Podcasts about canine rehabilitation

Dr. McCauley has had a lifelong passion for helping as many pets as possible live an optimal quality of life. After graduating from Colorado State School of Veterinary Medicine she spent six years in general practice and quickly became a pioneer in the field of Veterinary Rehabilitation. She went on to open the first Veterinary Rehabilitation Clinic in 1998 and designed the first underwater treadmill for dogs. Dr. McCauley was on faculty at Canine Rehabilitation Institute for 14 years and has taught thousands of veterinarians, physical therapists, and veterinary technicians the art of Canine Rehabilitation. She is certified in acupuncture and chiropractic therapy and is board certified in canine sports medicine and rehabilitation. Dr. McCauley is an International lecturer and contributing author in many textbooks and journals. She was awarded the 2011 Iams AARV Award of Excellence in the Field of Rehabilitation and the 2015 AHVMA Holistic Practitioner of the Year Award. She does locum work at the Louisiana School of Veterinary Medicine, stepping in as head of the Integrative Medicine Department several times a year.Dr. McCauley owns Red Tail Rehab, a mobile canine rehabilitation practice in North Carolina. She began Optimum Pet Vitality in 2020 to teach professionals and pet parents different ways to help their clients and pets achieve Optimum health. With this online teaching platform, Dr. Laurie is empowering people all over the world to help pets have an Optimum Quality of Life.Topics covered in this episode: Understanding fascia: The basicsFascia's role in the bodyDiagnostic tools and techniquesFascia and nerve interactionUnderstanding fascial restrictions and their locationsCommon trigger points in pets and how to address themElbow arthritis and its impact on dogsResources and course informationLinks and Resources:  Learn more about Dr. McCauley's courses through her website, Optimum Pet VitalityFind Dr. McCauley on FacebookFind Dr. McCauley on InstagramFind Dr. McCauley on YouTubeText “fascia” to 866-949-0068 for the top five trigger points chartMaking Strides for Animal Chiropractic Links and Resources:Visit the Making Strides for Animal Chiropractic websiteVisit our Facebook PageVisit our Instagram Page Thank you to our sponsors!Academy for the Advancement of Animal ChiropracticiPoint Touch- Integrative Veterinary Medicine EHRThe Evidence Based ChiropractorHave an idea for the podcast?Please leave us a survey! 

Letosky's watch. Tune in for a deep dive into the world of K9 rehabilitation and discover how we can better support our beloved pets! Dr. Letosky is a general practitioner at the Avon Lake Animal Clinic, and has been a part of the team since 1996. She has special interests in ultrasonography, and obtained her certification in this field through the University of Illinois Executive Veterinary Program. Dr. Letosky is also a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner. She received this certification through the University of Tennessee. She earned her Bachelors of Science from Wayne State University and her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine. In addition to practicing veterinary medicine, Dr. Letosky also enjoys golfing and birding. Her love for animals extends to her home life, where she has three pets: two cats named Radar and Shade, and a Boston Terrier named Tug. In 2022 Dr. Letosky was awarded a certificate in Veterinary acupuncture (CVAT) through the Canine Rehab Institute. --- As a veterinary dermatologist, Dr. Alice Jeromin can tell you that the chronically affected allergic pet condition Atopic Dermatitis is rarely ever 'cured', but can be effectively managed. Command™ Deep Cleansing Shampoo from VetriMax is a top veterinarian-prescribed treatment for skin problems resulting from chronic itch, pyoderma, infection, and allergic dermatitis. VetriMax makes practicing veterinary medicine better by giving doctors high-performing, high-value, evidence-based products. Now with Command Shampoo you can bring that same quality into your regular home routine. Go to Chewy.com and enter promo code COMMAND15 to save 15% off on Command™ Deep Cleansing Shampoo. VetriMax Makes it Better. --- Support our sponsor for this episode Blue Buffalo by visiting bluebuffalo.com. BLUE Natural Veterinary Diet formulas offer the natural alternative in nutritional therapy. At Blue Buffalo, we have an in-house Research & Development (R&D) team with over 300 years' experience in well-pet and veterinary therapeutic diets, over 600 scientific publications, and over 50 U.S. patents. At Blue Buffalo, we have an in-house Research & Development (R&D) team with over 300 years' experience in well-pet and veterinary therapeutic diets, over 600 scientific publications, and over 50 U.S. patents. --- All footage is owned by SLA Video Productions.

Welcome to The K9PT Academy podcast, the only podcast in veterinary rehabilitation that focuses on helping business owners and entrepreneurs build and scale a profitable and successful canine rehabilitation business! Last week I asked my business coach why he thought some business owners and entrepreneurs succeed while others don't, and his simple answer was focus and execution. As I thought more about it I realized how much that has affected not just my life and business, but also how I have seen a similar trend through the years with our coaching programs as well. The truth is that it can be so easy for us to get distracted and lose focus, but how do we go about overcoming those distractions so we can build a successful canine rehab business? Listen to the full episode as we discuss: Why we need to be careful about "shiny object syndrome" Why we need to be careful taking advice from someone who has never built or accomplished what we want to accomplish The trap behind "passive income" and how to approach that How a lack of a game plan leads towards us minoring on small things (and what to do about it) The importance of making the main thing the main thing Join our Canine Rehabpreneur Community: www.facebook.com/groups/k9rehabpreneur/ Download our fee calculator and training: https://thek9pt.mykajabi.com/Fee-calculator Download our 'marketing done easy' worksheet and training: https://www.k9ptacademy.com/marketing-done-easy ... Thank you so much for listening to this episode and if you found this content valuable here are some additional ways we can help each other: 1) Go to www.k9ptacademy.com for more resources on business ownership, including our free Fee Calculator and Marketing Done Easy worksheet 2) Send us your question or subscribe to our weekly newsletter by emailing us at hello@k9ptacademy.com 3) Share this episode with a colleague who might also find it helpful :-) 4) Leave us a 5-star review so we can expand our reach and help more folks

Dr. Karin Olsen was raised in Brooklyn, New York. She began riding horses at a young age, and a health issue with her horse while she was studying Economics and Spanish at Middlebury College in Vermont sparked an interest in a career in veterinary medicine.She earned her veterinary degree from Cornell University in 2003. During that time, she was exposed to acupuncture because of a demonstration by Dr. Allen Schoen at her school. After graduation, she worked in a few small animal practices before deciding to take the Medical Acupuncture for Veterinarians course. She was certified in 2015.After hearing Dr. Linda Boggie lecture at a conference, she enrolled in the IVAS acupuncture course and was certified in 2018. She has also studied Canine Rehabilitation at Chi University. In 2023 she became a Fellow of the American Academy of Veterinary Acupuncture.She opened her own house call practice, Healing Hands Veterinary Acupuncture and Integrative Services, in 2019.Please enjoy this conversation with Dr. Karin Olsen as we discuss her childhood, education, holistic education, and her life as a solo mobile holistic practitioner.

We have hit episode 100, and I thought it would be a great opportunity to discuss the current state of the industry and how we can stand out from the competition in this new era of canine rehabilitation! Listen to the episode as we discuss: The importance of us needing to prove to ourselves that something can be accomplished The current state of veterinary industry with private equity, corporate buyouts, and consolidation How consolidation and private equity has forced business owners to become better at running their businesses The importance of standing out with your customer journey and marketing strategy The freedom and benefits of calling your own shots How building a solid team culture will influence recruitment and retention How relationship based marketing with a nurturing process will allow you to build the business of your dreams The new era of marketing with Google ads with Performance Max and Generative AI, and why you need to take advantage of it If you are interested in having someone running your google ad accounts, please fill out the inquiry form below. We will be in touch to see if you would be a good fit for those services, and after we chat I will honestly say if it would be good for you to implement google ads for your business, and if it isn't I can help give you the resources that would be more helpful for you at this time. Google Ads Inquiry Form: https://forms.gle/e82gxHDyReGoXQkP6 Marketing 101: Turning on your Google Machine: https://www.k9ptacademy.com/google-machine ... Thank you so much for listening to this episode and if you found this content valuable here are some additional ways we can help each other: 1) Go to www.k9ptacademy.com for more resources on business ownership, including our free Fee Calculator and Marketing Done Easy worksheet 2) Send us your question or subscribe to our weekly newsletter by emailing us at hello@k9ptacademy.com 3) Share this episode with a colleague who might also find it helpful :-) 4) Leave us a 5-star review so we can expand our reach and help more folks

Are you aware of the life-changing impact physical therapy can have on our four-legged family members? This enlightening episode promises to broaden your horizons with Dr. Amy Rogato, the founder of In PawSuit, a pioneering mobile rehab service for pets. From her transition from physical therapy for humans to animals to her determination to make a difference in the veterinary industry, Dr. Rogato's story is an inspiring one. Listen in to learn about the challenges and rewards of her mobile service, and how the COVID-19 pandemic has reshaped the way we look at pet care.We delve into an engaging discussion with Dr. Rogato on the role of veterinarians in referring patients to her service, and how she's breaking barriers in an industry traditionally focused on clinical care to include physical therapy. As we journey further into the podcast, we turn the spotlight to the wide range of treatments offered by In Pawsuit, and how this mobile service has become a beacon of hope for pets facing pain and mobility issues. From physical strengthening to ultrasound and TENS, learn how Dr. Rogato is empowering pet owners to contribute to their pets' recovery process with therapeutic treatments and exercises.As we round up the episode, prepare to be moved by heartwarming success stories, such as the 180-pound mastiff who was able to walk again after treatment. Dr. Rogato shares practical tips on handling large animal injuries at home and how her service bridges the gap between veterinary visits. You'll get a clear snapshot of the comprehensive range of exercises and modalities Dr. Rogato uses to improve pets' quality of life. So whether you have a pet in need or are just curious about the benefits of physical therapy for animals, this episode is a must-listen!website:https://www.inpawsuitrehab.com/IG, FB, tik tok @inpawsuitrehab Amy Rogato, In Pawsuit Rehabilitation and Wellness, Pet Rehabilitation, Animal Wellness, Home Pet Care, Veterinary Rehabilitation, Pet Health, Pet Health and Wellness, Pet Care, Physical Therapy for Pets, Veterinary Medicine, Let's Bark About It Tampa Bay, Laurie Elmer, Knicki Knowlton, Urban Dog Studio, Tampa Bay Pet Photography, Pet Photography Studio, Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Pinellas Park, Suncoast Beaches, Bradenton, Sarasota, Tampa Bay Community, Tampa Bay Podcast, dog podcastHave you ever thought about capturing professional portraits of your furry family member? If so, we're here for you? Urban Dog Studio, Tampa Bay's premiere pet photography studio, specializes in stunning portrait sessions in the studio, on location, and even in the water! Whether you're in St. Petersburg, Tampa, Clearwater, Bradenton, Sarasota, or any of the beach communities, Urban Dog Studio is here for you. Contact Urban Dog Studio today, and let them work their magic to bring out the best in you and your pets.

