The Faculty of Veterinary Sciences of UBA inaugurated a state-of-the-art Kinesiology laboratory aimed at veterinary animal rehabilitation for dogs and cats.
The new space, integrated into the Teaching Hospital, promises to transform the treatment of musculoskeletal and neurological pathologies in small animals.
The Teaching Hospital of the University of Buenos Aires incorporated this laboratory as part of its Physiotherapy Service and Rehabilitation.
The space was designed for movement analysis, correction of functional imbalances, and support of animal physical rehabilitation processes.
The enhancement of the laboratory was made possible thanks to the support of Royal Canin Argentina.
The company collaborated with the comprehensive conditioning of a previously unused section of the hospital.
Additionally, it worked on designing a rehabilitation circuit tailored to the clinical needs of the veterinary team.
This was highlighted by the UBA Faculty of Veterinary Medicine: “Thanks to a very valuable donation, our Teaching Hospital’s Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation service for Small Animals has just fulfilled a dream.”
“The incorporation of a Kinesiology Laboratory both to treat patients and instruct their guardians, as well as to train our students,” it added.
A strategic space for animal rehabilitation and health
“It is a great pride to have a Physiotherapy Circuit and Rehabilitation that allows us to add new tools aimed at the physical recovery of our patients,” said Guadalupe Álvarez, director of the Small Animal Teaching Hospital.
The director highlighted that enhancing hospital spaces for the sake of animal health and rehabilitation is one of the institutional objectives.
The laboratory represents a significant advance in veterinary animal rehabilitation, as it allows the development of innovative therapeutic strategies with a multidisciplinary approach that directly impacts the functional recovery of patients.
Key for professional training and research
The Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Service of the UBA Veterinary Teaching Hospital attends to around 800 patients per year.
The area also offers internship programs for undergraduate students and training opportunities for postgraduate professionals.
Among the academic offerings is the Specialization in Physical Therapy for Small Animals, key for animal rehabilitation, particularly for dogs and cats.
The service also develops various clinical research projects that strengthen knowledge about veterinary animal rehabilitation.
“This laboratory has a specific focus to analyze and study movement, and treat imbalances of the musculoskeletal system,” explained María Cristina Pallares, head of the Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Unit.
Pallares emphasized that the space allows the development of personalized treatment protocols. At the same time, it enables clear and practical instruction to guardians on performing active exercises for their pets.
What the new UBA animal rehabilitation laboratory is like
The laboratory enables the real-time application of techniques aimed at improving the mobility and overall health of patients. Its uses for animal rehabilitation include:
- Gait test
- Neurological rehabilitation
- Sports rehabilitation
- Respiratory rehabilitation
- Traumatological rehabilitation
The space is equipped with a ramp, hurdles, tunnel, and slalom. These elements facilitate the execution of therapeutic exercises in patients undergoing advanced stages of veterinary animal rehabilitation.
Anatomical models of the knee, hip, and body condition were also incorporated.
These tools serve as didactic resources both for explaining pathologies to guardians and for student teaching.
“This laboratory has a strong educational objective: to teach and analyze the biomechanics of the musculoskeletal system from a global perspective,” concluded Pallares.
The specialist emphasized that the project was realized thanks to the joint work of the faculty and Royal Canin.
The initiative is part of a sustained trajectory of collaboration between both institutions.
This includes precedents such as the creation of a Cat Friendly consultation room and the improvement of an auditorium intended for teaching classes.
Looking to the future, the new Kinesiology Laboratory opens the possibility of developing injury prevention programs for working dogs.
This expands the positive impact of veterinary animal rehabilitation on animal health and the advancement of veterinary medicine in Argentina.
