Pre-Surgery Rehabilitation (Prehab)
Preparing Your Pet for a Stronger Recovery
When your pet is scheduled for surgery, it’s natural to focus on the procedure itself. However, what happens before surgery can significantly influence comfort, healing, and long-term outcome. Pre-surgical rehabilitation - often called prehab - helps your pet go into surgery stronger, more stable, and better prepared to recover.
Why Consider Prehab?
Surgery often involves a period of restricted activity, which can lead to muscle loss, stiffness, and reduced joint support. Preparing your pet in advance helps minimise these effects and can positively influence recovery.
Strength & Muscle Maintenance - Maintaining muscle tone before surgery provides a stronger foundation for healing, particularly in older pets or those with existing weakness.
Joint Stability & Balance - Improving stability and coordination helps reduce compensatory strain and lowers the risk of secondary injuries during recovery.
Pain & Inflammation Management - Addressing discomfort beforehand can improve overall comfort and may reduce reliance on medication post-operatively. Gentle mobility work and appropriate therapeutic modalities support tissue health and help pets feel more comfortable with rehabilitation handling.
Smoother Recovery - Pets who undertake pre-surgical rehabilitation often regain mobility more confidently and transition more smoothly from rest to active recovery.
Mental Preparation - Structured exercises also provide valuable mental stimulation during a time when activity may otherwise be limited.
What Does Pre-Surgery Rehabilitation Involve?
Every programme is individually tailored following assessment and in collaboration with your veterinary surgeon. Your pet’s plan may include:
Targeted Strengthening Exercises - To build strength and flexibility, focusing on the muscle groups that will support recovery post-surgery
Mobility & Range of Motion Work - Safe techniques to maintain flexibility and reduce stiffness.
Balance & Proprioception Training - Improving coordination and stability, and reduce the risk of falls during the early recovery phase.
Pain Management Support - Manual therapy and appropriate modalities to improve comfort and inflammation before surgery - such as PEMF, Phototherapy (Laser), NMES, massage, and stretches.
Home Guidance & Owner Education - Helping you to support your dog at home with clear exercise instructions and practical adjustments to daily routines, and helping you understand how to assist your pet during recovery to maintain progress and avoid setbacks.
When Should Prehab Start?
Ideally, 2–6 weeks before surgery. Even a short preparation period can make a meaningful difference. If surgery is scheduled urgently, we can still provide advice to optimise comfort beforehand.
Benefits During Recovery
Pets who undertake prehab often:
Regain weight-bearing more confidently
Experience less early muscle loss
Adapt more smoothly to structured post-operative rehabilitation
Return to function with improved stability
Think of it as giving your pet a head start.
Is Prehab Suitable for My Pet?
Pre-surgical rehabilitation is commonly recommended for:
Cruciate ligament surgery
Stifle surgery and orthopaedic stabilisation procedures
Hip or elbow surgery
Spinal procedures
As well as various other surgeries
In some cases, structured rehabilitation may also be appropriate as part of a conservative management plan, helping to improve strength, stability, and comfort where surgery may be delayed - or, occasionally, avoided altogether.
Preparing with Confidence
Surgery can feel daunting. Our role is to support both you and your pet, ensuring they enter their procedure as strong, comfortable, and prepared as possible.
If your pet is scheduled for surgery and you would like to discuss a tailored pre-surgical programme, please book a call with one of our team members using the book a call or session button below.
