Physical Therapy for Animals in California

I am a physical therapist certified in canine rehab and have helped many, many animals return to a functional life after injury. Some of which were referred to me by veterinarian rehab professionals that could not help the animal. Our skill set is very important and it is narrow-minded to consider limiting pet physical rehab to veterinarians only.

I fully support properly Trained Physical Therapist working with veterinarians to provide rehab and wellness care to animals.

i would rather someone trained in the physical therapy field work on my pet.

I have had success with a PT treating my dog after a spinal surgery 4 years ago. The surgery was needed after a vet misdiagnosed a disc herniation as arthritis.

when veterinarians are trained as extensively as we are to care for mammals needing rehabilitation I will re look at this legislation.

CAAPT Position: We/Physical therapists (with advanced training in physical therapy for animals): *Are accepted and legitimate providers of physical therapy services for animal patients. *Seek to provide consumers and their pets with access to the most current and effective physical therapy services that are already accessible in other states and countries around the world. *Must demonstrate competency through certification in animal physical therapy and/or demonstrate advanced skill and experience in animal physical therapy. *Propose to provide animal physical therapy services only after a veterinary examination has been completed followed by veterinary medial clearance stating that the animal is appropriate for treatment. Physical therapists are accustomed to providing care for patients together with the primary physician through regular communication. By utilizing a similar approach with animals, clients are able to access the highest quality of care along with continued veterinary oversight to ensure patient safety.

I would rather someone who spent their entire training in rehab work on my animal than a vet who only spends a portion of their training and time in such a specialty field. This legislation to prevent therapists from working on animals is all about fear and loss of control by the Veterinarian community.

This is a wonderful and needed service don't throw this blessing away

The CAAPT is not jumping to conclusions. Direct supervision of an autonomous licensed profession without merit or cause is very restrictive. The current VMB proposed regulatory language is flawed in many ways. 1. Equine PTs will be required to have a vet on site each time they treat your horse. This equates to additional financial burden on the consumer, potentially making valuable services cost prohibitive. 2. Existing Animal PTs that don’t work in facilities already equiped with adequate space for animal rehab will have to close their businesses. Jobs lost. The consumer will then have less access to qualified animal PTs. If PTs are forced to find a facility that can accommodate them then this too will drive up the cost of these services to the consumer. 3. Direct supervision by vets that do not have education in rehab will mean they will be making decisions regarding services they have little or now knowledge. How does one supervise what they have no training in? 4. There does need to be oversight for consumer protection. Only the most qualified should provide these services. Would we want any less from our human health care providers? Would we expect our Registered Nurses to be trained and competent in physical therapy evaluation and treatment for the patient that had rotator cuff or hip surgery, a spinal cord injury or stroke? Those providing this specialty service need to be trained to do so. There are NO requirements stated in the proposed VMB Animal Rehabilitation regulations that would require a demonstration of competency of the practitioner. This IS a specialty practice. Other states have successfully allowed APTs to practice with veterinary referral in an indirect supervision capacity. If the referring veterinarian has evaluated the animal and cleared them medically, prescribed necessary medications, etc (doing Veterinary Medicine), then the qualified Animal PT can provide optimal rehab services. The vet would have oversight through regu

I am sure this helps pets too!

Just as in humans Physical Therapists play a different role than doctors. The same should be true with animals. Keep the animal Physical Therapists

My dog's CCRT was, and is, an integral part of his recovery from bilateral shoulder surgery and its concomitant issues. Please allow these trained and dedicated professionals to continue their work.

In Spain we have the same problem and we think that the physiotherapy belongs to the physiotherapist

I have a national agility champion dog, who has recovered beautifully from TPLO surgery with the assistance of Canine Physical Therapists who were not veterinarians. A physical therapist's unique skill set is different than a veterinarian's and certainly more advanced than a veterinary technician's. Having access to a physical therapist's skills is extremely important to all of us who not only do dog sports, but just want to rehab from injury in a focused educated way. This is crucial to you for the care of your animals. This law serves NO ONE.

Veterinary medicine and physical therapy are very different skills. One shouldn't need to be supervised by the other

I've used PT / massages for my performance dogs for multiple years without any vet supervision. The insights and benefits that I get are very different from that of a normal vet and the service prevents injury and is available at the location and time that I need it (during dog agility competitions). You will harm my dogs if you prevent me from doing this

I believe it is every ones right to choose who they want to care for their animals, it should not be up to a Veterinarian to tell me who I have to use,

let people decide what's best for their own animals

my dog can walk no thanks to vet but a great pt!

They do a wonderful job saving n helping animals please keep them around

the therapists at Scout's House were so helpful to our sweet Lester - and worked closely with our vet!

I support the idea of PTs with advanced training in animal PT being permitted to work with animals.

i have had my pup receive extremely good care from an animal physical therapist. Please do not take this extremely valuable service away!

Rocky improved and especially loved the water treadmill. They also gave me materials to review and homework assignments which we still do on an ad hoc basis.

I will be an rvt soon, I will immediately seek a specialty certification in rehabilitation. I feel that as a technician, I am qualified (with the proper certification training) to work with animals in their rehabilitation process. As a technician I can being a different set of skills than a veterinarian and should be legally allowed to perform such functions.

This attempt by the veterinary community is clearly monetarily motivated. It is ludicrous to believe that all veterinarians and registered veterinary technicians possess the skill set and physiological knowledge to provide physical therapy to our animal friends. Even human medical doctors recognize this, and they work in tandem with licensed physical therapists to help and heal their patients. We have a local animal physical therapy group, Scout's House, and I have seen the "miracles" they have made possible--allowing our animal friends to live mobile, pain-free lives. Passing this law would deprive most animals access to this life-enhancing and life-extending service! Do no harm!!

please allow for us the pet parent to have a choice in the treatment of our pets.

This is so silly...I just don't understand the logic.

A much needed service. I have seen first hand what P.T. can do .

The CVMA legislation makes no sense at all. Certainly no one would expect their primary physician to accompany them to all their (human) physical therapy sessions. To do so would make physical therapy cost prohibitive, but the CVMA seems to want that for animal rehabilitation and physical therapy.

Supporting PT for animals. My cat is 20 in human years. PT helps him live pain free in an otherwise healthy body.

