PetAbility Podcast

Listen to Leslie Grinnell, owner of Eddie’s Wheels describe how she and her husband Eddie, a mechanical engineer, created their first wheelchair for their beloved dog, Buddha, over 30 years ago. This labor of love turned into a business in 1999 that has manufactured over 25,000 custom mobility carts for pets! The patented unique welded saddle distinguishes Eddie’s Wheels from other carts, and they now have over 2,500 saddle designs. It is akin to riding a bike vs. hanging in a rock climbing harness, allowing your pet to experience consistency and start from a point of stability. Serving special dogs all around the world from 2 to 240 pounds, Eddie’s Wheels restores independence for every animal customer. But wait, it doesn’t end there! The company has created a cart with a variable axel that adjusts as your pet ages or their disease progresses. They make carts for dogs with amputations or simply needing a little assist after cruciate surgery. They can accommodate any skeleton (learn about Harry!).  Not only do these carts work for dogs, cats, and rabbits, but also aardvarks!! What? Listen to learn how a cart might give you or someone you know, their dog back. A cart isn’t the end, but rather a new beginning as mobility and independence is restored.

Click here to learn all about Eddie’s Wheels.
Click here to learn about Harry!

Disclaimer

VitalVet.org, a platform for all things related to pet rehab - product information, education, and resources abound!
MedcoVet (show sponsor)  Luma - advanced red-light therapy therapy that puts healing in the hands of the pet owner in the comfort of home!

Use Promo Code PETPOD22  to receive discounts from our affiliates!
Jope - science-backed supplements
Ruff Ramp - a safe alternative to stairs
Optimum Pet Vitality - education/coursework 
Dr. Buzby’s -Toe Grips to prevent slipping, Encore Mobility joint supplement, and Brain Boost cognitive supplement. Using this link donates 20% to PetAbility
Calm & Cozy Cat Wrap - a must-have for anybody working with cats
HedzUpPets Watercollars – save your dog from drowni...

What do you get when you have three noses, three BIG hearts, and six legs? You get a pack of extraordinary two-legged dogs! Meet Cyrus, Lucky, and Deuce! Cyrus, a little Terrier cross from CA, is the cutest little dog with the most soulful eyes who was born with only hind limbs. Lucky is from Egypt and was left for dead on the street after likely being hit by a car, and has only front limbs. Then there's Deuce, who runs with a pack of able-bodied dogs at the dog park on only his right front and right hind limbs. Although Cyrus and Lucky have wheelchairs to assist their mobility, their owner, Domenick Scudera, says Deuce pulls him on leash with his sturdy, solid, and stable frame. All are certified therapy dogs and all are Domenick's family pets. He and his dogs are on a mission to inspire and give hope to people who are experiencing similar challenges. These dogs dispel misconceptions and provide joy to all who meet them. According to Domenick, they are like "regular dogs" at home, with all the same routines because "dogs only know what they have, not what they don't." There are many life lessons to learn from these dogs, if we take the time to listen and learn.

Follow the pack on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Tik Tok.

Click here to learn more about Living with Dogs with Disabilities.

Disclaimer

VitalVet.org, a platform for all things related to pet rehab - product information, education, and resources abound!
MedcoVet (show sponsor)  Luma - advanced red-light therapy therapy that puts healing in the hands of the pet owner in the comfort of home!

Use Promo Code PETPOD22  to receive discounts from our affiliates!
Jope - science-backed supplements
Ruff Ramp - a safe alternative to stairs
Optimum Pet Vitality - education/coursework 
Dr. Buzby’s -Toe Grips to prevent slipping, Encore Mobility joint supplement, and Brain Boost cognitive supplement. Using this link donates 20% to PetAbility
Calm & Cozy Cat Wrap - a must-have for anybody working with cats
HedzUpPets Watercollars – save your dog from drowni...

The concept is simple - hard nails cannot grip hard floors - so lets add some rubber where the dog naturally grips (the grip zone at the end of their nail) to prevent them from slipping. That's what Dr. Buzby's ToeGrips do! Dr. Julie Buzby, integrative veterinarian, doesn't sell just these little toenail rings, she sells hope! Listen as she passionately discusses the instant transformation ToeGrips can provide with fear-free movement. Your dog can go from an anxious posture to one of confidence as they navigate their environment wearing ToeGrips. No longer trapped on the "carpet island" because their traction travels with them, our dogs are once again interacting with the family, playing, engaging the other pets in the household, and leading a more joyful life. Unlike a sock or shoe that can add weight, be cumbersome, and diminish their feedback from the ground, most dogs don't even know they are wearing ToeGrips! ToeGrips utilize a dog's natural biomechanics and are great for an array of orthopedic and neurological problems. Listen to see what all the Buzby, er rather, buzz is about!

