FUNdamentals K9 Conditioning Course by Jana Gams, DVM, CCRP
MASSIVE SHOUT OUT! It's an honor and pleasure to officially introduce Dr. Jana Gams to the Vital Vet community!! "Think Before You Throw" and "Is Sloppy Sitting Something to Worry About?", are two of Vital Vet's MOST POPULAR articles - both written by Dr. Jana Gams. Check them out if you haven't done so yet. Many of you are asking for more from Dr. Gams. Well, here it is: Dr. Jana Gams is...
Wraps and Braces for Carpal and Tarsal Injuries
The excerpt below is from an article by Drs. Gayle Jaeger and Sherman Canapp on carpal and tarsal injuries in dogs first seen in Clean Run Magazine in 2008. Though it's an older article, it is well-organized and still relevant. Carpal (front leg wrist) and tarsal (back leg ankle) injuries are common in larger and more active dogs but can occur in any dog and breed. Canine athletes are more prone to these injuries...
The Role of Equipment in Conditioning
When talking to a friend recently, I made the comment that my average client has minimal training experience, so in many cases I need to rely on simple exercises with specialized equipment instead of specialized exercises with simple equipment to get the results I want. This caused me to think about the role that equipment plays in conditioning, especially considering how expensive it is. How Important is Canine Conditioning Equipment?...
Know-How for Dog Fitness: Understanding Weight Distribution Is the Key
If you are already doing fitness exercises, or are interested in starting them with your dog, you need to understand the dog’s neutral position, weight distribution, and what is happening during specific actions, activities or sports performances - how and why something as simple as the direction your dog is looking in can affect your dog’s body, AND how to use this to your advantage when doing fitness! I find people...
Know-How for Dog Fitness: Understanding Weight Distribution is the Key
If you are already doing fitness exercises, or are interested in starting them with your dog, you need to understand the dog’s neutral position, weight distribution, and what is happening during specific actions, activities or sports performances - how and why something as simple as the direction your dog is looking in can affect your dog’s body, AND how to use this to your advantage when doing fitness! I find people...
Dogs Watch Us Carefully and Read Our Faces Very Well
Research shows dogs pay close attention to different human facial expressions. ...In addition to learning the basics of dog behavior, one area that's important for us to understand is how their various senses work and how they use their eyes to read our faces and the reasons for their sensitivity to the various visual social cues we emit.1 (See "How Dogs See the World: Some Facts About the Canine Cosmos" and "Dogs: An Exciting...
Why the Tail Is Important for the Active Dog
The Amazing Tail Those who love them all agree: Dogs are amazing animals. Not only are they capable of adapting to life with people, they have skills and abilities that are inconceivable to humans. From their fantastically sensitive noses to their keen intelligence, dogs find ways to thrill and stagger the imagination. Dogs' physical capabilities are one of the many aspects of the species that continually amaze. With the proliferation...
Virtual Consults for Pets - Rehab, Conditioning, and Mobility Issues
Many of you are becoming familiar with telemedicine so that you can connect with your veterinarian for a virtual appointment. A Vital Vet Pet Video Consultation is different - it's a totally new concept in virtual consultation. Here's how: You do not have to be a client of the Vital Vet Pet Consultants Our Pet consultants are the best of the best - some names you might even recognize since they helped develop the certification...