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

Active Pet Rehabilitation is proud to offer services at three locations throughout Perth.

Mosman Park
We offer our full range of services, including the aqua treadmill, from inside Mosman Park Veterinary Hospital.
Address: 588 Stirling Hwy, Mosman Park.

Osborne Park
At our Osborne Park home office, Carmel provides initial assessments, progress assessments, massage and pain therapies.
Please note: There is no aqua treadmill available at this location.
Address: 83 Hutton Street, Osborne Park.

Embleton
Our newest premises - a purpose-designed space offering all of our services, including the aqua treadmill, with plenty of room to support your pet’s rehabilitation journey.
Address: 6-8 Sheen Place, Embleton.

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.

What to Bring

• Your pet’s favourite treats – small, soft ones work best for motivation during movement and handling.

• A secure collar or harness and lead

• Any vet records, x-rays, or previous rehab notes – if not already sent to us.

• Non-slip mat or towel for the car – especially if your pet is a bit wobbly after the session.

  Preparing Your Pet

• Let your pet have a toilet break just before the session. We also have a section out the back where they can toilet.

• Avoid feeding a full meal in the hour beforehand (especially before hydrotherapy).

• If they’re nervous, bring a comfort item (e.g. blanket, toy, or familiar-smelling towel).

• Let us know if your pet is fearful of other animals – we’ll help manage the environment for everyone’s comfort. We do have a back entry, if this would be best for your pet. Just let reception know you have arrived and we can take you through the back way.

• Please arrive 5–10 minutes early to help your pet settle.

• Allow around 45–60 minutes for the first visit.

  We’ll take the time to understand your pet’s needs and your goals, and start a tailored plan that suits their condition and personality.

As part of your pet’s initial assessment and ongoing rehabilitation, Carmel may prescribe exercises to do at home. These exercises help your pet progress outside of clinic appointments and offer numerous benefits:

1. Convenience
Home exercises can be done in your pet’s familiar environment, reducing stress and anxiety that may come with frequent clinic visits or car rides.

2. Consistency
Following a structured program ensures your pet receives regular and consistent exercise, which is key for successful rehabilitation.

3. Tailored to Your Pet
Exercises are specifically designed for your pet’s condition, targeting the areas that need the most attention.

4. Promotes Bonding
Working together on exercises strengthens the bond between you and your pet, building trust and confidence.

5. Enhances Compliance
Pets are often more willing to participate in exercises when done at home, where they feel safe and comfortable.

6. Improves Functional Mobility
Home exercises focus on regaining strength, flexibility, and coordination needed for everyday activities.

7. Maintains Progress
Consistent home exercises help maintain and build on the improvements achieved during clinic sessions.

8. Cost-Effective
It can reduce the number appointments needed, making rehabilitation more convenient and affordable for you.

9. Supports Long-Term Health
Home exercise programs not only aid rehabilitation but also give you the tools to support your pet’s overall wellbeing for the rest of your pet’s life, even after formal rehab with us has finished.

In summary: Home exercise programs are a valuable extension of professional therapy, helping your pet recover faster, stay strong, and maintain long-term health.

At your initial appointment, we’ll create your pet’s rehabilitation plan and discus recommended therapies, treatment frequency and ongoing costs. Follow-up sessions may be scheduled with our rehabilitation assistants and hydrotherapists, Steph or Sabrina, with periodic reviews by Carmel.

Our services include:
- Aqua treadmill / hydrotherapy
- Massage
- Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy (PEMF)
- Phototherapy
- Therapeutic Ultrasound
- Neuromuscular Stimulation (NMES)
- Stability and Strengthening Exercise
And various other techniques and treatments such as TTouch and Emmett.

Following the initial assessment, most pets start with intensive aqua treadmill sessions, where a therapist works in the water with your pet.
As your pet becomes more confident and needs less hands-on support, they can transition to ongoing aqua treadmill sessions with the therapist assisting from outside the treadmill. If your pet is making good progress, we may recommend moving onto one of our rehabilitation packages, which offer discounted sessions and bonus therapies.

Services/Prices

• Intensive Aqua Treadmill Sessions – $186
  For pets needing more hands-on support, with a therapist in the water assisting your pet directly. Includes any therapies needed (e.g. phototherapy, massage).

• Ongoing Aqua Treadmill Sessions – $165
  For pets needing less hands-on support. The therapist assists from outside the treadmill. Includes any therapies needed (e.g. phototherapy, massage)

• Revisit Appointments (no aqua treadmill) – $145
  Progress assessments, PEMF, massage and phototherapy as required.

• Advanced Therapies – $175
  Includes therapeutic ultrasound, NMES, and similar treatments.

Package Options

• Super Paws Package – $770 (Valued at $970 – Save $200)
  5 aqua treadmill sessions, pain therapies as needed, 1 free massage session.

• Trim & Toned Package – $616 (Valued at $805, Save $189)
  4 shorter aqua treadmill sessions, 1 free progress assessment or bonus session.

• Recover & Relax Massage Package – $512(Valued at $580, Save $68)
  4 massage sessions, includes therapies as needed to improve blood flow, reduce aches, and support recovery.

Online booking available for all packages

Your pet may be:

• A little sleepy or sore for the next 24–48 hours — this is normal and often a sign of muscle use and new movement patterns.

• Thirsty or needing extra rest – let them take the lead on recovery.

• Occasionally a bit wobbly after hydrotherapy or bodywork — this should resolve quickly.

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.

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.

As each case is unique, we require medical or surgical history from your veterinarian to help us determine the proper course of therapy and treatment for your pet. Having a full understanding of their medical history helps us with that, and ensures we are giving your pet the best chance at a successful recovery. 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 could reduce the frequency of the visits, see Benefits of Home Exercises. 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.

• 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