Today's guest is with Dr. John Waterhouse.I connect with Dr. John Waterhouse at IVAPM in Atlanta: A Veterinary Trailblazer in Alternative Medicine and Canine Rehabilitation.Dr. John Waterhouse is a veterinary professional who embarked on a diverse career journey. After graduating from the University of Sydney Veterinary School, he ventured into small animal practice before taking a sabbatical to manage his family's property development and ranching operations. During this time, he delved into veterinary alternative medicine, particularly traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture.To expand his knowledge, Dr. Waterhouse moved to the USA in 2010 to undergo a pain management and rehabilitative medicine fellowship. He gained valuable experience under the guidance of Dr. James Gaynor at Peak Performance Veterinary Group. Additionally, he honed his skills in diagnostic musculoskeletal ultrasound through an externship at the Veterinary Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Group.Dr. Waterhouse is a Certified Canine Rehab Practitioner (CCRP) from the University of Tennessee. He has extensively studied top canine rehabilitation centers in the US, acquiring insights into different business models and rehabilitation protocols developed by industry experts.As a consultant, Dr. Waterhouse played a crucial role in establishing the Canine Rehabilitation & Arthritis Center in Colorado Springs. He served as its director and continues to make a significant impact as an influential speaker at conferences worldwide. His expertise revolves around canine arthritis, pain management, and their relation to canine sports medicine.Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjohnwaterhouse/Veterinary Teaching Academy: https://www.veterinaryteachingacademy.com/Canine On-Demand:https://www.veterinaryteachingacademy.com/caninerehabondemand→ Let's Connect + hit the icon on my profile + tap into the show ↳ Be the first to see (all of) my posts and stay connected. ↳ Listen to the podcast - TheJoeLemonShow.com

Today's interview is with a veterinary nurse and CCRP from Perth, Australia! As this episode is coming out, I'll be flying back home from the UK! I can't wait to share my adventures and lessons with you! One last mention that I will be recording my ask me anything episode when I get back so please send me your questions below! It was amazing to hear today's guest's journey as I sit down with Carmel Keylock. Carmel has been in the field of animal physio for 30 years. I also apologize if the audio is not perfect as we recorded this interview over zoom! “I just found that I had this natural interest in getting things better. Long story short, I went to the UK for 6 months on holiday and learned about animal physio. Originally I thought I would help horses but since I had so much experience working with all sorts of animals, I took what I knew was working for the horses and used those techniques to also help dogs and other animals”. To hear the full interview, listen to the podcast episode! Submit your questions: https://forms.gle/7hwwmSaFwvMnvS6s9 www.k9ptacademy.com hello@k9ptacademy.com

This week, I am taking a segment from my Marketing Bootcamp this past weekend and sharing it with you all! We're diving into real marketing this week! Why would I need to market my business if my schedule is already full and we have a waitlist? I'll dive into the misconception of what real marketing is and why it goes way beyond getting appointments. If you missed my marketing bootcamp, below is a link to watch the replay! Registration is now open for my Business Accelerator as well! The RMC method is what we use to build marketing here at my clinic, TheK9PT. RCM stands for real marketing cycle. It allows you to fill your schedule with clients who are happy to pay what you're worth. Topics you'll hear on this episode are advertising vs marketing, how to implement real marketing within your practice and how to distinguish yourself from the competition. To hear more, listen to the full episode here! Watch the Marketing Bootcamp replay: https://www.k9ptacademy.com/marketing-bootcamp-registration Register for my Business Accelerator here: https://www.k9ptacademy.com/business www.k9ptacademy.com hello@k9ptacademy.com

Join us for an intriguing conversation about canine rehabilitation with special guest Dr Lisa Mason!

I realized my love for canine rehab and massage while volunteering at a canine rehab facility in 2012 when I took my own dog in for rehab.  I wasn't able to pursue school at that time and went on to work as a veterinary assistant while being trained as a technician on the job. While learning valuable information about the veterinary field and gaining vast experience working in general practice, I felt I was missing out on a passion that I had grown to love.  I went on and graduated from New England Institute of Technology with an Associates in Science Degree in Veterinary Technology, as well as going to the University of Tennessee for Canine Rehabilitation.   My love for helping geriatric patients and other arthritic dogs lead me to go on and become certified in canine massage at the Brandenburg Massage Therapy program.  I worked in a rehab facility in Massachusetts since 2014 and continued on to do the job I love fitting in massages anywhere I can whether it be in the pool, underwater treadmill, draped over an exercise ball or on a bed.   https://www.pawsitivehealingtouch.com/about-me ​

Go to our Survey Link Here and complete the PetAbility survey by January 31 for your chance to win $100 Amazon gift card!! Winners will be selected randomly and notified by email. Thank you! Cathy & ChrisDubbed by some as "The Mother of Canine Rehabilitation," it was an honor having Laurie McCauley, DVM, DACVSMR, CCRT, CVA, CVC, on our show to discuss how each of us has the ability to improve our dog's health and longevity through exercise. It's not hard as long as you know a few basics, like the type  of exercise to use to achieve specific goals for your dog's body AND brain. Listen and learn:When is my dog geriatric?What happens to my dog's body and brain with aging? How can I positively prevent or reverse some of the natural effects of aging?How to perform Rhythmic Stabilization, one of Dr. McCauley's Top 5 Exercises for Geriatric Dogs.Signs to look for before, during , and after exerciseHow to create an exercise program for your dog?What is Myos and how can this supplement help build muscle?Find Dr. McCauley at OptimumPetVitality.com.Get free e-book: The Top 5 Exercises for Geriatric Dogs here or text ebook to 1+866-949-0068.Pet parents, sign up for Dr. McCauley's new course, Core & More - Foundational Core Exercises For Your Dog, using promo code PETPOD22 to receive 25% off!Veterinary professionals, sign up for Dr. McCauley's Optimum Geriatric Exercise Course to learn more!Purchase Myos using promo code OPV25 to receive 25% off!Support the showFollow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube @ PetAbility Podcast!PetAbility is affiliated with Dr. Buzby's Toe Grips to keep your dog from slipping. You may order your dog's Toe Grips via two options. 1) When you order at toegrips.com and use the promo code PETPOD22 at check out, you will receive 10% off your first order and PetAbility receives 10%. 2. When you order using this link: https://shop.toegrips.com/petpod22, the entire 20% will go to support our show.PetAbility is affiliated with ADogsBestLifeBox.com. When you subscribe to receive their awesome enrichment kits using the coupon code PETPOD22 , you save 10% on your first order and get a free gift, the Scout and About Compact Training Pouch and PetAbility gets 10%PetAbility is affiliated with HedzUpPets watercollars at SaveDogsFromDrowning.com. When you purchase your own watercollar by using coupon code PETPOD...

From the very first episode, I've talked a lot about 2 main terms that we are familiar with: marketing and selling. Now, I don't think any of us would argue that there is marketing involved in canine rehabilitation, even if you rely solely on word-of-mouth or veterinary referrals, there will be some form of marketing strategy associated with it. Now, I have had more than one person ask me about selling in canine rehabilitation. No one would argue the need to market our services, but yet some folks fail to understand the importance of selling our services as well. In this episode, I cover the following points that are also tied into our fee calculator. The first is, why is selling widely in healthcare but yet we don't consider selling directly to the patient ourselves. Next is that our qualifications are all that matters when in reality, the public could care less. Thirdly is that selling is about helping people make a decision. After this comes being respected vs liked, looking at if money is the real issue, what to sell and what people will think. Want to learn more? Listen to the full episode. Fee Calculator: https://thek9pt.mykajabi.com/Fee-calculator www.k9ptacademy.com hello@k9ptacademy.com

Joining me today is Amy Granacki, a Registered Veterinary Technician and Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner at Van Isle Veterinary Hospital. Amy will take us on a journey through the eyes of CCR along with what prompted her to choose this profession. She will also give us tips and tricks and how we can better take...

Increasingly research shows the link between pain and behavior in dogs. While it's not the only reason dog's present with behavioral challenges, it can be a significant contributing factor. And that's why in the episode I chat with canine rehabilitation specialist, Sue Van Evra. Sue is the person we go to when our dogs, India and Percy, are feeling stiff and sore. She's helped them deal with lots of different challenges including back pain and hip soreness.  But more than that, with her guidance on preventative physiotherapy, India and Percy have remained sprightly and active in a way that belies their age.  I joke that they do more physio than me. Actually, it's not a joke – they do! In this interview with Sue we discuss: How we, as dog parents, can learn to spot pain in our dogs. What we should do when we do suspect our dogs are in pain. How physical therapy and rehabilitation can help dogs of all ages. What you can do if you have a dog who's been prescribed crate-rest but who freaks when crated (hint: the crucial word here is “rest).  Tune in to hear our chat about these topics, and many more. About Sue Van Evra Sue obtained her Physiotherapy Degree from McMaster University in 1993 (after completing both honors and Master's degrees in Physiology from the University of Western Ontario).   Sue has spent the last 29 years working as a physiotherapist in outpatient orthopedics with humans, and first started studying Canine Rehabilitation in 2006.  Sue obtained a Diploma in Canine Rehabilitation through the Animal Rehabilitation Division of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association and has worked at the Canine Fitness Centre in Calgary since 2016.  She continues to treat humans (mostly dog lovers!) at Two Hands Physiotherapy – located within the Canine Fitness Centre.  Since December 2021 Sue has also been working at the Canmore Vet Hospital rehabilitating dogs.  Sue is passionate about learning and problem solving and has completed many advanced courses (both human and canine rehab) to better be able to assess and treat patients effectively.  Sue is a huge dog-lover and her passion for the canine world makes her excited to be able to work with dogs and to use her experience and in-depth knowledge of physiotherapy principles to rehabilitate the canine population! Sue is on the Advocacy Committee for the Animal Rehabilitation Division of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association. How to work with Sue If you live in Southern Alberta then your lucky dogs can get to work with Sue. You can find Sue at the Canine Fitness Centre in Calgary and at the Canmore Veterinary Hospital. 