Click Dr. Buzby's ToeGrips for more information about Toe Grips, Dr. Buzby, and the importance of traction.

Disclaimer

VitalVet.org, a platform for all things related to pet rehab - product information, education, and resources abound!
MedcoVet (show sponsor)  Luma - advanced red-light therapy therapy that puts healing in the hands of the pet owner in the comfort of home!

Use Promo Code PETPOD22  to receive discounts from our affiliates!
Jope - science-backed supplements
Ruff Ramp - a safe alternative to stairs
Optimum Pet Vitality - education/coursework 
Dr. Buzby’s -Toe Grips to prevent slipping, Encore Mobility joint supplement, and Brain Boost cognitive supplement. Using this link donates 20% to PetAbility
Calm & Cozy Cat Wrap - a must-have for anybody working with cats
HedzUpPets Watercollars – save your dog from drowni...

It's just water... nope! It's therapy, conditioning, rehabilitation, and so much more!  It helps your pet's joints, muscles, and cardiovascular system. But most of all, water is fun! The properties of water (buoyancy, coefficient of friction, hydrostatic pressure, temperature) are so unique that hydrotherapy is considered the "gold standard" of animal rehabilitation. So no matter what you call it, it's not just water! Learn the differences between swimming in a therapeutic pool and walking in an underwater treadmill. How is hydrotherapy different from swimming outside? And which one is right for your pet? Discover tips and tricks for introducing your pet to water safely and positively. Learn what is possible in the water that is not possible on land. But no matter what, just keep swimming!

Some products we like:
Dogleggs Swim Snood
HedzUpPets Dog Flotation Collar
Outward Hound Life Jacket
Ruffwear Float Coat

Disclaimer

VitalVet.org, a platform for all things related to pet rehab - product information, education, and resources abound!
MedcoVet (show sponsor)  Luma - advanced red-light therapy therapy that puts healing in the hands of the pet owner in the comfort of home!

Use Promo Code PETPOD22  to receive discounts from our affiliates!
Jope - science-backed supplements
Ruff Ramp - a safe alternative to stairs
Optimum Pet Vitality - education/coursework 
Dr. Buzby’s -Toe Grips to prevent slipping, Encore Mobility joint supplement, and Brain Boost cognitive supplement. Using this link donates 20% to PetAbility
Calm & Cozy Cat Wrap - a must-have for anybody working with cats
HedzUpPets Watercollars – save your dog from drowni...

Imagine getting a needle stuck in your head and having a feeling of complete and utter relaxation, even euphoria. That's exactly what happens with acupuncture. It's all about stimulating the right point and it is very safe. Thereafter, a cascade of processes are triggered in the body that signals the body to heal itself. Acupuncture "makes suggestions" to the natural healing powers that lie within. Effective at addressing pain, acupuncture also works synergistically with medications to increase their efficacy and minimize side effects. Acupuncture aligns with the integrative model of veterinary care combining Eastern and Western medicine, and is especially powerful in combination with physical rehabilitation. Treating both acute (post-injury or surgery) and chronic issues (osteoarthritis), acupuncture also helps the immune system, allergies, cancer, organ function, sleep, anxiety, PTSD and the list goes on. And a little trivia: acupuncture needles are so small that up to 30 of them can fit inside a needle used for shots! After listening, you'll get the "point" of acupuncture's powerful potential!!

Click Blue Heron Acupuncture for more information about Carol and veterinary acupuncture.

Disclaimer

VitalVet.org, a platform for all things related to pet rehab - product information, education, and resources abound!
MedcoVet (show sponsor)  Luma - advanced red-light therapy therapy that puts healing in the hands of the pet owner in the comfort of home!

