Articles by Susan E. Davis PT

Susan E. Davis (Sue) is a licensed Physical Therapist with over 30 years of practice in the human field, who transitioned into the animal world after taking courses at the UT Canine Rehabilitation program. She has been providing PT services to dogs and other animals through her entity Joycare Onsite, LLC in pet’s homes and vet clinics since 2008. For more information abous Susan, see her website www.joycareonsite.com, or follow on Twitter. Sue is also the author of fantastic books on animal physical therapy. Physical therapy can do so many great things for your dog. Understanding all the possibilities physical therapy can offer will change your dog’s life. These books belong on the shelf of every dog lover. Learn more about Sue.

Canine Core Strengthening Exercises: Paring Down to the Canine Core

What are canine core strengthening exercises and what is their benefit? When you research canine functional strengthening part of the new field of PT and Rehabilitation for dogs, you will find information about the fore and hind limbs. You will not find much at all on the “Core” groups which contain the diaphragm, abdominal, and spinal musculature. We are starting…

by Susan E. Davis PT

Using Neurophysiology for Dogs: Canine Athlete Injury Prevention beyond the Traditional Means

There is a little-known technique used by rehabilitation professionals–priming the joints to respond to the unexpected stimulus, using neurophysiology. These techniques use principles utilized in human rehabilitative medicine. Yet, the veterinary field is just beginning to appreciate their effects for injury treatment and prevention. Neurophysiology? What is that? The primate human and non-human body uses sensory receptors to monitor external…

by Susan E. Davis PT

DIY Physical Therapy for Dogs: What Can You Do at Home?

The question: “Wow, can I really do physical therapy on my own dog?” The answer: “Yes, with some help from a sound professional resource, you can!” Let’s put things in perspective and use some probable scenarios. Your dog went outside to do his ‘business’ in the backyard just as the rain ended. He ran around happily, sliding and turning when…

by Susan E. Davis PT

Physical Therapy for Full CCL Tears

After surgery, physical therapy for full CCL tears should begin upon removal of the sutures, at 10-14 days post-op. You should get instructions from the surgeon on what to do during those first two weeks. Physical therapy for full CCL tears weeks 2-6 During weeks two through six, the dog should start to bear weight on the limb and take…

by Susan E. Davis PT

Canine Full CCL Tears: Treatment Options for Full Cruciate Ligament Tears

Darn, your dog’s cruciate ligament has ruptured completely. “A full tear,” explains the vet, causing a bolt of hot lightning to shoot up your spine. Is it time to panic? If finances are a problem, maybe (more on this a bit later). The best thing to do is face facts and adopt a ‘knowledge is power’ attitude. What is the…

by Susan E. Davis PT

Jana Rade

I am a graphic designer by day, dog health advocate, dog writer, member of the Dog Writers Association of American and an award-winning author. Jasmine, the Rottweiler of my life, was the largest female from her litter. We thought we were getting a healthy dog. Getting a puppy from a backyard breeder was our first mistake. Endless veterinary visits without a diagnosis or useful treatment later, I realized that I had to take Jasmine's health care in my own hands. I learned the hard way that simply seeing a vet is not always enough. There is more to finding a good vet than finding the closest clinic down the street. And, sadly, there is more to advocating for your dog's health than visiting a veterinarian. It should be enough but it often is not. With Jasmine, it took five years to finally get a diagnosis for her initial issue. Unfortunately, other problems had snowballed for that in the meantime. Jasmine's health challenges became a crash course in understanding dog health issues and how to go about getting a proper diagnosis and treatment. I had to learn and I had to learn fast. Helping others through my challenges and experience has become my mission and Jasmine's legacy. I now try to help people how to recognize and understand signs of illness in their dogs, how to work with their veterinarian and when to seek a second opinion. My goal is to save others the steep curve of having to learn things the hard way as I did. That is the mission behind my blog and behind my writing. That is why I wrote Symptoms to Watch for in Your Dog, which has turned out being an award-winning guide to dog owners . What I'm trying to share encompasses 20 years of experience.

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