Today we will be talking about one of my favorite topics, selling. Yes, there is selling in healthcare, and we need to first start by changing our mindset around the word selling as selling is actually a good thing. Clinically, you can be the best canine rehab therapist in your city, but what good are your clinical skills if people are seeing you for 2-3 sessions and falling off because they feel better? What good are your clinical skills if folks are taking their pets to see you for an evaluation and that's it? Your goal should not be to solely get more and more clinical skills, but instead to focus on how to put the skills you already have into maximum use. Contrary to popular belief, the goal of the initial call during a sales process is to build a relationship with people and show them that you truly care about them. You don't want to be spitting out your prices and services and expect them to go ahead and book an evaluation with you. It is important to put yourself in the shoes of someone who has been looking for the right fit in terms of a clinic but also got a bit of a price shock from yours. They may have also encountered a lot of impersonal calls with previous clinics they've contacted or worked with as well. The way you speak to potential customers and current ones, sets the tone for the sales strategy that you have and the experience that they have. The ultimate goal is to find your ideal customers who are just as loyal, educated and caring as you are. Do you want to learn more about how to work on improving your sales skills and retention rate? Then join us for the live training this September 10th on How to Charge More and Be More Profitable in Canine Rehabilitation. It will absolutely change the way you approach your business in canine rehabilitation in a very positive way. Register for the September 10th Webinar: k9ptcademy.com/money-talk

In this episode we discuss the future of marketing in Canine Rehabilitation as well as discussing what “real marketing” is. We'll look at how canine rehabilitation clinics have dealt with marketing in the past because it's important to understand where we're coming from, so we know where we should be heading towards. In the past, clinics were very successful building up a network of veterinary referrals and relying on word-of-mouth referrals, but is that still the best way to build your business? Today, there are more standalone rehabilitation clinics, and most large specialty centers also have their own in-house rehabilitation section. So where does that leave clinics the relied so much on veterinary referrals in the past? Contact: hello@k9ptacademy.com www.k9ptacademy.com

Finding something that works is the first priority of every dog lover who has a dog with cancer. Dr. Mitsie Vargas knows exactly how you feel, both as a pet owner herself and a veterinarian, parent, and daughter. Her experiences with her own pets and family members – as well as a chance event in vet school – have led her to incorporate natural and alternative therapies alongside the more classical cancer treatments from Western medicine. Listen to her story and some of the therapies that she has had success treating her canine cancer patients, ranging from Chinese herbs to acupuncture and beyond. Links Mentioned in the Episode: Chi University International Veterinary Acupuncture Society American Academy of Veterinary Acupuncture Related Links: Holistic Dog Cancer Treatments: Oncologist Panel Discussion 2022 podcast episode About Today's Guest, Dr. Mitsie Vargas: Dr. Mitsie Vargas graduated from Tuskegee University in 1994. In 1996 she established her AAHA hospital which evolved into an integrative practice. She is a Certified Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM) Practitioner and certified in Veterinary Medical Manipulation, Canine Rehabilitation, and Veterinary Balance Method Acupuncture. She is also a Fellow of the American Academy of Veterinary Acupuncture and holds a Master's degree in TCVM from Chi University. Dr. Vargas is an author, bilingual lecturer, and teacher for Chi University of USA, Peru, and Costa Rica. She was named America's Favorite Veterinarian in 2015 and Florida's Veterinarian of the Year in 2018. She shares her passion for TCVM on her podcast The Pet Healer. She lives in Winter Haven, FL with her husband, two daughters, and a menagerie of pets. The Pet Healer Podcast: www.osahvets.com/podcast Other Links: To join the private Facebook group for readers of Dr. Dressler's book “The Dog Cancer Survival Guide,” go to https://www.facebook.com/groups/dogcancersupport/  Dog Cancer Answers is a Maui Media production in association with Dog Podcast Network This episode is sponsored by the best-selling animal health book The Dog Cancer Survival Guide: Full Spectrum Treatments to Optimize Your Dog's Life Quality and Longevity by Dr. Demian Dressler and Dr. Susan Ettinger. Available everywhere fine books are sold. Have a guest you think would be great for our show? Contact our producers at DogCancerAnswers.com Have an inspiring True Tail about your own dog's cancer journey you think would help other dog lovers? Share your true tail with our producers. If you would like to ask a dog cancer related question for one of our expert veterinarians to answer on a future Q&A episode, call our Listener Line at 808-868-3200 www.dogcanceransers.com. Dog Cancer News is a free weekly newsletter that contains useful information designed to help your dog with cancer. To sign up, please visit: www.dogcancernews.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#009 - What is Canine Rehabilitation? with BJ DesjardinsVarious methods of canine conditioning and rehabilitation have been around for years, but do you know what exactly it's used for and when it might be a good option for YOUR pup?In this episode we're chatting with BJ Desjardins who's been working in the pet rehab space for nearly 20 years! She's been treating my dog, Grizz, with laser therapy for his osteoarthritis and has also helped hundreds of other dogs with both conditioning and rehabilitation.BJ's qualifications include:CCRA (Certified Canine Rehab Assistant)PTA (Physical Therapy Assistant)Certified in Canine Myo-manipulative Functional TherapyLearn:What exactly is canine rehabilitation?What are some rehab treatments used to help dogs?What conditions are most often treated with rehabilitation therapy?How would a pup parent know if their pup could benefit from rehabilitation?What qualifications should a pup parent look for in a rehabilitation specialist?Resources from this episode:Episode 009: ResourcesEverything Pup Podcast Community on FacebookFind Holly on Social Media:FacebookInstagram 

Dr. Radica Raj started practice as a Veterinarian in general practice but soon embarked on a more fast-paced career in Veterinary Emergency Medicine and Critical Care in Ontario.Within a year of practice in this field she was inspired to start her own emergency facility and subsequently opened a second general practice. While this path provided the stimulus and the challenges she had yearned for, she soon realized that there had to be a better quality of life for terminally-ill patients, for the geriatric patients disabled by osteoarthritis and for the paralyzed patients that could not walk.Determined to explore these avenues and find answers, she successfully completed her post-graduate diploma in Veterinary Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCVM) with the Chi Institute in Florida. She then completed a program in Animal Chiropractic at Options for Animals in Kansas and obtained an animal chiropractic certification from the International Veterinary Chiropractic Association (IVCA).She then started Phoenix Rising Integrative Veterinary Care thereby opening the door to an integrative veterinary clinic on Vancouver Island. She ensured that her services were integrative by performing surgery on her patients through another clinic even as she practised wholistic medicine.Dr. Radica Raj has experience handling emergencies, surgical and internal medicine cases as well as chiropractic, acupuncture, Chinese Medicine and Regenerative medicine i.e. PRP, prolotherapy, etc. On account of this, you will find that she is more than willing to collaborate with your family veterinarian and specialists involved in dealing with your pet's health.Her scope of practice includes Internal medicine, Surgery, Emergency, Chiropractic, Acupuncture, Chinese Medicine and Regenerative Medicine.She is now also certified in Canine Rehabilitation. https://phoenixrisingvet.com

Megan Weaver is a highly-trained senior pet expert who uses her passion for pets to improve the quality of life for older dogs & cats, by providing educational content, workshops and product information through her company "The Senior Pet Movement". For a special 20% discount on Megan's Pet massage workshops use discount code MCS-DOG20! Megan's background in Canine Rehabilitation helps her understand the struggles that older pets face. She created solutions & strategies to help pet owners care for their amazing pets with much more ease! Megan's mission is to change how pet owners care for their older pets. She is committed to educate pet owners about different ways to give their pet the best quality of life possible through their senior years! Megan is an LVT, CCRP who has worked with Board-Certified veterinary surgeons and Board-Certified veterinary neurologists to develop her expertise. To connect with Megan, see her website at: https://www.theseniorpetmovement.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Theseniorpetmovement or sign up for her email/newsletter here: https://www.theseniorpetmovement.com/email-sign-up (all photos in this video are used with permission by Megan Weaver)In this series of interviews, Jim and Bee from Modern Canine Vlog interview people who have turned their love for pets into a career or lifestyle.Subscribe to our channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/ModernCanineVlog?sub_confirmation=1

Today's episode is with Jenn Wolfe who has worked in veterinary medicine for just under 20 years, 12 of which as a specialized technician and Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner. Jenn has had dogs (and cats) her whole life. Her current dog has lead her on the path of furthering her knowledge and implementing more focused training and sport. He is a 2 year old American Pitbull Terrier, named Theo. Jenn acquired him as a 6 week old puppy through a local rescue that she knows well. Jenn and Theo went through puppy classes, lessons in agility foundations etc.. When Theo was about 6 months old we scheduled a consult with a new training facility. Little did she know this was the start of their true journey... Want to join the Dogs & Deadlifts Mini Strength Course? Click Here! OR https://www.canineconditioning.club/Membership

Francisco Maia from the K9PT joins Megan to chat about his business philosophy, focusing on his areas of strength, and how it has benefitted the business.  The Business of Canine Rehabilitation with CRI: https://bit.ly/3giolhN  The K9PT Business Accelerator: www.k9ptbusiness.com Watch Francisco Maia's Free Training in our free platform: https://onlinepethealth.com/free-webinars/  Download 12 free ways to market your practice: www.onlinepethealth.com/12freeways To learn about Onlinepethealth, watch a free webinar, or join any of our Facebook groups, click here: https://linktr.ee/vetrehabpodcast

In today's episode, we discuss the work of Canine Rehabilitation Veterinarians, and what that might mean for the health and well being of your dog.  We cover what types of treatments these vets can provide, the certifications they have, their impact on aging dogs, and more.   Our guest is Dr. Mandi Blackwelder, DVM, CCRP.  Dr. Mandi has a bachelor's degree in Microbiology from Colorado State University. Following that, she interned at the Denver Zoo and then started veterinary school. After earning her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine in 1998, she moved to Wisconsin and practiced in the dairy vet industry before finding her niche in small animal medicine in Grants Pass, Oregon for the next 14 years. In 2002, Dr. Mandi took an acupuncture certification course through Colorado State University. In 2013, she became certified in physical therapy and rehabilitation at the University of Tennessee and now runs the successful Healing Arts Animal Care in Beaverton, Oregon. Healing Arts provides veterinary acupuncture, pet rehabilitation therapy, physical therapy and athletic conditioning to the dogs and cats of Portland, Oregon area. Through manual therapies, animal acupuncture, laser, ultrasound, underwater treadmill and creating tailored individual home exercises, the team at Healing Arts strives to bring your injured pet back to speed, keep your elderly pet as an active member of the family, return your obese pet back to a functional friend and keep your athletic pet at the peak of his performance. Take a listen now, and don't forget to rate, review and subscribe to the podcast. And if you like it, maybe share it with your friends?! 

