PetAbility Podcast
This is a must-hear podcast for pet owners wanting access to the latest in pet quality of life and longevity. Whether your pet has fur, feathers, scales or shells, Cathy and Chris believe in treating your pet as a whole, both mind and body. Continuing a collaboration that began in 2003, Cathy and Chris share the gift of gab as well as their network in the pet rehab community. Using their vast expertise as Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioners (CCRPs), Cathy Symons CVT, CCRP, and Chris Cranston MPT, CCRP, offer relevant information and provocative interviews on their podcast, PetAbility. With an emphasis on mobility and independence, their show is about improving function, restoring confidence, alleviating fear, providing mental stimulation, and easing pain to help your pets live their best lives. Read on for more information about Cathy and Chris… Cathy Symons is the author of Blind Devotion: Enhancing the Lives of Blind and Visually Impaired Dogs. She was inspired to write this book after her first pug, Booda, lost his sight at the age of seven. Several years later, Cathy adopted a blind pug named Digger and wrote a children’s book, Watching Out for Digger, which she uses as a teaching tool for young children to learn about living with a disabled dog. After fifteen years of practice as a veterinary technician, Cathy went on to study canine rehabilitation at the University of Tennessee. In 2003, Cathy was one of the first thirty-six people in the world to become a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner. Shortly thereafter, Cathy was instrumental in establishing one of the foremost veterinary rehabilitation centers in the United States, the Sterling Impression Animal Rehabilitation Center of New England. She continues to follow the latest options in pet rehabilitation, including digital thermal imaging and laser therapy, and is currently working on her third book, Senior Dogs: Maintaining Mobility and Independence. Cathy resides in the New England area with her husband and their pug, Mac. Mac is a very confident little nugget who enjoys doing nose work with his mom. Chris Cranston has 20 years of experience in pet rehabilitation. She is excited to share her knowledge and reach a wide pet-loving audience through the PetAbility podcast. Chris loves seeing that light bulb go off when educating pet owners, so a podcast seemed like a natural fit. Chris started her career as a physical therapist (PT) – with people. When she moved to the Boston area in 2002, she saw it as an opportunity to do something different, so she combined her existing PT skills with her passion for animals. Chris became a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner through the University of Tennessee in 2004, one of the first 100 persons in the world to receive this certification. In addition to her CCRP designation, she has a Masters of Physical Therapy (1989) and a Bachelor of Arts in Biology (1987) from the University of Iowa. Chris had a successful mobile practice, consulted with a myriad of general practices and specialty clinics, and started the physical rehabilitation service for a large multi-specialty and emergency organization in the Greater Boston region. All this was before founding FlowDog, a stand-alone, full-service small animal physical rehab facility in Waltham, MA. In 2017, Chris sold her business to the esteemed Angell Animal Medical Center of Boston, and is now podcasting, consulting privately, conducting workshops, teaching classes and providing PT services for a local holistic veterinary practice. Of course, Chris prioritizes enriching the lives of her twin Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Julep & Baxter, through agility and other activities.
Episodes
Patty Ramirez is not your average pet owner. Patty took something potentially devastating and turned it into something positive. She lost her dog, Gideon, to lymphoma. Then she adopted Zeke, an anxious, deaf Boxer, who helped Patty not only learn the importance of checking her pups for lumps and bumps when she found a mast cell tumor on him, but also to pay it forward with a public campaign to remind other pet parents to do the sam...
Listen to Cathy and Chris as they pounce into the world of cat physical rehabilitation. Discussing everything from recognizing when your feline friend may be in pain to rehabilitation tips and tricks to modifying your cats living environment. This episode is sure to get you purring about all the pawsitive measures you can take to ensure your cat is not only comfortable, but also embracing life to its fullest.
Click the ...
Very common in toy breed dogs, but occurring ever more frequently in large breeds such as Labs, is a condition called patellar luxation, also known as a kneecap dislocation. Listen as Karen Pastor, DVM, DACVS, explains why patella luxation occurs, how it's diagnosed, and how to treat it, both surgically and conservatively. Have you ever noticed your dog "skip" when walking? This is a tell-tell sign of a luxating pa...
The Calm & Cozy Cat Wrap is a game changer. It’s an extra needed set of hands if you work with cats and kittens. Invented by veterinarian, Surell Levine, VMD, CEO, to make vet visits easier for cats, this unique and effective wrap holds our feline friends in a calming hug while allowing special access points for common procedures and nail trims. It also has a plethora of benefits for cat owners providing similar care at home. W...
Have your ever seen a dog dragging their foot? Heard them scraping their nails? Or even witnessed them actually standing or walking on the tops of their feet? Listen to Cathy and Chris talk about knuckling - what is it, why it happens, and what to do about it. This episode focuses on anti-knuckling devices - maybe something you've never considered, but should know about if you have a dog - or cat. They cover everything from an...
Cathy and Chris pick the brain of Diane Dewberry about flower essences and how they are used to rid our pets of emotional trauma and bring them back into balance. Safe for ALL animals, including people, learn how these gentle, yet powerful, essences may help your pets with such things as anxiety, grief, and behavioral issues.
- What are flower essences and how are they used?
- What conditions are commonly treated with flower essences...