Use Promo Code PETPOD22  to receive discounts from our affiliates!
Jope - science-backed supplements
Ruff Ramp - a safe alternative to stairs
Optimum Pet Vitality - education/coursework 
Dr. Buzby’s -Toe Grips to prevent slipping, Encore Mobility joint supplement, and Brain Boost cognitive supplement. Using this link donates 20% to PetAbility
Calm & Cozy Cat Wrap - a must-have for anybody working with cats
HedzUpPets Watercollars – save your dog from drowni...

How can we empower our blind pets to be independent and lead rich, joyful lives? Have you ever really thought about what it means to have vision or, moreover, NOT to have vision? To be blind is to be differently-abled, adjusting to a new normal - and it's your job to help your dog "see" that! When your dog loses vision it can be devastating. Cathy knows because she has lived with TWO blind dogs. Dogs are incredible at adapting (better than we are!), and you can aid them in the transition process by ensuring their safety, promoting their confidence, and continuing activities that bring them joy! Learn about eye anatomy, unique products that keep your pet safe and help navigate the world without sight, communicating through verbal and touch cues, and the specialty of veterinary ophthalmology.

For more information about blind dogs, check out Cathy's book, Blind Devotion.
For Cathy's children's book, Watching Out for Digger.

For information about Rex Specs, click here.
For information about Doggles, click here.
For information about Halos for Paws, Click here.
For information about Muffin's Halo, click here.
For information about SightScent, click here.
For information about Tracerz, click here.
For a behaviorist and trainer willing to work with your blind dog, contact Behave Atlanta for an in-home or virtual consultation!

Disclaimer

VitalVet.org, a platform for all things related to pet rehab - product information, education, and resources abound!
MedcoVet (show sponsor)  Luma - advanced red-light therapy therapy that puts healing in the hands of the pet owner in the comfort of home!

Use Promo Code PETPOD22  to receive discounts from our affiliates!
Jope - science-backed supplements
Ruff Ramp - a safe alternative to stairs
Optimum Pet Vitality - education/coursework 
Dr. Buzby’s -Toe Grips to prevent slipping, Encore Mobility joint supplement, and Brain Boost cognitive supplement. Using this link donates 20% to PetAbility
Calm & Cozy Cat Wrap - a must-have for anybody working with cats
HedzUpPets Watercollars – save your dog from drowni...

There may be more than one name for this modality (photobiomodulation, cold laser, therapeutic laser,) but the ONE thing Cathy and Chris can attest to is that light therapy works - they've seen it time and again before their very eyes! Laser therapy gained tremendous traction in veterinary medicine and pet rehabilitation over the past decade. This effective, simple-to-use, affordable, non-invasive treatment is now moving into the hands of the pet owner - at home! Listen to the CEO of MedcoVet as he explains how light therapy works for your pet to control inflammation, which decreases pain and speeds healing. Once prescribed, this safe, yet powerful, technology will add to your pet's comfort while being monitored remotely by your veterinarian. Laser works symbiotically with the vast majority of other integrative treatments that we choose for our pets, and may even reduce the need for some medications. So what are you waiting for? Tune in to learn more about how laser therapy at home can help your dog, cat, or ???

Click MedcoVet for more information about the Luma!

Disclaimer

VitalVet.org, a platform for all things related to pet rehab - product information, education, and resources abound!
MedcoVet (show sponsor)  Luma - advanced red-light therapy therapy that puts healing in the hands of the pet owner in the comfort of home!

Use Promo Code PETPOD22  to receive discounts from our affiliates!
Jope - science-backed supplements
Ruff Ramp - a safe alternative to stairs
Optimum Pet Vitality - education/coursework 
Dr. Buzby’s -Toe Grips to prevent slipping, Encore Mobility joint supplement, and Brain Boost cognitive supplement. Using this link donates 20% to PetAbility
Calm & Cozy Cat Wrap - a must-have for anybody working with cats
HedzUpPets Watercollars – save your dog from drowni...

Do you like sandwiches? We do! And not just the food kind. We like to sandwich our pet's exercise with a warm up at the beginning and a little cool down at the end. The principles of warming up and cooling down applies to ALL pets and not just the athletes. Listen and learn what it means to actively warm up your pet. Will it prevent injuries? YES! Will it take long? NO! Will my pet enjoy it? YES! Even more importantly, will I enjoy it? YES! Do I have to be an expert trainer (either physical or behavioral) to learn how to do it? NO! Much of warming up is simply mimicking what you are about to do with the intention of breaking it down into steps and doing it more slowly. Not rocket science but so, so important. And cooling down is even easier - just reverse and repeat what you did during the warm up!

