VetRehab

26/03/2026

If your dog could book their own appointment, where would they choose to go?

Easy - they’d come to rehab!

I have it on good authority that this is what dogs think of rehab:

It’s fun - dogs that love attention get loads of it. They get excited turning down my road on the way here.

It’s tasty - dogs that love treats get to choose the yummiest ones.

It’s relaxing - does your dog like to channel day spa? Rehab visits are the ones for them.

It’s relieving - those tight, achy joints and muscles are soothed and softened at rehab.

It’s reassuring - rehab is much less scary than your average vet visit. We have more time to chill, and keep the stress levels low.

If that sounds like the choice your dog would make, book them in with me!

23/03/2026

Whats the best way to get long term results?

Start early!

Some dogs are born with joints that haven’t quite developed properly, and they can be affected by arthritis from a really young age. Other dogs will develop it as they get older, after a life well-lived. In the end, they can lose all of their joint cartilage and have bones rubbing on each other – ouch!

Thankfully there are a lot more options than medications when it comes to looking after your dog’s joints. It’s lifestyle-encompassing medicine! The sooner we start, the more likely they are to have an effect, or to prevent the damage from getting worse as fast as it otherwise would.

Share the love for dogs with joints!

19/03/2026

You know how they say it takes a village to raise a child?

There are times when we also need a village to care for our dog’s health.

Your general practice (GP) vet is usually your first port of call. They’ll do your annual health checks and vaccinations, dental care, and see you through most illnesses and accidents.

If something a bit more serious or tricky has happened, you might need to see a specialist. In the vet world we can only be called specialists if we have quite specific extra qualifications. They’re pretty hard-earned, and we all worship the specialists!

In between your GP vet and specialists are vets like me. We’re vets who have a particular interest in our chosen aspect of veterinary medicine, and have done extra study in that area. Some of us don’t do GP practice any more, but only see pets who need the kind of help we’re focused on. That’s me, in my VetRehab practice.

I’ve been rehabbing animals for about 18 years, and have qualifications that range from animal chiropractic and osteopathy, to veterinary acupuncture and canine rehabilitation. On top of my vet degree, that gives me a very comprehensive knowledge base and skillset that I can use to help your dog.

So which pets do I see? Mostly ones who need help with muscle, bone, joint, spine and nerve issues. If you had the same issues as your dog (or cat, or rabbit, or horse, or sheep, or any pet!), would you have gone to a physio, osteopath or chiropractor? If that’s a yes, then bringing your dog to see me would be a great idea!

Your dog’s best healthcare village is a team of people who’ll work together to help and support your dog to have the best life they can have. If you’d like to add me to your team, just send me a message and we’ll make it happen.

18/03/2026

Watch out! The cutest little Simon is about! 🐶🐶🐕🐕 Simon has just graduated from rehab after a surgery. And he not only aced it the whole way, he had a great time doing it too! Well done Simon!




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16/03/2026

Do you remember when your dog was a puppy and used to zoom around everywhere at a rate of knots?

There was probably no stopping them then!

But as we age (yes, this applies to people, too!) and get wear and tear in our joints, we stop moving as much, and our muscles weaken. Our nervous systems don’t work as quickly as they used to either, and we don’t keep our balance as well.

That means it’s harder for us to cope with tricky surfaces, like slippery floors or uneven ground. If your dog has started avoiding walking through the kitchen, it might be because they feel insecure and worried about slipping. If they do slip, they’re more likely to fall and injure themselves.

There are several ways we can help them to manage slippery floors, like putting down mats or rugs, using boots or applying pad grips.

We also have lots of options for rebuilding muscle, improving balance and strength, and managing pain.

Which is your dog’s favourite room in the house, and where DON’T they like to go?

12/03/2026

Even small changes matter.

Sometimes I don’t get to see senior dogs until they’re already struggling quite a bit with joint pain. Sometimes they’re already on all of the heavy-hitting meds, the vets have run out of tools, and their owners don’t know else they can do.

That’s tough. There aren’t any magic pills, and I don’t have any wonder treatments that will make everything go away.

However, there ARE always things we can do to help your dog feel more comfortable. Gentle hands-on techniques help to ease joint and muscle pain, and if you like, I can show you how to do them at home.

