Assessment and Functional Evaluation
Comprehensive assessment of movement, strength, gait, posture, and neurological function to inform targeted rehabilitation
Why A Canine Rehabilitation Assessment Matters
Every effective canine rehabilitation program starts with a thorough, hands-on clinical assessment. At Paws4Paws, we don’t rely on assumptions or one-size-fits-all approaches—we assess carefully and comprehensively. By evaluating your dog’s posture, movement, neurological function, and musculoskeletal health in their home environment, we gain vital insights that guide safe, targeted, and outcome-focused care. Whether your dog is recovering from surgery, experiencing age-related weakness, managing a neurological condition, or simply showing signs of mobility decline, our in-home evaluation is the critical first step toward restoring comfort, confidence, and functional independence.
What’s Included in a Functional Evaluation
Our comprehensive assessment is performed in your home, allowing us to observe your dog in a familiar, low-stress environment. This also provides context for real-world challenges your dog may face with stairs, flooring, or daily routines.
Our evaluation includes:
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Static and dynamic posture
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Gait pattern and limb loading symmetry
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Active and passive joint range of motion
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Joint angle measurement using goniometry
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Muscle mass, tone, and distribution
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Muscle circumference measurement to monitor atrophy, asymmetry and/or progress
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Neurological function, including proprioception, spinal reflexes, and coordination
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Soft tissue and joint palpation for tone, sensitivity, and structural changes
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Pain response and pain localisation
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Functional task analysis (e.g. sit-to-stand transitions, stair navigation, surface adaptability)
What Happens After the Assessment
Following the assessment, we take a structured, goal-oriented approach to ensure your dog receives the most appropriate and effective care.
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We establish clear clinical goals based on your dog’s condition, age, activity level, and functional baseline. These goals may focus on pain reduction, improved mobility, muscle strengthening, neurological recovery, or prevention of further decline—depending on your dog’s individual presentation and long-term needs.
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We develop a personalised rehabilitation plan, selecting evidence-based treatments tailored to your dog’s findings. This may include manual therapy (e.g. joint mobilisation, massage, myofascial release), laser therapy (PBMT) to reduce inflammation and support tissue repair, targeted therapeutic exercise to restore strength and stability, and customised home exercises to support ongoing progress between sessions.
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Initial treatment is provided during the same session, which allows us to begin addressing pain, stiffness, or dysfunction immediately and gives you a clear sense of how therapy will work moving forward. Starting treatment early also allows for observation of your dog’s response, which helps refine the ongoing plan.