I am a PT who does not work with animals, I treat my dog who had surgery all the time and he is in much better shape than if I did not. His surgeon placed him in a cast and sent me out the door with no further info. PT is a important aspect to recover in humans why would it not be in dogs? If skill sets for MDs and PTs is different then PTs and DVM are most defiantly different.

Some of the most talented animal rehab practitioners work independently of veterinarians.

Physical therapists are heavily trained in this area of expertise. Not okay to let just anyone starting treating when they have no idea what they are doing.

I support PT for animals. My x-large dog had few options after tearing his ACL. PT helped to give him mobility and maintain his quality of life.

Vets are not therapist! Nor are they trained to be. No different than humans!

My animals are very important to our family. This seems important!

Human physical therapist who are trained to work on animals are more qualified to do animal rehabilitation than veterinarians who take some courses in rehab. There is no evidence that animals have been harmed by these trained professionals.

Qualified Animal Physical Therapist need to be able to work with Veterinarians. Veterinarians are not Physical Therapist nor should they be, just like in the human medical field.

trust your pets to the experts

I know of an outstanding hydrofitness dog therapist who is not part of a vet group. She is very knowledgeable and affordable.

As long as the therapist is adequately trained and has been initially supervised by a therapist who is competent and experienced in rehab with animals, and the animal has been diagnosed by a veterinarian, I support the lack of direct veterinary supervision for animal rehab specialists.

Sign this petition and STOP THIS UNFAIR LEGISLATION!

Let's make care for our beloved animals more available, affordable, and effective by allowing physical therapists to exercise their specialty autonomously.

You know...physicians, chiropractors, athletic trainers, etc, tried to isolate PT's to be either under them or separate from them in recent years, look at how that turned out. Vets won't be able to do this with animals. Physical Therapy is needed for all life!

As a PT we should own the Rehab!

Please do not restrict animal therapy! Having his service is such a blessing for animal care givers.

My late,great Harley was helped by the wonderful staff at Scout's House.

In support of Scouts House

I have seen first hand what PTs or RVTs can do in rehabilitation therapy. They do just fine without being under the direct supervision of a veterinarian. As a matter of fact, NOT every veterinarian is familiar with how to do rehab therapy like these people do. They attended specialized courses and are certified. No need to make rehab therapy more expensive by adding a veterinarian to the picture. Let's keep rehab therapy more accessible to consumers.

I am a professional trainer who has used many equine physical therapists in my career. They have all been professional, well trained, and my horses benefitted greatly from their services. This proposal is absolutely ludicrous. Not only do the equine physical therapists not need veterinary supervision, it would also drive the cost of these treatments so high that I could no longer afford my horses to receive regular therapies that keep them feeling their best. This proposal would harm our animals, not help them, along with putting many true animal lovers and care takers out of business.

Having witness the outstanding recovery of my dog through PT with an experienced and trained physical therapist I am personally confident that this is the only treatment modality I would recommend for my dog. Treatment was affordable with experienced and caring staff. As a medical professional I Let's make care for our beloved animals more available, affordable, and effective by allowing physical therapists to exercise their specialty autonomously.

Just another way Vets are putting their hands into pet owners pockets.

Let caregivers do what they do best.

Leave physical therapy to the professionals - the physical therapists!

PT's should be allowed to work in collaboration with vets. As a pet owner, I do not want my choices dictated by the veterinary board. I am perfectly capable of making an informed decision for my pet!

Veterinarians should not be required to be in direct supervision of PT's to whom they refer. This is a waste of time for both professionals being dictated by a board that does not have the public's best interest in mind.

Physical therapists who have additional training in animal physical rehabilitation offer an indispensable service for pets. They have a body of knowledge which simply cannot be matched by most veterinarians and are an essential resource in our work to provide exceptional care and quality of life to our patients. Physical therapists with advanced animal training should be able to provide care for patients that have been cleared by a veterinarian without direct supervision. Forcing veterinarians to directly supervise PTs will decrease the accessibility of care, artificially increase the cost of care and decrease the veterinarians' options for how we want our patients treated. This would not protect the consumer, increase quality of care for the patient, or help veterinarians.

Please leave this in place.

This proposed regulation hasn't been thought through...agree "There is neither cause nor logical reason why California should do this"...

Sign the petition

Physical therapists bring an indispensable skill set to the area of animal rehabilitation. Their training is entirely different than a DVM's and as someone with both a DVM and PT degree, I can say without a doubt my PT degree and training makes me way more skilled and qualified to do animal rehabilitation than my DVM degree. Both professions require additional education (such as the available certification programs) as well as communication between the professions. Physical therapy assistants should also be included in this discussion. As a veterinarian and physical therapist practicing canine rehabilitation, I would prefer to work with a PTA than a vet tech as their background provides a more sound basis with the additional animal rehab certificate to practice animal rehabilitation. It is time to set aside the turf wars and egos and consider what is in the best interest of the patient.

Animals do need theraphy too

I am a certified canine rehabitation practitioner and a practicing veterinarian for the past 26 years. Physical therapists and veterinarians should be working together to provide the best possible canine rehabilitation care for our pets. This ruling that the CVMB is trying to put into effect will severely restrict our ability as veterinarians to work with our physical therapy colleagues. This is a huge obstacle to good care in New York State - do not do this to California!

I consider my pets, my children, this proposal will ensure that I have options available to me regarding their care-- I could chose a specialist or not-- I want my right to chose the care for my family. If you agree, please sign.

This is an absurd proposal. Our pug's badly herniated discs were completely misdiagnosed by a DVM with many years of experience, resulting in severe neurological damage. When we took him to a speciality clinic their physical therapist diagnosed the problem even before our pet was seen by the neurologist.

Would you allow an untrained tech to work on your injury? I'm sure your animal wouldn't appreciate it either. Untrained hands can do more damage than you started with.

This restriction of the access to therapy, will inhibit many from getting their animals the help they need, recklessly endangering the health of the animals for no reason. Please see the mistake in this and strike down this proposed regulation that was defeated in the Legislative process before. Back door shenanigans like this are always abhorrent and only at the expense of those in need. This time it's the animals.

