Wags: Testimonials from those we Serve
Our patients and clients are our most valuable asset.
Here is what some are saying about their experience. |
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I feel confident that with Dr. Sonnet’s well-rounded knowledge of the canine physiology/structural ailments and her vast experience with various therapies, my dog is getting the best treatment available.
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I highly recommend Dr. Sonnet. My dog loves her! Dr. Sonnet is especially gentle and patient while working with my dog. And I appreciate her creativity in selecting exercises, not only which address a specific issue that might be presenting that day, but also in providing variation that makes every session different and fun.
Also, Dr. Sonnet is always willing to accommodate a day/time that works best for my schedule and even adjust or reschedule appointments as needed. One day I was 20 minutes late for an appointment due to traffic construction, but Dr. Sonnet still gave me my full hour session! I feel confident that with Dr. Sonnet’s well-rounded knowledge of the canine physiology/structural ailments and her vast experience with various therapies, my dog is getting the best treatment available. At each visit, she takes a quick account my dog’s current condition to devise the most effective treatment plan for that day. And in addition to the therapy treatments, she is wholly dedicated to my dog’s complete well-being. Any time I have specific health questions regarding my dog, Dr. Sonnet is always eager to provide additional information and to offer advice that helps me with my ‘parenting’ decisions. PS- After more than a year and a half in therapy for treating my senior dog’s hip dysplasia and severe arthritis, I have seen improvements – increased muscle development, enhanced range of motion, more energy, and overall happy attitude. For a 13.5-year-old to get better rather than decline is amazing! -Julie and Simba |
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I highly recommend her if you dog needs physical therapy. She can work out a treatment plan tailored for your dog, and works with you to help you to help your dog.
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When my dog was diagnosed with IVDD (Intervertebral Disc Disease), it was sure panic. I was given Dr. Sonnet Jarvis number to call for physical therapy. It was the best call I made for my dog! Cooper has become much stronger and has a great time when we visit Dr. Jarvis! I highly recommend her if you dog needs physical therapy. She can work out a treatment plan tailored for your dog, and works with you to help you to help your dog. It’s a win, win for everyone and I am so thankful I called!
Mary, Cooper’s mom ~Sadly, Cooper passed away after this testimonial was submitted. Rest in peace, Cooper. |
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Thanks to Dr. Sonnet, I am able to go on daily walks with Packer with no issues and I honestly feel she is healthier and stronger than ever before.
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My 8-year-old Labrador Retriever Packer, had a history of bilateral CCL(Cranial Cruciate Ligament) rupture. Her symptoms included persistent hind leg lameness and clicking. PLO surgery was performed on both CCL’s about 4 months apart. After surgery, I did a google search and found Dr. Sonnet Jarvis, owner of AZ Canine rehab in Glendale, AZ. Dr. Sonnet has done an outstanding job rehabilitating Packer. She is knowledgeable, professional, caring, dependable and trustworthy. Dr. Sonnet works directly with the owner to develop a rehab plan that can not only be performed in her gym, but also at home. Packer is now 10-years-old and doing great. Thanks to Dr. Sonnet, I am able to go on daily walks with Packer with no issues and I honestly feel she is healthier and stronger than ever before. I would highly recommend Dr. Sonnet without hesitation to anyone searching for canine rehabilitation.
Renda Russell, Packer’s owner |
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Dr. Sonnet has given Tristan her quality of life back and has been a blessing to both of us.
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A year ago, Tristan’s vet diagnosed her with severe hip dysplasia and arthritis. She gave her pain meds and said to keep her comfortable until she passes, expecting it within a few months to a year.I pushed as I wasn’t willing to just give up until I finally was referred to Dr. Sonnet. Over a year later and Tristan has improved dramatically. The damage can’t be reversed, but she has built muscle and gained strength which has improved her mobility and decreased her pain.
Dr. Sonnet has given Tristan her quality of life back and has been a blessing to both of us. Dr. Sonnet takes time to explain each form of exercise and why it benefits Tristan. She is good at teaching us the exercises so we can do them at home as well. She helps me just as much as she helps Tristan. -Tristan’s mom, Melissa |
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I would gladly return to Dr. Jarvis if Zowee needed therapy in the future.
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I highly recommend Dr. Sonnet Jarvis. When my service dog, Zowee, was diagnosed with a CCL tear, the only recommendation the vet I was using at that time had was surgery. To me, surgery was a last resort not the first step.