This week on the Good Dog Pod, Laura Reeves is accompanied by Dr. Chris Zink, DVM. Dr. Zink is a canine sports medicine and rehabilitation specialist.  What is a sports medicine and rehabilitation specialist? A veterinary specialist is someone who has done a three year residency specializing in learning about a very specific field. At the end of that three year period, the specialist has to pass a very complicated examination that requires months of studying. There also are many people who have attended rehabilitation training. Rehabilitation training often requires hundreds of hours of classroom and laboratory time, and oftentimes requires an internship. If we are talking about people who have a certification in rehabilitation, there are four main groups that offer these certifications.  Four main groups that offer the certification: https://www.caninerehabinstitute.com/ (Canine Rehabilitation Institute) https://healingoasis.edu/ (Healing Oasis)  https://www.ivmi.us/ (Integrative Veterinary Medical Institute)  https://www.neseminars.com/animal-science/ (Northeast Seminars) A person who is certified in rehabilitation therapy might be a veterinarian, or they may be a physical therapist, in which case they aren't trained to do the veterinary component, but rather the rehabilitation component. They may in fact be a veterinary nurse who isn't trained to make diagnoses either. If you find yourself with a dog who may have an orthopedic injury, first you want to go to your general practitioner veterinarian. They are familiar with your dog and they know you. Should you need a referral, Dr. Zink recommends not to go to a certified rehabilitation professional but rather to an orthopedic surgeon or a sports medicine specialist. Remember: veterinarian first! How would your dog be treated? Some examples include laser therapy, therapeutic ultrasound, shockwave therapy, massage or other kinds of manipulation.  For more information on dog rehabilitation, check out this week's episode! Will you be attending Westminster 2021? Join us for a Breeder Appreciation Party on Friday, June 11th. The event will be outdoors, at Hudson Anchor Rooftop in Tarrytown, NY. There will be free food, drinks, live music and giveaways. And better yet: dogs are welcome! Make sure to pre-register at: https://bit.ly/3f9fwGr (https://bit.ly/3f9fwGr) and follow our https://www.facebook.com/events/505125380855294/?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A[%7B%22mechanism%22%3A%22search_results%22%2C%22surface%22%3A%22search%22%7D]%7D (Facebook Event) for the latest updates!

Being a strong team in dog-powered sports means building the human and canine sides equally. In this episode, I sit down and talk with Veterinarian, Certified Canine Rehabilitation Therapist, Human Fitness and Pain Management Coach, and athlete Cheryl Coplon. We talk about fitness and building mileage to the ultra distance for humans and canines as well as canine fitness plans to prevent and treat injuries.  In this episode we mention:  Georgia Veterinary Rehabilitation: https://bluepearlvet.com/hospital/marietta-ga/ 

A listener, who is a scientist, asked a great question - "Can positive reinforcement training reach the cognitive side of the brain?" Great question. I had to think about this and am excited to share my thoughts. We then explore Canine Enrichment exercises, their benefits, and if they reach the cognitive side of the brain.I then use an example provided by a professor as to what CBT is and how it is like making soup!I was recently a guest on a tv show where I provided a tip that combines R+ exercises and CBT to help integrate a rescued dog into your home. This tip got a lot of great feedback, so I thought I would share it.For more info on the listener who asked the question, visit her IG page - DogScienceSaysWhat the Dog Science Says (@dogsciencesays) • Instagram photos and videos And, as always, thanks to Open Strum and Danielle Bourjeaurd for the music clips Open Strum(6) Danielle Bourjeaurd | FacebookI am now on ClubHouse as Billie Groom - follow me and let me know and I will follow back!Links to Billie Groom and UPWARD Dogology: https://www.upwarddogology.com/   Billie Groom | LinkedIn(2) UPWARD Dogology (@UDogology) / TwitterUPWARD Dogology (@upwarddogology) • Instagram photos and videosUpward Dogology | FacebookSeason 5 is a "Dogology" of tips, Q and A's, interviews, discussions and a deeper look UPWARD Dogology all with the goal of making the world a better place! Season 4 is interviews with people and organizations. Be part of the solution by listening, sharing, and reviewing.  Season 3 dives deep into trending methods. Are they right for you and your dog? Season 2 shares the learning journey of my clients with dogs; always interesting and a great way to feel a connections with others who have similar experiences.  Season 1 outlines my  learning journey and dives into the limitations of positive reinforcement training and introduces cognitive behavioral therapy.

Essex Animal Hospital With Dr. Janice Huntingford today on It's A Dogs Life with Angela Ardolino only on Cannabis Radio. Dr. Janice Huntingford is a 1984 graduate of the Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, in Guelph, Ontario, and a Board Certified Specialist (Diplomate) in Canine Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine (DACVSMR), only 1 of 3 in Canada. She is certified in Animal Chiropractic by the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association (AVCA), in Animal Acupuncture by the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society, in Chinese herbal Medicine (Chi Institute), and is a Certified Veterinary Pain Practitioner. In 2007, Dr. Huntingford opened Ontario’s first saltwater canine therapy pool and canine rehabilitation center.

Matt Brunke, DVM, DACVSMR, CCRP, CVPP, CVA, is a native New Yorker, having grown up in New York, New York. He received his BS in animal science from Cornell University in 2000 and his DVM from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine in St Kitts, graduating in 2004. He received his certification in rehabilitation in 2008 from the University of Tennessee Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner program, and now teaches for that program. He completed the practice experience pathway for the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation (ACVSMR) in 2017 and passed ACVSMR boards in January 2018. As an ACVSMR diplomate, he believes in a big-picture, practical approach to his patients and enjoys both orthopedic and neurological cases. When not at work, he enjoys running with his dog Penny.

In this episode we sit down with Dr. Jan Van Dyke, a pioneer in the field of canine rehabilitation and sports medicine. Dr. Van Dyke initially started her veterinary career as a board certified surgeon. During the course of her career she saw many patients that would benefit from physical rehabilitation and in 2002 founded the Canine Rehabilitation Institute (http://www.caninerehabinstitute.com/index.html ). In this episode Drs. Spoo and Van Dyke discuss canine rehabilitation, what it is, what training looks like. The differentiation of a rehab certified vet and board-certified as well as resources for finding a vet with advanced rehab training.

Kristin Kirkby Shaw, DVM, MS, PhD, Diplomate ACVS, Diplomate ACVSMR  creates personalized treatment plans for dogs with or at-risk of arthritis. These plans typically include: physical rehabilitation, intra-articular therapies, or surgery; but they always include comprehensive pain management, weight loss (if indicated), regular exercise, and wholesome nutrition. She is also an educator, teaching other veterinarians how to properly diagnose and manage arthritis in their patients.  As a consultant, Dr. Kirkby Shaw works with Animal Health companies to develop new solutions for treating arthritis in pets. Resources such as these are part of the benefits of CARE membership. Check out her episode on canine rehabilitation and various resources to use! 

Dr. Laurie McCauley grew up in New York City and got her DVM from Colorado State University in 1992. After 6 years in private practice, she was certified in acupuncture and chiropractic. After a personal injury introduced her to physical therapy, she started the first veterinary rehabilitation specific practice in 1998 in Illinois. She helped design the first underwater treadmill for animals during this time. A prolific author and speaker, Dr. McCauley has written numerous articles, scientific papers, and books. She is the author of the books Canine Rehabilitation and Physical Therapy for Veterinary Technicians, Canine Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, and Building the Canine Athlete. She has presented lectures and done wet labs at countless conferences both nationally and internationally. She has been on the faculty at the Canine Rehabilitation Institute for 14 years as well. She received the Iams AARV Award for Excellence in 2011 and the AHVMA Holistic Practitioner of the Year award in 2015. In 2016 Dr. McCauley moved to North Carolina and started a house call rehabilitation practice. In April of 2020 she launched Optimum Pet Vitality, an online platform for teaching rehabilitation to Veterinarians, Veterinary Technicians, and Physical Therapists. She is planning to launch an extended laser therapy course on that platform in August of 2020. If you are interested in the course, use the discount code OPVCIVT to register. Please enjoy this conversation with Dr. Laurie McCauley.

Food As Medicine With Dr. Sarah Urban today on It's A Dog's Life! Sarah Urban DVM is a 2012 graduate from Oklahoma State University School of Veterinary Medicine. She became certified in Canine Rehabilitation as a Practioner from the University of Tennessee in 2012. She became certified in Mixed Animal Acupuncture from the Chi Institute in Reddick Florida in 2013. Summer of 2015 she became certified in Veterinary Spinal Manipulation Therapy (chiropractic) from the Healing Oasis in Sturtevant, WI. Currently, she is working on a Master’s program in Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine from the Chi Institute. Most recently she became certified in Veterinary Food Therapy. She also has attended animal postural rehabilitation classes which combine movement, dentistry, farrier work, and chiropractic. She is a member of the College of Animal Chiropractors, Inc. (CoAC). Urban currently sits on the board of research for McQueen Animal Chiropractic and Research Institute and is also a researching veterinarian for The Holistic Equine Academy of Lymphedema, known as HEAL, an equine lymphedema awareness group. Dr. Urban is well qualified and very talented, bringing state of the art expertise and information to clients, as well as compassionate and comforting care to her patients.