We are working toward the same goal - the health of the companion animal. Take advantage of the skill set of each professional and keep the cost factor within reach of the consumer. It is a win-win situation for the veterinarian, the qualified physical therapist and the companion animal. Qualified physical therapists also want to see that Animal Rehabilitation is provided by only those individuals who have been certified in Animal Physical Therapy.

They deserve it!

Forcing highly educated and trained health care professionals to work as assistants will effectively end the entire profession.

Yes please!

All this measure will do is open the door for vet techs to conduct PT on animals after a weekend workshop. It will wipe highly knowledgeable physical therapists right out of the picture and therein lies huge potential for harm to our animals. The only interest this measure seeks to serve is the to enrich the bank accounts of veterinarians who are willing to risk the safety of their patient populations for profit.

My Chow Chow needed physical therapy and I totally understand why this petition is so important.

I agree that having an evaluation and referral from a vet is essential, but please show me the evidence that the musculoskeletal system and physiology of canines is so completely different or complex that qualified PT's are not able to apply manual therapy techniques, modalities and therapeutic exercises to animal patients as they do with human patients. Furthermore, please explain why PT's are competent to work with deaf and mute patients but require direct supervision to work with animals.

Veterinarians are only protecting their financial interests. Animal owners should have the right to choose to have a licensed physical therapist provide physical therapy for their animals.

I oppose adding § 2038.5. Animal Rehabilitation to California's regulations. This limits my ability to obtain care for my animals. I believe I have the right to give my animals the best care available. While not explicitly mentioned in the proposed regulation, I question whether even my farrier would be able to use corrective shoeing for my horse because that is treatment. I certainly would not be able to use my equine chiropractor, no matter how much pain relief might be provided. I fail to see why this is so important in the veterinary field when people are able to use such practitioners without going through their medical doctors.

I am a voter in California. I am also a business person in California having started www.there center.com hiring 2 people during the recession and creating new business owners when I transitioned this to one my employees. Vets don't need this business nor do they want to stand in the water for a half hour with dogs. Consider what CO, WA have done instead.

This therapy is necessary for many of our furry family members.

Please continue to support this petition.

Physical therapy for our pets is an important part of their care

Yes, I believe this should be passed. Ever animal is worth saving and even if they have medical problems. Give all animals a chance they Verry well could surprise u

My "senior" Labrador Retrievers (12-1/2 and 11) are flexible, healthy, and fit because of the extensive PT I have done with them. This CVMA effort it nothing more than protecting MONEY for vets--most of whom are NOT trained in rehab and do NOT have anyone trained in rehab on staff. There needs to be better and more thoughtful approach than this attempt by a lobby group to shut down necessary care for our four-legged family members. More importantly, why is the California Medical Veterinary Board going out of its way to make notice of this public hearing so difficult to find? It is NOT listed on its (i) Board meeting calendar, (ii) "Alert" (on the home page), or (iii) "What's New" (on the home page. Transparency is critical and the CVMB's lack of transparency smells fishy... This is a CRITICAL issue facing every person who has a pet. This issue is NO different that the fight wagged and LOST by the medical profession in the late 1970s when it fought to restrict physical therapy access. The California Department of Consumer Affairs, which governs the CVMB, needs to take the same approach as it look with access to HUMAN rehabilitation with ANIMAL rehabilitation. And, it needs to establish educational standards and define when something is excercise vs. rehabilitation. Otherwise, I guess we will need to take a veterinarian with us every time I take my dogs for a walk...

I am appalled at the stupor and short-sightedness of this rhetoric. Have you seen a PT lately? If they work for a large institution the MD sends the patient for two visits, they leave with exercises, then left to their own devices; INEFFICIENT! Cut the red-tape BS already and keep my pets out of this political lobbying just so administrators have something to do. KNOCK IT OFF!

There are areas in the world that have no direct access to veterinarians. Some have only monthly visiting vets that give shots and have no xray machine. Should all animals there go wild or be left to die without help?

My equine physical therapist has gone through rigorous training and certification and is fully qualified to provide services without the supervision of a vet; although she collaborates effectively with my vet where appropriate.

Allow animals to be helped

Go PT's

My sister-in-law is an amazing, responsible, and caring Holistic Horse Therapy Practitioner. I'm sighing this petition because the bill would put her out of a job.

Physical Therapists should be allowed to work on animals without a vet having to look over their shoulders. They are trained professionals!

My wife is a physical therapist that works with animals. She has taught many of the vets that are practicing in California today. It's not the PTs that need supervising!

You would not have your doctor looking over the shoulder of the physical therapist... why is this necessary with animals? It's not!

Veterinarians should not be trying to monopolize this profession. They should stick to medical assessment and treatment of animals and leave rehabilitation to those who are the most qualified - physical therapists and others who are suitably trained and registered

I support physical therapists being able to work with animals without direct supervision of a vet. They can work collaboratively, as we do wIth humans.

My dogs benefit from hydrotherapy and massage that's recommended but not regulated by my veterinarian team. Let's keep it that way!

I am perfectly capable of making good decisions for my dogs. Taking them to a warm water pool for non weight bearing exercise should not be restricted by CVMA/VMB turf protection attempts.

Please do not pass this bill as it is written. While I understand the basis of this bill it is too broad in scope. Massage and resistance training are not the same as PT. there need to be better definitions

I am a licensed physical therapist in both California and Nevada. I am also licensed by the Nevada Veterinary Board to treat animals, having demonstrated my advanced education and competencies. I have successfully treated animals in Nevada for 16 years, upon referral from veterinarians, without direct supervision and with no instances of injury or complaints. This bill as written only protects the financial interests of the veterinarians, not the animals or their owners. Physical therapists are highly trained professionals who collaborate and communicate with referring physicians for their human patients, and California physical therapists with advanced training in animal rehabilitation should be able to legally treat animals using that same model.

My fur-kid's ability to run and play was restored by physical therapy that my vet was unable to give in house. Thankfully with a referral I was able to arrange treatment and now my pup is running and doing everything else a happy fur-kid likes to do. Do not pass this over-reaching bill!!

This is like saying you need an MD to be present when we are working with humans.

This is a field I look forward to advancing to; if this bill passes, the longevity of this career dream would be limited.

