What services are available at the Animal Rehabilitation Facility?
We provide rehabilitation services for post-operative surgeries such as ACL repair, luxating patella repair, elbow dysplasia, shoulder OCD surgery, fracture repair, spinal surgeries, and hip surgeries. We also do injury/lameness evaluations and consultations, sports fitness evaluations and consultations, geriatric/arthritic conditions evaluations and consultations, conditioning programs for weight loss, conditioning for the canine athlete, and acupuncture for geriatric, arthritic, and neurologic patients. Our natural healing methods include Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine, Acupuncture, Herbal Therapy, Reiki, and Pulsed Signal Therapy.
What is animal rehabilitation?
Animal rehabilitation is the art and science of using different techniques to help restore normal function to joints and muscles after injury or surgery. These techniques include therapeutic exercises, electrical stimulation, manual manipulations, massage, acupuncture and aquatic work such as swimming and underwater treadmill work. Normal function is restored by relieving pain, improving flexibility and mobility, and increasing strength
How long will rehab take?
The length of time an animal needs to rehabilitate will depend on several factors, including the type and severity of an injury, the type of surgery performed (if any), the condition of the patient at the time of the injury/surgery, the willingness and ableness of the owner to do rehab with their pet, and the compliance of the patient. At the initial evaluation and consultation, a plan specific to the patient’s needs will be formulated and discussed.
What should I expect for our first acupuncture appointment?
Your pet’s initial consultation will be about an hour long and will include a conventional Western exam, a TCVM exam, and the first acupuncture session. A series of 4-6 weekly treatments are usually needed before a consistent response is seen. As the treatment progresses, sessions will be spaced monthly, quarterly or twice yearly depending on the particular condition and your pet’s individual response to treatment. Follow-up visits are usually a half-hour long. Pets are usually calm during acupuncture treatments. The placement of the needles causes very little pain. Most pets become very relaxed, or quite sleepy during the treatment, and many of them start to look forward to their sessions!
Can I get in the pool with my dog?
Unfortunately, we cannot allow you to enter the pool with your dog. However, you may be in the room, and may interact by feeding treats, praising, and throwing a ball or bumper. If your dog needs some encouragement one of our staff will get in the pool with him or her.
How do I make an appointment?
Call us directly at 734-417-4290 to schedule an appointment. Please be aware that we are frequently working with patients so you may need to leave a message. Your call is important and every effort is made to return calls as soon as possible.
Please have your veterinarian fill out a Referral Form and fax to us before your first appointment.
How do I get to ARF?
We are located at: 7275 Joy Rd Dexter, MI 48130
P: 734-417-4290 F: 810-208-0061
There is a through driveway that connects Joy Road to Huron River Drive so either entrance will get you here.
From I-94 (heading West):
Take Zeeb Road exit and head North.
You will cross the Huron River and then some RR tracks. At the stop sign turn left onto Huron River Drive. You will pass Dexter-Huron Metropark on your left (see map above). Approximately 1.5 miles down the road you will make a right turn onto the cross drive connecting us to Joy Road. The building at the corner is the Dexter Research Center (7300). You will see a sign-post with four signs: Canine Sports Recreation Center, ARRF, Dog/Cat Grooming, Pawsitively Positive. Drive through towards Joy Rd and park under the trees facing Joy Rd. Our entrance faces Joy Rd.
From I-94 (heading East)
Take the Baker Road exit and head North.
Stay on Baker Rd. until it ends in downtown Dexter (see map above.) Turn left onto Ann Arbor St. and take the immediate right onto Central St. You have to go around "Monument Park". Stay on Central and cross the Huron River. There is a party store on the corner where Huron River Drive, Joy Rd. and Mast Road intersect. You can either turn on to Huron River Driver and take the second driveway on the left (just past 7300 - Dexter Research Center) or you can turn onto Joy Rd. and go approximately 1/4 mile until you see a sign-post with four signs: Canine Sports Recreation Center, ARRF, Dog/Cat Grooming, Pawsitively Positive. Turn right onto that drive and we are the building immediately on your right. Our entrance is the one facing Joy Rd.
We are located at: