Vital Feed

Conditions that require neurologic physical rehabilitation in humans include stroke, traumatic brain injury, and spinal cord injury.1 Physical rehabilitation therapy is beneficial and effective to help return or improve function lost as a result of these conditions in some patients.2 Neurologic disease is unique in that physical therapy has a critical role in maintenance and recovery of function. Dysfunction of...

To put it simply, Degenerative Myelopathy is a disease that progresses mainly in older, larger dogs that ends in quadriplegia. It is the degeneration of the white matter of the spinal cord. This white matter contains fibers that transmit movement commands from the brain to the limbs and sensory information from the limbs to the brain. Eventually this disease starts...

Class III and Class IV lasers have important applications in physical rehab for dogs, but proper training in the use of this therapy is essential, both for veterinarians and technicians.  My personal experience with lasers in veterinary physical rehabilitation began in 2005 with a 250mW laser used in my mobile rehab practice. At the time, any laser from 5mW to...

Learn more about genetic testing for degenerative myelopathy and discover what Morris Animal Foundation is doing to help in the battle against this disease. For many practitioners, degenerative myelopathy is a frustrating and heartbreaking disease. Frustrating because the diagnosis is a challenge and no treatment options exist beyond supportive care. Heartbreaking because of the disease’s relentless, cruel progression. However, the...

Many things can affect the health and function of your dog’s nervous system. Good nutrition helps ensure it does its job properly.  When you think about your dog’s health, you might not factor in his nervous system. But maintaining its proper function is very important to his well-being, physically and emotionally. Feeding your dog’s nervous system is one way to...