Canine Rehabilitation
Evidence-based movement medicine — assessment, protocol, and guided recovery.
Movement Restored, Function Rebuilt
Canine rehabilitation is the veterinary equivalent of physical therapy — applied through the lens of the Certified Canine Rehabilitation Veterinary Assistant (CCRVA) framework developed at Chi University. It is evidence-based, outcome-oriented, and deeply practical.
Most dogs who plateau after surgery aren't failing to heal — they're compensating. They've learned to offload the injured limb, recruit other muscles, and alter their gait in ways that prevent full recovery. Identifying and correcting those patterns is what rehabilitation does.
Every consultation includes a written home exercise protocol with step-by-step instructions — designed to be done by you, at home, between sessions. We build the program around your schedule and your dog's current capacity.
What to Expect
01
Movement Assessment
We evaluate your dog's gait, weight-bearing, range of motion, muscle symmetry, and compensatory patterns. If you have surgical records or imaging, review those prior to the consultation. We'll document baseline findings in detail.
02
Protocol Design
Based on your dog's assessment findings and recovery goals, we design a phased home exercise program — therapeutic exercises, controlled leash work, proprioception training, and manual therapy guidance appropriate to their stage of recovery.
03
Progress & Follow-up
Your written protocol includes progression milestones. We check in at 2 weeks, then schedule reassessments to adjust the program as your dog improves. We can communicate directly with your surgeon or vet throughout the recovery process.
Is Canine Rehabilitation Right for Your Dog?
Post-Surgical Recovery
- ✦TPLO / TTA cruciate repair
- ✦Femoral head osteotomy (FHO)
- ✦Spinal surgery recovery
- ✦Fracture repair rehabilitation
- ✦Any orthopedic procedure
Medical & Chronic Conditions
- ✦Osteoarthritis and degenerative joint disease
- ✦Hip and elbow dysplasia
- ✦Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD)
- ✦Muscle atrophy and weakness
- ✦Athletic performance support
Starting at $225
Initial assessment + written home exercise protocol
- 60-minute movement and functional assessment
- Gait analysis, range of motion, and compensatory pattern evaluation
- Written home exercise protocol delivered within 48 hours
- Phased progression milestones and criteria
- 2-week email check-in included
- Veterinarian/surgeon communication support available
Canine Rehabilitation FAQ
The ideal time is as soon as your surgeon clears your dog for controlled activity — often within the first 1–2 weeks post-op. Early, gentle rehabilitation reduces muscle atrophy, prevents scar tissue formation, and establishes correct weight-bearing patterns before compensation sets in. We coordinate timing with your surgical team.
Yes. Compensatory patterns can be broken even months after surgery. It takes longer to retrain established patterns than to prevent them, but it is absolutely possible. Many of our most successful outcomes are with dogs who were written off as "recovered enough."
Most home exercise programs use common household items or very affordable equipment (balance discs, cavaletti poles made from PVC, wobble boards). We design programs to be practical and accessible. If specific equipment would significantly improve outcomes, we'll tell you — but we never make it a barrier.
Ready to Help Your Dog Move Better?
Book a canine rehabilitation assessment. In-person in Palm Harbor, FL or virtual nationwide.