MY JOURNEY BEGAN WITH MY OWN DOG, HAKA.
At just five years old, my lab mix Haka was diagnosed with hip dysplasia and arthritis. Even as a veterinarian, I felt helpless watching him undergo total hip replacement and face twelve weeks of strict confinement in our small apartment. I had learned nothing about canine rehabilitation in veterinary school, and rehab wasn't recommended after his surgery.
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A year later, he tore the cranial cruciate ligament in the knee of that same leg. This time, I wanted more for his recovery. I threw myself into research on helping dogs recover from surgery and discovered canine rehabilitation. Having something to do during those agonizing weeks of crate rest gave us both a sense of purpose; we were bored and thrown off our usual walking and hiking routines.
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After he had his TPLO performed to help stabilize his torn ligament, I referred myself to a canine rehabilitation clinic, and what I saw changed everything. Canine rehabilitation transformed his life. But I also saw its drawbacks: waiting rooms filled with stressed, nervous dogs and anxious owners. For a dog recovering from surgery, the clinical commute itself was adding to his struggle.
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Today, Haka is ten years old. He walks at least three miles every day, hikes four to six miles several times a week, and does his exercises three times weekly. He climbs every flight of stairs in our house with confidence. Honestly, he's in better shape now than he was at five.
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Watching Haka recover changed my path too. I became a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Therapist and founded Rebound Canine Rehabilitation, bringing therapy into homes where dogs can heal without stress. Now I help senior dogs and their owners do what I did with Haka: age well, move freely, and keep doing the things they love together.
CERTIFIED AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL.
You wouldn't trust just anyone to perform surgery on your child, and your dog deserves the same standard of care. As a veterinarian and a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Therapist (CCRT), I bring a unique combination of credentials: a doctorate in veterinary medicine paired with one of the field's most respected certifications in canine rehabilitation.
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While some rehabilitation providers come from other backgrounds, my training as a CCRT means I can evaluate, prescribe, and adjust treatment plans with a full veterinary understanding of your dog's condition.
My certification, earned through the Canine Rehabilitation Institute with intensive labs and clinical internships, means every exercise, laser pass, and massage is grounded in science, not guesswork.
WHY YOU WON'T FIND AN UNDERWATER TREADMILL HERE
You'll notice we don't have an underwater treadmill, and that's intentional. For many dogs, especially anxious travelers or seniors with stiff joints, the stress of a wet, noisy clinic and a long car ride often cancels out the benefits of hydrotherapy. So we skip the treadmill and bring something better to where your dog feels safest: home.
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In your living room, we train the movements your dog actually uses every day: your stairs, your sofa, your front door. There's no waiting room, no barking dogs in the next kennel, no car sickness. Just therapeutic exercise, laser therapy, and manual techniques that build strength and range of motion without the logistical headaches. For arthritis, recovery after surgery, and general mobility decline, rehabilitation on land delivers excellent results because it mirrors real life movement. And in our experience, the best outcomes happen when your dog is relaxed, engaged, and on familiar ground.
"JUST OLD AGE" IS NOT THE ANSWER.
I've seen it time and again: dogs with osteoarthritis dismissed as "slowing down," owners told to limit activity and rely solely on pain medication. It doesn't have to be this way. I don't just treat symptoms; I build a roadmap. A personalized plan that reduces pain and stiffness, increases mobility, restores strenght and returns you to the active lifestyle you and your dog share. Whether it's navigating the hardwood stairs in your townhouse or enjoying morning walks without hesitation,
VIBRANT STEPS. ACTIVE LONGEVITY
I believe every dog deserves to be active until their last day — and be a strong part of their family's life.
I work with you to guide your dog through our proprietary framework:
The
Side-Lined Dog
Overcoming stiffness and fear
The
Basecamp Dog
Regaining stability and confidence
The
Day Hiker Dog
Returning to enjoyable daily walks
The
Trailblazer
Achieving peak functional longevity
Whether you're managing a senior dog or protecting the joints of a younger dog, my approach is rooted in this advanced expertise, empathy, and a deep love for the human-canine bond.
A PARTNER IN YOUR COMMUNITY
I moved to Maryland several years ago and fell in love with this area. On my days off, you'll find me hiking the trails at Bacon Ridge Nature Preserve or Patapsco State Park with my dogs, or hunting for another dog-friendly winery along the Annapolis corridor.
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While I specialize in non-pharmaceutical rehabilitation, I believe in a team approach. I work hand-in-hand with your regular veterinarian, ensuring continuity of care. For more complex cases requiring treatments like joint injections, underwater treadmill or shockwave therapy, I collaborate with trusted local referral clinics.
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This collaborative network means your dog receives comprehensive care without unnecessary stress or disjointed communication.
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