Imagine undergoing surgery without understanding why, and then returning home only to be confined to bed with no explanation. You're deprived of all activities and stimulation—no television, books, phone, computer, or any form of entertainment—for weeks or even months. It would drive you CRAZY! This is exactly how your dog feels after surgery.

Lori Chamberland, Education Manager at Fear Free Pets, draws from her personal experience with her 1.5-year-old Border Collie, an agility competitor, to share valuable insights. She highlights a variety of proactive strategies to prepare for and navigate the rehabilitation process, ensuring the most stress-free and successful recovery—both physically and emotionally. These tips are invaluable for pet parents and veterinary professionals alike.

For more information about enrichment and stress reduction for pets, go to FearFreeHappyHomes.com

Support the show

Disclaimer

Check out VitalVet.org for all PetAbility Podcast episodes related to rehabilitation as well as a plethora of other resources and product information.

MedcoVet (show sponsor) - the next generation in laser therapy by putting healing in the hands of the pet owner!

By using the Promo Code PETPOD22, when placing your first order with any of our affiliate partners, you will receive 10% off and PetAbility receives 10% .
Dr. Buzby’s Toe Grips – dog nail grips to keep your dog from slipping! Extra love – use this link and the entire 20% goes to support our show!
HedzUpPets Watercollars – save your dog from drowning with this unique lightweight collar when around any body of water!
Calm & Cozy Cat Wrap - a must-have for cat owners and vet pros working with cats! Use PETPOD22 for $5 off your order.

Meet Naja Muller, the devoted "Mom" to a pack of incredible handi-capable rescued bullies and the heart behind the inspiring social media presence, Tonka's Journey. As a kindred spirit to PetAbility Podcast's mission, Naja shares our commitment to normalizing differently-abled pets by highlighting the journeys of her three current dogs' unparalleled resiliency, unabashed spirit, and unbridled zest for life.

Naja discusses her dedication to Tonka, Summer, and Macy's physical and emotional health and well-being by employing assistive devices, utilizing a team of veterinary experts, creating a vibrant and enriching home environment, building an online community that supports, educates, and uplifts each other, and providing never-ending TLC. Naja also reveals how these special rescue pups transformed her by providing lessons in patience, empathy, and joy - ultimately forming a bond that's truly unique.

Be prepared to be moved, inspired, and reminded of the transformative power of unconditional love.

Follow their adventures on social media:
Instagram - @Tonkas_Journey
TikTok - @Tonkas.Journey
Facebook - @TonkasJouney

For more information, you may email Naja at [email protected] or [email protected].

Support the show

Disclaimer

Check out VitalVet.org for all PetAbility Podcast episodes related to rehabilitation as well as a plethora of other resources and product information.

MedcoVet (show sponsor) - the next generation in laser therapy by putting healing in the hands of the pet owner!

By using the Promo Code PETPOD22, when placing your first order with any of our affiliate partners, you will receive 10% off and PetAbility receives 10% .
Dr. Buzby’s Toe Grips – dog nail grips to keep your dog from slipping! Extra love – use this link and the entire 20% goes to support our show!
HedzUpPets Watercollars – save your dog from drowning with this unique lightweight collar when around any body of water!
Calm & Cozy Cat Wrap - a must-have for cat owners and vet pros working with cats! Use PETPOD22 for $5 off your order.

Buckle up as Caroline (Carrie) Adrian, PT, PhD, tCPT™, Fellow, IAVRPT, shares her story as a true pioneer in the discipline of small animal physical rehabilitation. In turn, get glimpses of how far this field has come in the past 25 years. Thanks to her grit, determination, and admittedly, even a little bit of luck, Carrie continues to pave the way for so many to fulfill dreams of working with pets. From her early days on Animal Planet's Emergency Vets to founding CanineIQ, the first educational program dedicated to physical therapists seeking to transition to treating dogs, it seems Carrie has done it all!

For more information about the Transitional Canine Physical Therapist (tCPT)™ credentialing program, visit canineiq.net.
Contact Carrie at [email protected].

Support the show

Disclaimer

Check out VitalVet.org for all PetAbility Podcast episodes related to rehabilitation as well as a plethora of other resources and product information.

MedcoVet (show sponsor) - the next generation in laser therapy by putting healing in the hands of the pet owner!

By using the Promo Code PETPOD22, when placing your first order with any of our affiliate partners, you will receive 10% off and PetAbility receives 10% .
Dr. Buzby’s Toe Grips – dog nail grips to keep your dog from slipping! Extra love – use this link and the entire 20% goes to support our show!
HedzUpPets Watercollars – save your dog from drowning with this unique lightweight collar when around any body of water!
Calm & Cozy Cat Wrap - a must-have for cat owners and vet pros working with cats! Use PETPOD22 for $5 off your order.

Let's dispel some misconceptions about rats! Rats are VERY smart, super snuggly, clean, social creatures. Historically, due in large part to media and negative idioms, rats have gotten a bad rap. 11 year-old Kylie Wilson is here to tell us about what it's like to live with four domestic pet rats, why she loves them and how she cares for them. This includes methods of enrichment, diet, bathroom training, and so much more! Open your mind - and perhaps your home - to rats. We think you will find them much more enchanting than you may have ever imagined.