On today’s episode we are talking to physiotherapist Michelle Monk about helping dogs to live their happiest, longest and healthiest lives. Michelle began her career as a human Physiotherapist over 20 years ago before shifting to working with dogs. She initially started with a short course in Animal Physiotherapy before stablishing her first canine rehabilitation clinic, Dogs in Motion, complete with an underwater treadmill in 2003. The following year she completed her Masters Degree in Animal Physiotherapy and has been offering first class physiotherapy and rehabilitation services to pets ever since. Michelle enjoys teaching other veterinary health professionals about providing quality rehabilitation in their clinics. Dogs in Motion now proudly employs 4 Physiotherapists, an Acupuncturist and 5 Hydrotherapists.   Topics include: How and why Michelle made the transition between human and animal physiotherapy and what the turning point was. Michelle talks about her passion for older patients and the rewards in improving their quality of life. What are the most common cases seen at Dogs in Motion? Michelle explains her New Canine Extend Program and the importance of its holistic approach. Looking after your pet’s environment - are all beddings the same? How to stimulate the pet’s brain without over-exercising them physically. Michelle talks about how stress levels can impact your pet. The benefits of dietary supplements for arthritis such as green lipped mussel. Ways in which clinicians can implement part of the Canine Extend Program in their case management. The importance of a multi-modal approach. Michelle discusses the need for more research into traditional medicine.   You can find out more about Dogs In Motion and Michelle Monk at michellemonk.com.

Dr Janice Huntingford is a 1984 graduate of the Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, in Guelph, Ontario and a Board Certified Specialist in Canine Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine, 1 of 3 in Canada. She is certified in Animal Chiropractic by the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association, in Animal Acupuncture by the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society, in Chinese herbal Medicine, and is a Certified Veterinary Pain Practitioner. In 2007, Dr. Huntingford opened Ontario's first salt water canine therapy pool and canine rehabilitation center. She lectures nationally and internationally on rehabilitation, acupuncture, geriatric medicine, herbal medicine, and pain management to veterinarians and veterinary technicians. She has authored or co-authored several text book chapters on Rehabilitation and published a number of peer reviewed manuscripts. She consults and sits on a number of advisory boards related to herbal medicine, laser therapy and holistic medicine. She teaches regularly at Cornell University and is involved in Resident Training for Canine Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation for Cornell University, College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Huntingford is active in research into the treatment of animal pain. In this conversation Dr. Huntingford and I discuss her upbringing in Ontario, her veterinary school education, managing private practice while studying and passing her specialty boards, and what it is like to have a child follow her footsteps into Veterinary Medicine. Please enjoy my conversation with Dr. Janice Huntingford.

Steel City Canine Rehabilitation & Sports Medicine is Pittsburgh's only stand-alone pet rehabilitation center. We interviewed Meredith Wille LVT, CCRP, CCFT, who manages the facility. Meredith has been in the veterinary field since 1988. A lifelong learner, she has continued … Continue reading →

Steel City Canine Rehabilitation & Sports Medicine is Pittsburgh’s only stand-alone pet rehabilitation center. We interviewed Meredith Wille LVT, CCRP, CCFT, who manages the facility. Meredith has been in the veterinary field since 1988. A lifelong learner, she has continued her education beyond a Licensed Veterinary Technician: in 2017 she earned her designation as a … Continue reading Meredith Wille , LVT, CCRP, CCFT- Steel City Canine Rehabilitation & Sports Medicine →

In this episode, I chat with Dr. Joshua Arellano. He is a Physical Therapist out of Los Angeles, CA. He graduated from Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, California in 2008 and has worked in various clinical settings including: inpatient acute and transitional care, outpatient orthopedic, home health care, etc. He also has a special interest in the area of Canine Rehabilitation which we talk a lot about. He's a well rounded individual and has experience training world class athletes such as Ronda Rousey, Brazilian jiu-jitsu and judo athletes, crossfit enthusiasts, actors, dancers, etc. In addition to that, he's also competitive martial artist and former power lifter. So basically, this guy can break you and then fix you up afterwards. It was an absolute pleasure having Joshua on and I'm sure a lot of you will learn a lot from this guy. If you don't already follow him, be sure to check out The Judo Physio on IG by hitting this link and please be sure to SUBSCRIBE and give a RATING! I really appreciate the support. As always you can follow me on Instagram @thehaloeffectpodcast or email me suggestions at haloeffectpodcast@yahoo.com --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/the-halo-effect-podcast/support

Robert ("Robby") Porter fell in love with veterinary medicine from a young age, giving up most of his waking hours to the profession. However he noticed there was an obvious lack of physical therapy in clinical practice and set about to change this. He was one of the first people in the world to obtain his Certification in Canine Rehabilitation. In this episode, we talk about Robby's unique approach to managing post-operative rehabilitation and canine conditioning.  Topics discussed include: * Using food appropriately in training  * Training primary position simply and effectively  * Deciding upon the right exercise program for each dog  * Applying the principles of exercise to both post-surgical rehabilitation cases and canine athletes  * Injury prevention tips and techniques  * Other therapies Robby recommends, such as laser therapy and hyperbaric oxygen therapy  You can find Robby at www.robpossible.com, and South Paws Veterinary Specialists at www.southpawsvetspecialists.com.

We welcome to the podcast Dr. Francisco Maia PT, DPT, CCRT,  the K9PT!!  Dr. Maia talks about his introduction into canine rehabilitation, the path to certification, his need to educate others about the specialty, and how physical therapists and other rehab professionals can advocate for the ability to provide canine rehabilitation nationally.    Biography: Dr. Francisco Maia PT, DPT, CCRT Dr. Francisco Maia is a Physical Therapist who specializes in Canine Rehabilitation. Born and raised in Brazil, Francisco moved to the United States in 2005. He graduated with a B.S. degree in Exercise Science from IUPUI in 2009. Dr. Maia graduated with his DPT from the University of Pittsburgh in 2012. In 2014 after spending two years as an outpatient orthopedic physical therapist Dr. Maia first heard about canine rehab from a colleague. In a matter of a month he signed up for the certification courses to specialize in canine rehab and finished in early 2015 with the Canine Rehabilitation Institute. As the time went by, he realized that a subset of the canine population was missing the benefits of canine rehabilitation due to a variety of reasons. These included difficulty going to a clinic due to pet owners' busy schedule, difficulty with transportation, or a decline in pet's mobility. Dr. Maia started reaching out to other PT's through his blog on what canine rehab is and how to experience this arena of practice. In 2016 he joined the faculty team at the Canine Rehabilitation Institute, teaching courses in canine rehabilitation to physical therapists and veterinarians going through their certification. In 2017, he decided to combine his experience in home health physical therapy with canine rehabilitation, and TheK9PT opened for business. Dr. Francisco Maia Business Page: https://www.thek9pt.com/home/  Dr. Francisco Maia Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/theK9PT/ Dr. Francisco Maia Instagram Page: https://www.instagram.com/thek9pt/ Dr. Francisco Maia Twitter Page: https://twitter.com/thek9pt Dr. Francisco Maia Youtube Page: K9PT YOUTUBE PAGE Canine Physical Therapists Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/254473941752977/  Animal Rehabilitation SIG: https://www.orthopt.org/content/special-interest-groups/animal-rehabilitation  Canine Rehabilitation Institute: http://www.caninerehabinstitute.com/ Northeast Seminars: https://www.neseminars.com/  "Start with Why" by Simon Sinek: https://www.amazon.com/Start-Why-Leaders-Inspire-Everyone-ebook/dp/B002Q6XUE4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1535168621&sr=8-1&keywords=start+with+why    Francisco's interview on the Duck Legs Podcast on Becoming the K9PT: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-become-a-k9pt-with-dr-francisco-maia/id1176312012?i=1000410310321&mt=2  Francisco's Interview on the Capable Body Podcast on K9 PT:https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/francisco-maia-joins-with-his-story-on-becoming-the-k9-pt/id1254308538?i=1000393105995&mt=2  Francisco's Interview on the Hunt for Greatness with Greg Todd: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-391-podcast-interview-with-francisco-maia/id1128927217?i=1000426765329&mt=2  The PT Hustle Website: https://www.thepthustle.com/  Schedule an Appointment with Kyle Rice: www.passtheptboards.com    HET LITE Tool: www.pteducator.com/het  

In episode 2 of The RuffRiders Rescue Tails podcast, we share the heart-warming story of one of our Instagram followers from Sweden, Johan and Sofia Jonsson, and their puppers, Timmie and Luffsen. While we don't have a business interview segment this week, we wanted to give a shout-out to our friends at FurEver USA and help them promote their launch party on September 5th. Finally, we highlight 3 dogs-in-need in The Unadoptables segment. This week's adoptable pups (Luna, Smiley, & Zeus) come from Canine Rehabilitation & Sanctuary in Washoe Valley.

