//podcastplus.net/feed/petability-podcast~bce6c8bc 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 rehabilitation facility in Waltham, MA. In 2017, Chris sold her business to the esteemed Angell Animal Medical Center of Boston, and is now podcasting, consulting for a tech company in the veterinary space, providing concierge mobile pet rehab, and working getting a product to market that will help our pets. Of course, Chris prioritizes enriching the lives of her twin Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Julep & Baxter, while indulging in all the snuggles they are willing to share with her! Fri, 11 Sep 2026 11:13:56 +0000 https://www.buzzsprout.com/820990/15140206-equine-gestalt-with-kelly-dukarski.mp3 Tue, 28 May 2024 09:00:00 +0000 https://www.buzzsprout.com/820990/15140206-equine-gestalt-with-kelly-dukarski.mp3 https://www.buzzsprout.com/820990/14029026-exploring-the-world-of-animal-communication-with-danielle-mackinnon.mp3 Have you ever wondered what your pet would say if they could actually talk? Listen to Danielle MacKinnon, a luminary in the realm of animal communication. With a rare and innate gift, she bridges the gap between humans and the animal kingdom, and has dedicated her life to unraveling the mysteries of interspecies communication. Her deep connection with animals transcends the ordinary, allowing her to tap into the rich tapestry of their thoughts, emotions, and desires. As a trailblazer, Danielle has not only demonstrated the power of animal communication but has also become a sought-after teacher, speaker, and author.  For more info about Danielle, her work, and resources for you, go to DanielleMacKinnon.com/PetAbility . Support the show Disclaimer Follow us on Facebook , Instagram , TikTok , and YouTube . MedcoVet (show sponsor) - the next generation in laser therapy by putting healing in the hands of the pet owner! By using the Promo Code PETPOD22 , when placing your ... Tue, 28 Nov 2023 10:00:00 +0000 https://www.buzzsprout.com/820990/14029026-exploring-the-world-of-animal-communication-with-danielle-mackinnon.mp3 https://www.buzzsprout.com/820990/13930041-making-simple-movements-into-exercise-with-bobbie-lyons.mp3 Many every day movements using every day surroundings can become exercise that can profoundly impact your dog's performance, quality of life, and longevity. Bobbie Lyons, CCFT, KPA CTP, Cert CF, describes just how easy it can be. However, we need to first observe what our dog is doing repetitively - the patterns of posture and movement that may not be ideal and contribute to injury - and then know what to do to address these issues. Contrary to popular belief, increasing your pet's confidence, building their strength, enhancing their balance, and probably most importantly, cluing them into where their feet are, especially those hind feet, can take as little as 15 minutes 3 times per week. So no excuses, let's do this!!! Find Bobbie Lyons at Pawsitive Performance and Bobbie Lyons Canine Campus . Support the show Disclaimer Follow us on Facebook , Instagram , TikTok , and YouTube . MedcoVet (show sponsor) - the next generation in laser therapy by puttin... Tue, 14 Nov 2023 10:00:00 +0000 https://www.buzzsprout.com/820990/13930041-making-simple-movements-into-exercise-with-bobbie-lyons.mp3 https://pdcn.co/e/www.buzzsprout.com/820990/8292431-hind-limb-passive-range-of-motion-there-s-nothing-passive-about-it.mp3?blob_id=38009037 Essential, imperative, necessary, vital. These are just a few words to describe the importance of joint range of motion in your pet’s quality of life. Imagine if you had a stiff knee, how difficult it would be to squat down to get that pan out of the kitchen drawer. It hurts so bad as you struggle to rise again, that the next time, you choose simply to bend at the waist. Oh no!  