VRO operates on a referral basis only. Every new patient must be under the care of a licensed veterinarian.

There are no "standard" rehabilitation programs at VRO. Each individual patient is expected to have a different response to various surgical procedures, injuries, or medical conditions. Rehabilitation takes this into consideration along with a wide variety of variables including patient size, age, body condition, previous and anticipated future activity levels, previous medical and surgical conditions, and physical deficits/limitations. During the first rehabilitation session an initial assessment is performed evaluating joint range of motion, muscle mass, gait/balance analysis, analysis of relevant movement tasks, pain management, and palpation of affected body parts. Once baseline values have been established, an individual rehabilitation program is designed. How long rehabilitation will last and what modalities will be utilized is determined at this time.

Physical rehabilitation is most effective when started early in the recovery process. Most postoperative rehabilitation should begin within 1 week of surgery to help maximize recovery. It is easier to prevent conditions such as muscle atrophy, muscle contracture, fibrous adhesions, loss of joint range of motion, and muscle atrophy with early rehabilitation than it is to reverse them.

Rehabilitation therapy is not for every patient. Aggressive animals will not be considered for physical rehabilitation. Any patient that is deemed aggressive will be turned away from VRO.