Click here for current information about rat care at Isamu Rats.
Visit Emiology on YouTube for helpful videos about prepping to have rats including setting up your rat enclosure.

Support the show

Disclaimer

Check out VitalVet.org for all PetAbility Podcast episodes related to rehabilitation as well as a plethora of other resources and product information.

MedcoVet (show sponsor) - the next generation in laser therapy by putting healing in the hands of the pet owner!

By using the Promo Code PETPOD22, when placing your first order with any of our affiliate partners, you will receive 10% off and PetAbility receives 10% .
Dr. Buzby’s Toe Grips – dog nail grips to keep your dog from slipping! Extra love – use this link and the entire 20% goes to support our show!
HedzUpPets Watercollars – save your dog from drowning with this unique lightweight collar when around any body of water!
Calm & Cozy Cat Wrap - a must-have for cat owners and vet pros working with cats! Use PETPOD22 for $5 off your order.

Gratitude can be a wonderful healer after we experience the loss of a beloved pet. Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Mindy Meiering, created the Rainbow Bridge Pet Loss Deck after she lost her own dog, Ellie, as a resource for others experiencing similar emotional pain. The Rainbow Bridge Pet Loss Deck is a therapeutic tool designed to provide emotional support, guidance, and reflection. Each card in the deck is stunningly designed with a beautiful and meaningful message – a gift for any person in your life who has recently experienced heartbreaking loss or may be facing the imminent loss of their animal family member. Along with a discussion on the cards, we discuss gratitude, mindfulness, self-compassion, memorialization, disenfranchised grief, and much more.

Click Rainbow Bridge Pet Loss Deck for more information about this valuable tool.
Click Mindy Meiering for more information about Mindy and her work.

Support the show

Disclaimer

Check out VitalVet.org for all PetAbility Podcast episodes related to rehabilitation as well as a plethora of other resources and product information.

MedcoVet (show sponsor) - the next generation in laser therapy by putting healing in the hands of the pet owner!

By using the Promo Code PETPOD22, when placing your first order with any of our affiliate partners, you will receive 10% off and PetAbility receives 10% .
Dr. Buzby’s Toe Grips – dog nail grips to keep your dog from slipping! Extra love – use this link and the entire 20% goes to support our show!
HedzUpPets Watercollars – save your dog from drowning with this unique lightweight collar when around any body of water!
Calm & Cozy Cat Wrap - a must-have for cat owners and vet pros working with cats! Use PETPOD22 for $5 off your order.

In this episode, Cathy and Chris discuss the relatively common condition of bicipital tendinitis in the dog or inflammation of the biceps tendon at the shoulder joint. This comprehensive overview covers the following:

• Anatomy of the forelimb, specifically the shoulder and biceps muscle/tendon
• Causes from overuse/repetative stress to trauma
• Clinical signs such as lameness, tenderness, reluctance to exercise and atrophy
• Diagnosing via physical exam, imaging, and joint fluid analysis
• Treatment options from conservative rehab/modalities to injections to surgery
• Prognosis and potentially prolonged treatment and activity restriction
• Prevention via weight management, proper conditioning & cross training,  and minimizing risks

Although recovery can be frustrating at times, the key is to catch bicipital tendinitis early and abide by appropriate treatment protocols for a swift recovery. Active dogs may require long-term care and preventative measures to reduce the likelihood of recurrence.

Support the show

Disclaimer

Check out VitalVet.org for all PetAbility Podcast episodes related to rehabilitation as well as a plethora of other resources and product information.

MedcoVet (show sponsor) - the next generation in laser therapy by putting healing in the hands of the pet owner!

By using the Promo Code PETPOD22, when placing your first order with any of our affiliate partners, you will receive 10% off and PetAbility receives 10% .
Dr. Buzby’s Toe Grips – dog nail grips to keep your dog from slipping! Extra love – use this link and the entire 20% goes to support our show!
HedzUpPets Watercollars – save your dog from drowning with this unique lightweight collar when around any body of water!
Calm & Cozy Cat Wrap - a must-have for cat owners and vet pros working with cats! Use PETPOD22 for $5 off your order.

Listen as guest, Nancy Denier, professional dog trainer, dog multi-sport participant, and past Flyball judge, takes us into the action-packed world of Flyball, the ultimate team canine competition, that involves speed, strategy, and commitment. In this episode, you'll learn about:

• The basics of Flyball 
• Training regimen
• Competition 101
• Benefits of participation
• Importance of injury prevention
• Teamwork and community
• How to get involved locally

For more information about Flyball and to find a club near you, go to  North American Flyball Association or U-FLI!

Support the show

Disclaimer

Check out VitalVet.org for all PetAbility Podcast episodes related to rehabilitation as well as a plethora of other resources and product information.

MedcoVet (show sponsor) - the next generation in laser therapy by putting healing in the hands of the pet owner!

