Rehabilitation and Wellness Center

Pet rehabilitation promotes healing and mobility in animals through specialized therapies, exercises, and care, enhancing their overall well-being.

Physical therapy for canines adapts human physical therapy techniques to increase the function and mobility of joints and muscles. Our Certified Canine Rehabilitation Technicians and veterinarians will asses and create a specialized plan that best meets your pet’s needs. Some of the resources available in our Rehab department include Laser and underwater therapy.

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Our rehabilitation team

DVM/Owner, CVA, CCRP

Alicia M Brown

Dr. Alicia Brown started her veterinary career at a very young age. She is the daughter of VVH founders Dr. Kerry Brown and Nickie Brown, so, naturally, she has had many opportunities to help out and observe over the years here at VVH; from dogs and cats to horses and cows, she handles them all with patience and compassion. Alicia has officially worked at VVH as a kennel worker, a receptionist, a veterinary assistant, and now as a veterinarian. Dr. Brown’s special interests in veterinary medicine include orthopedics, neurology, and rehabilitation. Dr. Brown and her husband, Brian, have two sons, a daughter, two dogs, Harper and Mack, two cats, Heifer and Peggy Bandit, a horse, Bubba, and a small herd of grass-fed beef cattle. Alicia has a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science and a BA in Biochemistry from Skidmore College and now her DVM from Cornell University. She also worked as a Student Technician at Cornell’s Equine and Farm Animal Hospital.

DVM, CVA

Kirsten K Schaal

Dr. Kirsten Schaal grew up in the CNY area and developed a love for veterinary medicine at a young age. She spent her summers and vacations with a large animal ambulatory group. She went on to study at Binghamton University where she worked in the Lyme disease lab. She focused on using dogs as an indicator of the prevalence of Lyme disease in humans. She was accepted to St. George’s University and was president of Mini Vets, an outreach program that taught animal welfare to school-aged children. She graduated in 2021 and worked at a small animal hospital for one year before becoming a part of the VVH family. She attended Chi University during that time and became acupuncture certified. In her free time, she enjoys hiking with her dog Coco, swimming, and skiing.

DVM, CVMMP

Daniele T Casper-McHarris

Dr. Daniele Casper was born and raised in Upstate New York. She graduated from Utica College in 2015 with a BS in Biology. She then attended Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, where she graduated with her DVM degree in 2019. Her special interests in veterinary medicine include surgery, rehabilitation, dermatology, and cardiology. Outside of veterinary medicine, she enjoys spending time at her camp in the Adirondacks, downhill skiing, hiking, horseback riding, and cheering on The Ohio State Buckeyes!

LVT, CCRP

Jennifer Barnes

Jennifer is a licensed veterinary technician with a degree from MVCC in Applied Science (1990) and Veterinary Technology at SUNY Delhi (1993). She worked at an all feline practice before coming to work at VVH in 2003. Jennifer has a special interest in surgery, nutrition and Western Medicine. She recently attended the University of Tennessee’s Canine Rehabilitation Program and is now a CCRP (Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner). She has begun a Rehabilitation and Conditioning Program here at VVH. Please visit her web page, in our ‘Services’ menu on the left, for more information. Jennifer and her husband, Bill, have a daughter, Ivy and two twin boys, John and James. They also have two dogs Maggie and Millie. When she’s not at work she enjoys camping, touring with Bill on their motorcycle and spending time with the family. ‘There are very few places I enjoy as much as being at work.

LVT, CCRP

Jennifer Cromp

Assistant

Kinyorda Sliwiak

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Canine Rehabilitation and Conditioning

We are proud to offer canine rehabilitation and conditioning here at VVH. As with physical therapy for people, canine rehabilitation can be used for a number of conditions. Whether your dog is an athlete or a couch potato, a show dog or a pound puppy, conditioning is one area of rehabilitation that every dog could benefit from. You will see great improvement in your dog’s ability to move, willingness to play, and overall attitude as we work to improve joint function, improve muscle mass and condition, improve endurance and performance, and reduce pain.

Conditions commonly treated with rehabilitation include:

Post-surgical recovery
Muscle conditions: sprains, tendonitis, muscle weakness
Disc disease
Joint conditions: arthritis, contractures
Wound management
Pain management
Circulation and edema problems
Weight loss/ management
Performance problems in the athlete

Treatments are similar to those in the human field. Many of the procedures will be performed here by our certified rehabilitator (CCRP) as well as by the owner at home. A complete program will be set up for you and your pet to offer the greatest opportunity for improvement.

Treatment Modalities:

Animal Chiropractic

Animal chiropractic care benefits many medical issues. During a treatment, joints that are affected are adjusted to restore normal motion. Adjustments can be made to improve performance, help with arthritis, spinal injuries, general pain, and even some skin disorders. Gentle palpation of joints are performed; there are no loud cracking noises when manipulation is performed.

Aquatic Therapy

Aquatic Therapy (under water treadmill) – Properties of water are beneficial in improving mobility, strength and comfort. The underwater treadmill can be used for anything from basic conditioning of the canine athlete, weight loss, post-surgical strengthening, and treatment of chronic conditions such as arthritis.

Land Treadmill

Land Treadmill – Land treadmill is used to help improve muscle strength, stamina, and cardiovascular health. It is used to help condition sporting dogs, provide low impact exercise for arthritis, gait pattern for neurologic conditions, and assist with weight management.

Massage Therapy

Massage – Massage therapy is used to address both primary and secondary issues. Massage is used to relieve pain, assist in healing, reduce inflammation, muscle tension and restore balance.

PEMF Bed

PEMF (Pulsed Electromagnetic Field) – The use of electromagnetic field alters the body’s signaling cascade of pain to help reduce inflammation and improve tissue healing

Therapeutic Exercise

Therapeutic Exercises - Specific exercises will be recommended based on your pet’s condition to help improve function, mobility, strength, balance, proprioception, and comfort. During your session you will practice the exercises under the instruction of one of the Rehabilitation Practitioners and be given a tailored plan for home use.

Therapeutic Laser (Class IV)

Laser therapy utilizes light energy to help reduce pain and inflammation, and to promote cell regeneration and healing. It is used for both acute injuries and chronic conditions like arthritis, as well as to assist in acceleration of healing after surgery or injury.

Weight Management

Your pet will be examined by one of our veterinarians along with our CCRP to determine the best treatment. The veterinarian will oversee your dog’s case until discharged from rehabilitation.

Rehabilitation Stories

Pebbles

Pebbles came to us in December, just about 2 weeks after cervical disc surgery. She was completely non-ambulatory and weak. She could hold her body weight if we stood her up but was unable to move her limbs or balance on her own.

Pebbles first came to Village Veterinary Hospital for rehabilitation in 2013 after cervical disc surgery. When she entered rehab she could not stand or even lift her head; she was at the mercy of her owners to help her with every part of her daily life. After 4 months of intensive rehabilitation with Jen C, Pebbles was able to walk again. She still needed to build a lot of muscle, strength and continue to work on balance, but she was able to go back to her normal activities. Over the next few years, Pebbles continued to walk with her mom, and get back to the dog she used to be. She was able to walk miles with her mom and was even in her parent’s wedding.

Pebbles returned to Village Veterinary Hospital after an accident in October 2024 that left her with a broken leg. Following many weeks of exercise restriction and splinting her fracture to heal, Pebbles returned to rehabilitation once more to rebuild her strength and balance. At the age of 15, she is walking just as well as before her accident.