Dogs are family — and these days, they’re welcome almost everywhere: cafés, breweries, stores, and even offices. But as our world becomes increasingly dog-friendly, some are wondering… have we taken it too far? In this episode, Chris chats with Lillian Ciardelli, ACAAB, and Amy Campbell, CPDT-KA, of Behave Atlanta, two canine behavior experts who help people and dogs navigate real-world settings with empathy, skill, and good manners.Together, they unpack what happens when “dog-friendly” tips into “dog-frenzied,” how to balance freedom with respect, and why understanding natural dog behavior is the key to creating harmony in shared spaces. Whether you’re a dog lover, trainer, or business owner, this conversation will make you think about life with dogs in the modern world.In This Episode We Explore:Why we’re seeing more dogs in public than ever beforeThe difference between inclusion and entitlementAre we putting our own desires ahead of what’s best for our dogs?Natural dog behaviors vs. “bad” behaviorsHow to manage overstimulation and anxiety in public spacesTraining tips for café- and brewery-ready pupsDog etiquette starts with human etiquetteHow to handle unwanted attention or off-leash encounters politelyThe growing concern over fake “service animal” claimsThe “social contract” of responsible dog ownershipHow trainers, vets, and business owners can model better behaviorOne simple mindset shift that benefits every dog and every personKey Takeaway Being truly “dog-friendly” isn’t about allowing dogs everywhere — it’s about creating spaces where dogs and people can coexist safely, respectfully, and happily.Connect with Behave Atlanta 🌐 BehaveAtlanta.com 💬 Virtual behavioral consultations availableDisclaimerVitalVet.org, a platform for all things related to pet rehab - product information, education, and resources abound! MedcoVet (show sponsor) Luma - advanced red-light therapy therapy that puts healing in the hands of the pet owner in the comfort of home! Use Promo Code PETPOD22, to receive discounts from our affiliates! You receive 10% off and PetAbility receives 10% to help support our show (unless stated otherwise)! Ruff Ramp - a safe alternative to stairs. Optimum Pet Vitality - Education/coursework to help you and your pet! Dr. Buzby’s - The Senior Dog Company – Toe grips to prevent slipping, Encore Mobility joint supplement, and Brain Boost cognitive supplement. You receive 10% off and PetAbility receives 10% from your first order.Extra love – use this link and the entire 20% goes to support our show! Calm & Cozy Cat Wrap - a...
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59:22
Easing Pain, Restoring Motion: The Galen Myotherapy Approach with Lisa Buchanan, CPDT-KA, MHS
Galen Myotherapy is a holistic, mindful approach that goes far beyond massage—helping dogs feel safe, understood, and pain-free while deepening the bond they share with their people. In this episode of PetAbility Podcast, Cathy and Chris explore this powerful form of canine bodywork with Lisa Buchanan, a certified Galen Myotherapist. Lisa explains how her gentle, evidence-informed, choice-led treatment protocols help dogs release tension, move more freely, and even improve behavior. Most importantly, listeners will discover why addressing a dog’s emotional and physical wellbeing together is the key to lasting comfort and mobility. Highlights include:What makes this therapy different from other canine bodywork approaches such as massage, chiropractic care, or physical therapy.Core principles of the Galen approach, including assessing posture, movement, and emotional cues.The types of dogs that benefit most — from puppies to seniors to dogs recovering from injury or surgery.How quickly guardians may see changes in their dog’s mobility, relaxation, and overall demeanor. Insights to what a typical session involves - environmental changes, passive touching techniques, and movement/exercise.How practitioners identify tension or discomfort before starting treatment.Heartwarming success stories — dogs whose quality of life improved dramatically through this work.How pet owners and professionals can learn more or even pursue Galen Myotherapy training themselves.For more information about Lisa, her business, and Galen Myotherapy, please visit these websites:Kinder K9 Mind & MotionGalen MyotherapyDisclaimerVitalVet.org, a platform for all things related to pet rehab - product information, education, and resources abound! MedcoVet (show sponsor) Luma - advanced red-light therapy therapy that puts healing in the hands of the pet owner in the comfort of home! Use Promo Code PETPOD22, to receive discounts from our affiliates! You receive 10% off and PetAbility receives 10% to help support our show (unless stated otherwise)! Ruff Ramp - a safe alternative to stairs. Optimum Pet Vitality - Education/coursework to help you and your pet! Dr. Buzby’s - The Senior Dog Company – Toe grips to prevent slipping, Encore Mobility joint supplement, and Brain Boost cognitive supplement. You receive 10% off and PetAbility receives 10% from your first order.Extra love – use this link and the entire 20% goes to support our show! Calm & Cozy Cat Wrap - a...
