Treating Vestibular Disease with Canine Rehabilitation

As our canine companions age gracefully, they may encounter various health challenges, one of which is Idiopathic Geriatric Vestibular Disease (IGVD). This neurological condition can be distressing for both dogs and their pet parents, as it often presents with sudden disorientation, loss of balance, and difficulty walking. However, there is hope on the horizon! Canine rehabilitation has emerged as a powerful tool in helping dogs with IGVD regain their stability, confidence, and quality of life. In this blog post, we’ll explore the intricacies of IGVD, its impact on our furry friends, and how rehab can provide the much-needed support they deserve.

Understanding Idiopathic Geriatric Vestibular Disease: Idiopathic Geriatric Vestibular Disease is a common neurological disorder observed in senior dogs, usually over the age of eight years. It affects the vestibular system, responsible for maintaining balance and spatial orientation. Despite its unsettling symptoms, “idiopathic” denotes that the cause remains unknown. Experts believe the disease may be linked to age-related degeneration or inflammation in the vestibular nerves or brain regions controlling balance.

Recognizing the Symptoms: Owners of senior dogs should be vigilant for the following symptoms that could indicate IGVD:

• Head tilt, often severe
• Loss of balance and difficulty walking, leading to staggering or falling
• Rapid and involuntary eye movements (nystagmus)
• Nausea or vomiting due to dizziness
• Disorientation and confusion

How Canine Rehabilitation Helps: Canine rehabilitation, also known as physical therapy for dogs, has revolutionized the treatment of various health conditions, including IGVD. A skilled canine rehabilitation therapist tailors a comprehensive treatment plan to address each dog’s unique needs, improving mobility and overall well-being. Here’s how rehab can make a significant difference:

1. Balance and Coordination Exercises: Specialized exercises targeting the vestibular system help dogs regain their sense of balance and coordination. Through gentle movements and controlled activities, rehab encourages the brain and body to re-establish connections, enhancing the dog’s ability to walk and navigate confidently.
2. Strength and Endurance Building: Muscle weakness often accompanies vestibular issues. Therapeutic exercises focus on strengthening the affected muscles, improving endurance, and reducing the risk of falls or injuries.
3. Sensory Integration: Rehabilitation integrates sensory stimuli to help dogs adapt to their altered perceptions. This might include visual tracking exercises and proprioceptive work, which helps dogs understand their body position in space.
4. Pain Management and Comfort: IGVD can be uncomfortable and distressing for our canine friends. Canine rehabilitation incorporates pain management techniques, ensuring dogs are as comfortable as possible during their recovery.
5. Supportive Devices: Assistive devices, such as harnesses or slings, may be used to provide dogs with extra support while they regain their balance and mobility.

Idiopathic Geriatric Vestibular Disease may pose temporary challenges for our beloved senior dogs, but with the help of canine rehabilitation, they can find hope and healing. By addressing the root cause of the issue and focusing on restoring balance and stability, rehab empowers our furry friends to rediscover their joy and zest for life. If your senior dog is facing vestibular challenges, don’t hesitate to seek the guidance of a qualified canine rehabilitation therapist who can make a world of difference in their well-being and quality of life. With patience, love, and professional support, our furry companions can navigate through this condition with confidence and resilience.

Canine rehabilitation plays a vital role in restoring dogs’ mobility and quality of life after injuries or surgeries. As a dedicated canine rehabilitation specialist, I have witnessed the transformative power of assistive devices in facilitating the healing process. In this blog post, we will explore three commonly used assistive devices: carts, Help ‘Em Up harnesses, and Assisi Loops. These innovative tools provide valuable support during physical therapy sessions, helping dogs regain their strength, independence, and joy.

Carts, also known as dog wheelchairs or mobility aids, are essential devices for dogs with hind limb weakness or paralysis. These custom-made carts provide support and stability, allowing dogs to maintain their mobility and engage in physical therapy exercises. Carts are designed to fit each dog’s unique size and condition, providing the necessary support while alleviating pressure on the affected limbs. By enabling dogs to remain active, carts contribute significantly to their overall physical and mental well-being during the rehabilitation process.