Tripawds Podcast Episode #71: Dr. Amy Kramer has a long history in the human and animal physical therapy world. She began her career with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Physical Education and Recreation, went on to work as a human physical therapist in an orthopedic practice for seven years prior to receiving a Masters and a Doctorate of Physical Therapy degrees in Physical Therapy. In 2004 when her own dog had knee surgery and needed post-operative services she became interested in animal rehabilitation, and pursued a Certificate in Canine Rehabilitation through the Canine Rehabilitation Institute. She went on to start the first Veterinarian and Physical Therapist owned rehabilitation clinic in Southern California and seven years later founded Beach Animal Rehabilitation Center (BARC). Dr. Kramer has been a member of the American Physical Therapy Association since 1991. She spends extra time trying to help integrate the veterinary and physical therapy communities getting them to recognize the benefit of combining their knowledge and expertise to improve outcomes. She has been applying skills she learned and used in the human world to the animals with tremendous success. Learn more about Dr. Kramer's work at BARC. Find more amputee pet rehab tips and video interviews with Dr. Kramer at Tripawds. Support the show (https://tripawds.com/support)

Summary: Dr. Debbie Torraca has been involved in the field of animal physical rehabilitation for over 17 years and has both a masters and a doctorate, as well as other advanced certifications in her field. She currently owns a small-animal rehabilitation practice in Connecticut called Wizard of Paws Physical Rehabilitation for Animals. Over the last 12 years, she has lectured throughout the world on the topic of small-animal rehabilitation, and is one of the founders of the Certificate Program in Canine Rehabilitation from the University of Tennessee. She has been widely published, both professionally and in venues for dog enthusiasts. Links Debbie's Clinic - Wizard of Paws Next Episode:  To be released 3/23/2018, featuring Nancy Tucker to talk about desensitization and counter conditioning. TRANSCRIPTION: Melissa Breau: This is Melissa Breau and you're listening to the Fenzi Dog Sports Podcast brought to you by the Fenzi Dog Sports Academy, an online school dedicated to providing high-quality instruction for competitive dog sports using only the most current and progressive training methods. Today we'll be talking to Dr. Debbie Gross Torraca. Dr. Torraca has been involved in the field of animal physical rehabilitation for over 17 years and has both a masters and a doctorate, as well as other advanced certifications in her field. She currently owns a small-animal rehabilitation practice in Connecticut called Wizard of Paws Physical Rehabilitation for Animals. Over the last 12 years, she has lectured throughout the world on the topic of small-animal rehabilitation, and is one of the founders of the Certificate Program in Canine Rehabilitation from the University of Tennessee. She has been widely published, both professionally and in venues for dog enthusiasts. Hi Debbie, welcome to the podcast! Debbie Torraca: Hi Melissa. Thank you so much. Melissa Breau: I'm excited to have you back today. To get things started, do you mind reminding listeners who the various furry members of your household are, and what you're working on with them? Debbie Torraca: Yes. I live with two dogs. I share my life with two dogs, but I probably see over a hundred dogs a week at my office. I'm fortunate to have wonderful owners that trust me with their wonderful animals and throw in occasional cat, horse, and who knows what else sometimes, duck. It's wonderful. My Clumber Spaniel, Bogart, is my little best buddy, and then we have a Cocker Spaniel named Hendricks, and he is my little buddy too. They're currently staring at me right now, wondering why I'm talking into the computer. Melissa Breau: I know we planned today to talk about puppies and exercise, and I think that's one of those topics that I see discussed over and over again. It comes up in the alumni group and pretty much anywhere else that people gather on the Internet to talk about dogs. There is this idea of what is and what isn't appropriate for puppies, and whenever the topic comes up, people to start talking about growth plates closing and physical development. I was curious if you could explain a little bit about what the growth plates closing bit means and your take. Debbie Torraca: Absolutely, because I think this is a topic that is always so pertinent and always so important. I've spent so much time with puppies from early on, even as early as 2 weeks of age, and watching their development, and have been following right now probably over 110 litters with starting them out on gentle exercise and then following them through. When we look at puppies, I think sometimes we forget that they're not just little dogs. They're growing dogs. The same way that we would look at a child, we would not expect a 3- or 4-year-old child to be able to pick up a golf club and hit a ball a hundred yards, or pick up a baseball bat and fire away. Yet we do that with puppies so often. I always use the example, getting back to kids just for a minute, that we know the American College of Sports Medicine has been so focused on human athletes but also the growth of human athletes, and together with the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Little League Association, it's probably one of the oldest rules, but it makes the most sense, and I think it's something that we can apply to animals. A child up to the age of 18 is limited on how many pitches he can throw, if he's a pitcher in baseball. So most of the time we would look at an 18-year-old male or female and think, Oh, they're grown. But then when we look at them when they're 24 or 25, and look back at 18, they really weren't grown. There was so much more physical and mental maturity that took place. And the reason being with throwing is it places a lot of stress on the growth plates, in particular the growth plates in the elbow and the shoulder. When we think about dogs, and people often ask, “What are growth plates?” I like to use the analogy that they're little factories that are located at the end of each bone, and these factories are constantly producing more bone and more growth, so they're working to get the dog to the size it's supposed to be. At different stages these factories will close down, and certain ones close at different times in a dog's body. The way to know they're completely closed is to do an X-ray. Some people say, “Oh, I can feel their growth plates are closed,” but that's not true at all. In some dogs, all the growth plates may close up when the puppy is between 10 and 12 months. Some puppies do not have growth plate closure until 40 months — that's over 3 years of age. These growth plates are so important because, again, those factories are constantly pushing out, making the bones longer, stronger, more substantial, and if they're injured in any way, they're going to break down and they're going to stop. Injuries can occur certainly by trauma — if a puppy is hit by a car or anything like that — but it can be also injured with too much activity, like for example, too much jumping, too much running, sometimes slipping and sliding. In agility I see it a lot with weave poles — too many weave poles too early on. So there are a lot of things. It sounds like common sense, yet you have this little ball of energy you want to do things with. People often ask, “I just want to tire my puppy out.” I've seen puppies that have different venues. They'll run their puppies six miles at 6 months of age, which I just cringe. I also get very concerned when, in agility, dogs can compete so much earlier, between 15 and 18 months, depending upon the organization. But it's not so much the competing. It's when do they start practicing. That is certainly a concern. And definitely the medium, large, and extra-large dogs. That's not to say the smaller dogs you shouldn't be careful with, but everyone wants to push their pup and make them the super pup that turns into the super dog, but again, getting back to that child, there's only so much you can push them and only so much you can do. So think about those little growth plates as little machines. Melissa Breau: You mentioned that it can vary anywhere from 10 to 12 months to 40 months. Is there … larger dogs are at one end, smaller dogs at the other end? Is that how that works? Debbie Torraca: Absolutely. The larger dogs take the longest to close up. For example, I just saw a 3-and-a-half-year-old Leonberger the other day. His owner had his hips X-rayed, and his growth plates are still open in the pelvic area. You think 3-and-a-half, and the life expectancy is not that long, but his growth plates are still … he's still going, so he's still got some growth to go. I think that's so amazing that some of these large dogs still keep growing. Smaller dogs will definitely tend to close up earlier, so your toy breeds and your small breeds will close up earlier. The growth plates that tend to close the latest are the ones in the lower back or the pelvic area and then also in the shoulder. Those are the ones that take so much stress with running and jumping and stuff like that. Melissa Breau: Interesting, which obviously is what a lot of our sports require of our dogs is those particular areas. Growth plate closing is the stage that comes up most often when we're talking about puppies and exercise. But I'm really curious -- are there other stages that maybe are less well known that people should be aware of when it comes to puppy development that impact exercise and what you should and shouldn't do? Debbie Torraca: Absolutely. I really like to educate owners to look at your puppies, and not only physical, because you definitely have to pay attention to that growth plate, but I call it “the common sense puppy thing.” Your puppies will go through stages. They'll wake up one day and have forgotten everything you've taught them. They don't know the command “sit,” “stay,” or anything like that. They're most likely going through both a physical and maybe a mental growth spurt, so I always have owners take a look at that. The other thing is their maturity. Some dogs, when you look at puppies and they're so mature for their age, just like some children are, and they're in control of their body, while others are not. The other thing is body awareness. Again, some dogs have it all together right from the get-go. They're great, they can stand, they're aware, they don't slam into furniture in your house and knock it all over, while other puppies are major klutzes, so they're all over the place. This may definitely vary because they're going to go through these growth phases, typically at 4 months, 6 months, and maybe again at 10 and 14 months, depending upon the breed. During this time, often owners will get frustrated and say, “He did sit, he did have good body awareness, and then he woke up and I'm not sure what happened.” Then I always throw in, too, the owner capability, because I've owned … I think the smallest dog I've owned is actually my Cocker Spaniel. But I've had large breeds, and in hindsight — and they say hindsight's always 20/20 — did I do stupid things with my dogs? Yeah. I thought my Bull Mastiff was all done at 18 months, and went on a long hike and made him sore because he wasn't physically ready for that. Always tuning in, like owner common sense with things, and making sure we look at puppies and their growth, and making sure everyone's aware of it, of what they're going through. Melissa Breau: You mentioned the hike. There's so much differing advice out there, I'd really love to get your take: how do you decide how much is appropriate and what's too much for a puppy when it comes to exercise? Debbie Torraca: First, look at your breed, because certainly a Border Collie is going to be much different than, let's say, a Basset Hound, with their ability and their endurance. So you're looking at their breed. A large breed is not going to be able to do as much as a smaller breed. With that said, and if you can factor that in, I like to look at 5 minutes of activity per month. For example, a 2-month-old puppy can get 10 minutes of activity a day. This sounds a little bit off, but forced physical activities, meaning taking them on a leash and walking them. No more than 10 minutes. Forced versus unforced, if they're running around the back yard and they're having fun, most puppies — and I say this: most — are fairly self-regulatory, so if they're tired, they'll take a nap. Whereas if they're on a leash or we're asking them to do an activity, they don't always have that option. So looking again at that 5 minutes, a 6-month-old pup should be able to handle 30 minutes of activity. Again, a Cocker Spaniel's going to differ from a Saint Bernard, so that Saint Bernard may need less activity, and that can be just used as a guideline. I always like to look at, certainly if the dog doesn't want to do something, then not to do it. That puppy could be going through a growth phase and not feel like going on a walk that day, and that's OK. If there's any lameness, because certainly puppies, there's a lot of conditions in puppies — panosteitis, which is inflammation of the long bones that's caused by over-activity, some dogs are prone to that, and there's a lot of other juvenile issues such as OCD lesions and HOD and a few other things that we need to be careful with — if you're looking at never causing any lameness, and that is during the activity and certainly after. I always like to look at puppies, whatever you do with them, take a look at them two to six hours after. If they sleep for two hours after the activity, that's OK, but if they're comatose for the next day, you've definitely overdone it. It may seem like a great idea, the puppies are tired and this is great, but that's not always a good thing in the long run because you can definitely cause some damage. My current Clumber Spaniel is just about to turn 8, and I have his hips X-rayed or radiographed usually every year. The first time I had it done, I was embarrassed, because when the orthopedist was reading it, he said, “Look.” He had a case of panosteitis when he was a pup, so you could see that damage in the bone. He said, “Did you overdo it with him?” And I thought, Oh my gosh, I preach this all the time. Did I overdo it with him? It's something to think about because different breeds and different activity, so whatever we do with them is going to stay with them the rest of their life, both good and bad, and certainly from a physical standpoint and from a training standpoint. Melissa Breau: Are there things that are absolutely NOT appropriate or never appropriate? Are there things that people should try to avoid beyond just tuckering a puppy out too much? Debbie Torraca: Every puppy has to endure certain things, meaning they're going to walk on a slippery floor. It's almost impossible to not have them walk over something slippery or do stairs or functional activities. You can't always carry a 4-month-old Saint Bernard puppy up three flights of stairs. Some things are definitely not to do. You want to avoid extremes of movement until those growth plates are closed up. I'm a huge advocate of not doing a lot of twisting motions, for example, weave poles. Wait until you know those growth plates are closed, and then start with weaving activity. The same thing with jumping. I hear a lot of times my agility clients will say, “But I really want them to get the foundation down.” Well, there's so many different ways to learn the foundations. You can use small bump jumps and start working with them that way, but not jumping their full height until they're completely mature. Also something that seems fairly benign that can cause a lot of issues is heeling. We don't often think about it. It seems like, “Oh, that's a simple exercise,” but when