Editor’s Note: In their fourth and final year of veterinary school, students are required to complete a series of two-week clinical rotations in the Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center. This article is one in a series that highlights those rotations.
Most clinical rotations in the Hixson-Lied Small Animal Hospital focus on getting their patients better.
In the Canine Rehabilitation Center, the focus is making their patients even better.
Many patients who visit the Canine Rehabilitation Center are recovering from orthopedic or neurologic injuries. Their treatment focus is on returning the animal to function as quickly as possible.
Fourth-year students on this rotation assist on a variety of treatments. This can be helping a dog walk on the underwater treadmill or assisting with a neuromuscular electrical stimulation.There are times when the students will get into the small pool and help the dog swim its length.
These same treatments are also provided to animals that aren’t recovering from surgery.
The rehabilitation services on display during this rotation can be used as an exercise program for obese, arthritic or geriatric patients.
The same treatments can be used as a conditioning therapy to help service animals such as police dogs or athletes get into shape prior to competition.
January 2026