Increase Consumer Access To Animal Rehabilitation Services in California: 2022/2023

Animals are family and deserve the best care

My 12 year old Bichon was able to avoid surgery for a torn ACL thanks to physical therapy.

As someone with a dog that needs rehab services for her nerological health problems I know how important this is to the well being of our pets.

PT for animals is a vital and necessary part of their overall medical care

rehab is the only thing that helps my elder dog walk without limping and get in & out of the car without assistance. animals are just like humans and they need more care when they're older. please support this.

I wish I knew about animal rehabilitation services sooner.

This has been common practice for decades in countries like SA. How is California lagging behind lile this?

Thank you!

You go!

Good luck Heather!!!

I'm a certified animal rehab doctor in physical therapy in CA, but cannot work to help animals because the pay is so low when working at a vet clinic because there's a vet there, but they never do anything or even watch us. I cannot help animals outside of this setting, to provide the exact same skills to animals in need. It is not right.

Physical Therapists are the leading experts in conservative rehabilitation. It only makes since to be allowed to practice on canines after completing the necessary coursework.

Please support safe, skilled treatment of animals through physical therapy and rehabilitation by qualified professionals, including licensed physical therapists qualified through continuing education, certification, or comparable standards.

Vets should be able to refer their animal patients to a qualified animal PT. Animal PT's should be able to work under the indirect supervision of a vet. Consumers should have more choice and access to qualified non-vet professionals. There is an access to care issue in animal healthcare in California and other professionals can help lift some of that burden. There is a solution. We need to legislate NOW.

It just makes sense to allow veterinarians to refer their animal patients to a qualified PT. It is standard practice for humans, and it should be standard practice for animals. If the vet makes the diagnosis AND decides the appropriate and safe level of supervision of the qualified PT why not grant the vet the choice to collaborate with another licensed professional? If the vet decides that sending their animal patient to a qualified PT under their indirect supervision is the best option for that animal, then they should be allowed to provide the consumers with that (best) option for their pet. We need to legislate so DVM's and PT's can collaborate. It will not only help increase access to care, but it will also help take some of the burden off the veterinary profession that is currently in crisis because of the growing shortage.

It just makes sense to allow veterinarians to refer their animal patients to a qualified PT they wish to collaborate with. The DVM would be the ones to make the diagnosis AND decide the level of appropriate and safe supervision (whether that be direct or indirect). This should be a no-brainer. Collaboration is the best for everyone. A DVM doesn't need to be on the same premise to provide consumers with safe access to a qualified PT. Mandating direct supervision only serves to monopolize the animal healthcare field and takes choices away. Let the vet decide. Let the consumer decide. Nobody wants a monopoly and that is exactly what is going on California currently because of the harmful regulations that the VMB passed effective Jan. 1, 2022. Things got much worse in CA for the animals this year...but there is a solution. Let's legislate. It's what's best for all.