Ticks are everywhere! Ticks carry bacteria that cause diseases, most notably Lyme Disease. Listen to our esteemed guests from Merck Animal Health, Kathryn Duncan, DVM, PhD, DACVM, an expert in parasitology, and Laura Greene, DVM, DACVIM, an expert in internal medicine, as they educate us about what we need to know. They lend their individual expertise to discuss the following and more:
- How Lyme Disease is transmitted;
- The common ...
Listen to Kathy Keenan, MS, DVM, explain yet another exciting advancement in veterinary medicine called Renal Replacement Therapy. This life-saving treatment is done for cats and dogs with many conditions including acute kidney failure, immune-mediated diseases, cancer, toxin ingestion, and drug overdoses. Renal Replacement Therapy treats the pets blood by filtering the blood in a specialized machine and then replacing the healthie...
How do you know if a home laser therapy device is good or not? PetAbility invited Alon Landa, CEO of MedcoVet, to help us discern the good from the not-so-good light therapy devices available today. The laser (also known as light) therapy market is very competitive and navigating the marketing of a device, as well as comparing specs between devices can feel overwhelming. Home laser therapy is beneficial on so many levels, but can a...
Just because a dog is wearing a muzzle does not mean they are a bad dog! Listen to professional dog trainer, Laura Gendron, CPDT-KA, LFDM, FFCP, dispel the stigma associated with muzzle wearing by educating us about muzzle positivity! Laura shares a plethora of reasons why muzzling is beneficial such as during medical recovery (an alternative to the "cone of shame"), preventing the ingestion of inappropriate objects like ...
Our conversation with pet photographer, Fred Levy, uncovers the unique challenges of photographing pets. We discuss what differentiates a professional photo from those smartphone pics we snap on an almost daily basis, tips for getting the right shot with your own pet, and why everyone should consider professional pet photos at various stages of their pet's lives. Additionally, Fred discusses his infamous The Black Dogs Project...
If your dog has ever had a seizure, you should listen to this. If your dog has never had a seizure, you should listen to this. The truth is that approximately one in ten dogs will experience a seizure in their lifetime. Listen as Gena Sliver, MS, DVM, DACVIM, explains everything from the various types of seizures to what can cause a seizure to what we can do both during a seizure and over time to manage a seizure disorder. As a vet...
Write it down! Often times when it comes to things we need for our pets, we have to create them ourselves, like the old adage "necessity is the mother of invention" implies. This is exactly what Erin Scott, self-proclaimed dog mom, did when she created the electronic Dog Health Journal. This practical, informative guide facilitates keeping track of all of your dog's information in one place: diet, meds, changes in b...
Whether you have an exotic pet or don't even know what exotics are, you will be entertained and educated as you listen to expert storyteller Dr. Doug share his adventures of treating exotic animals for over 30 years. From parrots to primates and snakes to alligators, he's done it all with great passion. We discuss what attracts some of us to exotic pets, the ubiquitous human-animal bond, and the unique challenges of exoti...
Bringing your pet to the vet can be a stress-inducing blur! Listen as Chris and Cathy share suggestions to best prepare for your pet's trip to the vet and get the most out of your visit. They cover everything from what to do before leaving your home, providing helpful tips to maximize efficiency and managing expectations during the visit, and helping to ensure that you remember not only what happened, but why tests or treatmen...
Listen as Phoebe Hart takes us on her journey with Hugo, her endearing, 12 y.o., mixed breed rescue that was diagnosed 1.5 years ago with Degenerative Myelopathy (DM), a neurological disease with no known cure that causes progressive paralysis. Phoebe shares her reaction when she learned of Hugo's diagnosis. She stresses the importance of not panicking, but rather processing, as she assembled a care team that supports both Hug...
Who has one of the coolest jobs ever? Our vote goes to Bethany Brown, founder of the Saco River Wildlife Sanctuary in Maine in 2015. Listen as Bethany shares tales of rehabilitating all kinds of critters, including racoons, foxes, opossums, skunks, porcupines, squirrels, coyotes, fisher cats and even bats! The Sanctuary takes in over 800 animals annually (and ever-growing) with the goal of setting them free in their natural habita...
Dubbed by some as "The Mother of Canine Rehabilitation," it was an honor having Laurie McCauley, DVM, DACVSMR, CCRT, CVA, CVC, on our show to discuss how each of us has the ability to improve our dog's health and longevity through exercise. It's not hard as long as you know a few basics, like the type of exercise to use to achieve specific goals for your dog's body AND brain. Listen and learn:
- When is m...
Returning guest, Beth Innis, DVM, CVA, CVCHM, CCRT, CVSMT, discusses how the use of Eastern and Western veterinary medicine complement each other to provide more treatment options for our pets. Dr. Innis gives examples of each philosophy and how the integration can enhance the effect of the other. She also takes us on her career journey to her current mode of practice. In the U.S. we often think of Eastern medicine as "alterna...
When it comes to itchy ears, this perceived annoyance can quickly turn into a veterinary emergency. Itchy ears caused by allergies, is a VERY common problem in our pets and one of the most frustrating issues to deal with. Left unaddressed, yeast, fungus, bacteria, parasites, debris, and water in the ear can lead to infections, severe pain, and diminished quality of life. As your pet's caregiver, you are left feeling helpless....
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