VetRehab

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. 🐶

16/02/2026

You’d be barking mad not to!

There are LOADS of supplements for dogs on the market. Some are good, some are not so good. It can be really hard to know which ones are the best.

One way you can save money is to read the ingredients list on your dog’s supplements. Some products will add vitamins and minerals, and sell these as being great for your dog’s energy, vitality etc.

Well, vits and mins ARE necessary – but they’re most likely already in your dog’s diet. Check the label of their food and see what you’re inadvertently doubling up on. If your dog’s food meets AAFCO standards (it’ll be written somewhere on the bag) they’ll be getting the vitamins and minerals they need already. You don’t usually need to add more, and in some cases too much is bad for them.

When dogs need support for their joints, I look for products that have only the ingredients in them that my dogs actually need. Omega fatty acids (from fish or green-lipped mussels) have the best research behind them at the moment.

Have a go at reading the fine print. Let me know what you find out!

12/02/2026

Have you ever faked it?

I don’t really want you to answer that. But fake seems to be fashionable on the internet these days.

Chat GPT – and all the other artificial intelligencia – gather info from the webiverse and write you something they think you want to hear.

That’s ok for some things, though you might want to check the recipe reads ok before you bake it (2 cups of sugar for a cake with less than 2 cups of flour!! Cavities, anyone?! Yes, I did actually ask ChatGPT for a recipe 😆).

What the AI systems DON’T know, is your dog. They don’t know your dog’s medical history, they can’t see how sore he is today, or feel the crackling in her joints, and they can’t tell you when it’s time to move from one exercise to the next or when to change what you’re doing.

While doing your own research is a good thing, some recipes need a pinch of salt.

If you’d like help from a real person, with real knowledge, and real skills, and if you think I could really help you and your dog, send a real message my way!

09/02/2026

We’ve all grown up knowing that we yawn when we’re tired or bored.

Did you know that yawning in dogs can also be a sign of stress? They might be anxious, worried or uncomfortable, and they might also be in pain.

If I want to understand what it means when my dogs yawn, I have to think about the situation. When they’re at home and it’s around their normal nap time (yep, that’s a lot of the time!), I know they’re probably just tired. If we’ve gone somewhere new and there’s something they might not like, it tells me they might be upset. If they’re chilled at home and it’s not nap time but there’s yawning, I’d be wondering why.

What was your dog doing last time you saw them yawning?

05/02/2026

Is stranger danger putting you off?

Animal behaviour is a passion of mine, so when your dog communicates, I pay attention.

I’ve seen lots of nervous dogs, and most learn that rehab comes with rewards, whether that’s a yummy treat or a relaxing treatment. I go at their pace so they feel comfortable, and we only do what’s safe for us and them.

I also understand how much pain affects behaviour, and help to manage that too.

My regulars get excited when they come to their rehab sessions – owners get dragged into the clinic – and anxious dogs learn that we’re ok too, really, and that it’s actually all quite relaxing.

Come along and learn how to chillax at rehab!

02/02/2026

Here’s an easy way to check your dog’s joints.

One of the things I do when examining a dog is to bend and straighten every joint. There are several things I’m looking for when I do it, and I’ve developed a very good sense of feel over the years. But one thing you can try doing at home is gently bending each of your dog’s legs up, snug against their body.

You should be able to bend most of the joints all in one go – wrist, elbow and shoulder for each of the front legs, and hock, knee and hip in each of the back legs. It’s easiest to try it when they’re lying on their side (probably asleep!).

If your dog won’t let you do this, it might be because it squeezes a sore joint that’s uncomfortable. Can you get their leg completely bent up gently against their body without them resisting or showing any signs of discomfort?

Don’t try and force it – if they don’t like it, they could use a vet check.

How did it go? Post a video or comment if you’re not sure and I’ll help you out.