Help ‘Em Up harnesses are ingenious tools designed to assist dogs with mobility challenges, especially those with hip or rear limb weakness. These harnesses feature strategically placed handles and a lifting mechanism, allowing caregivers to provide controlled assistance during physical therapy exercises. The harnesses aid in lifting and supporting the dog’s hind end, reducing the strain on weakened muscles and joints. Help ‘Em Up harnesses not only enhance stability but also provide dogs with a sense of security, boosting their confidence as they progress through their rehabilitation journey.

Assisi Loops are an innovative therapeutic device that utilizes targeted pulsed electromagnetic field therapy (tPEMF) to promote healing and reduce pain. These loops are placed around specific body areas, such as joints or muscles, and emit electromagnetic signals that penetrate deep into the tissues. tPEMF has shown remarkable benefits in reducing inflammation, improving blood circulation, and accelerating tissue repair. Incorporating Assisi Loops into canine rehabilitation sessions can aid in pain management and expedite the healing process, facilitating a faster recovery for dogs with various conditions, including musculoskeletal injuries and arthritis.

Dogs are cherished companions known for their boundless energy and playful spirit. However, injuries like an ACL/CCL tear can limit their mobility and hinder their zest for life. Thankfully, canine rehabilitation has emerged as a powerful tool in aiding dogs’ recovery from such injuries. By focusing on pain management, muscle strengthening, and joint mobility, canine rehabilitation plays a pivotal role in restoring dogs’ vitality and overall well-being.

Canine rehabilitation offers a holistic approach to healing, addressing the underlying causes of ACL/CCL tears rather than simply treating the symptoms. With a focus on pain management techniques, including therapeutic exercises and massage, rehabilitation programs help alleviate discomfort and inflammation. By customizing treatment plans to suit each dog’s unique needs, rehabilitation specialists ensure that pain is managed effectively, allowing dogs to regain mobility with greater comfort.

Muscle strengthening is a key aspect of canine rehabilitation for dogs recovering from ACL/CCL tears. The injury often leads to muscle atrophy due to reduced activity, compromising joint stability. Through targeted exercises and techniques, rehabilitation programs help rebuild strength in specific muscle groups surrounding the affected joint. This not only enhances stability but also reduces the risk of further injury, enabling dogs to regain their strength and balance gradually.

Joint mobility is another crucial focus of canine rehabilitation. Limited joint mobility is a common challenge for dogs recovering from ACL/CCL tears. Rehabilitation specialists incorporate range of motion exercises that gently stretch and mobilize the joint, promoting flexibility and preventing stiffness. By improving joint function and overall mobility, these exercises contribute significantly to a dog’s recovery journey.

Degenerative myelopathy is a progressive neurological disease that affects many dogs, causing hind limb weakness and mobility challenges. In the face of this debilitating condition, canine rehabilitation and acupuncture have emerged as transformative therapies, offering hope and support for dogs with degenerative myelopathy. In this blog post, we will explore the remarkable ways in which these two modalities work together to improve mobility, alleviate discomfort, and enhance the quality of life for dogs facing degenerative myelopathy.

Canine rehabilitation focuses on restoring and improving mobility through targeted exercises, physical therapies, and specialized equipment. By designing a tailored rehabilitation program, trained professionals can help dogs with degenerative myelopathy strengthen their muscles, maintain range of motion, and improve balance. Techniques such as hydrotherapy, therapeutic exercises, and assistive devices can slow down muscle atrophy, improve gait, and enhance overall mobility. Canine rehabilitation empowers dogs with degenerative myelopathy to maintain independence and engage in physical activities, contributing to their overall well-being.

