Your First Visit
Every rehabilitation program begins with a comprehensive Initial Assessment.
Before your appointment, we'll require a referral from your veterinarian. This is a requirement of the New Brunswick Veterinary Medical Association (NBVMA) for canine rehabilitation services and helps ensure we have a complete understanding of your dog's medical history. Working alongside your veterinarian allows us to provide safe, coordinated care that supports your dog's overall treatment plan.
Your initial assessment is approximately 60 minutes and is designed to give us a complete picture of your dog, not just the condition that brought them through our doors.
During this appointment, Cynthia will:
Review your dog's medical history and veterinary records.
Discuss your dog's lifestyle, daily routine, activity level, and your goals for their recovery or fitness.
Learn about any challenges you're experiencing at home, such as difficulty climbing stairs, getting into the car, or keeping up on walks.
Perform a thorough head-to-tail physical assessment, evaluating posture, gait, muscle mass, joint mobility, flexibility, balance, strength, and overall movement.
Often, these assessments reveal compensations or underlying issues that aren't immediately obvious. A dog recovering from a knee injury, for example, may also be experiencing shoulder strain or reduced core strength as they adapt their movement. By looking at the whole dog rather than focusing on a single diagnosis, we can develop a treatment plan that addresses the root cause of mobility challenges and support long-term success.
Following the assessment, Cynthia will review her findings with you, answer your questions, and develop a personalized rehabilitation plan tailored to your dog's needs. Depending on your dog's goals, this may include therapeutic exercises, manual therapies, hydrotherapy, nutrition recommendations, and a customized home exercise program to help continue their progress between visits.
After your appointment, Cynthia will prepare a detailed report for your referring veterinarian outlining her assessment findings, recommendations, and proposed treatment plan to ensure everyone involved in your dog's care is working together toward the same goals. You'll also receive a summary of the assessment, including any prescribed home exercises, management strategies, and treatment recommendations, so you'll have a clear plan to support your dog's progress between visits.