Frequently Asked Questions

An exercise physiologist (EP) is a university qualified allied health professional who uses exercise as medicine. They specialise in designing and delivering safe, evidence based exercise interventions to manage chronic conditions, injuries, and disabilities.

In an Advanced Diploma in Canine Exercise Rehabilitation, an Exercise Physiologist (EP) pivots their clinical skills from humans to dogs, focusing on species-specific anatomy, biomechanics, gait analysis, and tailored corrective exercise prescription.

We design custom programs for a wide variety of needs. We frequently help with:

• Injury Recovery: Healing muscle and tendon strains or tears.

• Post-Operative Care: Supporting a smooth recovery after orthopaedic surgery.

• Chronic Conditions: Improving quality of life for pets with age-related mobility issues.

• Weight Management: Targeted programs for metabolic health and safe weight loss.

• Post-Amputation Support: Helping dogs adapt and stay balanced on three limbs.

• Performance: Conditioning and strength training for active athletes or working dogs.

This is not an exhaustive list and we recommend asking your vet whether you pet can benefit from exercise physiology intervention.

Think of rehabilitation as "physical therapy for pets." We focus on retraining functional movements while boosting muscle strength and joint health. It is a fantastic way to speed up recovery from surgeries and soft tissue injuries, and it’s a game-changer for managing age-related conditions like arthritis. Our goal is to get them moving comfortably again!

Myofascial massage for dogs offers significant benefits by releasing restrictions in connective tissue, reducing pain, improving mobility and enhancing quality of life, particularly for senior or injured dogs. It reduces muscle tension, improves circulation, and alleviates anxiety through gentle techniques that aid healing and improve flexibility.

To provide the safest and most effective care, we work as a team with your primary veterinarian. This ensures your pet's rehab program is perfectly aligned with their medical history.

Getting started is easy:

1. Chat with your vet about how rehabilitation could help your pet’s specific needs.

2. Ask them to complete the Referral Form found on our Contact Page.

3. Once we receive the form, we'll reach out or you can book your initial consult online

4. After initial consultation, the Dog EP will send your report back to your vet, and further consultations can be booked online.

Referrals are needed for exercise programs and massage to target specific injury or conditions, please see above how to book in. For relaxation massage no referral is needed as long as your dog shows no sign of injury or conditions contraindicated by massage.

We can check if your provider covers remedial therapies, as we’ve successfully processed these before. Please note that The Dog EP is a Gap Only provider, allowing for easy onsite processing.