Onlinepethealth

28/09/2026

24/09/2026

📏 Are your assessments as objective as they could be?

Observing stance, posture and gait is a fundamental part of canine rehabilitation - but combining those observations with objective outcome measures allows us to track progress more accurately, evaluate treatment effectiveness and communicate more clearly with both veterinarians and owners.

In this week's blog, we share the key take-home messages from Dr Kiki Haeusler's webinar series on objective stance and gait assessment, and explore how small changes to your evaluation process can strengthen your clinical reasoning.

💬 Comment BLOG and we'll send you the link to read this week's article.

23/09/2026

https://www.cliniciansbrief.com/article/localizing-thoracic-limb-lameness-orthopedic-dog-canine?link_source=ta_first_comment&taid=6ab3f7976c305d000101412e&utm_campaign=CBFacebookTrueAnthem&utm_medium=CB&utm_source=social&fbclid=IwY2xjawUnvXRleHRuA2FlbQIxMABwZG9mAWJyaWQRMUtQczE1RmtlN21MYWRIRDFzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeAJd5uikLpKA4leyQQtvLlQcDxM0xfKzXDXyzk0W8abWXLhkz9XlGwavf2do_aem_glsmMiWGiqu1w6WcwHdYLg

No more stumbling through you lameness exams.

Revisit the fundamentals of Identifying Canine Front Leg Lameness on Orthopedic Exam. Link in comments.

23/09/2026

A great read on setting realistic rehabilitation and prognostic expectations following peripheral nerve injury!

Recovery after nerve injury can vary widely depending on the severity and type of damage, with some injuries taking months to regenerate and recover function.

This is an important reminder that rehabilitation progress may take time, and early lack of function doesn’t necessarily mean further recovery isn’t possible. 🐾

Scientific Wednesday 🔬
How long does an injured nerve need to recover?

There is no single timeline following traumatic peripheral nerve injury. A major factor is the severity of the nerve damage.

With neuropraxia, the axon remains intact. Remyelination may take approximately 3-6 weeks, with functional recovery often possible within around 3 months.

With axonotmesis, the axon itself is damaged. Axons need to regenerate, reach their target tissue and achieve functional reinnervation. Recovery can therefore extend over many months.

Neurotmesis represents much more severe structural disruption, with substantially more limited potential for spontaneous functional recovery.

This distinction matters in rehabilitation: lack of normal function after several weeks does not necessarily mean that further recovery is impossible following an axonal injury.

A recent veterinary study of 38 dogs and 10 cats with sciatic nerve injuries further demonstrates how variable traumatic and iatrogenic nerve injuries can be and highlights the value of motor function and electrodiagnostics when assessing prognosis.

Rehabilitation can accompany this prolonged biological process, supporting function while aiming to limit secondary consequences of denervation and immobility.

Nerve regeneration takes time. Our rehabilitation and prognostic expectations need to respect that biology.

References:
Dell'Apa, Diletta, et al. "Traumatic and iatrogenic sciatic nerve injury in 38 dogs and 10 cats: Clinical and electrodiagnostic findings." Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine 38.3 (2024): 1626-1638.
Dell’Apa D et al. Traumatic and iatrogenic sciatic nerve injury in 38 dogs and 10 cats. J Vet Intern Med. 2024;38:1626–1638.

23/09/2026

💰 Are you charging what your expertise is actually worth?

In this episode of the Vet Rehab Podcast, Melissa Tompkins-Lewis joins us to talk about pricing, recognising the value of your services, and becoming more confident charging appropriately for the care you provide.

🎧 POD 428: Charging What You Are Worth with Melissa Tompkins-Lewis

💬 Comment VRP1 and we’ll send you the link, or listen wherever you enjoy your podcasts. :-)

22/09/2026

Does becoming a great veterinary rehabilitation professional really mean you need to become a business owner too? 🤔

For many new graduates, the pathway into veterinary rehabilitation can quickly become graduate → start a practice → figure everything out as you go.

But there may be a better way.

In this month’s Business Basics, Lauren explores how layered mentorship and partner-based practice models can create an alternative pathway - one that supports clinicians as they develop their skills while allowing established practices to grow in a more sustainable way.

We look at mentorship, hiring, leadership and practice growth, and challenge some of the assumptions we make about what building a successful career or business in veterinary rehabilitation needs to look like.

Whether you’re a new graduate finding your feet or a practice owner thinking about your next stage of growth, this session offers plenty to think about.

🔒 Business Basics is available exclusively to Onlinepethealth members.

Log in to the members portal to watch the full session.

21/09/2026

YES! Definitely good to get a refresher on this topic, especially as we get warmed up for this years Vet Rehab Summit

Neuropathic pain can present in ways we don’t always see but once you know it’s heart breaking.
I am so grateful for the dogs in my care that am able to help mitigate this. I love being able to offer help and home strategies. Do get in touch if you think your dog may have pain. Vet first always but also look at other therapeutic options 🙌
Vet Rehab Online Learning

21/09/2026

Knowing when not to use hydrotherapy is just as important as knowing how to use it. 💧🐾

In this webinar, Angela Griffiths, CCRP, Dip HSA, Member of IAVRPT, explores the contraindications and precautions that should guide our clinical decision-making in canine hydrotherapy.

We’ll look at how risks and precautions differ between the pool and underwater treadmill, how co-morbidities can influence treatment choices, and when a hydrotherapy session needs to be modified, postponed or avoided altogether.

Strengthen your clinical reasoning and build confidence in making safe, informed treatment decisions for every patient who enters the water.

🔒 This webinar is available exclusively to Onlinepethealth members.

Comment HYD and we’ll send you the details.

19/09/2026

🎉 Congratulations to our Winner of the Month, Linda Zito!

Linda, we are so happy to celebrate YOU this month! 🥳

Our Onlinepethealth community is made up of veterinary rehabilitation professionals who continue to learn, grow, ask questions, share their experiences and support one another - and our Winner of the Month is one small way we get to celebrate the incredible people within it.

Please join us in giving Linda a big congratulations in the comments! 👏🎉

18/09/2026

📚 Great new research for our Vetrehabbers!

This recent study explored stationary jump testing and hindlimb symmetry as a potential objective measure for return-to-sport assessment in dogs.

Another exciting step toward developing more objective ways to assess our canine athletes throughout rehabilitation and return to sport! 🐾

Easy-to-perform, reliable, return-to-sport tests could give us objective data on canine recovery from orthopedic and neurologic injury, something the field badly needs.

Open access article: jav.ma/stationary