Laurie's Blogs.
Recent Posts
27
Dec 2025
Dec 2025
Advancements in Post-Operative Management of Medial Patellar Luxation in Small-Breed Dogs: Insights from Recent Studies
Medial patellar luxation (MPL) remains a prevalent orthopedic issue in small-breed dogs, often necessitating surgical intervention. Two recent veterinary studies provide valuable data on post-operative rehabilitation and biomechanical recovery, offering evidence-based guidance fo...
20
Dec 2025
Dec 2025
The Yo-Yo of Iliopsoas Recovery in Sporting Dogs
Picture From: https://www.twohandsfourpaws.com/services/dogs/blog/iliopsoas-myopathy In my clinical practice, I see patterns emerge over time—certain injuries that crop up repeatedly, especially in high-drive sporting dogs. Last week, I treated two do...
13
Dec 2025
Dec 2025
A Wee Summary of Shoulder Abduction Angle Measurements as a Test for Medial Shoulder Instability
Measuring of shoulder abduction angles is a bit of an art, rooted in evidence informed practice. How does it stand up? Does technique matter? What about inter-rater reliability? What’s normal and what’s abnormal? Here are some ...
06
Dec 2025
Dec 2025
HUMAN Literature to Guide and Validate Canine Spinal Cord Injury Treatment Selection
Based on a comment regarding one of my last blog posts about what works with intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) recovery in dogs, I went down the rabbit hole to look into what has been researched and validated in human spinal cord injury treatment and recovery of function. ...
29
Nov 2025
Nov 2025
Spinal Walking in Cats: A Cornerstone of Locomotion Research
Picture from Frigon (2013) If the recent buzz around spinal walking (SW) in dogs has you curious about its feline counterpart, you're in for a treat. While the dog study we chatted about earlier showed promising real-world rehab outcomes, cats have long been the ...
22
Nov 2025
Nov 2025
Spinal Walking – Article Review
Hey fellow animal health pros—if you've ever faced the tough prognosis of a paraplegic dog with a thoracolumbar spinal cord injury and no pain perception, this study might just brighten your day. Published in the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine back in 2017, r...
15
Nov 2025
Nov 2025
Factors Influencing Time to Ambulation in Dogs with Intervertebral Disc Disease
I went down a rabbit hole recently after coming across a paper about return to ambulation times in cases of dogs with intervertebral disc disease. Recent research highlights prognostic indicators, surgical considerations, conservative management outcomes, and adjunctive therapies...
08
Nov 2025
Nov 2025
Addressing Neurogenic Muscle Atrophy in Canines: Why Exercise Alone Isn’t Enough
In canine rehabilitation, muscle atrophy is a common challenge, particularly when it’s neurogenic—caused by neuritis of spinal origin. Veterinary professionals, physiotherapists, or canine conditioning coaches may encounter clients eager to restore their dog’s m...
01
Nov 2025
Nov 2025
Navigating the Road to Canine Rehabilitation: A Journey of Fundamentals and Growth
Stepping into the world of canine rehabilitation can feel like learning to drive for the first time. As Dr. Adam Bitterman eloquently describes in his article, Medical Training Is Like Driver’s Education (published in The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, 2025), the transi...
25
Oct 2025
Oct 2025
Fleece vs. Newspaper: A Game-Changer for Guide Dog Hips?
Picture from: https://www.guidedogs.com/resources/canine-research-and-development/fleece-lined-whelping-pools-and-hip-dysplasia Canine hip dysplasia (CHD) is a tough break for dogs—especially working breeds like Labradors and Golden Retrievers. It’s a mix of...