Dr. Jarvis was recommended to me by Zowee‘s trainer. After the initial consultation with Dr. Jarvis, she recommended once a week sessions for approximately 2 months. She also gave me an exercise program to work with Zowee at home. Dr. Jarvis said that even though Zowee might get through this episode without surgery at this time, it doesn’t mean that he won’t need surgery in the future. I appreciated her direct and honest approach. On Zowee’s last therapy session Dr. Jarvis had him swim in her pool. That therapy session was more like play to Zowee. He had fun even though it was therapy. Since his discharge, Zowee has been healthy and feeling great. I would gladly return to Dr. Jarvis if Zowee needed therapy in the future. Best regards, Lisa & Zowee |
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I would highly recommend anyone faced with tough decisions (or whose pup just needs a little help) to consider physical therapy with Dr. Jarvis.
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In June of 2020, my rescue pup ‘Worf’ suddenly lost the ability to control the back half of his body. I brought him to an emergency vet who informed me that he was “deep pain absent” in both hind feet, and that Invertebral Disc Disease (IVDD) was likely the cause.
The ER vet suggested a specialist in Scottsdale who had an MRI machine but told me that the prognosis was not positive in their opinion. The specialist located a herniated disc in Worf s’spine and performed surgery to try and correct the problem. Days went by at the hospital, and no movement and very little sensation had returned to the back half of Worfs’ body. Eventually the doctor suggested I take Worf home, as there was nothing more they could do. Two weeks after discharge, we returned to have his staples removed. He had some movement, but it was not coordinated, and he could not stand or walk. The doctors recommended physical therapy as the final option before considering a wheelchair or euthanasia. I called several offices recommended by the specialist, and Dr. Jarvis turned out to be the best option. Dr. Jarvis knew exactly what needed to be done and explained everything thoroughly. At the time of our first appointment, Worf was able to stand up and walk a short distance (in a less than coordinated fashion). He could not walk further than a few feet without falling, nor could he relieve himself without assistance. At the time of this writing, I am happy to share that Worf can walk several blocks without issue, play with his toys, and generally live his life without much assistance. I can say with confidence that without the help of Dr. Jarvis, Worf would have likely ended up in a wheelchair, or worse. I would highly recommend anyone faced with tough decisions (or whose pup just needs a little help) to consider physical therapy with Dr. Jarvis. Trevor aka Worf's Dad |
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It’s been a year and a half since we first saw Dr. Sonnet, and Shadow is still up and moving and enjoying his life.
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Shadow is now a 10-year-old Akita. We are thrilled to say that as we were not sure he would make it to this age when he first went to rehab.
After having had surgery to repair a torn cruciate ligament in each knee, and then surgery to remove the implants due to an infection, he had severe arthritis in both knees. At almost a hundred pounds, it was difficult for us to help him get up if he couldn’t do it on his own. We weren’t sure what we were going to do when finally, someone told us about Dr. Sonnet. At first, his rehab focused on pain management and simple therapeutic exercises to keep him moving. As he got stronger, the exercises became more challenging. Through all this, we were able to manage his pain. We saw him improve until he was able to stand for longer periods of time. He was able to go for short walks. A major accomplishment was that he could go up and down the ramp to get in and out of the car. We still get excited every time we see him use it! It’s been a year and a half since we first saw Dr. Sonnet, and Shadow is still up and moving and enjoying his life. His arthritis is managed and his pain is controlled. He loves going for car rides and he still uses his ramp easily. |
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Dr. Sonnet’s kind support has changed our lifestyle so Riley can do the things he truly loves again now and for the rest of his life.
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It is with much gratitude that I write to recognize all Dr. Sonnet has done to support us and Riley's journey to a MUCH better quality of life.
She was the one person who was adamant about the fact that Riley needed "more muscle" to support his weaker parts. This focus on PT and building muscle has allowed Riley to not only return to a higher quality of life, but to do things he has never done before in his life. No amount of pain management, massage, chiropractic, and acupuncture can do this. Although all these specialists are still an important part of our health team, what was missing was pure unadulterated muscle and you added that very important key component that was previously missing. I will be forever grateful to her for her shove and kick in the okole. Dr. Sonnet’s kind support has changed our lifestyle so Riley can do the things he truly loves again now and for the rest of his life. With much appreciation, R and Riley |
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Not only do I praise Dr. Jarvis for her knowledge, skills and dedication, I also highly recommend her to anyone who has a pet in need of physical therapy. Without Dr. Jarvis, Cooper would not be where he is today.
