Carmel has been bringing back the joy of mobility and providing improved comfort to pets for over 25 years, including with Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner Certification (CCRP) since 2010. In 2008, she opened up the first canine aqua treadmill in Perth, bringing with her years of pet rehabilitation training and experience from her time in specialist practices in England.

Carmel and her team have been providing compassionate care to dogs and cats with debilitating conditions ever since. Covering everything from arthritis and joint injuries to spinal injuries, pre-surgery & post-surgery rehab, and many things in between.
We love working with dedicated pet owners to improve their pet’s quality of life and improving their comfort through personalised 1 on 1 sessions.

All of our services aim to reduce discomfort and restore normal movement patterns, so your pet can get back to their healthy, happy selves.

Nobody knows your pet like you do. When you bring your pet to Active Pet Rehabilitation, you become a part of your pet’s rehabilitation team. In fact, you’re the most important person! It’s you who puts in the time for structured walks, planned exercises, and specific stretches. You are also the one who makes time to bring your pet to us for their treatments. So, thank you for working alongside us and trusting us to look after your furry family member!

To learn more about our team, head to: https://www.activepetrehab.com/meet-the-team

Our Initial Assessment consists of three 60-minute sessions over a 4-week period, which include:

- A comprehensive physical assessment
- Creation of a personalised rehabilitation plan
- Application of appropriate pain therapies (e.g., laser/phototherapy, massage, TTouch, etc.)
- A custom home exercise program
- Introduction to the aqua treadmill (if suitable)
Total cost for all three sessions: $600

These sessions are crucial for reviewing and progressing the rehabilitation exercises prescribed during the first appointment. We'll also discuss a rehabilitation plan for your pet and the recommended treatments, along with the associated costs and frequency of visits.

We will supply everything including a wash down after their underwater treadmill session. Though we supply our amazing homemade treats, if your pet has special dietary requirements we highly suggest bringing along their food/treats for motivation and reward. Just bring a towel for your car if your pet is having an underwater treadmill session or your pet’s favourite toy.

At your pet’s first few hydrotherapy sessions, you can expect that they will only have a short session, with rest breaks in between. If your pet is not used to water, their first session may be uncertain until they become accustomed to the routine. Remaining cheerful and encouraging will help to stop them becoming anxious. Walking in water is tiring work, so it is important not to overdo the exercise initially.

Home exercise programs offer numerous benefits for pets undergoing rehabilitation:

1. Convenience: Home exercises can be performed in the comfort of your pet's familiar environment, reducing stress and anxiety associated with visiting a clinic frequently.

2. Consistency: With a structured program provided by professionals, you can ensure that your pet receives regular and consistent exercise, which is crucial for their rehabilitation progress.

3. Tailored to Individual Needs: The exercises prescribed in a home program are specifically tailored to address your pet's unique condition, ensuring that they receive targeted therapy for their specific needs.

4. Promotes Bonding: Performing exercises with your pet at home can strengthen the bond between you and your furry friend, enhancing your relationship and promoting trust.

5. Enhances Compliance: Pets may be more likely to comply with exercise regimens when performed at home, especially if they feel more comfortable in their familiar surroundings.

6. Encourages Independence: By teaching both pet and owner how to perform exercises at home, it promotes independence and empowers owners to actively participate in their pet's rehabilitation journey.

7. Improves Functional Mobility: Home exercises focus on improving your pet's functional mobility, helping them regain strength, flexibility, and coordination needed for everyday activities.

8. Continued Progress: Consistent home exercises can help maintain the progress achieved during clinic sessions, ensuring that your pet continues to improve between appointments.

9. Cost-Effective: Home exercise programs can be a cost-effective option compared to frequent clinic visits, as they eliminate the need for additional professional supervision for every session.

10. Long-Term Management: Home exercise programs not only aid in rehabilitation but also provide tools for long-term management of chronic conditions, promoting overall health and well-being.

Overall, a home exercise program is a valuable component of pet rehabilitation, offering benefits that complement and enhance the outcomes achieved through professional therapy sessions.

At your initial appointment, we’ll create your pet’s rehabilitation plan and discuss:

- Recommended therapies
- Treatment frequency
- Ongoing costs

Follow-up sessions may be scheduled with Steph or Sabrina, with periodic reviews by Carmel.

Following the initial assessment, most pets begin with aqua treadmill intensive sessions, where one of our therapists is in the water with your pet to assist directly. These sessions also include any additional therapies your pet may need, such as phototherapy (laser/light therapy), massage etc. Each session runs for approximately 45 minutes and cost $186 per sesssion. Once your pet becomes more confident and needs less hands-on support, and the therapist can assist from outside the aqua treadmill, we can transition them to ongoing sessions at a reduced rate of $165. If your pet is progressing well, your practitioner may recommend moving to one of our rehab package programs.

