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Rehabilitation

Help your pet recover mobility, strength, and confidence with custom rehab and physical therapy plans.

Pet Rehabilitation: Helping Pets Move Better, Feel Better

Whether your pet is recovering from surgery, managing arthritis, or healing from an injury, rehabilitation therapy can be a powerful part of their recovery. Our veterinary rehab services are designed to restore mobility, reduce pain, and improve quality of life—so your pet can get back to doing what they love.

What Is Veterinary Rehabilitation?

Veterinary rehabilitation focuses on physical therapy and movement-based treatments that help pets regain strength, flexibility, and function. Just like in human medicine, this type of care is especially useful after surgery or in managing chronic orthopedic or neurological conditions.

Rehabilitation services may include:

  • Therapeutic exercises to improve muscle tone and joint support

  • Laser therapy to reduce inflammation and promote healing

  • Massage and stretching to increase comfort and flexibility

Each plan is tailored to your pet’s needs, condition, and comfort level.

Which Pets Benefit from Rehab?

Rehab isn’t just for athletes—it’s for any pet that needs help moving or healing. We commonly recommend it for:

  • Post-operative recovery (especially orthopedic or spinal surgeries)

  • Arthritis or joint degeneration

  • Neurological conditions affecting mobility

  • Weight loss and fitness support

  • Pets with chronic pain or limited mobility

Even older pets who are slowing down can benefit from low-impact movement and circulation-boosting therapies.

What to Expect During a Session

Your pet’s first rehab visit starts with a full physical evaluation. We’ll review their medical history, mobility challenges, and goals for recovery. Then, we’ll build a custom therapy plan which may include:

  1. Gentle exercises or assisted movement

  2. Modalities like laser

  3. At-home guidance to support progress between visits

Each session is low-stress and pet-friendly, and many pets enjoy the extra attention and physical relief.

Rehabilitation is about more than recovery—it’s about giving your pet a chance to move comfortably, stay active, and enjoy life again. Whether they’re bouncing back from surgery or just need extra support, our team is here to help every step of the way.

🐾 Looking to keep your pet healthy and happy? Visit us—we’re here to support every step of the way.

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Frequently Asked Questions

There is no question too big or too small for our veterinary team.

Payment is due when services are rendered at All Creatures Pet Hospital. We accept all major credit cards and offer Care Credit for your convenience.

Heartworms have been diagnosed in all fifty states and are especially prevalent in warmer climates found in Alabama. Heartworms can be transmitted to dogs and cats by the bite of a mosquito infected with immature heartworms. If the dog or cat is not protected by a heartworm preventative, the worms can mature, eventually damage the heart and lungs, and cause death if left untreated. Please remember that heartworm preventatives are always less expensive and more effective than heartworm treatments. Dr. Ted Hankes attends conferences and lectures throughout the country to stay current and ensure that All Creatures Pet Hospital offers the safest and most effective products here at our pharmacy, including heartworm preventatives. Please call one of our caring veterinary team members at (205) 947-4083 and schedule a heartworm-preventative appointment for your companion.

Dr. Ted Hankes recommends spaying or neutering all pets not being used for breeding purposes. Sterilization not only prevents unwanted litters but can also prevent certain reproductive cancers later in their lives. Puppies and kittens can be spayed between four and six months of age. Our pets feel pain the same way people do, therefore, we administer pain medication to keep them comfortable during and after the procedure. Additionally, blood work is needed to help determine if your puppy or kitten is healthy enough for the procedure. Please call All Creatures Pet Hospital to schedule your furry friend for a spay or neuter as soon as they are old enough for the surgery.

Proper nutrition and portion control are as important for our pet companions as they are for us. Overweight pets face the same conditions as people, including arthritis, joint pain, diabetes, and heart disease, for example. Dr. Hankes can evaluate your pet to determine their individual nutritional needs, as well as the proper portions to maintain a healthy body weight. Affordable prescription diets are available at our hospital for your convenience. Schedule an appointment for your furry friend regardless of their life stage or current health condition.

Like people, pets need dental care for overall health. Without it, bacteria can cause tooth decay, gum damage, and may harm organs like the heart, liver, and kidneys. Dr. Hankes recommends dental care starting at age one to help prevent disease, improve health, and avoid costly future treatments. Contact our team at All Creatures Pet Hospital to schedule your pet's dental appointment.

In many species, one animal year equals about seven human years. A seven-year-old dog missing the vet for three years is like a 49-year-old person skipping the doctor for 21 years. At All Creatures Pet Hospital, we recommend yearly exams and blood work unless your pet is sick or has a special condition. Caring for your pet early can reduce future medications and may extend their life. Call us at (205) 947-4083 to schedule your pet's yearly visit.