My clients tell me they feel better once they know what they can do to help, and when they know they’ve tried everything they can.

No matter where your dog is at, I can help and support both them and you. Just send me a message to book a time.

09/03/2026

What if your dog isn’t waking you up at night because they want to p*e?

Has your senior dog stopped sleeping through the night as they’ve gotten older? It’s not necessarily because they need to p*e. Here are 5 reasons why our dogs might be restless:

1. They’re sore. You know how when you’re in pain, it can wake you up in the night? Same for our dogs.

2. They’re struggling with temperature regulation. As they get older, it can be harder for them to keep themselves at the right temperature. Are they too hot or too cold?

3. They’re developing CCD – canine cognitive dysfunction, or dog dementia. Do they sometimes seem confused about their world?

4. Something in the environment is bothering them. Is it noisy? Dogs with pain or anxiety can start reacting to noises that didn’t used to bother them. Is their bed comfy? It might be time for a new, cushy one to support older joints and keep them warm.

5. They need to p*e! Perhaps they can’t hold on as well as they used to. However, they can also develop illnesses that make them drink more and p*e more, or they could have an infection making them want to p*e more often.

If your dog keeps waking you up, it might be time for a visit to your favourite vet clinic (and rehab vet!) to give them an all-over health check and make a management plan.

How many times has your dog woken you up this week? What do you think it was for?

05/03/2026

02/03/2026

Here’s a mythbuster. If your dog hesitates before jumping onto the couch, it’s probably not because they just don’t want to any more.

Sometimes we think ‘they don’t want to’ when they’re actually saying ‘I’m not sure I can’, or ‘I could, but I know it’ll hurt’.

Dogs that struggle to jump up or down often have pain in their legs or back. It’s easy to spot when they just flat out say no, and we have to help them. The earlier signs are when they just wait a moment or two, or stop and bark at you, or fidget before they try.

Have you seen this in your dog?

26/02/2026

Are you worried that you’re imagining things?

Do you think your dog is starting to get a little bit stiff when they get up after a sleep? Maybe just the first one or two steps after they stand up? A bit sore after a run around, or not quite wanting to walk as far as they used to?

You know your dog better than anyone. Noticing subtle changes in their behaviour helps us to start looking at why that’s happening.

When we get a diagnosis, we can get in early to support them. When we’re talking osteoarthritis, the sooner we start, the more options we have. There are a LOT more things we can do than just putting them on painkillers.

My dog Louis has arthritis in his elbows. He's on some painkillers now, but I keep the dose down thanks to all the other tools I can use. He had stopped running and playing with my other dog – but now he’s back enjoying himself.

If you're not sure if something's up with your dog, message me to book an appointment and we’ll make a plan. The sooner we start, the better they’ll be in the long run.

23/02/2026

Wouldn’t it all be so much easier if our dogs could just tell us how they feel?

One big misconception about animals is that they can’t tell us what’s wrong.

Dogs don’t talk, but they DO communicate!

My dog Louis has arthritic elbows. A new thing he’s started doing is lying down while I make his dinner. He’s a labrador, he’s usually full on standing there wagging his whole behind and drooling while he waits.

It’s one wee signal that he’s not as comfortable as he used to be.

Another thing is that he hesitates, just for a micro-second, before going down steps.

These are quiet signals that his elbows are bothering him a little. They’re things I monitor every day, so that I can change up his management plan when I need to.

Have you noticed your dog doing things that they didn’t used to? Let me know!

19/02/2026

Here’s 3 ways to know you should work with me:

1. You like working with overachievers. I’ve got loads of quals because I love what I do, I like doing it well and I like getting results. (I even have a PhD in veterinary science, so occasionally I pull out the Dr title!)

2. You like working with old... make that mature people (I'm really not toooooo old, but school was a while ago.). That means I come with years of experience.

3. You want the info in plain language without fluff. I’m practical and down to earth. You won’t get anything you don’t need.

And a bonus number 4, my dogs are my buddies, just like your dog is yours. They’re family too, and I get what that means to you.

When you want to do all you can, a vet rehab visit sets you up with the information and action you need to complement what you're already doing.

Feel free to send me a message if you think I might be the right person to help you and your dog. 🐶