Rehabilitation and recovery times for canine patients post hemilaminectomy

Abstract

The recovery of ambulation is a crucial part of the recovery process for canine patients with intervertebral disc disease undergoing a hemilaminectomy. Although ambulation is accomplished in most cases, many are left with deficits in strength and coordination. Human medicine suggests that postoperative rehabilitation improves patient outcomes; it is therefore useful to examine whether the same would be true for canine patients. Additionally, as veterinary nurses it is important to understand why certain rehabilitative procedures are being performed for spinal patients, and whether those procedures actually help the patient to recover.