PT s are well suited if not more suited to treat canines

PT's are movement specialists, no matter the patient. DVM's are the same as MD's in that they know the innards more than anyone else, but are not musculoskeletal. That is specifically in the realm of Physical Therapy.

A vet on site should not be necessary for PTs to treat animals!

Every living being deserves the right to rehabilitation in every form!

Let owners have choices for their pets.

Please look at the motives of the people trying to ensure that only they can provide treatment. History provides evidence that multi disciplinary teams provide the best care.

PTs are the best trained healthcare providers for animal rehab.

When the day comes when a doctor needs to oversee my visiting a masseuse, only then would it make sense for a vet unskilled and uneducated in massage therapy being required to oversee my skilled, certified, well-established, licensed, canine massage therapist. This is an unfathomable legislation. It mustn't pass. We're a health conscious state where we value alternative therapies. Instilling this legislation would put a lot of practitioners out of business. It is unfair to them, our pets, and those of us who want to use the last invasive methods to help our dogs stay fit.

I am an undergraduate student coming into this field through the physical therapy route, as I thought that it made the most sense. Why would they deem the physical therapists that are trained in canine rehabilitation unfit to practice physical therapy on dogs?

Your focus on Physical Therapists with no concern for any other modality that may be targeted (massage therapists, Reiki, etc.) is VERY disappointing. THere are two addtional petitions out there dedicated to defeating the proposal and including language that benefits ONLY massage therapists ! WHAT? The vet Med Board is doing an AMAZING job of DIVIDE and CONQUER. How can I sign your petition, when you advocate for yourself to my detriment?

As a physical therapist in the State of WI who plans to become certified in AR and who had done a school rotation for 4 weeks in Canine Rehab: I believe there should be a discussion between practitioners both vet and PT alike, but should not require direct supervision. New Hampshire's laws have a wonderful setup... Similar to what we have for MD/PT relationships.

Physical therapists are very capable individuals with a doctoral level education. Do not demean the DPT degree with this legislation.

I'm a canine hydrotherapist in Tokyo Japan. I really do hope that Vets and Therapists work together for better animal rehabilition by taking each role.

Please respect the expertise, training , professionalism and quality of care provided by other professionals who work with animals!

My dogs get tremendous benefit from animal body workers. One of them works AT my vet practice. Why are we wasting our time with these useless regulations that will just harm animals and put people out of work?

As owner of performance dogs, I don't want to see my options restricted.

This impending decision should be looked at from the point of view of the animals that need help. Straight up surgeries don't always cure animals that have gone through serious physical traumas; muscles need to be built up, some animals need to be re-taught how to be functional again, and clients shouldn't have to deal with a hike in the cost for these services for their loved ones. Don't let these changes in regulation happen.

Professional physical therapists should be accorded the respect they deserve, and allowed to practice their specialty unhindered by these crazy regulations. Physical therapists should be accorded the same rights as they receive in the human field.

Stop messing with things that arent broken.

Because I believe that this type of care can be provided by those who are not veterinarians. We do not need more legislation in place, we need current legislation enforced.

Carrie, This petition began in 2010 and at that point massage therapists and other like practitioners (Reike,etc) were not in question.

These animal therapists know what they are doing!! Vets can make money elsewhere!!!

All animals deserve a chance!

I strongly disagree with the veterinarians overseeing physical therapy. They are not educated or trained in animal physical therapy and should not have control over it.

Help please

Anything to help the animals.

Please allow trained physical therapist to work unimpeded! They do no harm, only good!

This is imperative for the health of our pets and a misuse of legislation to have vets oversee professional physical therapists in their work with animals.

we should do all we can for all animals not just ones whose owners can afford it they should have it at shelters too to help the ones that wont make it after all it is man kind who created the over population of domestic pets animals on the planet by being irresponsibly toward them

Please keep canine physical therapy in the hands of the canine physical therapists. They are a vital part of the pet health support network.

Why is it I can take my child to whomever I want to see ... Yet you are trying to restrict who I can takes dog to see?

Don't limit our options for caring for our pets!

My dog was treat and diagnosed by a vet and 2 specialists one of them being a neurologist and one begin a vet trained in chiropractics for over 6 months and got worse and worse. They almost did a cruciate surgery unnecessarily. SO all those vets misdiagnosed him with a degenerating spine causing nerve compression even though I repeatedly told them he had had a bad fall. Finally after 6 months I found a rehab place in may area that was all human trained physics specializing in animals and they fixed him with one adjustment of the SI joint. That being said in the previous 6 months he lost all the mucle in his rear hind leg and he is an older guy so we are now hoping and trying to regain the muscle he has lost. SO far we are succeeding slowly. :) Vets need to look past the money and go back to the old way of looking at whats best for the animal!!!!! With only vets my dog would still be suffering in a big way!!

It is a travesty to increase the costs to animal owners especially when the professional is trained in their field. Doing so will be detrimental to our animals & owners. Please VOTE To allow theses professionals to stand on their own. Thank you for your time & support

A physician is not required to be present when humans receive physical therapy. Therefore it makes absolutely no sense to me that a veterinarian would need to be present when an animal is receiving physical therapy. Both veterinarians and physical therapists for animals do such important work in caring for our beloved animals. But the work is different, the specialties are different , and neither needs to supervise the other. Please allow animal physical therapists to treat our loved ones without unnecessary complications.

Massage therapy for pets (and horses) should be left to trained, certified pet massage therapist. What vet is going to spend an hour massaging a dog or driving out to massage a show horse? And how much would that cost a pet owner?

I want my choice and I choose Dr. Deb Sell.

I want my pets to be treated only by a licensed veterinarian!! period!!!

I depend on quality physical therapy for my paralyzed dog, Jakey. Please don't make it more difficult or expensive for him to receive the care he needs. Thank you.

How ridiculous!! We need any and all physical therapists to help us with our animals!

Ridiculous. Certification is sufficient for my pets as well as me for these kind of treatments. Massage and Chiro treatments for my active competition dogs is a god send, and I have no issues with their skills, passion, and dedication to their craft.

We love animal PTs!

People who provide these therapies for humans do not have to be a dr or be supervised by a doctor. It's unfair to ask that animal practitioners be a vet or supervised by one. Less animals will get help they need due to affordability if this happens.

