Coastal Veterinary Rehabilitation & Acupuncture

09/18/2025

In a time of countless varieties of flashy exercise equipment, basic isometric exercises are often overlooked.

Isometric exercises create strength without contracting or lengthening muscle groups. Here, I am raising the right front leg to isometrically strengthen the left front leg, which is recovering from a tendon injury. I don’t want to stretch the tendon, so this basic exercise does the trick!

08/29/2025

Tripod lovers!

04/10/2025

Border collie peeps!

04/09/2025

Sometimes lunch breaks are for giving my own dog a tuneup. ❤️ 🐕

Did you know my own pets are the reason I pursued additional veterinary training in rehab and acupuncture? I wanted to be sure they had options available for pain management and comfort as they age. A big thank you goes to them. They have been my best teachers!

02/19/2025

Urinary incontinence is a common problem in older dogs. With time, the muscles that control bladder function can weaken. Time to use accupoint Bladder-39!

BL-39 (also called Yang in the bend) is located on the crease of the knee, in between two large muscle groups. If you point your finger forward toward the kneecap, your finger will fall into the spot. This point addresses urinary dribbling, back pain, and muscle spasms of the rear limb.

Other recommendations include massaging the lower spine until warm to stimulate the nerves that control urinary function and using waterproof blankets or washable pads until the incontinence is under control. There are also some supplements, Chinese herbal formulas, and prescription medications that can help.

Don’t forget to talk with your vet team about ordering a urinalysis to rule out underlying causes of incontinence. If all is clear, it is likely due to age-related changes.

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02/05/2025

01/27/2025

I attended several presentations from this summit last year, and I highly recommend it!

I was truly amazed by the insights these experts shared! They offered their top ideas and practical ways to tailor them to your dog’s unique needs. An inspiring synergy emerged as presenters connected, sparked conversations, and exchanged innovative ideas.

01/24/2025

Meet Clover! 🍀

Clover is a recent tripod Kelpie who is also recovering from an injury to a remaining front leg. She has been recovering with my family, but I would love to line up a loving home for her that understands her long term mobility needs.

We are fostering Clover for who pulled her from a crowded LA shelter to make room for displaced animals from the fires. She is around 1.5 years old and has been through a lot but remains endlessly sweet and loving. She likes to cuddle, is incredibly gentle, is great with kids and dogs, is house trained and crate trained.

She would do best in a single level home with carpet or rugs (she easily slips with her special mobility). She chases cats so best to avoid those.

Feel free to message me with any questions, and please share with friends and family!

12/04/2024

Spinal flexibility and core strength are key to maintaining mobility. I am addressing both for this patient with an easy cookie stretch.

Remember we need to hold stretches (ideally 15-30 seconds for best results). A quick turn and back won’t do a whole lot. This means break your treats up into tiny pieces and keep them coming!