Laurie's Blogs.
17
Oct 2026
Oct 2026
Stationary Jump Tests for Hind Limb Symmetry: New Data on a Potential Return-to-Sport Measure
When is a sporting dog functionally ready to resume higher-level activity after orthopedic or neurologic injury? Human sports medicine has established limb symmetry indices (often targeting ≥90% on strength and hop tests) as one benchmark within broader return-to-s...
10
Oct 2026
Oct 2026
The Biceps Tendon in Dogs – What 2026 Research Teaches Us
Two 2026 papers on the canine biceps tendon offer rehab professionals a clearer picture of both the passive anatomy that surrounds the tendon at the shoulder and the muscle work that may load it during high-speed retrieving. Neither study is a treatment trial, but both refine how...
03
Oct 2026
Oct 2026
Part 2: Treating Canine Orthostatic Tremor and Building a Rehab Plan
Part 1 covered recognition: orthostatic tremor (OT) is a high-frequency, stance-locked postural tremor, mainly in young giant- and large-breed dogs, confirmed by conscious standing EMG greater than 12 Hz (Liatis et al., 2022; Lowrie & Garosi, 2016). Part 2 covers w...
26
Sep 2026
Sep 2026
Part 1: Recognizing Canine Orthostatic Tremor
A two-part series for canine rehabilitation professionalsIf a young Great Dane, Newfoundland, or Irish Wolfhound is referred for “hind-end weakness,” reluctance to stand still, or difficulty sitting and standing, the first thought is often orthopedic disease, cervical...
19
Sep 2026
Sep 2026
Little White Shaker Syndrome (Idiopathic Generalized Tremor Syndrome): Clinical Features, Medical Management, and Rehabilitation Implications
This whole blog started because I had a client ask me about something she called "Jack Russell Parkinsons". Well, I couldn't find anything with that specific name, but I did find some interesting topics that I believe are indeed what she is talking about. So, in this ...
12
Sep 2026
Sep 2026
Incline and Decline Treadmill Trotting Alter Specific Forelimb Muscle Activity in Dogs
A 2026 study in the American Journal of Veterinary Research examined how graded treadmill slopes change thoracic-limb muscle activity in trotting dogs. The findings are directly relevant to canine rehabilitation, where incline and decline trotting are commonly used to progress lo...
05
Sep 2026
Sep 2026
Forelimb Muscle Activity During Level, Incline, and Decline Walking in Dogs: A Review of Cain et al. (2025)
I want to preface this blog by staying that there is a study that has come out recently that is actually a follow-up / tag on study to this one. The new study is about trotting, but reviewing available literature, I found this study about walking and realized that I h...
29
Aug 2026
Aug 2026
Veterinary perception of the prevalence of back pain and dysfunction for 6 clinical scenarios
This photo, of David's Dog Fig-Jam, hangs in on the bathroom wall in his clinic - Points East West Veterinary Services in Squamish, BC, Canada.If you haven’t read last week’s blog - Factors affecting veterinary perception of the prevalence of back pain and dysfunction...
22
Aug 2026
Aug 2026
Factors affecting veterinary perception of the prevalence of back pain and dysfunction
David's dogs - Fig-Jam & Corb - Based on these 2 pictures, can you tell which dog has the more intense personality? In human medicine, the term “non-specific back pain” has been used for 70 years to describe conditions that result in back pain, yet the underl...
15
Aug 2026
Aug 2026
Recent Advances in Canine Syringomyelia and Chiari-like Malformation: Insights from 2025–2026 Literature
Recent publications (primarily 2025–2026) continue to refine understanding, diagnosis, clinical assessment, and management of Chiari-like malformation (CM) and syringomyelia (SM) in dogs, with a strong focus on predisposed breeds such as Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (CKCS...