After doing that a few times, now your back is killing you. Your dog goes through the same thing when climbing the stairs, squatting to eliminate, or simply sitting. How can we help? By doing passive range of motion (PROM), which is having someone, like the pet owner, move their joints through their normal motion for them. PROM aids function by protecting the joint cartilage, increasing blood flow, decreasing swelling, and ensuring all tissues are at their ideal length. Arthritis from injury or aging is one of the top diagnosis for which pet owners seek veterinary care, and the first step in treatment should be PROM.  As we perf... Tue, 20 Apr 2021 09:00:00 +0000 https://pdcn.co/e/www.buzzsprout.com/820990/8292431-hind-limb-passive-range-of-motion-there-s-nothing-passive-about-it.mp3?blob_id=38009037 https://pdcn.co/e/www.buzzsprout.com/820990/7638571-everything-puppies-with-kristy-williams-cvt-ccft.mp3?blob_id=35712001 Raising your puppy should be FUN! From the little learning sponges in the neonate stage to the fantastic, mature, sound adults they become, and everything in between, it’s here! Join us as we discuss the world of puppies with trainer, Kristy Williams, CVT, CCFT! She’ll open your mind to puppy things that you never even considered. Did you know it’s actually appropriate to stress the puppy within two weeks after birth – just a little bit - so they can handle stress better later in life? Or that early play with littermates contributes to bite inhibition as they age so your dog knows when to let go? What are the fabulous consequences of  teaching our pups that nothing in life is for free, that they must earn it?!? Have you thought that you may be accidentally reinforcing undesired behaviors and then failing to provide positive options? You need to establish clear rules immediately as everything becomes much harder when your dog is 60+ pounds. The early days, weeks, and months are so important.... Tue, 23 Feb 2021 10:00:00 +0000 https://pdcn.co/e/www.buzzsprout.com/820990/7638571-everything-puppies-with-kristy-williams-cvt-ccft.mp3?blob_id=35712001 https://pdcn.co/e/www.buzzsprout.com/820990/7697836-canine-cognitive-dysfunction-syndrome-with-dr-bronwyn-riggs.mp3?blob_id=34406704 Why is my 13 y.o. dog seeming so confused by every day tasks? She doesn't seem to recognize me anymore and went to the window to be let outside. Then she seemed to get lost on our usual walk and became quite anxious. She is pacing all night long and then sleeps throughout the day. She's never had an accident, and now urinated on the dining room rug twice last week! Sound familiar? According to Bronwyn Riggs, VMD, DACVIM (Neurology), perhaps it's cognitive dysfunction that is responsible for changes in her behavior, disorientation, and confusion. The brain experiences age-related degenerative changes just like muscles. Impairment of memory and learning with age exists across all species. Factors such as genetics, diet, environment, lifestyle, and metabolic diseases contribute to susceptibility. Although there is no cure, cognitive decline can be managed with enrichment, behavior modification, targeted nutrition, medications, and certain supplements. To exercise their brain, you can teach your old dog new tr... Tue, 09 Feb 2021 10:00:00 +0000 https://pdcn.co/e/www.buzzsprout.com/820990/7697836-canine-cognitive-dysfunction-syndrome-with-dr-bronwyn-riggs.mp3?blob_id=34406704 https://pdcn.co/e/www.buzzsprout.com/820990/7092217-simple-fun-indoor-exercises.mp3?blob_id=30610930 Whether it's 10 degrees below or 110 degrees, there are plenty of easy, fun exercises that you can do with your pet in the comfort of your home. Cathy and Chris share some of their favorites: squats, walking backwards, high tugging, reaching, digging, front feet up, spinning, high 5s, tunnels, obstacle coursing, and happy trails!! They explain why each exercise is beneficial – maybe it strengthens your pet’s hind end or stabilizes their core or stretches their hips or makes them more aware of their feet or promotes balance. Maybe its ALL of the above!! Most of all, these exercises are enriching, mentally tiring and just plain ol’ fun for both of you. These activities are appropriate for dogs of all sizes, shapes, and ages. Even the cat lovers out there can do many of these! With a little creativity and some common household objects, all exercises talked about in the show can be executed with