How Veterinary Rehabilitation Can Benefit Obese Dogs
Canine obesity can lead to a range of diseases. Veterinary rehabilitation practices with weight loss programs will help overweight patients shed excess pounds, thereby improving their overall health and longevity. Canine obesity is not just one disease – it represents a major risk factor for a plethora of serious yet preventable health problems. That fat, adorable, jiggly Labrador in your exam room is at risk for developing diabetes mellitus, urinary...
VITAL VOICE: Virtual Consults Give You Another Way to Help Your Pet Without Leaving Home
VITAL VOICE is back! Vital Vet's new video series featuring interviews with leaders and experts in the field of pet rehabilitation. This episode features an interview Dr. Jennifer Repac who is certified in canine rehabilitation (CCRT), chiropractic, Chinese herbal medicine, and acupuncture. Dr. Repac received her DVM from UC Davis in 2009. She spent 2 years working as a veterinarian and teacher for a small animal practice in Beijing, then completed an Integrative and...
Cannabis in veterinary Medicine: The Other “Wild West”
CBD and cannabis are a hot topic in veterinary medicine today, but how do you know whether you can trust the information provided in articles and lectures? Veterinarians prescribe all kinds of treatments for their patients, from medications (both on and off label) to supplements to devices and more. As practitioners and consumers, we put a certain amount of trust in manufacturers and regulatory agencies that the products we provide...
Preventing Injuries in Canine Athletes
Many dogs engage in regular physical activity and can be considered athletes even when not competing or on active duty. Here’s how to help prevent injuries. The focus of modern healthcare is to prevent injuries and disease. Dogs, like humans, are enjoying longer active lives and many people are looking for progressive medicine that integrates a variety of care approaches for their pets throughout each stage of life. Many dogs...
What You Need to Know About Today’s Veterinary Diet Trends
A look at the advantages and disadvantages of raw, homemade, and vegan diets for dogs and cats. Nutrition is a common topic in veterinary practices, and rightly so. A pet’s nutritional needs change over time, and both age and health should play a role in diet selection. Diet trends are constantly evolving for both people and pets, and some of today’s owners are looking for a more “natural” alternative to...
What is the Fascia and How Does it Affect my Dog?
What if I told you there was a complex system in your dog's body that can greatly affect their posture, mobility, emotional well-being, and performance?The fascia is quite simply the tissue that holds you together! Injury and pain to one part of the fascia can have profound effects on the rest of the body. Knowing the role the fascia plays in the body, how it can be injured, and recognizing...
The Power of Canine Rehabilitation Therapy
Canine physical therapy is a growing field of alternative veterinary treatment that can be very beneficial for dogs. It’s more commonly referred to as canine rehabilitation therapy, since the term physical therapy is actually trademarked by human physical therapists. What Can Rehabilitation Therapy Help With? Arthritic dogs and those recovering from debilitating orthopedic surgery are typical patients for the therapy. It’s also used to support dogs with other musculoskeletal problems...
IVDD: Intervertebral Disc Disease in Dogs
A dog's backbone is made up of individual bones, or vertebrae, that form a tube, within which the spinal cord is protected. Discs are the joints that connect the vertebrae to one another. They are soft in the center and have a tougher outer layer. The spine helps bear the weight of the animal and also needs to move in many different ways. The job of the discs is to...