Acupuncture, an ancient practice rooted in traditional Chinese medicine, offers a holistic approach to treating degenerative myelopathy. By stimulating specific points on the body with thin needles, acupuncture promotes the flow of energy and enhances the body’s natural healing processes. In the context of degenerative myelopathy, acupuncture can help manage pain, reduce inflammation, and improve neurological function. It provides a drug-free and non-invasive method to alleviate discomfort and support the overall well-being of dogs with this condition. Additionally, acupuncture has a calming effect, reducing stress and anxiety, which can be beneficial for both the physical and emotional aspects of the dog’s well-being.

When canine rehabilitation and acupuncture are combined, they form a powerful and comprehensive treatment approach for dogs with degenerative myelopathy. This integrated approach addresses various aspects of the condition, providing physical support, pain relief, improved mobility, and enhanced emotional well-being. Together, these therapies can help slow down the disease’s progression, manage symptoms, and optimize the dog’s overall quality of life. It is important to consult with trained professionals in canine rehabilitation and acupuncture to develop a personalized treatment plan that meets the unique needs of each dog.

Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) is a common condition that affects many dogs, causing pain, mobility issues, and neurological deficits. Fortunately, canine rehabilitation and acupuncture have proven to be valuable tools in the recovery process for dogs with IVDD. In this blog post, we will explore seven ways in which the combination of canine rehabilitation and acupuncture can help dogs recover from IVDD, promoting healing, mobility, and overall well-being.

1. Pain Management: Canine rehabilitation incorporates various techniques such as therapeutic exercises, hydrotherapy, and massage to help manage pain associated with IVDD. These interventions target the affected areas, reduce inflammation, and promote healing, providing relief for the dog and improving their quality of life.
2. Improved Mobility: Through rehabilitation exercises, dogs recovering from IVDD can regain strength and mobility. Therapeutic exercises are designed to strengthen the surrounding muscles, increase range of motion, and enhance stability in the spine, enabling the dog to regain their ability to walk, run, and play.
3. Enhanced Balance and Coordination: IVDD can affect a dog’s balance and coordination due to neurological deficits. Canine rehabilitation addresses these issues by incorporating exercises that focus on improving proprioception, balance, and coordination. This helps the dog regain control over their movements, reducing the risk of falls and further injury.
4. Supportive Weight Management: Canine rehabilitation includes guidance on maintaining a healthy weight, which is crucial for dogs with IVDD. By managing weight through proper nutrition and exercise, the stress on the spinal discs is reduced, aiding in the healing process and preventing future complications.
5. Reduced Inflammation: Acupuncture, an ancient Chinese practice, has been found to reduce inflammation in the body. By stimulating specific acupuncture points, this therapy helps decrease inflammation around the affected discs and promotes the body’s natural healing response.
6. Pain Relief and Relaxation: Acupuncture sessions can alleviate pain associated with IVDD by stimulating the release of endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers. Additionally, acupuncture promotes relaxation, reducing stress and anxiety, which can be beneficial for dogs recovering from IVDD.
7. Nerve Regeneration: Acupuncture has shown potential in supporting nerve regeneration, aiding in the recovery of neurological deficits caused by IVDD. By promoting blood flow and stimulating the affected nerve pathways, acupuncture helps the body heal and regenerate damaged nerve tissues.

Arthritis is a common condition that affects many dogs, causing pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility. As loving pet owners, it’s essential for us to explore every possible avenue to improve our furry friends’ quality of life. Fortunately, a combination of canine rehabilitation and acupuncture has emerged as a powerful solution for dogs suffering from arthritis. In this blog post, we’ll explore how these two therapeutic approaches work hand in hand to alleviate pain, increase mobility, and promote overall well-being for our beloved four-legged companions.

1. Understanding Canine Rehabilitation: Canine rehabilitation, also known as physical therapy for dogs, focuses on improving their musculoskeletal function, strength, and flexibility. By employing various techniques such as therapeutic exercises, hydrotherapy, and manual therapies, rehabilitation aims to restore mobility, reduce pain, and enhance the dog’s overall physical fitness. This comprehensive approach is tailored to each dog’s specific needs, taking into consideration their age, breed, and the severity of their arthritis.