Our Super Paws Program includes:
- 5 x aqua treadmill (plus pain therapies)
- 1 x free massage session
- Plus online booking available so you can choose your sessions with your calendar in front of you at home.
- Plus 1 free reschedule. Super Paws now have the opportunity to reschedule 1 x session per package without penalty. Any others will not be carried over. (Maximum advised time between sessions is 3 weekly)
Total cost for the Super Paws Package is $770.
A total saving of $200.

Head to our webpage to learn more - www.activepetrehab.com/superpaws

Our Trim and Toned Program includes:
- 4 x aqua treadmill sessions only (no other therapies included)
- 1 x free progress assessment or additional aqua treadmill session, once completed without rescheduling. (Maximum advised time between sessions is 2 weekly, attending less frequently will reduce the benefits)
Total cost for the Trim and Toned program is $616.
A total saving of $209.

Head to our webpage to learn more - www.activepetrehab.com/trim-and-toned

We understand that managing finances can be challenging, especially with the rising cost of living. And we understand that you want to provide the best care for your pet, and we're here to support that commitment and to help assist your pet to live their best life. These are some options available to you:

Your Bank’s BNPL Option
Many banks now offer their own interest-free Buy Now, Pay Later services, such as NAB Now Pay Later, CommBank StepPay, Westpac PartPay and Suncorp PayLater.

These can be a great option with fewer fees and more flexibility. Check with your bank to see if one is right for you.

VetPay
We are registered to accept VetPay, though it does come with an annual fee, processing charges per payment, and a higher interest rate - so it may be worth weighing the costs. You can apply online in under 5 minutes and get approval in 15 minutes.

Stripe (Zip & Klarna)
We now accept payments via Stripe, which supports Zip and Klarna, so if you are already signed up this could be a good option for you.

PayPal Pay in 4
Prefer PayPal? We can send a secure link so you can pay in four easy interest-free installments.

There may be other options available to you as well. We encourage you to explore what works best for your situation, so you can focus on what matters most - your pet’s health, comfort, and quality of life.

Is your fur baby living their Best Life?

At Active Pet Rehabilitation we work hard to ensure that every patient we see leaves better than when they arrive for their sessions. We've also been working hard in the background to create our Best Life Pyramid to visually show the stages of recovery we are helping your pets achieve and to help all our pet parents decide where their fur baby is currently and what level they are hoping to achieve with our help. We have tailored programs that integrate physical therapy, targeted exercises, and holistic approaches to enhance your canine companion's quality of life. Whether your dog is a seasoned adventurer or a sedentary couch potato, our programs are designed to cater for their individual needs.

To learn more, head to our webpage - www.activepetrehab.com/bestlife

This is a common concern for many pet owners, and most are pleasantly surprised by how well their pets cope during their session. We take a gentle, positive approach, allowing your pet to become familiar with the water gradually. The water rises slowly and calmly, which most pets tolerate very well.

With tasty treats, gentle encouragement, and a calm environment, many pets adapt faster than expected. While some may still feel a little unsure at first, we always work closely with your pet to ensure they’re comfortable and coping throughout the session.

Description text goes hereAs each case is unique, we require medical or surgical history from your veterinarian to help us determine the proper course of therapy. We also require the referral to make sure that there are no other conditions developing that are similar but have different consequences.

Each pet’s needs are different and each case is different. During the initial assessment, Carmel will assess your pet, review your pet’s history, provide a home exercise program and discuss a treatment plan with frequency of visits required. Doing the exercises prescribed diligently could reduce the frequency of the visits. After each session, our team will chat with you about how they feel your pets therapy is progressing and will work out visit frequency, moving forward. Ultimately, it will also depend on your availability, time for performing exercises at home, pet’s medical needs, finances, and your established goals.

We actually prefer that you stay during your pet’s visit to help keep them comforted and happy. You will be able to see their progress and we can ask you any further questions as they come up. Plus having extra hands to feed treats is always great!

We do have some regular patients who know us well and are comfortable for their owners to leave.

You will need to check with your insurance company if they will cover for rehabilitation, it usually depends on your policy you have.
To claim, please send through your completed from to info@activepetrehab.com and one of the team will complete it as soon as we can. More pet insurance companies are covering rehabilitation services and hydrotherapy, likely understanding the importance or rehabilitation in a patients recovery.

• Water height can be adjusted to the correct level.

• The speed can be controlled.

• Normal walking pattern allowing gait re-education, the use of each limb individually (rather than a paddling motion).

• Even walking surface, no risk of injury from uneven surfaces below.

• Heated water, providing relaxation and mild analgesia

• Less intimidating for dogs that are fearful of water

• Gentle and low impact on joints

• Safe for dogs with mild heart conditions or health issues

• Good for patients who are unfit or weak

• Patients can be easily assisted when required