the dog is heeling, their head is up in extension and their neck is rotated, and that is going to place a lot more stress onto the left front leg and the left back leg, and if they don't have that core strength or the balance, we can see issues come down the pike later on. For example, one of the common things I see in obedience dogs is pelvic asymmetry. The dogs have odd issues with their pelvic area, they haven't been strengthened well, and they lead to chronic pain and sometimes iliopsoas injuries, so that's something to think about. And extreme running or hiking. I always see people out jogging with their puppies. If you go back to that just 5 minutes of activity and working with that, you shouldn't be out running with your dog or jogging that much until they start to mature. The same thing with hiking and that sort of stuff. And definitely rough play. I've seen some puppies play together and they look like they're going to kill each other. So getting in and moderating there and slowing it down. Of course other things like jumping, excessive jumping on and off the bed or the furniture, or in and out of the car, because, again, that jump down could damage those growth plates. So really being cognizant and watching what the pups do. It's hard. There's a lot going into it. I find, too, that so many people are so awesome about their training and every movement they do. I had a client come in two weeks ago that just retired and has a Golden Retriever, and she's been doing everything with her pup, from dock diving to obedience to flyball. The dog is almost 2 years now, and the dog has really bad hip pain. It can't hold a sit because it's so weak. Yet the owner's been doing all these things, and she was almost in tears when I told her, because she thought she was doing all these great things keeping her dog so active. But the dog never had the strength to do all these things. She never let her pup be a pup. She got right into jumping and all of that other stuff, so it definitely has caused some issues. Fortunately we'll be able to turn them around, but it's setting a lot of things back in her life with regard to competing. Melissa Breau: You mentioned running with a puppy, and I want to ask you about that. Are there general guidelines for when and how much is too much when it comes to running — and you mentioned hiking too — with a young dog? Debbie Torraca: When you're putting a dog on a leash and asking them to keep up with you on a jog or a run, you're not really giving them the option to stop, sniff, or take a break. So I ask owners to hold off on any kind of jogging or running until the dog is at least 18 months old. My preference would be later, so anywhere from 24 to 30 months old to let them mature. Hiking, if they're off-leash and they're able to kind of self-regulate, you can start earlier, maybe anywhere from 10 to 18 months, but again taking it easy. You don't want to take your 10-month-old pup and go for an 8-mile hike. Again, we wouldn't do that with a 10-year-old child and not expect ramifications. So there would be issues. Then there would be a lot of whining. Melissa Breau: I was thinking that. I was thinking you'd get a lot more whining than you would with a dog. Debbie Torraca: Whenever I take my almost-12-year-old daughter hiking, she's like, “Really? Are we done yet?” We're only half a mile in and she's like, “This is too much!” So I definitely empathize with that. Melissa Breau: The other thing you mentioned was training. I know we've got a lot of training junkies in our audience, but I wanted to ask about differentiating between “training” and “exercise” -- especially the good exercise that we've been talking about. Is there too much training? Where's the crossover there, and where's the line? Debbie Torraca: I think certainly with, again, training that there is so much mental stimulation with training. People often do ask, “How do I tire my puppy out?” Well, every trainer and everyone listening probably already knows the answer: make them think. Because when they have to think, that is going to fatigue them more. As far as starting conditioning with pups, I actually like to start conditioning with pups, if I can get my hands on them, as early as 2 weeks of age, and just starting with little things. There was a study done that demonstrated pups growing up on a stable surface, starting to do a little balance and essentially core work, had a lower incidence of hip and elbow dysplasia. That's huge. You think about, for any breeder out there, doing stuff, and you want to start introducing little things to them. For example, just climbing, using their core to climb up to their mom. When they're comfortable, just walking on and off unstable objects. I'm huge about any objects that are used. We now, in the past probably three or four years, we know the dangers of phthalates with children, and certainly there are more and more studies coming out linking phthalates to canine cancer and reproductive issues, so anything that the puppies are utilizing has to be phthalate-free because they're chewing on it, they're absorbing things through their feet, that sort of stuff. So I go wild about that. And then just simple things. I remember when my Clumber pup, one of the first things we worked on when he was 8 weeks was just sitting on an unstable surface. We sat him on a disc, and he would sit for a couple of seconds and just go to his tolerance and then take a break and we would do it again. That started to work on his body awareness. When he was comfortable he stood on it for periods of time. Again, just up to his tolerance. I would not do more than a few minutes a couple of times a day with a growing puppy, so up to 6 months of age I like to keep it at maybe 5 minutes twice a day with this physical conditioning. That's not including walking outside. This is more like body-awareness exercises such as walking backwards, or even sit and give paw, and that sort of stuff. Then, after 6 months of age, with the exception of a large-breed puppy, start doing a little bit more. Gradually start increasing it to 10 minutes a couple of times a day and working again on body awareness. I always try to think, What is this puppy going to encounter in their life? We think about it from a psychological training point, like we try to stimulate, get them used to kids' noises, and loud noises, and bells and whistles, and all that sort of stuff. And I think about it from the other end, like, OK, they're going to have to go upstairs. They're going to have to go downstairs, which is so much more difficult. They're going to walk on a tile floor or a wood floor. What can we do to start to incorporate that? I love working very slowly and gradually on unstable surfaces and always to their tolerance. So whenever they start to get tired, we take a break. I'm huge over quality over quantity. Melissa Breau: We talked a little about this already, but having a 10-month-old myself, I know it can be very tempting to over-exercise simply to tucker them out. Puppies can definitely be absolute terrors until they've developed -- or maybe are taught, depending on the breed – to have an off switch. I know you mentioned mental stimulation. Any other thoughts or suggestions for how puppy owners can manage that crazy energy level that sometimes comes with a puppy? Debbie Torraca: Certainly. That's a great opportunity to work on some stability and some body awareness and core work. One of the things I like to do is start off maybe with ten sit-to-stands on something unstable. It could be a disc, it could be a sofa cushion, something unstable, a dog bed, and then walk them for a couple of minutes, then stop. Teach them to walk backwards, and while they're walking backwards they're thinking, What am I doing here? They're so excited. Incorporate more sit and stands, because now you're working on body awareness, you're getting some strength through their forelimbs, their hind limbs. If the dog has mastered down, at that stage you can do puppy pushups on different things, and if you're out walking, you can use different surfaces. Grass is always my favorite, but if you come across sand or anything like that. Teaching them to put their forelimbs up on something and hold for a few seconds, their hind limbs up on something low and hold for a few seconds, but incorporating a lot of physical and mental activity. I've also found that working their core, working their balance, it's very hard for a puppy to stand still. They want to keep going. Working on that standing still not only helps them with patience, but also helps them with that physical strength. For example, and we see this a lot in confirmation, owners and handlers want their pups to stand still. We work on it on land or on the flat, and then on something unstable, and start to build gradually, so 10, 15, 20, 30 seconds. It sounds so simple but wears them down. It makes them tired. When my dogs were young, and whenever they were driving me bats or I was having company over, I would make sure I worked their core and did a lot of these activities right before I had company coming over, so they would go and sleep. Melissa Breau: We've talked a lot about exercise specifically, but I also want to talk a little more about the conditioning piece. It's a blurry line for a lot of people, and I'd love to hear your take on what the difference is between what constitutes conditioning versus what just constitutes exercise. Debbie Torraca: Great question. I think every dog needs a little bit of both in their life every day. I consider exercise a lot of our walking activities, stuff that a lot of dogs do, except I always find people that have back yards tend to not exercise their dog. Dogs that are just let out in the back yard, owners always get upset when I say, “That's not really exercise.” Because you don't know what they're doing. A puppy can go tear up your back yard, or they can just go lay and sleep. Exercise should be a part of every dog's life, that sort of stuff. Conditioning really targets specific areas, and it could be balance, it could be proprioception while a puppy is growing, and their forelimbs are higher than their hind limbs or vice versa. You can work on conditioning, targeting specific areas. For example, forelimbs up on an unstable surface are going to target the hind limbs by putting more weight onto it, but also work the forelimbs and their stability a little bit. These may be more specific exercises, depending upon what's going on. Another example is if you have a large-breed dog that's prone to hip dysplasia, you definitely want to take proactive steps and strengthen up their hips. Simple things to do, conditioning exercises would be sit-to-stand on an unstable surface. Because as they're sitting and standing, they're working their butt muscles, their hip flexors, and their pelvic area. The same thing if a dog is prone to elbow dysplasia. There are certain breeds that are prone to it. We can do a lot of stability conditioning for the forelimb to help with stabilizing or strengthening as much as possible. Ideally, every dog, like how we say to people, ideally everybody should be out walking once a day, and everybody should do some sort of conditioning for their body, for their posture, or whatever, so the same thing. Melissa Breau: You've mentioned a bunch of things as we've gone through, like having your front paws up on something, trying to get your back paws up on something, backing up. Just to condense all those into one question, what are some of the things puppy owners can do to help ensure their puppy grows into a well-formed, physically healthy adult? Do you mind running through some of those things in one list for folks? Debbie Torraca: Usually, probably five key things that I tell puppy owners to work on. One is try to get them to stand still. This can start as early as 8 weeks of age. That is a lot for them. It tells us a lot too. If a puppy can't stand still for 10 seconds, they're usually uncomfortable in their body. So even at 8 weeks of age you can sometimes tell if something is off. So standing still and then building up. That could be initiated on land or on the floor, and then worked up to something unstable, like a phthalate-free disc, or a bed, or a sofa cushion, that sort of stuff. That's the first one. The second one is simple sit-to-stands. Anybody that's had a puppy that is in that medium to large breed or giant breed, we know that the puppies go through every funky sit. They'll sit with their legs out, they're not sitting very ladylike, or that sort of stuff. But working on a nice, controlled sit. I usually try to incorporate that with mealtimes. Try a set of ten before each meal. They're good and hungry, they're usually a little bit crazy, so you can use a few food kibble, you can do that, and then you can progress to them sitting and standing on something unstable. As they are working on something unstable, they're starting to work those large core muscles, balance, and proprioception. The third thing is walking backwards. Just learning body awareness and to use their hind limb to move backwards is a key exercise. We could increase that as the dogs become stronger by stepping over things, by stepping onto different things. The fourth thing is a down, because again, we could turn that into make it more difficult. So going from a stand to a sit to a down, slowly and controlled, and it's both a down and an up. Again starting this on land and then doing it on something unstable, so the unstable activity will make it more difficult. The other thing, the fifth thing, is a little bit more difficult. It involves the dog standing still and just leaning forward and leaning back. This would be kind of analogous to you and I standing on our feet and leaning forward and leaning backward. It requires balance and body awareness, but also a lot of strength. I usually start with puppies with this on a platform and ask them to lean forward just a smidge, maybe half an inch or a centimeter, and then have them return. This is fairly difficult to do, so it may not be until they're 5 or 6 months old. Some of the larger-breed dogs have even a tougher time pulling this together. Those are the five things that just about every puppy can start on. Once they have those down, then we could add different things and make them more difficult, or that sort of stuff, depending upon what the dog is going to do in their professional career. Melissa Breau: You mentioned you do some stuff with puppies as young as 2 weeks. What age are we talking about for the stuff you just mentioned, for those beginning? Debbie Torraca: For the most part, starting at 8 weeks of age, and just keep in mind you want to do it to their tolerance, so no more than 5 minutes. But if they can't handle more than … they can't do that, then you just wait. Also remembering that there are days that they're not going to be able to mentally or physically pull it together, and that's OK. So something you can work on every day, but if they're growing and just want to sleep or chew on things or something, give them the day off, because it sounds so simple, but it's a lot for them. Melissa Breau: Thank you so much. I think that's all the questions I had, so I really appreciate you coming back on the podcast. It was awesome to chat through this stuff. Debbie Torraca: Thank you so much, Melissa, for having me, and I look forward to speaking with you in the future. Melissa Breau: Absolutely. And thank you to all of our listeners for tuning in! We'll be back next week with Nancy Tucker to talk about Desensitization and Counter-conditioning. If you haven't already, subscribe to our podcast in iTunes or the podcast app of your choice to have our next episode automatically downloaded to your phone as soon as it becomes available. Credits: Today's show is brought to you by the Fenzi Dog Sports Academy. Special thanks to Denise Fenzi for supporting this podcast. Music provided royalty-free by BenSound.com; the track featured here is called “Buddy.” Audio editing provided by Chris Lang.