2. The Benefits of Canine Rehabilitation:

a. Pain Management: Through targeted exercises and therapies, rehabilitation helps alleviate pain by strengthening surrounding muscles, improving joint stability, and increasing blood flow to the affected areas.

b. Increased Range of Motion: Rehabilitation exercises and stretching techniques can help improve flexibility, thereby increasing the dog’s range of motion and reducing joint stiffness.

c. Enhanced Muscle Strength: Arthritis often leads to muscle weakness due to decreased activity levels. Rehabilitation programs help rebuild muscle strength, supporting the joints and improving overall mobility. d. Weight Management: Maintaining a healthy weight is crucial for dogs with arthritis. Rehabilitation programs incorporate appropriate exercise and dietary guidance to manage weight effectively, reducing stress on the joints.

3. The Role of Acupuncture: Acupuncture, a key component of traditional Chinese medicine, involves the insertion of thin needles into specific points on the body. In the context of canine arthritis, acupuncture offers several benefits:

a. Pain Relief: Acupuncture stimulates the release of endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers, providing relief from arthritic discomfort.

b. Improved Blood Circulation: By promoting blood flow to affected joints, acupuncture helps reduce inflammation and swelling, facilitating the body’s natural healing process.

c. Relaxation and Stress Reduction: Acupuncture sessions promote relaxation and reduce stress, benefiting dogs experiencing chronic pain and discomfort.

d. Enhanced Overall Well-being: Acupuncture is known to stimulate the body’s self-healing mechanisms, supporting the immune system and promoting balance within the body.

4. The Power of Combination:

When canine rehabilitation and acupuncture are combined, their synergistic effects can bring remarkable results for dogs with arthritis. By integrating the physical benefits of rehabilitation exercises with the holistic approach of acupuncture, we can address pain relief, mobility improvement, and overall well-being in a comprehensive manner. This combination provides a multi-faceted solution that considers the individual needs of each dog, maximizing their potential for a happier, healthier life.

1. Tell our readers a little bit about what you do, how you got into it, how long you have been doing it and your experience!

I own Canine Crews, which is primarily a dog daycare & boarding facility in Humboldt Park. We have been open since 2009 and specifically at this location since Jan 4, 2010. We offer dog daycare, dog boarding, cat boarding, pet retails, dog bus (transportation) and MINDful Day School (for reactive/selective dogs).

2. What does a day in the life look like at Canine Crews?

No day is the same at Canine Crews but I am lucky to have some pretty amazing staff, starting with my two managers that are both celebrating 8 years in 2023. We typically have over 100 dogs in our building most weekdays so we are constantly moving dogs throughout our 12,000 square foot building & yard and using our two-way radios to communicate with almost 30 employees. Our play groups are small and by the size of the dog; this allows us to use treats & other positive reinforcements to motivate good behavior and improved enrichment. Our Kitty Crews is a zen space that has individual cat towers as well as loads of space to have solo playtimes and cuddle sessions. Our staff LOVE the new Kitty Crews in our lobby.

3. What made you decide to start Canine Crews?

2009 was a pivotal year for me personally and professionally and after years of volunteering with rescues, I seized an opportunity that presented itself to me. So much of my time and energy has gone in to building Canine Crews and it was all-consuming for many of the early years. Thankfully, we have built great systems and training over the years that have allowed me to work ON my business and not so much IN it. The best part is I still get to wander into our play groups or Kitty Crews and hang with some of my favorite dogs and cats (as long as I’ve taken my allergy pills). Watching dogs have fun never gets old.

4. Anything else that you would like our readers to know?

We are really proud of our MINDful Day School. We developed this program to give reactive or selective dogs a safe space to engage in physical and mental activities and have some fun. Volunteering with rescues and running Canine Crews for so long has given me great insight into what many dogs need and so many just don’t thrive in group settings. MINDful Day School has evolved over the years into this full-blown program that truly caters, one-on-one, to these dogs. And the dogs that are in the program are THRIVING!

5. How can our readers get in touch with you?

info@caninecrews.com is our email and our website www.caninecrews.com has loads of information.

