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The PT and DVM Relationship

I am happy to combine my love for pets with my skills and knowledge of canine rehabilitation in order to provide the best possible care for your patients.  I strive to be the best in everything that I do, and canine rehabilitation is no exception. 

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I have a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology, a Doctorate of Physical Therapy degree, and a Master's in Healthcare Administration degree. 

I am an Assistive Technology Professional (ATP) and a Seating and Mobility Specialist (SMS) through the Rehabilitation Engineering Society of North America (RESNA). I was the first PT in Oklahoma to be a PT, ATP, and SMS. 

 

I am a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Therapist (CCRT) through the Canine Rehabilitation Institute. I truly value the skills I have learned and find joy in helping animals recovery from injury as well as age well. I am not afraid of "land sharks" or dogs who might bite. I love working out of Waterloo Animal Hospital and learning from Dr. Park and Dr. Richter. 

Dr. Julia Johnson at Britton Road Veterinary Clinic is one who has seen several clients of mine, as well as my own dog. Dr. Mary Beth Davis at Memorial Road Pet Hospital is also a trusted friend and vet and has also cared for my animals. They can all attest to my skills as a CCRT and vouch for me as a person. 

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The DVM and PT relationship is very important. It requires open communication and trust. Within 48 hours of evaluating your patient, I will send you a copy of my evaluation. I will keep you updated along the way and send the client back to you if areas of concern arise.

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At this time, there are no board certified DVMs in rehab. Many of the DVMs have completed the same training as myself at the Canine Rehabilitation Institute. 

Is PT too aggressive following surgery, especially for IVDD?

Many vets and surgeons have hesitation about referring to rehab after spinal surgery, fearing that rehab can be too aggressive. I have been working with humans with spinal cord injuries for over 17 years. One of the most important things to understand is that our first priority is keeping the dog safe but also to improve function and improve muscle contractions. You cannot start by running a dog. You have to start at the basics. If you don't have any core or balance, you will not be successful. Our approach all depends on the dog's presentation. For dogs who cannot stand, our focus is on getting them into a safe weight bearing position and provide enough support for them to weight bear but not to fall. We help them find their balance point. We use electrical stimulation to help get those muscles firing and in their legs and/or core. We work on range of motion, but first we have to be able to weight bear and balance before anything else can occur. It can be a slow process, but we want the dog to be successful. As a human physical therapist, my patients all wanted to be able to walk again. And while I told them that is a great goal, but we have to work on ways to get you to be independent before that point because if you don't have the strength and balance and coordination first, it will not be successful. We have to focus on the core and balance first as we work towards the ultimate goal. I take the same approach with dogs. Safety and balance first and neuro techniques such as weight bearing, perturbations, and deep taping before trying to get the dog to walk again. 

If you ever have any questions, please reach out. 

Referrals

Just like in human medicine, I need a referral to treat the animal. I do not practice veterinary medicine, prescribe medication or administer it. I provide physical therapy and rehab. I do not manage their medical conditions--that is the primary vets job. 

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Per the Oklahoma Veterinary Practice Acts, certain activities and modalities must be done under vet supervision. For this reason, I rent space from Waterloo Animal Hospital. Dr. Park and Dr. Richter provide on-site supervision. They do not take over care of the animal. 

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Please check out our Services and Programs

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I carry liability insurance and each client is required to sign a consent form. 

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Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns!

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Check out our google reviews as well!

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Not sure when to refer? 

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Want to learn more?

We will gladly do a lunch and learn for you and your clinic!

We will come to your clinic and provide lunch (or breakfast) and introduce ourselves. We will give you some examples of dogs we have treated and examples of our documentation and services we offer. We want to help all the pets to live the best and happiest lives while being as mobile as possible. We would love to build a working relationship with you and your clinic. We appreciate the opportunity to provide care to your clients. 

© 2025 by Pawsitive Steps Canine Rehab  dba Assistive Technology and Wellness Solutions Powered and secured by Wix

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Disclaimer:

All information on this website is intended for instruction and informational purposes only. The authors are not responsible for any harm or injury that may result. Significant injury risk is possible if you do not follow due diligence and seek suitable professional advice about your injury. No guarantees of specific results are expressly made or implied on this website. We do not practice veterinary medicine nor we diagnose, prescribe or administer medication.

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