Alternative treatments

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

TPEFM Therapy for Dogs: Staying in the Loop with Targeted Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy

Targeted pulsed electromagnetic field therapy (TPEFM) is an effective non-invasive and non-pharmacological treatment option. TPEFM therapy offers adjunctive or supplemental treatment to ongoing veterinary care from your dog’s vet, therapist, chiropractor, etc. You can easily apply this treatment on days other than laser or other therapy sessions. Adding this option can extend the benefits between scheduled professional appointments. TPFEM is…

by Susan E. Davis PT

Physical Therapy for Hip Dysplasia: Tips and Techniques

Can physical therapy help your dog with hip dysplasia? What is hip dysplasia? Lots of people think hip dysplasia is a tight, sore, arthritic hip. However, it is really a hip that is too loose and lacks stability. The hip consists of a ball-and-socket joint formed by the head of the femur (ball) and the acetabulum of the pelvis (socket)…

by Susan E. Davis PT

Canine Myofascial Trigger Points: Unraveling The Mystery Of Fascia and Treatment of Myofascial Trigger Points

Ah, what a tangled web they weave, those fascia bundles! Fascia is a network of connective tissue that surrounds body organs, muscles, groups of muscles, nerves, etc. It is a dense maze of collagen fibers that provide structure and support for these internal body parts. My first semester of PT training involved literally tearing through the fascia layers to get…

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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