We reached out to Jennifer Whaley, the Owner/Founder of Fetch portraits and asked her to answer some questions which she did through telling a compelling story of how they started and where they’re at today! We love Fetch Portraits here at TheK9PT and have had a blast hosting them at our clinic for different holiday themed shoots! Next up, they’re here on Sunday, March 19th for an Easter themed shoot! Sign up for a slot through their website at the button below!

Hello! My name is Jennifer and I own Fetch Portraits. We help you document and remember your time with your furry loved ones!

I’ve had a camera in my hand since I was a kid and I photographed my first dog in studio at the ripe old age of 11. At the time, I was practicing for what I thought would be my job when I turned 16. You see, my Father owned a PR Photography business and Photo Studio. He decided he would start a division of his company called ‘Pet Art’ and asked me to be in the brochures with his cat, Focus.

I thought I was all set! I was going to be a PET PHOTOGRAPHER!!! Sadly, the idea never went past the brochure stage and I was left careerless before I was even old enough to work. I went a lot of places and did a lot of things, but 25 years later, I got my chance. I was laid off a 7-year corporate job in Chicago. With a few weeks severance for a cushion, I went back to my old bar job, cashed in my 401k and bought my first digital DSLR Camera. But where to start? How would I get the experience to be a Pet Photographer?

It was lucky I met my husband just a couple months after I decided to start photographing dogs at the local shelter. It was nearly impossible to do by myself and the shelter workers didn’t have time to help. In our first year, we photographed over 1,000 dogs, to help them find a home. All those hours of shooting and editing didn’t help just them – it helped us learn every nuance of what was necessary to put a canine subject at ease and get a winning shot. Then, they asked us to photograph Santa with the pups for donations to the Rescue…we did that the first weekend in December for 13 years in a row! 100 Sessions in one weekend! After the first few years of showing up with my camera to shoot someone else’s set & a volunteer Santa, we started making our own sets and we added Holidays. Check out this video about us shooting rescue dogs!

We started Touring Chicagoland pet store locations so that people wouldn’t have to travel far with their pets. These days, we create one-of-a-kind, hand-made photo sets for all the major Howlidays, to help you make memories with your furry family members. In addition to our Holiday-themed Sessions, we also offer Signature Studio Sessions from time to time. In 2020 we did Your Dog for President. Last year we did Salon Sessions. We have a few things on the list for possibilities in 2023, but that cat’s not out of the bag, yet…We kept our charitable roots by continuing our work with Chicago Canine Rescue and also worked with The Anti-Cruelty Society for many years. We’ve since branched out to helping in other ways, like giving a portion of our entire Howl-o-ween Tour to Canine Therapy Corps or supporting Humane Indiana with our Long Termers Program or most recently, the 12 Sessions we did to create their 2023 Calendar. We’re currently working on a series of Firehouse events, to help raise Pet Fire Safety awareness. We also photograph & showcase small businesses that bring a dog to work with them, to support local biz and show everyone just how great companion animals are.We pride ourselves on being quick, easy and fun for you and your furmily. Over the last 15 years we have photographed over 12,000 dogs together…and a whole bunch of cats (as well as our share of pigs, bearded dragons, hedgehogs and even a sugar glider)!

Rather than one studio, we have several host locations. Some are pet-centered businesses while many others are Crossift Gyms. No matter where we are, you can bet on your session being 100% private and focused only on you and your pet(s). No distractions, no other dogs, just us :)We also use Mother Nature as our backdrop, when the time is right. Mother’s May is fast approaching with Spring Green and flowers. We do Picnics, Beach Sessions, Sunflowers, Pumpkins and more, all for your Pets!

We offer themed Studio Sessions about 25 weekends a year. Outside of that, you’re most likely to catch us at a Pet Friendly event or helping a client make memories at home. If we’re not shooting, we’re editing. If we’re not editing, we’re building a set.

We do what we do because people who have pets just get it…and we want to help them remember every bit of it :)We hope to see you at one of our Pop-up Studio Sessions real soon! Tell us K9PT sent you!