Very important. Thank you!

I want to have a choice in physical therapy for my dog.

I want to continue to have the freedom to choose what's right for my animals and me!

Physical therapy for animals poses no competitive positioning to vrertinarians. DVM's are not providing this service as part of their training and services. If they are inerested in improving the well-being of animals why would they not embeace a practice that aids in the rehabilitation of afflicted pets. Why seek to oppose and withold helping treatment? How are the DVM's harmed by physical therapy for animals, something that they do not typically provide?

There is absolutely NO reason for a veterinarian to be present during animal physiotherapy procedures as long as a qualified PT does them or supervises them.

I want to be able to choose who works on my dog

Pet owners cannot afford this bill and if enacted, it would end up harming pets, not helping them.

These animals really need this.

Don't animal deserve the same access we have to healthcare? My doctor doesn't have to stand by and watch my therapist. Why should my vet if the therapist is properly trained?

A terrible idea that will harm animal well being and cost clients tons more money.

We need this!

The licensed veterinary and physical therapy professionals, already established as trusted and competent, by their respective veterinary community, have working in the field of animal rehabilitation for many years and deserve to be included in the process of defining competency. www.mytotaldog.com

Stop stopping therapies that work for $$$ sake!!! It's unethical!!!

As a pet owner, I look at expertise, experience in health technique and recognize that fields of expertise in human care can be of value in rendering care to animals. I can not expect every vet at each animal hospital or care center to be an expert in physical therapy or other therapies and believe owners can take the risk to choose the setting and practitioner for their animal. When I was a graduate student at University of Pennsylvania, we were taught there is too much knowledge to learn for any one person, so pick your field of expertise and specialize in it. I believe that professions can overlap and give expert care in different ways. I do not want or expect a vet to be monitoring pet physical therapy any more than I expect a vet to be present for grooming, dog parks, or doggie day care. When I go to my own physical therapist, my doctor is not present, he trusts the provider to deliver care needed.

Please stop the government control over rehabilitation and Physical Therapists for animals!

The physical therapist have worked hard for their degrees , they should be allowed to practice with out direct supervision,on animals! the physical therapists that practice on the human body are free to work with all of the humans that are in need of their skill and knowledge without the need of permission to do their job.

I am a responsible pet owner and have the right to choose who cares for my dog!

My dog had suffered a muscle injury at a groomer and, as a result of not being restricted on walks and play, put on weight. His vet recommended swimming. Because his vet does not have water therapy facilities at the clinic, he referred us to Total Dog Gym. My dog was able to get the exercise he needed without further injuring himself. The swimming allowed for his injury to heal while also getting him back down to a healthy weight. Because my dog is a breed prone to obesity, we continued regularly swimming at Total Dog Gym as part of his weight management plan.

The water therapy provided by "The Total Dog" in Oceanside was critical to the rehab of our dog, born with 4 bad legs. First rate and consummately professional, the service we were provided was worth its weight in gold. It would be a horrible disservice to dogs and dog owners if these regulations--however well intended they may be--killed vital small businesses

I have a right to choose who I want to take my dogs to for rehab services. The rehab center I take my dogs to have been instrumental in extending the life and well being of my dogs. It has been highly recommended by the other vets I take my dogs to. The people at the rehab center I take my dogs to are very caring and knowledgeable, and I know I would not get the same results being forced to take my dogs to a vet to get the same services. Give the rehab people a break and let them continue with the outstanding work they do. I have choices and rights. We need to keeps the laws the way they are.

My Bella needs water therapy. It is not right to require a Vet on staff. The economy is already screwed up, prices of thing s going up. People are trying to make a living adding a vet would cause more harm then good to these business. You would not be helping these people or the people who love their pets. No right!

It is absolutely unnecessary to have a veterinarian present while my dog swims in a pool

These therapies are important and useful for many dogs and will become much less available under this scheme.

Keep up good work

Fantastic place for therapy

Please reword so a licensed vet does not have to present for AR services.

Protecting my rights as a consumer to choose which qualified provider I want to provide physical therapy and rehabilitation for my animals

None of the language in this proposed regulation is acceptable. we need to do a waiver system like Illinois did and keep the vets out of the equation.

Please allow those other than certified vet assistants to work with dogs for water rehab

I have a dog at Total Dog in Oceanside. He is doing great after spine injury. They were referred to me by the surgeon to get his spin working please do not change the law.

My vet referred us to Total Dog in Oceanside for swim therapy. It helps my 12 yr old Brittany so much with low impact exercise. Don't shut it down!

NO VETS! They go to school to spend thousands of dollars to do come work at a rehab place, that others have been doing for years? A Vet's skills are needs best in a hospital. By adding them to places like this, YOU'RE adding the cost to go up onto of already expenses to people who are paying out of pocket because the Pet Insurance business is nothing but a scam. So you screw common hardworking people over by doing this crap, who are doing everything in the work to make ends meet and keep the one thing that makes them happy is their PETS. VETS have no business in a rehab. It is up to the customer where they want to go. Not all Vets who do surgery are board certified and that's not under law, but its up to the customer to select where to go. There is no difference. I owe my life to my Rehab place. They helped my little girl heal and their prices were affordable. EVERY PENNY COUNTS. NO VETS!!!!

Just as human physical therapy is important and crucial to healthy and timely rehabilitation following surgery, injury, age or overuse of certain parts of the body, so is physical therapy for animals. Licensed and extensively trained human physical therapists are not required to have an MD on site, nor should a licensed and extensively trained animal physical therapist be required to have a DVM on site. Animal rehab at HydroPaws only begins with a recommendation from the surgeon and only after the pet's regular DVM, has stated that the pet is physically able to start the rehab process. Please sign this petition to continue to allow thoroughly trained and licensed animal physical therapists to provide the much needed care without the new restrictions. Thank you.

hoping To Include Dog Owners As Part Of My Client Base Under The Guidance Of A Veterinarian. I Volunteer For A Rescue And Have Two Rescues Looking After Me And My Family.I Hope To Work But Also Volunteer As A Small Animal P. I Hope I Have That Opportunity.

