The Professional Pet Physical Therapist: An Interview with Whitney Mitchell
“IT’S NOT JUST A LASER AND A WATER TREADMILL!”
Struggling with your dog’s mobility? Consider canine physical therapy!
In this video, I’m talking with Whitney Mitchell, a pet physical therapist and the owner and operator of Zoomies Rehab in Sayre, PA. If you have never heard of a physical therapist for pets, this video will provide useful information. You will learn about the role of pet physical therapists, how to locate a physical therapist for your dog near you, and how to improve communication between your PT and veterinarian if you choose to use one.
Pet physical therapists have earned a special certification that allows them to perform physical therapy treatments on animals. Whitney explains why having an officially certified pet physical therapist is important when it comes to providing quality care for your pet. She also explains some of the cutting-edge technology and techniques she uses to treat her clients.
Whitney talks about the importance of having a good relationship with your veterinarian, pet physical therapist, and yourself. She explains why it’s important to communicate openly so that everyone is on the same page when it comes to treating your pet. Whitney also shares insights into how she works with her own clients and their owners to help them reach the best outcome.
If you have a dog who needs physical therapy or simply want to learn more about canine physical therapy and its benefits, this video will give you plenty of insight! Tune in now to get all the information you need about pet physical therapists and how they can help your pup reach their peak performance.
TIME CODES
To help you navigate the video better, here are time codes so you can jump to a certain spot if you’re coming back to review.
- 01:24 Interview begins
- 02:29 What do you treat as a PT?
- 03:23 Don’t wait!
- 05:55 Pet PT is definitely a thing
- 08:54 Proactive treatment
- 13:27 Pain-mediated behavior issues
- 14:20 The Humane Hierarchy
- 17:15 Referrals and working with your vet
- 21:06 Small dog ACL work
- 21:23 PT equipment
- 24:01 Getting dog buy-in and participation
- 24:57 Getting owner buy-in and participation
- 25:43 Ideas for slippery floors
- 29:56 Mental enrichment counts for a lot!
- 32:32 GSD Hips & Chiropractors
- 40:16 Enrichment (front v. back-end loading)
- 41:33 Chasing balls & developmental games
- 45:34 Puttin’ the work in!
- 46:14 Havin’ a good team
- 48:11 Continuity and “the shift”
- 49:46 What to look for in a PT
LINKS
In the video, Whitney mentions a database to find a certified pet physical therapist professional near you. We’ve linked to that here for you, as well: https://caninerehabsystems.com/find-a-pro/
Likewise, I mention the Humane Hierarchy during our discussion. The Humane Hierarchy was developed by Dr. Susan Friedman and is an ethical and behavioral framework for working with animals. It’s been adopted by the IAABC, the CCPDT, and many other professional organizations as a guiding principle. You can learn more about it here.
Finally, this interview was originally published on Simpawtico’s weekly live show on Facebook, Cyber Office Hours. If you’d like to see the full uncut episode, you can find it here.
LEAVE A COMMENT!
Putting the work in, communicating openly, and having a good team of professionals makes a huge difference in pet physical therapy. With the right pet physical therapist and veterinarian by your side, your pup can reach their peak performance and live a long and healthy life. With some work, your pup can get the physical therapy they need to be their best self.
Let us know your thoughts and your experiences with an animal physical therapist. Did they make a difference for your pup? What advice do you have for others considering using one to help their pet?
We hope this video helped navigate the topic of canine physical therapy and that it provided useful information. Let us know what you think! Leave a comment below. We’d love to hear from you!
Until next time: keep learning and keep practicing. Thanks for looking!
