteoarthritis and myositis. Laser therapy can allow newly formed scar tissue to become more pliable for increased range of motion.

Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) uses low level electrical current that decreases swelling stimulates muscle spindle fibers after orthopedic or neurological injury. Indications for use of NMES are central or peripheral neuropathies, muscle wasting and atrophy and limb weakness.

Therapeutic Exercise using exercise balls, rebounders, ramps and therapy bands to create specific exercises which help your pet improve coordination, proprioception, weight bearing and range of motion.

Animal Myotherapy^TM By identifying specific areas of muscle (myo) tension, pain and reduced nerve function, these unique manual therapy and joint mobilization techniques can improve range of motion and bio-mechanical functionality, while minimizing restrictions and compensations. Re-integration of the nervous and musculoskeletal systems can have profoundly beneficial effects on patients with acute and chronic challenges, alike. Animal bodywork and massage, including Animal Myotherapy, can increase range of motion, improve proprioception and lymphatic drainage, reduce adhesions and musculoskeletal compensations.

Therapeutic Ultrasound stimulates tissue under the skin using very high frequency sound waves. Ultrasound therapy increases blood flow to expedite tissue and wound healing, reduces swelling and edema, reduces inflammation and pain, and reduces scar tissue formation.

Range of Motion (ROM) Exercises. Many injured or older animals have reduced range of motion causing compensations, muscle imbalances and over time, reduced mobility and functionality. Regaining full range of motion through specific exercises is critical for normal joint and muscle physiology.

Homeopathic Evaluation. By identifying your pet’s unique symptom patterns a specific remedy can be prescribed that unlocks your pet’s ability to naturally heal and balance body systems.

Cryotherapy and Heat Therapy. Cryotherapy (ice) relieves pain and inflammation and decreases bleeding and swelling. Heat therapy improves muscle flexibility and circulation.

Acupuncture, electro-acupuncture, aquapuncture and Moxabustion. Stimulating acupuncture points in a variety of therapeutic ways can reduce pain, improve circulation and integrate the central and peripheral nervous systems. Using traditional needles, warming needles, needles connected via a micro-current of electricity, injections of vitamin B or Laser therapy at acupuncture points are unique and different forms of acupuncture that can be very therapeutic.

Protein Polypeptide Regenerative Therapy. By using all natural substances that stimulate the body’s own growth hormone secretion, there is acceleration and enhancement of the repair of muscle, tendon and nerve injuries.

Therapeutic Support. We fit patients for ankle, wrist, elbow, hip, paw, full body support systems and carts.

Physiological Regulating Medicine (PRM) is one of the most up-to-date ways of addressing acute and chronic conditions. This is accomplished by supporting the physiological systems in the body with medicines containing nano doses of cellular metabolic factors such as hormones, neuropeptides, interleukins, and growth factors at the same physiological concentration as the biological matrix and fluids.

Pain Management and Inflammation Assessment. Evaluating metabolic inflammatory markers to formulate a systemic intensive anti-inflammatory protocol allows us to optimally manage inflammation as well as customize the appropriate pain control for each animal’s condition.

TheraPaw Support Services for In-Home Care

• Acupressure training for at-home therapy
• Massage, stretching, and ROM training
• Exercise plans
• Joint, Nerve & Soft Tissue Support
• Level 1 protocols for preventive maintenance
• Level 2 protocols for the acutely injured
• Level 3 protocols for the middle aged, with mild degenerative changes
• Level 4 protocols for moderate articular changes or musculoskeletal challenges, geared towards slowing down Degenerative Joint Disease, tendonitis and tendonosis
• Level 5 protocols for significant articular changes in aging or debilitated animals geared towards joint lubrication, reduction of arthritis formation, inflammation and pain control
• Level 6 protocols for severe articular or musculoskeletal changes with profound compensations, geared towards intensive pain management and maintaining quality of life for animals that are chronically debilitated or terminally ill
• Antioxidant and immune support
• Level 1 protocols for preventive maintenance for young, healthy animals
• Level 2 protocols for healthy animals that have sustained acute or traumatic injuries
• Level 3 protocols for middle aged animals with mild degenerative changes
• Level 4 protocols for moderate immune or musculoskeletal challenges, geared towards preventing muscle wasting/atrophy, slowing the effects of aging and free radical insult
• Level 5 protocols for significant immune or musculoskeletal challenges, geared towards aggressive free radical support, inflammation and pain management for animals with life threatening or severely debilitating health conditions
• Level 6 protocols for the terminally ill, geared towards preventing profound cachexia (wasting away) and improving overall comfort level (sometimes used in conjunction with TheraPaw’s Hospice Program)

To schedule an appointment for a TheraPaw evaluation, contact us.