I am a veterinarian and I have recommended off-site physical therapy for my patients (and have used it with my own pet after recovering from brain disease). This form of therapy should be conducted by certified animal physical therapists but having a veterinarian present is not realistic and will ultimately hurt pet patients who will benefit from the treatments. Aaron Lamoree, DVM

Our 9 year old shepherd has benefitted incredibly from water therapy. It would be a disservice to him and to us as pet owners to limit our use of The Total Dog, by thoughtless legislation. DO NOT do enact these idiotic regulations.

My little terrier became paralyzed in the back legs for the second time and this time surgery was not a possibility. My vet suggested physical therapy. Bodie dragged his body in and six weeks later he walked out. I am so grateful to Hydropaws.

We have had very good results for our dog without this law. Please do NOT LIMIT US!

This legislation is unreasonably burdensome and costly.

Silly to require a vet present, most vets are not trained in pt anyway and so would not be able to contribute much.

Veterinarians need to stick to what they know best. A six week course in manipulation does not make them more qualified to work on my animal than one who has been through extensive training in their field. Let me choose who is best qualified to work on my animals.

Physical therapy should be provided by a licensed therapist. However, a veterinarian should not have to be on site. This is an unnecessary burden to the therapist and the pet parent.

Physical therapy options are not available at our vet's. She refers us to a local dog swim / therapy site for surgery follow-up and injury prevention. Please protect that vital service!

My dog has benefited from the use of The Total Dog Center. It would be a shame, if this placed was closed. I trust my veternarian to refer my dog to the best place for therapy.

I have already chosen my dogs Physical Rehabilitation specialist and with her she shall stay

If a veterinarian refers you to a place, you should be able to go even if there isn't a licensed PT or RVT for direct supervision.

My dog cannot walk, and our current animal body worker is AMAZING, better than any veterinarian I have ever encountered. Our animal body worker is in business for all of the right reasons - the financial gain is minimal!

This will add cost with no benefit.

Please allow me to keep healthcare rights for my pets.

Because I want the best person qualified to care for my dogs,donkeys,sheep.

Most vet hospitals are not equipped to do physical therapy on animals!!! WHY would this be different from human medicine??? My doctor is not the one doing my PT on my knee, nor is he in attendance!

For Tootsie!

It seems to me that veterinarians have enough to do already. I think that an animal physical therapist could very well work without direct supervision and in a very different environment than a veterinarian. Obviously the two should ideally work together.

why would we be giving so much power to Vets. The animal guardians have a right to make choices just like parents do. Ficus your time in preventing animal cruelty instead of this nonsense.

Best thing I've ever heard of ! California's on the cutting edge with readily available therapies like this.

Admittedly rehabilitation, like anesthesia free “dentistry,” does open up a risk of unqualified people participating in a practice that should be left to qualified professionals. Unlike dentistry, however, I feel that many rehabilitation tasks can be performed safely without a veterinarian on the premises, allowing trained, qualified RVTs to work outside of a hospital/clinic setting while keeping rehabilitation more accessible and affordable to the pet owner. While I feel the issue of veterinary rehabilitation regulations does need to be addressed, I feel that requiring direct veterinary supervision for all rehabilitation activities seems unnecessarily excessive. Since an RVT or a PT can acquire special training and licensure for physical rehabilitation, it seems that these licensed individuals should be able to perform many rehab tasks without a veterinarian on the premises. Requiring written veterinary approval (in the form of a letter, form, prescription, etc) as well as a current (yearly) veterinary health exam would be perfectly reasonable to assure that the animal is not receiving any inappropriate or unnecessary therapies. I would argue that the requirement to have a veterinarian on premises may even inhibit the availability of rehabilitation facilities. In my experience (in San Diego County) these facilities are hard to come by and most veterinary clinics do not have the desire or the space for the extra equipment needed to perform rehabilitation. The rehab specialty currently gives licensed RVTs an avenue for self employment, while providing a therapeutic service that is drastically underrepresented in the animal health community. For these reasons it would seem that less severe measures may be beneficial in this situation. Specialized licensing (which already exists), indirect supervision requirements, and regulations on what can and cannot be performed without a veterinarian present would benefit both our patients and veterinary professio

Human physical therapists can work independently WITHOUT "direct supervision" by a physician...why would or should it be any different for animal physical therapists?

I want to be able to choose what type of treatment I want for my dogs!

My dog healed more quickly with massage therapy after an injury to her right hip.

My little rescue Maggie Mae and I are about to embark on a journey of wellness for her. She was just diagnosed with some compressed vertebrae, and I'm looking for a place that does physical therapy, acupuncture, etc. to ease her pain and keep her as well as possible without having surgery. I want the best I can do for her, and I don't want that to be limited!

Please help these animals they deserve a second chance in their life .

This is such a grab from the Vet Board and they do not want to recognize the good work people do. Disgusting.

This would make it more difficult for animals to get the care they need! As I. Sure the government chosen "professionals" will be much more expensive cost wise, since they will be the only allowed game in town!

these are not Spa treatments, but medical necessities and expensive enough! Don't exploit people's good will towards their companions and make it unaffordable!!

I have had an encounter with the CVB, and I do not believe they have our fur kids, their clients welfare as their primary concern. Very similar to AMA cover your ass, and how can we make more money

The health benefits are overwhelming!!!

I think this law is too restrictive. I trust myself to find a qualified individual to provide rehabilitation to my animal without needing the direct supervision of a vet for the service to be performed. This would drive up the cost of seeking care for many owners.

Passing this bill will mean more, not less suffering for companion animals. Which legislators are on the take from the VMA? let's find out and discuss ....on the radio.

Why are we trying to fix something that is not broken? Oh sorry I forgot ...... MONEY!!!

Massage Practitioner with 4 dogs and I want my right to choose who works on my pets. When I get a massage there is no doctor standing there for humans why animals?

Accessible and affordable care for pets is extremely important.

Any hands-on animal practitioner who is certified in some way to do this work but who is NOT a DVM or Vet Tech will be prohibited from doing this valuable work, making it out of reach to so many who need it. This is simply ridiculous -- massage and other manipulation modalities do NOT need a DVM's credentials!

