Rehabilitation and Conditioning for Animals

ICE (CRYO) THERAPY

Ice therapy is used to decrease pain and inflammation and to increase healing.  Ice may be effectively applied 2-4 times per day, with 4 being optimal.  Ice may be used in several forms, some of which are as follows:

     *Frozen vegetables make a tidy ice pack, although not as cold as other options.  These should be left on the treatment area for approximately 20-30 minutes without a towel.  Frozen veggies are not cold enough, nor do they retain cold well long enough, so that is why extended application times are recommended.

     *Slush ice in two zip lock-type baggies.  This turns out to be very cold and is made with one part water to two parts rubbing alcohol.  If the mixture is too watery, add more water to make it icier.  If the mixture is too hard, add more alcohol to make it slushier.  This ice pack should only be left in place for ten minutes at a time without a towel or twenty minutes on a medium-to-large dog with full fur.  Fur is no more a barrier to icing than a towel on a human would be, especially if “colder” icing options are used (pupsicle, slush packs, etc…) and ice is applied for adequate time, i.e., 20 min.  Smaller animals with less dense hair coats will still only need a 10 min. ice application, so try to use good judgment.  Dish soap in double sliding zip-locked baggies and frozen works like the slush pack mentioned above.

     *Pupsicle ice is a cup, either paper or Styrofoam, that has been filled ¾ with water

and then frozen.  This ice is especially effective and may also accomplish some surface

tissue massage at the same time as the cryotherapy.  The ice melts into puddles, so grab a towel.  You should rub this ice over the affected area for approximately ten minutes at a time using circular or stroking motions, as in massage.

Ice, not heat, should be used for at least the first 72 hours post-surgery or injury.  This phase is often referred to as phase one inflammation-breakdown or phase one post-trauma.  Pupsicle and slush ice may be left on 10 min, taken off 10 min, and then reapplied 10 min. during phase one inflammation.

I am often asked if ice may be used any time, and the answer is yes.  If back muscle spasm episodes occur, if there seems to be pain or inflammation, or even if a new incident of disc rupture occurs, ice may be used even while on the way to the vet.  In these instances, always use ice and not heat.

Ice increases blood flow by cooling and slowing blood while constricting the blood vessels, after which the body reacts by sending more blood to the cold area to warm it and thus increase the flow of body fluids through the area.  This is actually beneficial in reducing swelling.  Heat increases blood flow by opening up blood vessels.  The opening of the blood vessels by heat early in post-injury phases could cause unwanted swelling and inflammation, so even though heat may seem to feel good, it is not what should be done to help healing at this time.

Rehabilitation and Conditioning for Animals

Deborah Carroll, BA,CCRP, CSCS

www.myspace.com-austinanimalrehab

www.rehabilitationandconditioningforanimals.com

HEAT THERAPY 

Heat increases blood flow by opening up blood vessels.  The opening of the blood vessels by heat early in post-injury phases could cause unwanted swelling and inflammation, so waiting 72 hrs. post-trauma is best.  This period is called phase 2 inflammation-healing. 

During this period, heat may be used with ice in this manner:  apply ice for ten minutes then heat for ten minutes then ice again for ten minutes, up to four times per day.  Alternating ice with heat can have the effect of flushing stale inflammatory fluids from the area and bringing in nutrient-rich body fluids.  As the animal's fur barrier increases, the times for application of ice & heat will increase, not to exceed 20 minutes (full fur on a medium-to-large dog) per element set, i.e.,  20 ice +20 heat +20 ice.

Heat may be best used at home in one of the following forms:

     *Warm moist towel heat is best initiated by warming a moist towel in the microwave for a few seconds.  Do not put a hot towel on an animal that is too hot for you to hold in your hands. 

     *Short grain brown rice in a sock holds heat well when microwaved.  In both of these cases, wrap the heat applicator around the affected area as best possible.

Heat may be applied by me or another practitioner via ultrasound therapy.  Ultrasound therapy is listed on a separate page on this site.