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.

Evaluating Canine PT Effectiveness: Is the Treatment Necessary? Is It Working?

As you proceed with any treatment plan, it essential to continue to evaluate its effectiveness. About 2 months ago I was evaluating a new patient named Molly, a chocolate Lab, in the client’s home. While taking a history the client mentioned that Molly had prior cold laser treatments in the veterinarian’s office. “We bought a package of twelve treatments”, she…

by Susan E. Davis PT

Hip Dysplasia in Puppies: Top 10 Prevention and Management Recommendations

Here’s an interesting fact: all (or nearly all) puppies are born with normal hips. So how does hip dysplasia in puppies develop? Hip dysplasia timeline Radiographs taken of their hips appear normal for the first few weeks of life. Puppies with hip dysplasia will start showing changes in the shape and congruity of the hip joint as early as 2…

by Susan E. Davis PT

Canine Physical Therapy: Ramps!

The thought of a small to medium-sized dog jumping down from a sofa or bed makes me cringe! The sight of a large, older dog leaping out the back of a truck or van makes me gasp as their joints come in jolting contact with the hard ground. Am I just the “nervous type”? Well, that’s for another discussion. I…

by Susan E. Davis PT

Hydrotherapy for Dogs: The Weight Of Water And How It Helps Dogs

Water has unique properties which make it a wonderful exercise medium for canine patients. Most dogs love it as much as I do! The Weight of Water, by Anita Shreve, is one of my favorite books. It’s the kind of book I can read over and over again. It combines all of my favorite things: history, suspense, relationships, islands, sailboats,…

by Susan E. Davis PT

Why Walk Your Dog: It’s Not Just Walking, It’s Therapy!

Hmmmmm, are you wondering just what type of therapy I mean? Physical? Emotional? Mental? And the answer is all of these! If you consider your dog to be a big part of daily life, then the time spent with them takes on great importance. One of the most valuable ways to enjoy your time together and accomplish great things for…

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.

View Full Profile →