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Rehab Rewind: Disk Disease with Dr. Gena Silver
Learn from premier veterinary neurologist, Gena Silver, MS, DVM, DACVIM (Neurology,) all about intervertebral disk disease (IVDD,) a common neurological disease in all pets. What is it? Can it be prevented? How do you recognize it? What do you do when your pet gets it? Explained in a clear and understandable fashion for all pet lovers.To learn more about Dr. Silver, click here.For an IVDD Facebook education & support group, click here.DisclaimerVitalVet.org, a platform for all things related to pet rehab - product information, education, and resources abound! MedcoVet (show sponsor) Luma - advanced red-light therapy therapy that puts healing in the hands of the pet owner in the comfort of home! Use Promo Code PETPOD22, to receive discounts from our affiliates! You receive 10% off and PetAbility receives 10% to help support our show (unless stated otherwise)! Ruff Ramp - a safe alternative to stairs. Optimum Pet Vitality - Education/coursework to help you and your pet! Dr. Buzby’s - The Senior Dog Company – Toe grips to prevent slipping, Encore Mobility joint supplement, and Brain Boost cognitive supplement. You receive 10% off and PetAbility receives 10% from your first order.Extra love – use this link and the entire 20% goes to support our show! Calm & Cozy Cat Wrap - a...
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32:20
Wheek Wisdom: A Guide to Guinea Pig Care and Companionship with Kim Smothermon
PetAbility Podcast welcomes Kim Smothermon, the director of the Guinea Pig Sanctuary, to the show to share insider insights from life at the Guinea Pig Sanctuary in Salisbury, MA. Together with Cathy and Chris, Kim dives into everything you need to know about guinea pigs—whether you’re a curious first-timer, a seasoned pet parent, or simply fascinated by these gentle companions.Topics Covered in This Episode:How the Guinea Pig Sanctuary began and the mission behind itWhat makes guinea pigs so appealing and why people are drawn to themHow guinea pig ownership compares to caring for dogs, cats, rabbits, or ratsSocial nature of guinea pigs: why companionship matters and how bonding worksHousing needs: how much space do they really require?Diet essentials and bathroom habitsIdeas for enrichment to keep guinea pigs happy and stimulatedInteractions with other household pets: what works and what doesn’tPersonality traits: cuddly, quirky, and everything in betweenCommon myths and misconceptions about guinea pigsHealth care basics: lifespan, vet visits, and common medical issuesImportance of exotic vet specialists for proper careHow guinea pigs sense and interpret the world around themCommunication: how they interact with each other and with humansThe #1 thing Kim wants every guinea pig owner to knowResources & Links:Learn more and support the Guinea Pig Sanctuary: www.guineapigsanctuary.orgFacebook @guineapigsofnewengland and Instagram @guineapigsanctuaryDisclaimerVitalVet.org, a platform for all things related to pet rehab - product information, education, and resources abound! MedcoVet (show sponsor) Luma - advanced red-light therapy therapy that puts healing in the hands of the pet owner in the comfort of home! Use Promo Code PETPOD22, to receive discounts from our affiliates! You receive 10% off and PetAbility receives 10% to help support our show (unless stated otherwise)! Ruff Ramp - a safe alternative to stairs. Optimum Pet Vitality - Education/coursework to help you and your pet! Dr. Buzby’s - The Senior Dog Company – Toe grips to prevent slipping, Encore Mobility joint supplement, and Brain Boost cognitive supplement. You receive 10% off and PetAbility receives 10% from your first order.Extra love – use this link and the entire 20% goes to support our show! Calm & Cozy Cat Wrap - a...
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Rehab Rewind! Canine Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome with Dr. Bronwyn Riggs
Join us as we revisit our conversation with Dr. Bronwyn Riggs about Canine Cognitive Dysfunction. 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 tricks! Links:Found out more about Thundershirts to decrease your pet's anxiety.For some great puzzle toys and brain games, check this out!!To learn more about Dr. Riggs and her place of employment, click here.DisclaimerVitalVet.org, a platform for all things related to pet rehab - product information, education, and resources abound! MedcoVet (show sponsor) Luma - advanced red-light therapy therapy that puts healing in the hands of the pet owner in the comfort of home! Use Promo Code PETPOD22, to receive discounts from our affiliates! You receive 10% off and PetAbility receives 10% to help support our show (unless stated otherwise)! Ruff Ramp - a safe alternative to stairs. Optimum Pet Vitality - Education/coursework to help you and your pet! Dr. Buzby’s - The Senior Dog Company – Toe grips to prevent slipping, Encore Mobility joint supplement, and Brain Boost cognitive supplement. You receive 10% off and PetAbility receives 10% from your first order.Extra love – use this link and the entire 20% goes to support our show! Calm & Cozy Cat Wrap - a...
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!
New Zealand