no special equipment needed. So no more excuses – get your pet moving!! Disclaimer The contents of the P... Tue, 12 Jan 2021 10:00:00 +0000 https://pdcn.co/e/www.buzzsprout.com/820990/7092217-simple-fun-indoor-exercises.mp3?blob_id=30610930 https://pdcn.co/e/www.buzzsprout.com/820990/6972566-grooming-to-maximize-health-and-function-with-meghan-terwilliger.mp3?blob_id=30072841 “Humanity over vanity!” Grooming is much more important than just making sure your pet looks pretty or smells good. Grooming is vital to maximizing your pet’s overall health and well-being. No grooming or improper grooming can lead to pain, decreased mobility, skin and ear infections, issues with thermo-regulation, poor oral hygiene, and the list goes on. Most don’t realize that the groomer is in integral part of your pet’s care team. By bringing your pet to regular grooming appointments every 4-6 weeks, the groomer becomes a first line of defense – examining skin, coat, teeth, ears, and nails, finding things that may need attention long before your pet’s next scheduled veterinary appointment. As a certified fear-free groomer, Meghan does all this while making your pet’s experience as pleasant as possible, establishing trust, and changing their emotional response to grooming. She describes what a fear-free appointment might look like and how she works to make it a positive experience for you... Tue, 29 Dec 2020 10:00:00 +0000 https://pdcn.co/e/www.buzzsprout.com/820990/6972566-grooming-to-maximize-health-and-function-with-meghan-terwilliger.mp3?blob_id=30072841 https://pdcn.co/e/www.buzzsprout.com/820990/6777307-integrative-medicine-for-pets-living-with-cancer-with-dr-erica-barron.mp3?blob_id=28999744 It’s all about living with cancer, not dying from cancer. Dr. Erica Barron, owner of her mobile vet practice, wants the pets in her care to not just live longer, but live well. Listen as Dr. Erica describes how integrative veterinary medicine (in her case, acupuncture and herbs) aids pets with cancer to have improved energy, decreased pain, increased appetites, and overall better quality of life. Traditional cancer treatments, such as surgery or chemotherapy, can be augmented with Eastern medical philosophies. She looks at every pet as a whole, not as a diagnosis, that results in treating the totality of each animal – not simply their cancer. Dr. Erica emphasizes treating patients is not a one size fits all, but very individualized based on the needs, abilities, and desires of the  pet and their owners. As a veterinarian that goes into the pet’s home, she has a unique perspective that allows her to examine the pet’s environment and advise accordingly. The frequency of treatments, often once... Tue, 15 Dec 2020 10:00:00 +0000 https://pdcn.co/e/www.buzzsprout.com/820990/6777307-integrative-medicine-for-pets-living-with-cancer-with-dr-erica-barron.mp3?blob_id=28999744 https://pdcn.co/e/www.buzzsprout.com/820990/6598459-q-a-with-your-hosts-cathy-and-chris.mp3?blob_id=27762388 Gain additional insights into your hosts by listening to this fun and informative episode. Cathy and Chris ask each other questions that they didn't disclose to each other in advance. Chris brags about her rehab exploits with a  400 lb. sea lion named Baranov, while Cathy talks about getting punched in the face by a penguin and an unfulfilled dream of rehabbing sea turtles! Enjoy their candor and exploits in the animal world. Disclaimer The contents of the PetAbilityTM  podcast are for informational purposes only.   The host(s) and their guests make no claims, warranties or representations about the content of these podcasts, or the accuracy, completeness or timeliness of their content. The opinions expressed are those of the host(s) and their guests. Discussion about any third party products or services are not intended to be endorsements or suggest any relationship or association between PetAbility and any other person or entity.  The host(s) and guests are not res... Tue, 01 Dec 2020 10:00:00 +0000 https://pdcn.co/e/www.buzzsprout.com/820990/6598459-q-a-with-your-hosts-cathy-and-chris.mp3?blob_id=27762388