And if you happen to have a star athlete in your midst, then digesting this "sandwich" is imperative to a healthy diet!!

For more information about Warm Up and Cool Down of the Canine Athlete, click here, for Carolyn McIntyre, PT, book. Base in evidence and packed full of great tools, this is a wonderful resource.

Disclaimer

VitalVet.org, a platform for all things related to pet rehab - product information, education, and resources abound!
MedcoVet (show sponsor)  Luma - advanced red-light therapy therapy that puts healing in the hands of the pet owner in the comfort of home!

Use Promo Code PETPOD22  to receive discounts from our affiliates!
Jope - science-backed supplements
Ruff Ramp - a safe alternative to stairs
Optimum Pet Vitality - education/coursework 
Dr. Buzby’s -Toe Grips to prevent slipping, Encore Mobility joint supplement, and Brain Boost cognitive supplement. Using this link donates 20% to PetAbility
Calm & Cozy Cat Wrap - a must-have for anybody working with cats
HedzUpPets Watercollars – save your dog from drowni...

Learn everything from head to tail feathers regarding pet birds from avian expert, Marjorie McMillan, DVM, DACVR, CCRP. As Chris becomes enlightened about birds from Dr. McMillan and Cathy, she is transformed from fearing birds to considering them as part of her household menagerie! Here are just a few of the facts revealed during this installment geared toward both the educated bird lover and novice wanting to grasp more. Did you know that some birds eat from their owner's table? That their intelligence is similar to a 5 year old child? That certain birds may benefit from a crew cut? That aging birds are susceptible to arthritis just like people?  Tune in to attain a plethora of fascinating facts and how to best care for your pet bird during this captivating episode.

To find Dr. McMillan, go to Windhover Vet.
For information about birds, specifically their intelligence, check out Sy Montgomery's book, Birdology.

Disclaimer

VitalVet.org, a platform for all things related to pet rehab - product information, education, and resources abound!
MedcoVet (show sponsor)  Luma - advanced red-light therapy therapy that puts healing in the hands of the pet owner in the comfort of home!

Use Promo Code PETPOD22  to receive discounts from our affiliates!
Jope - science-backed supplements
Ruff Ramp - a safe alternative to stairs
Optimum Pet Vitality - education/coursework 
Dr. Buzby’s -Toe Grips to prevent slipping, Encore Mobility joint supplement, and Brain Boost cognitive supplement. Using this link donates 20% to PetAbility
Calm & Cozy Cat Wrap - a must-have for anybody working with cats
HedzUpPets Watercollars – save your dog from drowni...

Wheelchairs, mobility carts, wheels and rides! It's not the end, but rather a new lease on life! But Cathy and Chris realize that taking that step can be a big one. For some, committing to a wheelchair may be daunting. For others, providing independence and freedom to their pet is a no-brainer. Whatever your situation, needs, or goals, Chris and Cathy will help you to navigate the world of pet wheelchairs so you can make the most informed decision about what may be right for you and your pet. Who is a candidate for a cart? How can we help our pets adjust? What features should you look for? Is it forever? Can I make one or should I buy one? Does it need to be custom or can I get by with an off-the-shelf cart? And yes, your pet can pee and poop in the cart! Finally, carts aren't just for dogs anymore....

For information about Eddie's Wheels, click here.
For information about K9 carts, click here.
For information about Walkin' Wheels, click here.
For information about Doggon Wheels, click here.

Disclaimer

VitalVet.org, a platform for all things related to pet rehab - product information, education, and resources abound!
MedcoVet (show sponsor)  Luma - advanced red-light therapy therapy that puts healing in the hands of the pet owner in the comfort of home!

Use Promo Code PETPOD22  to receive discounts from our affiliates!
Jope - science-backed supplements
Ruff Ramp - a safe alternative to stairs
Optimum Pet Vitality - education/coursework 
Dr. Buzby’s -Toe Grips to prevent slipping, Encore Mobility joint supplement, and Brain Boost cognitive supplement. Using this link donates 20% to PetAbility
Calm & Cozy Cat Wrap - a must-have for anybody working with cats
HedzUpPets Watercollars – save your dog from drowni...