Frequently Asked Questions

This is a fully mobile, door-to-door, service available throughout Greater Christchurch.  You can expect better results when your dog is managed in your own home.  My pricing is based on a core service area around the metropolitan area bounded by Belfast to the north, Hoon Hay to the south, Hornby to the west and Parklands/Bromley to the east.

I will travel as far as Rangiora, Lyttelton and Governor’s Bay, Leeston, Lincoln, Loburn and Darfield, too.  If you are not in the metro service area, I will quote for the price of your consultation.  For consultations in Christchurch’s Central City, additional time is usually required to account for the lack of on-site parking.   I will quote based on additional time and parking charges for these locations.

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For an initial consultation, I ask that you reserve 90 minutes of your time.

This session will include:

• Review of your dog’s lifetime veterinary records which you send to me in advance
• Physical assessment including gait analysis and nose-to-tail hands-on exam of muscles and limbs
• Massage session using acupressure, trigger points, pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) and laser, as appropriate.  My sessions include PEMF, laser and tuning fork therapies at no additional charge.
• A “Game Plan” discussion with my recommendations which often include at-home exercises
• Fresh, handmade liver treats for your dog – I bake my own liver treats on a regular basis
• First stamp on your loyalty card (a free bag of treats after every 5th appointment or I will donate to the animal charity of your choice)

Yes.

Please do not feed your dog a full meal within an hour of our session and give them a chance to get outside to pee and poo.

Please reserve up to 60 minutes for your dog’s session.  This ensures we have plenty of time for treatment and to allow your dog the chance to take breaks or adjust as needed.

• I will ask how your dog has been since our last session.  Any and all observations you can make help me do my job!
• We go straight into your dog’s massage session using acupressure, trigger point, tuning fork, PEMF, and laser as appropriate.  Remember that all my sessions are one price – laser is not an add-on.
• I will suggest adjustments to your home exercise programme, as required
• Fresh liver treats for your dog
• Another stamp on your loyalty card (free bag of treats after every 5th appointment or I will donate to the animal charity of your choice)

An initial consult is $169 and follow-ups are $105 (inc GST).  These are for locations in my core mobile service area where on-site parking is available.  My sessions are an all-inclusive price – there’s no additional charge for use of laser and PEMF.

If you are outside of this area or require me to park in a parking garage or other off-site location, I will provide a quote.  I base quotes on time and distance.

Payment is by EFTPOS at the time of your consultation.  Once clients become regular, many opt to pay by phone/internet banking.  2% surcharge is applied for credit cards.

Pet professionals complete specialised training to prevent and reduce fear, anxiety, and stress in animals to become Fear Free certified.  I must complete ongoing professional development to remain certified.

Fear Free practice is about treating your dog with respect and working with them at a pace that suits them.  I chose Fear Free certification in 2018 after hearing a client tell me that they went to an animal physiotherapist who muzzled their dog.  That dog was in pain and the session would have accomplished nothing because the dog’s pain and fear levels would have outweighed any benefits of the rehab programme.  More importantly, the experience conditioned the dog to be fearful of all other practitioners that were brought in to help him.

The Fear Free approach includes:

Things happen, I understand.  Cancellations within 48 hours incur a charge of $50;  if you cancel within 24 hours, the full cost of your dog’s session is charged.  In cases of genuine illness or family emergency, I use my discretion to waive this charge.  By booking, you agree that you understand this cancellation fee and will expect to receive an invoice for payment of the fee before re-booking is allowed.

Often, the answer is yes.

This depends on the policy and insurer you have.  Some insurers limit or restrict coverage for complementary therapies and many require your vet to have clearly recommended physical therapy in their notes for the services to be covered.

Please check with your insurer about coverage as terms and conditions change from time-to-time.  I do not charge clients for sending copies of treatment notes and invoices, or filling out forms if needed.  Please understand, however, that payment is expected at the time of your consultation and it is your responsibility to seek reimbursement from your insurance company.

It’s heartbreaking when you’ve received a diagnosis that your dog will not be with you for much longer.  Care at this time is palliative to focus on providing relief from symptoms, pain, and physical/emotional stress.  In conjunction with medication prescribed by your vet, modalities like acupressure massage, laser and PEMF can help keep your dog comfortable.

In-home care means a sick dog is not having to travel in the car when they may be too uncomfortable to do so.  I support my clients with a quality of life scoring tool that will help you track your dog’s condition and to make decisions about euthanasia.  It is always my honour to support guardians at this crucial time in their dog’s life.

‘PEMF’ stands for Pulsed Electromagnetic Field. A PEMF mat generates a magnetic field in motion that impacts on the ions of the body’s cells to stimulate them into action.  The result is an increase in cellular communication and circulation and a decrease in inflammation and pain.  Any condition involving swelling and pain can benefit from PEMF therapy.  These include:

• soft tissue injuries
• wounds
• tendon and ligament tears
• fractures
• hip dysplasia
• arthritis
• neurologic injuries

Cold laser therapy or therapeutic laser therapy, is non-invasive.  It can be integrated alongside massage, rehabilitation, acupressure, and traditional veterinary care.

Laser uses light at specific wavelengths.  When cells absorb light energy, a series of events in the cell begin to increase intracellular metabolism and stimulate healing.  Compromised cells respond better than healthy cells to photochemical reactions.  Laser light has a beneficial effect on nerve cells which helps to block pain signals to the brain, making laser therapy ideal for helping acute and chronic pain.

I also use my laser the way an acupuncturist uses needles.  I aim my laser at key points that lie along key meridians of the body to release endorphins and to address energy imbalances.

The technical term for laser therapy is ‘photobiomodulation.’

Yes.  Absolutely if their dosage schedule requires it.  Pain relief is essential for a hands-on massage or rehab session to be the most effective.

Sorry, no. Cakes require refrigeration and courier vans do not offer chilled facilities.

Yes.   If your dog has no pre-existing medical conditions, then a full-body relaxation massage will cost $105 in the core mobile service area.