This program will limit access to helpful care that improves the lives of animals; it will drive up costs -- that are already beyond the reach of many pet owners -- and eliminate helpful services from aiding our animals. The wording is incorrect. Humans wouldn't stand for a policy that required an MD to be on site during a personal training sessions at a local gym, or during a massage at Massage Envy but this is what VMB expects from pet owners -- a vet on site during these activities. This is the wrong wording. Don't limit care to animals and an owner's choice for providing the best care to their animals.

This is outrageous. I should have the right to choose who and what kind of health care I want for my companion. I use an animal massage therapist and my dog's arthritis is better plus she looks forward to her sessions every week. My therapist made sure I had a vet's diagnosis before she did any therapy.

ANYTHING LIVING NEEDS A CHANCE. IF A DOG NEED THERAPY THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET IT.GOD GAVE US ANIMALS FOR A REASON. TO HAVE LOVING COMPANIONS THAT MANY CAN DO WITHOUT BECAUSE THEY WOULD FALL APART..I WOULD DO ANYTHING FOR MY PETS AND MY RESCUES...."YES ANIMALS NEED THERAPY".IF YOU NEEDED IT AND IT WOULD GIVE YOU A CHANCE WOULDN'T YOU WANT IT. THAT IS THE SAME WAY PEOPLE FEEL ABOUT THEIR BELOVED PETS"THERAPY FOR PETS"

This will only result in higher charges if a vet always needs to be present. Our pets deserve the best without fleecing their owners for everything we have. Give some respect to the licensed PT and registered vet techs that they know what they're doing without a vet present.

Do not take away the owners right to choose

I want the right to make decisions based on competency.

Please protect the animals by making sure that the people who are doing physical therapy for our pets are trained and certified. I have personally seen the benefits of good physical therapy performed by trained and certified therapists. It is very important that they know what they are doing so that they do not further injure or hurt the pet. Also, these therapies are not cheap and I would expect that if I am paying for therapy that they would be licensed and certified for the consumer's protection. Thank you. Sincerely, Kim Flores

REALLY CALIFORNIA????????????????? STOP MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO LIVE IN THIS STATE!!!!!!!!! MONEY, MONEY, MONEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GIVE IT A REST, SO WE CAN SPEND OUR MONEY ON OUR ANIMALS THE WAY WE WANT!!!!!! YOU TAKE ENOUGH FROM MY SMALL BUSINESS AS IT IS AND THEY WONDER WHY PEOPLE MOVE OUT OF THIS STATE??? STOP THE BLEEDING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PTs have direct access in most states. And they have the education to be a doctoring profession. They do not need oversight from Veterinarians.

our pets need therapy too!

They need training and to be tested and qualified, under veterinarian supervision.

Corporate money grab.

I value the excellent care I get from my pet massage therapist and chiropractor. This bill will interfere my my pets healthcare and my freedom of choice.

More overreach and regulatory laws...Not needed.

Stop taking away my rights -be it for me or my animals

For Ashley Manoogian

STOP this insanity

This is insane. We want the right to choose!

When I go to my PT, my doctor is not in attendance or directly supervising my session.

We need the ability to go to the place of our choosing that provides underwater therapy/exercise that NONE of the vets within 1 1/2 hours of driving time will provide. This bill will eliminate any chance of our dog ever walking again and she will die! Simply stated vets in the San Diego area are unwilling to purchase a $15,000 treadmill, train and provide staff, and secure 100sq' of office space in their offices that a wellness center will. It is imperative that this bill be defeated!

I support animal rehabilitation only legal by a physical therapist or veterinary technician under supervision of a veterinarian.

I want the right to choose how my animals receive care.

Signing petition in support of animals receiving the best treatment (physical therapy) in California. Thank you

I strongly support non-veterinary massage therapists in the state of California. They are providing a necessary service and in no way negatively impact the licensed veterinians in California. I believe my pets have gained years, if not several years, of life quality by the use of animal massage and chiropractic adjustment. My performance dogs also receive acupuncture from a licensed vet, it's all part of an effort at wellness and longevity for them. M. Permann

Agree that PT train in AR are sometimes more suited to treat animals

To preserve my freedom to choose healing modalities freely that work for me and my pet

I would like to continue using highly skilled and knowledgeable equine chiropractors and massage therapists without the supervision of a veterinarian. Please do not take this away from me and my sport horse!

Please do not require veterinarians to be part of pet rehab and therapy. If you take this valuable service away from those who have training and are not vets, You will leave pet owners and pets in distress. Veterinarians charge much more and those fees are not affordable. Our animals deserve treatment that helps them regardless of whether it is done by a vet or in a vet's office. Hydrotherapy and massage gave my dog a quality of life that was wonderful in his senior years. We could not afford the services with a veterinarian.

Are you freaking kidding me?

Please do not proceed with this proposal. You fail to mention the largest negative "impact" of this new wording...the innocent animals who will lose access to care. Our girl was abused and abandoned, now at 12 yrs old we (and her regular vet, surgeon, chiropractor and acupuncturist) struggle to keep her walking. Her vet used to have water treadmill therapy, but it became a financial burden to the practice and it was removed. After an extensive search, we finally found one business offering the water treadmill. Weekly we travel more than an hour for her appointment. Some dogs simply walk, run or play to get their physical activity, but our girl needs the bouyancy of the water to hold her up so she can safely exercise, maintain her muscle mass and keep her walking. Stated simply, no vets in our area find it cost effective to have this service and without it our girl will no longer be able to walk. Please leave things as they are and let us, her adoptive parents and loving caretakers decide the course of her care.

There are thousands of special needs pets who,with their owners,depend on the care of these professionals.It is vital that they be allowed to continue.

Don't take away my rights to provide appropriate care for my dogs. And let ME review their qualifications for doing so.

All Gods creatures deserve help

As long as the therapist has received accredited training for animal massage and rehabilitation therapy there is no legitimate reason to require the direct supervision of a veterinarian. This requirement would make theses services unavailable to most pet guardians for financial reasons. I have had pets who have had their quality of life improved by these services and with this restriction it is unlikely I could have afforded the service. A human LMP doesn't have to be under direct supervision, so why impose it on our beloved pets?

Let's stop the nonesense and give animals all the opportunities they cna get ot heal !

Have you nothing better to do with yourselves. This is working fine, leave it alone. These are trained animal physical therapists.

