Rehabilitation practices following an injury have been performed on racing animals for some time but, until recently, have been an overlooked aspect in general veterinary medicine. Increasingly, techniques borrowed from the realm of human physical therapy have been adapted to companion animals, and though still relatively uninvestigated, significant advantages over traditional protocols are being recognized. Animal rehabilitation therapies and treatments are designed to help restore a patient's prior abilities, ease discomfort, and maximize functional outcome following a procedure.

In November of 1999, the Veterinary Referral Center of Colorado (VRCC) added animal rehabilitation as a helpful adjunct to the extensive services offered at its facility.