Conditions we treat

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Arthritis is a vicious cycle, as pain increases, activity levels decrease, which then increases stiffness, decreases strength, which can all lead to  more pain. Physical rehabilitation can really help break that cycle!! With an individually tailored program focused on range of motion and flexibility, progressive strengthening all to decrease your dog’s pain, and increase their daily function. providing pet parents with activities to perform at home to keep their dogs FUREVER STRONG. Download our FREE ARTHRITIS NEWSLETTER

Stifle (knee) injuries are one of the most common areas for problems to arise in dogs, more specifically a torn cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) which acts as the ACL does in humans. A big difference with dog CCL tears compared to human ACL tears, they do not usually require a traumatic injury or event to happen, more often they occur because of genetics, and lack of stability of the joint during development. In general a large breed female, spayed is one of the most commonly affected by CCL tears, and unfortunately if there is a tear or disruption on one side, there is a high probability the other knee will be affected as well. This is one of the places canine rehabilitation can make a huge difference, with or without surgery. Download our FREE CCL INJURY NEWSLETTER

Hip Dysplasia is a term many dog parents have heard, especially in the larger breeds (notably Retrievers, and German Shepherds) that basically mean the ball and socket joint of the hip do not have enough contact or fit together well. This is primarily due to genetic and growth factors, and as the dog continues to age it will increase their likelihood of developing arthritis and other musculoskeletal conditions.  Maintaining proper joint health by managing the dogs weight, activities and use of supplements are very important. Download our FREE HIP DYSPLASIA NEWSLETTER

Intervetebral Disc Disease is a degenerative disease of the discs, that can affect your dog's spinal cord and can cause pain, weakness and loss of sensations.  It can be described as a ruptured, bulging or herniated disc that many of us are familiar with in the human spine.  There is a wide range of symptoms that may occur suddenly, or more gradually over time which is how IVDD is classified and treated. When a dog "goes down in the rear" suddenly it is typically IVDD related especially in smaller breeds, but there are cases of more gradual decline that you may notice with changes in your pets movement and pain levels. Treatment depends on the severity of injury and can range from conservative medications to more invasive surgeries, no matter which route is followed dog rehab plays a very important role in recovery. LEARN MORE

Soft tissue injury can be a muscle, tendon or ligament injury and are commonly from a quick movement or accident, just like us humans can  strain/sprain tissues so can our dogs.  The go to treatment is usually rest and NSAIDs, but often times once the dog returns to activities you will notice continued problems because tissues have not healed completely. Tissues heal based on the forces put on them, they get stronger by challenging the muscles/tendons with the appropriate exercises and movements. 

MPL (medially luxating patella) is a common condition especially in the little breeds (Yorkies, Chihuahuas) where their knee caps do not stay in the groove that its supposed to. Usually this is a genetic/growth issue, the groove may not be  deep enough to keep the patella in its "tracks" and there are 4 grades of how severe the luxation is. Depending on the severity surgery may be required and is very successful,  canine rehabilitation is very important following surgery to address compensatory changes and weakness, and if the dog is not a surgical candidate rehab can still be very beneficial with improving the stability. LEARN MORE

There are many reason a dog may start limping or lifting one of their limbs. First check to make sure there is nothing in the paw or leg, there are lots of thorns in our landscaping that can try to hitch a ride, and make sure no nails are broken either. Once cleared then the list of possibilities continue to a bruise, broken bone, pulled muscle, torn ligament to as far as cancer, IVDD and other conditions, this is why it is important to contact your vet when your pet begins to limp or is not willing to place a paw down. Once your pup is cleared, rehabilitation is all about getting them back to moving strong and pain free.

Every dog has a different ideal weight and build so it is very challenging to just read the dog food bag and figure out how much they need to be fed; the ranges on the food bag are huge and can be confusing! A great rule of thumb is to observe the dog from above and from the side- there should be a nice curve in along their waist, and you should be able to feel their ribs without having to press inward. Exercise and a healthy diet are very important, and rehab can help provide you and your pup with a good exercise program that is safe and appropriate for their current level.