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Cooper is my two year old black Labrador retriever that I rescued at the age of 16 weeks. He is your typical sweet, loving, and cuddly lab; full of goofy silly character with a pinch of stubbornness. However, at about four months of age, our regular veterinary performed a physical exam and diagnosed him with hip dysplasia suspicion.
At that time Cooper did not display any signs or symptoms of hip dysplasia, so I opted for a preventative approach. He began Cosequin joint supplements and fish oil. Six month later at ten months old, Cooper began to limp, bunny hopped when he ran, favored his right leg, showed signs of muscle atrophy, and started barking at all hours. I brought Cooper back to our veterinary for sedated x-rays which revealed he had severe bilateral hip dysplasia with early osteoarthritis. We added Carprofen to help with his pain and was referred to an orthopedic specialist who confirmed Cooper’s diagnosis. Cooper needed a bilateral FHO as soon as possible on both hips. On September 2, 2020 just one day before Cooper’s first birthday, he went in for surgery. Post-op, he refused to eat or drink and wouldn’t stand or attempt to walk. I was advised to start a physical therapy program within the next few weeks. I will forever be grateful that Dr. Jarvis was one of the therapy veterinarians in my referral package. When Cooper began seeing Dr. Jarvis he was absolutely adamant about only doing the exercises he wanted to do and when he wanted to do them. Thankfully Dr. Jarvis is not only extremely patient but also exceptionally great at what she does and she knew how to handle him. Cooper got laser therapy, therapeutic massage, thermotherapy, and lots of different exercises. Dr. Jarvis cares so deeply for her patients and wants nothing but the best for them and their healing. In addition to our therapy sessions at her office, she also showed me training activities to do while at home with Cooper to help speed up his recovery. Cooper began to get better with every session he had, building strength and stamina. Today we are exactly one year post-op from his surgery and Cooper cannot be held down. He loves to run, jump, swim and take walks around the block. For anyone who sees Cooper today, they struggle to believe he had such a major surgery on both his hips just 1 year ago. Not only do I praise Dr. Jarvis for her knowledge, skills and dedication, I also highly recommend her to anyone who has a pet in need of physical therapy. Without Dr. Jarvis, Cooper would not be where he is today. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. XOXO – Cooper & his mom |
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Her caring approach, experience, and knowledge have made a major positive contribution to the wellness of our beloved Golden Retrievers.
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Meet Toby (6) and Cody (5), Golden Retriever brothers, 8 months apart from the same doggo parents Daisy & Chase.
Toby and Cody both hurt their right knees in November 2020. Immediately, both pups saw Dr. Owen at VetMed and she diagnosed them with torn ACLs. Surgery soon followed. Once Dr. Owen released Toby and Cody, they began attending weekly physical therapy sessions with Dr. Sonnet Jarvis. Physical therapy for Toby & Cody focused on improving muscle, strength, and range of motion while controlling pain. The best part is they both adore Sonnet. When I tell them it’s time to go play with Sonnet, they run excitedly to the door. The care provided by Dr. Jarvis has resulted in a marked increase in the boys’ comfort, endurance, stability, and strength. Her caring approach, experience, and knowledge have made a major positive contribution to the wellness of our beloved Golden Retrievers. Cindy & Robert Sandner |
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Dr. Jarvis made hard things fun for Thor and ensured I knew exactly what to do with him during his daily at home therapy workouts.
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My 3yr old German Shepherd, Thor, had an FHO on his left hip to relieve a worsening congenital problem. The first 10 days of recovery were standard. The next couple of weeks my wife and I started to become concerned as Thor was making no attempt to do anything with his leg. We never saw or felt any muscle contraction.
Week 5 hit and no improvement had been observed. Thor’s leg was so flaccid with no reaction to stimulation, that we thought amputation might have to be considered. Before that drastic measure, we decided Thor was going to physical therapy. We asked Thor’s doctor for a recommendation and she stated that one of the other doctors at the hospital used Dr. Jarvis at AZ Canine Rehab when his dog had an FHO, and was extremely pleased with the results. I emailed Dr. Jarvis that day. About 2 weeks later Thor went for his first appointment. From that first day, Thor started using his leg. Slowly but surely, his confidence returned over the next few weeks. He worked for it, as we strictly adhered to Dr. Jarvis’ homework every week. Week 6 of therapy rolled around and Thor is running with his sisters and keeping up, using both back legs. Thor has a little gimp when he walks but that is about it. He recently made regular 34” vertical jumps to get his spot on the bed, played fetch in the lake, and has done a few 1-mile hikes on uneven and hilly terrain. I never expected this good of a recovery after seeing the atrophied noodle Thor had been dragging behind him a month after his surgery. Dr. Jarvis made hard things fun for Thor and ensured I knew exactly what to do with him during his daily at home therapy workouts. Dr. Jarvis made a rehab team out of Thor, me, and herself which proved to be very productive! I am completely thankful for what she did for my boy! I hope we never need Dr. Jarvis’ services again, but if the need arises I will be getting AZ Canine Rehab involved from the start. Absolutely no regrets!!!! Michael Jacques |
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Dr. Jarvis not only gave me back my dog, she gave me a better version of him. Thank you, Dr. Jarvis!
