Pet Physical Therapy

Physical therapy is a form of rehabilitation focused on restoring a part of the body that has been damaged or altered to its former (and healthier) condition. In animals, our focus is to improve function and comfort using exercise programs, medications, pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical aids, and
manual therapies. This can range from both Western and Eastern medications, acupuncture, chiropractic or medical manipulation, massage therapies, LASER or PEMF therapies and much much more.


The patients we see most often for rehabilitation are pets with neurological disorders (IVDD), orthopedic (ACL tears) or soft tissue injuries (muscle strains), or pets with weakness (geriatric or chronic issues). These pets make great progress with exercises geared toward gait training, nerve stimulation and re-training, muscle development and joint flexibility.


As a practitioner, Dr. Sharon would love to see more pets prior to these injuries. Pets that are prone to those more severe issues above are also great candidates for rehabilitation intervention, these include:

  • The Weekend Warriors: these pets spend their weeks as couch potatoes, until the parents are off work and it’s game time! The intense game of fetch or the strenuous hike after a lazy week leaves them prone to injuries due to the lack of muscle conditioning. Soft tissue injuries, including iliopsoas strains, can take months to heal- and are often preventable with consistent exercise and appropriate muscle training.
  • Overweight Pets: studies show that these pets don’t live as long. While we often feel that food and special treats can show our love, pets often enjoy walks and quality time just as much! Daily exercise and
    weekly routines with strategic feeding can change their body condition tremendously. An ideal weight can help pets thrive and be around longer.
  • Performance animals: depending on the sport, certain joints or muscles can be under constant strain leaving vulnerability to early breakdown. These pets ideal weight and have good muscle tone but tend to overuse muscles/joints important for their tasks. Cross-training can improve their performance and allow for the best overall growth in strength, flexibility and durability. Finding ways to condition with these things in mind can help mitigate these risks.

Where and how:
Dr. Sharon is a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner and will come to your home to assess your pet for muscle imbalances, joint restrictions and discomfort. She can then form a structured program and make recommendations for improving these findings. The majority of the program can be completed with household items and without the purchase of additional equipment, although items such as balance discs can be extremely helpful. During her next progress exam, she can further demonstrate exercises and go over any questions you may have.

Home Exercise Programs:
Programs are uniquely designed for each patient to target specific muscle groups or improve range of motion. Typically, programs come with a range of exercises that can be cycled to prevent boredom!

And more:
While in your home, we may notice some environment adjustments that can be made to improve your pet’s confidence and safety while moving around the house. Carefully placed ramps, rugs and yoga mats are some of the biggest suggestions.


By integrating both Western and Eastern practices we can improve comfort during the rehabilitation process. Medications and herbals are often prescribed for daily use and modalities such as acupuncture and medical manipulation (chiropractic) are often the pillars in Dr. Sharon’s care to improve on pain and function.

Written by Dr. Sharon Cubelo

durability. Finding ways to condition with these things in mind can help
mitigate these risks.
Where and how:
Dr. Sharon is a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner and will come to
your home to assess your pet for muscle imbalances, joint restrictions and
discomfort. She can then form a structured program and make
recommendations for improving these findings. The majority of the program
can be completed with household items and without the purchase of additional
equipment, although items such as balance discs can be extremely helpful.
During her next progress exam, she can further demonstrate exercises and go
over any questions you may have.
Home Exercise Programs:
Programs are uniquely designed for each patient to target specific
muscle groups or improve range of motion. Typically, programs come
with a range of exercises that can be cycled to prevent boredom!
And more:
While in your home, we may notice some environment adjustments that
can be made to improve your pet’s confidence and safety while moving
around the house. Carefully placed ramps, rugs and yoga mats are
some of the biggest suggestions.
By integrating both Western and Eastern practices we can improve
comfort during the rehabilitation process. Medications and herbals are
often prescribed for daily use and modalities such as acupuncture and
medical manipulation (chiropractic) are often the pillars in Dr. Sharon’s
care to improve on pain and function