Renee Mills owner of Elite Canine Fitness, LLC has spent the past 15 years working in the veterinary industry.  She attended the University of Tennessee in 2010, where she became a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner. ​ During 2009 until 2015, Renee trained Veterinarians, human Physical Therapists and hundreds of pet owners in proper exercise techniques, while running one of the largest Canine Rehabilitation units on the east coast. ​ She is an avid lecturer on canine conditioning and sports and the Rehabilitation Division Manager at Handicappedpets.com ​ Most recently, Renee is the inventor of the No-Knuckling Training Sock which is available on the Handicappedpets.com website. ​ Elite Canine Fitness, LLC was founded to provide Canine Bodywork and Fitness Programs designed to enhance the physical well-being of our canine family members and to educate pet owners on healthy exercise habits.

Welcome to Bark & Wag 15 Minute Vet Talk – I am your host Polly ReQua Today we are talking to one of our favorite Vets, Dr. Laura Brown, owner of Green Tree Animal Hospital in Libertyville, IL as we discuss fish oil supplements for your pet. Fish oil for dogs and cats can greatly improve skin, coat, joint, and heart health, and more, in dogs and cats. The benefits of fish oil for dogs can be surprisingly far-reaching. Fish oil for dogs and cats supports the health of the skin, coat, joint, kidneys, heart, and immune system. It’s even been shown to aid in more serious problems, like cancer. Here’s what you need to know about what fish oil can do for your pet, and what to expect. WHAT’S IN FISH OIL SUPPLEMENTS? Fish oil supplements contain two essential fatty acids: EPA and DHA (or eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid). Both are omega-3 fatty acids that can only be made in a limited capacity in dogs and are even more poorly synthesized in cats. These two fatty acids come straight from fish like salmon, sardines, mackerel, black cod, herring, anchovies, and albacore tuna. 5 GREAT BENEFITS OF FISH OIL FOR DOGS AND CATS EPA, one of the two omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil, acts as an anti-inflammatory. It will help with any condition that causes inflammation of the heart, kidneys, skin, and joints—such as arthritis.   It will ease inflammation due to allergies, and reduce itchy skin and dandruff. This can also be an effective way to potentially decrease the incidence of hot spots on your pet.   Like many fat supplements, it promotes a shiny, healthy coat, and reduces shedding. (For cats, this may also mean fewer hairballs, since your cat won’t pick up as many loose hairs while grooming.)   DHA, the other omega-3 fatty acid in fish oil, is important in brain and eye development in puppies and kittens. Giving fish oil to pregnant or nursing pets can benefit the babies once they're born.   In some studies, fish oil has slowed the growth of cancer. Though more studies are needed to reach conclusive results, some veterinarians recommend it for any pets with cancer. HOW IT WORKS How can one supplement do so much? Both EPA and DHA are important components of cell membranes in both humans and animals like dogs and cats. These unique fatty acids act as signals in cells to decrease inflammation. Less inflammation leads to less pain, redness, and swelling in the skin, joints, or other organs. If that sounds very important, it is. These are the same pathways of inflammation that we inhibit with painkillers like aspirin all the time. Omega-3 fatty acids, in particular DHA, also act to promote neuron development. This fatty acid affects cell permeability and the growth of nerve cells. So when a puppy's or kitten's nervous system is developing in the first few months of life (and even while developing before birth), delivering ideal amounts of DHA is important for optimal development. HOW DO I GIVE FISH OIL TO MY PET? Fish oil for dogs and cats comes in capsule or liquid form. If your pet will cooperate, give them the capsule to eat. If your pet has no interest in swallowing the capsule, use a clean safety pin or a small knife to open the capsule, and squeeze the liquid onto your pet’s food. If you need a large dosage, look for fish oil sold in liquid form. As with any supplement, dosage of fish oil for dogs and cats is important. You should consult your veterinarian before deciding on the correct dosage for your pet, and read product labels carefully. ARE THERE ANY SIDE EFFECTS OF FISH OIL FOR DOGS AND CATS? Fish oil won’t become toxic if too much is taken, but a too-large dosage could result in uncomfortable side effects. If your pet has a history of gastrointestinal problems, slowly introduce fish oil into their diet a bit at a time, instead of using the full dosage right away. If your pet starts to have diarrhea, contact your vet, since you may be giving your pet too much fish oil.   Omega-3s have been shown to slow blood clotting, by decreasing the ability of blood platelets to stick together. This effect is more common and more pronounced in cats than in dogs, so be especially sure to consult your vet if you want to give fish oil to an outdoor cat who can get in scrapes or fights.   For this same reason, don’t use fish oils along with any blood-thinning dog or cat medications before consulting your vet.   Because fish oil is an anti-inflammatory, don’t give it to a pet already on anti-inflammatory medications without first talking to your vet.   The doses provided above will not cause immunosuppression, but if your dog is on immunosuppressive therapy for some reason talk to your veterinarian about an appropriate dose of fish oil.   If your pet’s breath starts to smell a bit fishy, just lower the dosage. The bad smell isn’t harmful to pets, but getting rid of it will make you happier! With just one simple supplement, your pet can enjoy all these various benefits of fish oil. References & Resources The Allergy Solution for Dogs by Shawn Messonnier, D.V.M. Canine Rehabilitation and Conditioning Group Nordic Naturals Veterinary Professional Dr. Weil, M.D. Q&A Library Tomlyn Products

Tripawds Podcast Episode #9: Tune in and bring your canine amputee rehab, therapy and general veterinary questions as we discuss canine rehabilitation therapy for Tripawds and take your questions about the topic with Dr. Jessica Waldman, founder of California Animal Rehabilitation Center in Los Angeles. Dr. Waldman is co-founder of California Animal Rehabilitation Center, one of the only rehab centers in the country with both a doctor and a physical therapist on staff, both of whom are certified canine rehabilitation practitioners. Dr. Waldman speaks at veterinary meetings on the subject of Canine Rehabilitation and she has a special interest in neurological rehabilitation and in nutrition for all life stages. She loves to see her patients’ quality of life improve, and she counsels in nutrition utilizing a combination of Western Medicine and Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine for the best possible outcome. Dr. Waldman completed a certificate program from the Canine Rehabilitation Institute to become a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Therapist. She is also a Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist through the Chi Institute. She is one of the founding members of the American Association of Rehabilitation Veterinarians. If you haven’t already watched the Tripawds blog post series with Dr. Waldman, don't miss our CARE Video Interviews. Post questions in the Tripawd Talk Forum, or Join us in the Tripawds Live Chat during the show. DISCLAIMER: Information provided is for entertainment only and is not a substitute for professional veterinary advice. Support the show (https://tripawds.com/support)