
Is the Equine Bow and String Theory Still Relevant
The bow and string theory was first proposed by Barthez in 1798, but was mostly ignored until 1946 when Slijper published the theory. That was a long time ago, and since then our understanding of the body has vastly improved – mostly owing to further research...

I’m Not Sure … and That’s Okay.
Written by Marianne Lomberg We’re not working from a script… We’re human. But unlike the check-out person at the supermarket, or the call-centre person (whose job I would never want, no matter how much you paid me), when we’re at work, we don’t work from a...

6 Keys to a Great Vet Rehab Website
Most of us know the importance of having a website – it gives us credibility and a presence in the marketplace, and is a way for us to share information regarding our services and products. A website should do more than just supply information to potential clients –...

Hydrotherapy in the Care of Canine Amputees
When your best friend needs an amputation, it can be an emotionally challenging decision to make as a family. When you have no choice and the amputation needs to be performed suddenly, it can be even more difficult to deal with. But there is hope. Amputations...

A Look at Tissue Healing Timelines
If we do not know how each phase of healing progresses, when it starts and ends, and the intricacies of the healing mechanisms of individual tissues, we cannot treat our patients correctly and promote healing. It is imperative for us to have a thorough working...

Upward Fixation Of The Patella In Horses
We have all seen horses with a hind limb stuck out behind them, unable to flex and protract the limb. Often we are told that there is nothing much to be done, and that the horse will outgrow the condition. But of course, we can never be satisfied with that advice....

Microbiome Health And Its Role In Canine Rehab
Written by Dr. Margo Roman, DVM, CVA, COT, CPT When we aim to treat our patients holistically as canine rehabilitation therapists, as we should be, we must consider more than just their musculoskeletal health. When we consider their mental health, nutrition, and...

Why Every Rehabilitation Patient Should See Your Camera
Your camera can play a valuable role in helping you record patient progress over time, communicate with owners and other members of the veterinary rehabilitation team, as well as educate and uplift owners and other professionals. Read on to learn how taking...

The Debate Surrounding Life Jackets in Canine Hydrotherapy
In the world of Hydrotherapy, the use of a flotation device is a controversial topic, one that should form the subject of some high-quality research and open discussion among professionals in the industry. There are various strong views on the use of floatation...

The Best Canine Rehab Exercise Equipment for your Practice
Whether we’re mobile or run a standard practice, exercise equipment forms a big part of what we do. It can be quite an investment; most of us get around the expense by starting small and adding pieces over time. So where do we start? What are the critical pieces...

What Research Reveals About Equine Shivers
Shivers was once considered as ‘common as dirt’, while today it is considered to be rare. However, the more we understand the components of this degenerative condition and it’s presentation from a neurological and muscle recruitment perspective, the more...

8 Things That May Cause Vet Rehab Therapy to Fail
Veterinary rehabilitation is an incredibly rewarding field, but it can also be pretty frustrating. Sometimes our patients just don’t seem to improve, or they get worse, and we cannot figure out why. It helps to have a “route map” that can pinpoint the common...

The Secret that most Successful Vet Rehab Therapists know about Client Loyalty
Facebook, Twitter and other social media platforms play an essential role in our communication with clients, but these platforms change their policies and algorithms almost weekly. With them, we can never be 100% sure that our promotions, news and achievements are...

Obesity in Canine Hydrotherapy
One of the most common conditions we treat as hydrotherapists is obesity, which impacts the quality of life and is often a cause or exacerbating factor for a whole host of conditions, including osteoarthritis. We face challenges when presented with overweight...

A Joint is only as Strong as it’s Weakest Ligament: Prolotherapy in the hands of a Veterinary Surgeon
I love people who are passionate about what they do. Dr Steve Wimberly from Westville Veterinary Hospital in Durban, South Africa is just that; his face lights up when he speaks about his cases. Over the last few years, I have interviewed Steve on a therapy he has...

The Challenges of the Paralyzed Dog
Canine paralysis often comes unexpectedly and suddenly, leaving an owner overwhelmed and uncertain, coupled with a dog that is now completely dependent on the owner for every need. It is important for us as therapists to have an understanding of the challenges that...

The Link Between Girth Pain and Birth Trauma
Riders and owners will know this as girthiness, or something similar – a horse that braces against having the girth tightened, flinches or tries to bite or kick. There are many levels of escalation of this behaviour. Oddly, it is considered the norm for many horses....

One Missed Appointment is Actually Two Missed Appointments
The first missed appointment is the one the client actually misses, and the second is the one that they then re-schedule, thus taking away an appointment that another, possibly new, client could have had. Missed appointments can have a serious impact on your practice....

Resources for the Veterinary Rehabilitation Therapist
Stepping out of university and into the world of work is exciting, nerve-wracking and demanding. There in front of you sits your first client and (usually) their dog, both of whom treat you as if you’ve been doing this forever and know everything. You want to appear...

The Top 10 Podcasts of 2022
As we end off the year, we celebrate having published 233 episodes of the Veterinary Rehabilitation Podcast! The podcast has been an absolute passion for the Onlinepethealth team, providing a channel where we can get to know and learn from Vetrehabbers all around the...