Unnecessary rule.

This is tegulatory overreach and should not be passed. It is solving a "problem" that does not exist.

I fully support and endorse animal rehab facilities. We have a dog that has been in the program and has a much better quality of life as a result.

You will put rehab for animals at a standstill if you pass this. There is no way for vets to absorb the work, no way for the owners to afford the new way, and you have unemployed thousands of well trained, excellent, dedicated and trusted practitioners. It's absurd!

Don't let us loose another right to choose

Allowing these services through vet practices only would make them UNaffordable and decrease the quality of life of our pets!

Allowing these services through vet practices only would make them UNaffordable and decrease the quality of life of our pets!

I feel we should have the right to take care of our pets!! They are our family and we should be able to get them the best care that we can find without having to fight for it!!! What happen to American's free choice! I hope this passes!!!!

For Plum

I live on disability and cannot afford a raise in vet care.

This issue is about the rights we have as animal owners and the freedom to chose the modalities and practitioners we deem correct for their care.

Need laws that groomers are licensed too!! Protect our fury friends!!

We should have the right to have what we feel is best for our animals.

This is horrible.

Don't deny our right to choose!

I can't believe this is even being suggested!!

Why would the state prevent needy animals the care they need? What a silly, stupid law to even been thought of!

Peace & Love❤️

Pls sign petition! :-)

Happy to sign for such a humanitarian cause that is dear to my heart.

There are things I can do myself after being shown what to do and not to have to have to pay a vet, etc. everytime I need to do this

Supporting physical therapy for animal rehab !

This is overreaching by vets and their PAC - this would needlessly inflate the costs of care and criminalize what should be within the rights of pet owners to obtain for themselves, without the supervision of a vet.

I fully trust the PT I work with and have found Veterinarians do not have the same "hands on" expertice. This would be a move without benefit.

I am a dog trainer and I have worked in PT with animals for 6 years. I learned that I knew more about the dog then the vet because I work with the animal literally. We had a chihuahua client that was not showing typical behavior during therapy. I told the doctor she didn't look right. The doctor ignored me until a month down the line and the owner was upset because the dog had no progress. Finally the doctor did X-rays & saw the bones were not healing properly. If she would have listened to me in the first place this dog would have improved without the pain it had to suffer in PT for no reason. Doctors have enough to juggle. I think it would be better for the animals to have an outside opinion just like in human medicine.

Consider the loss from over regulation before you vote. Innocent animals may suffer needlessly if any new ruling is not throughly thought through befor enacted. Vote true with forthright intentions for the future patients of this treatment course.

Stop regulations on pet theraphy by requiring a vet at the side of a trained therapist. California doesn't need more regulations perpetrated by those who would profit financially!

My Aussie greatly benefitted from seeing his PT for the last couple years of his life. If I had to pay vet fees every time he needed help, we would not have been able to afford it. I was able to provide help for him and keep him a few years longer.

This new regulation that you plan on putting into affect will be hurting both animals and their owners. You should be ashamed of yourselves. It sounds to me like the vet board has become greedy, heartless people who only want to help animals if it is done by a vet so they can provide pain pills that do nothing to fix the problem, or perform surgery on animals that in many cases is unnecessary and in most cases unaffordable by the owners. There are many occasions when vets can't help an animal but an animal chiropractor can. Two examples of this are: Dr. Kelly Thompson was the one who got my dog, Rusty, walking again after Rusty hurt his back. A neighbor’s dog came into our yard and Rusty saw him through the glass. He jumped up on the door and his hindquarters gave out on him. He could not walk. This happened late on a Sunday night, so I took him to the Emergency Vet Clinic in Mountain View and they could not do anything for him. I had to carry Rusty back to the car and wait until morning to call my vet, Dr. Darcy Quam in Portola Valley. She was the one who recommended Dr. Kelly Thompson to help Rusty. Dr. Thompson immediately came to Dr. Quams office and gave Rusty a manipulation. Rusty was able to stand and walk immediately. No vet could help Rusty, but Dr. Thompson helped him within a matter of minutes. After a few more adjustments, Rusty was back to his normal self. Another example of how Dr. Thompson helped a dog when no vet could was when a friend rescued a sheltie. The dog refused to eat or drink anything and didn’t want anyone to touch her. She acted like she just wanted to die. My friend took this dog to 3 different vets and not one of them could help this dog. They all said she should just be put down. Well my friend didn’t give up. She was told about an animal chiropractor named Dr. Kelly Thompson. She called him and he came to Adobe Animal Hospital to see this dog. He ran his hands over the dog and knew in under a minute that the dog had a dislocated jaw

This new regulation is RIDICULOUS!

This regulation should not be approved!

Do Not Pass This Regulation!

Stop this regulation from being enforced!!

This is outrageous!

Stop this regulation from becoming a reality!

As an animal rescue professional and performance athlete myself (US National Track and Field Team 1978-1982), I know an assortment of veterinarians and animal therapists including chiropractors and massage therapists who have made great contributions to the wellness of our animals. Please do not limit the choices available to us.

Vets do a wonderful job but they aren't the only ones who can help pets. I go to acupuncture for myself and it has saved me from back and hand surgery. I feel we owe it to our pets to give them every opportunity to improve their health as well. I had a cat who the vet said had no chance and was going to put down. Reiki treatments literally saved his life. Please don't let them take away my right as a pet owner to get the best care for my pets.

Love it!!

Please make this happen. I love all animals dearly, and I support anything that will help them 100%. Let people choose whose care their animals are in.

Message techniques and stretching is not an all inclusive service to only veterinarians and their assistants. I am a professional equine groom. I work along side trainers and their vets. I am trusted to the care and well being of their horses by many. I know the horse I handle very well, much of the time I know the horses needs better than the owners. Grooming is messaging. Picking up feet and applying a ten second hold of a stretch before placing them back on the ground as a square stance is beneficial. I often do this for the horse after his ride. I am against limiting beneficial practices by this strict guideline to only licensed veterinarians.

If a PT has completed all necessary course work and has obtained a certification in animal rehabilitation they should be able to work with animals without supervision. The animal should be evaluated and referred to the PT by a licensed veterinarian first but no on-site supervision needed just good communication between the PT and referring vet.