By using the Promo Code PETPOD22, when placing your first order with any of our affiliate partners, you will receive 10% off and PetAbility receives 10% .
Dr. Buzby’s Toe Grips – dog nail grips to keep your dog from slipping! Extra love – use this link and the entire 20% goes to support our show!
HedzUpPets Watercollars – save your dog from drowning with this unique lightweight collar when around any body of water!
Calm & Cozy Cat Wrap - a must-have for cat owners and vet pros working with cats! Use PETPOD22 for $5 off your order.

Historically, dogs with a missing front leg had few options but to hop along. If a "fake leg" could be made, the process was costly and cumbersome. Enter 3D Pets, a company whose mission is to bring animal mobility devices into the 21st century by incorporating 3D printing. Listen to cofounder, Alex Tholl, describe how 3D Pets is revolutionizing the field of full front limb prosthetics and frontend wheelchairs for dogs, and in turn, addressing both the physical and emotional lives of our canine friends. The product fits your pet like a tailor-made jacket becoming an extension of themselves with these qualities setting them apart: custom fit, flexible, breathable, lightweight, durable, water-resistant, adjustable, and modular (need a ski anybody?) for dogs of ALL sizes. But it doesn't stop there: need a custom helmet for your goat or a prosthetic leg for your duck, contact 3D Pets to see if it's a good fit - pun intended!!

For more information about 3D Pets, visit 3dpetsprosthetics.com or follow then on their socials @3D.Pets on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

Support the show

Disclaimer

Check out VitalVet.org for all PetAbility Podcast episodes related to rehabilitation as well as a plethora of other resources and product information.

MedcoVet (show sponsor) - the next generation in laser therapy by putting healing in the hands of the pet owner!

By using the Promo Code PETPOD22, when placing your first order with any of our affiliate partners, you will receive 10% off and PetAbility receives 10% .
Dr. Buzby’s Toe Grips – dog nail grips to keep your dog from slipping! Extra love – use this link and the entire 20% goes to support our show!
HedzUpPets Watercollars – save your dog from drowning with this unique lightweight collar when around any body of water!
Calm & Cozy Cat Wrap - a must-have for cat owners and vet pros working with cats! Use PETPOD22 for $5 off your order.

Is your cat eating messily? Does your dog have bad breath? According to Beth Innis, DVM, CVA, CCRT, CVCHM, CVSMT, these could be signs of dental or periodontal disease. This episode covers our pet's oral health, from what you can do at home (Hint: brush, brush, brush!) to the role of professional dentistry. If you've ever had a toothache, you know how much mouth pain can impact your daily life. Home care plus professional dentistry can positively impact other diseases and even behavioral issues exacerbated by poor oral health. From the significance of a good diet to tooth extractions, this important discussion is "the tooth, the whole tooth, and nothing but the tooth!"

Information about the Miles of Smiles charitable initiative.
View the COHAT video. (COHAT: Comprehensive Oral Health Assessment and Treatment)
List of Veterinary Oral Health Council accepted products.
More Information about Dr. Innis & Sleepy Dog Veterinary.

Support the show

Disclaimer

Check out VitalVet.org for all PetAbility Podcast episodes related to rehabilitation as well as a plethora of other resources and product information.

MedcoVet (show sponsor) - the next generation in laser therapy by putting healing in the hands of the pet owner!

By using the Promo Code PETPOD22, when placing your first order with any of our affiliate partners, you will receive 10% off and PetAbility receives 10% .
Dr. Buzby’s Toe Grips – dog nail grips to keep your dog from slipping! Extra love – use this link and the entire 20% goes to support our show!
HedzUpPets Watercollars – save your dog from drowning with this unique lightweight collar when around any body of water!
Calm & Cozy Cat Wrap - a must-have for cat owners and vet pros working with cats! Use PETPOD22 for $5 off your order.

What is something that 80% of dogs get after the age of 8, that cats are crafty at hiding, and that prevents birds from perching? It's arthritis: arth (= joint) + itis (= inflammation) and it's no joke! Just ask anybody who has undergone a total joint replacement due to this debilitating disease, a disease that can become so painful that it severely impacts the ability to participate in life's daily activities. In this episode, Cathy and Chris demystify what arthritis is, describe causes of arthritis, discuss how arthritis is diagnosed, and depict how arthritis can be managed. Hint: it's multimodal!

Support the show

Disclaimer

Check out VitalVet.org for all PetAbility Podcast episodes related to rehabilitation as well as a plethora of other resources and product information.

MedcoVet (show sponsor) - the next generation in laser therapy by putting healing in the hands of the pet owner!

By using the Promo Code PETPOD22, when placing your first order with any of our affiliate partners, you will receive 10% off and PetAbility receives 10% .
Dr. Buzby’s Toe Grips – dog nail grips to keep your dog from slipping! Extra love – use this link and the entire 20% goes to support our show!
HedzUpPets Watercollars – save your dog from drowning with this unique lightweight collar when around any body of water!
Calm & Cozy Cat Wrap - a must-have for cat owners and vet pros working with cats! Use PETPOD22 for $5 off your order.