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Last year, Ruger was out for a walk when both his left feet flipped over and he couldn’t seem to get them back to normal. After tests at the vet, Ruger was diagnosed with probable IVDD (intervertebral disc disease) in his neck and put on a bunch of medications.
Weeks passed and he still couldn’t do his normal activities and the poor guy was still in pain. Ruger was only 7 years old and I didn’t want the rest of his life to be miserable. My regular vet gave me some literature about IVDD, and it mentioned that some dogs had improvement with physical therapy. I’d had a lot of success with human physical therapy myself and began searching. We lucked out - Dr. Jarvis was nearby! It was love at first sniff for Ruger! When he sees Dr. Jarvis, he gets so excited his whole body shakes. He’s typically very suspicious of anything new and different, but Dr. Jarvis knew exactly what to do to put Ruger at ease with his exercises and the exercise equipment. Ruger quickly made improvements, and is able to do his usual activities again. He was able to get off his prescription medication and became a lot stronger. Dr. Jarvis even used Ruger’s new ramp in his exercise program so he would be more comfortable using it getting in and out of the car. Now Ruger can ride in the car anytime - it’s his favorite activity! Ruger loves seeing his home exercise equipment come out and eagerly does his exercises. Sometimes he even starts doing exercises on his own! Maybe part of it is the payments (treats) he gets, but I think he enjoys having a task to do. He is part working dog, after all! The mental stimulation has been an added bonus for him, and his confidence has increased. Dr. Jarvis not only gave me back my dog, she gave me a better version of him. Thank you, Dr. Jarvis! Ruger’s Mom |
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Thank you so much Dr. Jarvis for your care and guidance throughout this trying time. We are all grateful for your commitment in helping heal our beloved Gigi.
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My mini Aussie Gigi, who is a little over a year old and adopted from Halfpint Mini Aussies, was injured while rough housing with her sister Coco. Her vet’s visit diagnosis was patella luxation and the vet recommended surgery to stabilize the knee cap.
My first thought was, “how much is this going to cost?” My second thought was, “wait a minute… this was due to an injury, what about physical rehabilitation?” I started searching for a specialist in canine rehab. To my surprise, I came across AZ Canine Rehab. Dr. Sonnet Jarvis, DVM, CPT is one of the most genuine, knowledgeable, and compassionate people you could ever meet. Dr. Jarvis worked with Gigi over several months to help rehab her muscles, tendons, and ligaments to the point where Gigi was no longer a surgical candidate. I am happy to say 6 months later that Gigi is still doing well post-treatment. Thank you so much Dr. Jarvis for your care and guidance throughout this trying time. We are all grateful for your commitment in helping heal our beloved Gigi. Bless your soul! Mike & Luana |
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I highly recommend Dr. Sonnet. I am sure every case for her is different, but Oscar is a true demonstration of her abilities. Bulldogs have issues of all kinds: allergies, joint problems, bulldog teeth, and she is a miracle worker.
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A few months ago, my 4-year old bulldog, Oscar, injured himself. He is an active dog and I believe he jumped off back of the couch one too many times. I noticed he was having trouble getting up and putting weight on his back leg. Our regular vet said he was fine and not to worry about it.
Oscar did not get better. I heard about Dr. Sonnet from a mutual friend and made an appointment to see her. Right away, she determined that Oscar had torn his ACL and would probably need surgery, but she was willing to try to rehabilitate him. I took Oscar to her for therapy for 4 weeks. During that time, she put him on a diet as his weight was working against him. She started slowly with small tasks for him. He would eagerly do them for her as a treat was always included. After 3 weeks, if was still ‘iffy’ as to whether or not the sessions were working. I felt discouraged and worried. But by the next session, his knee showed more stability and he was not limping at all. Over the next month, Oscar still had limited activity and continued to improve. Today, Oscar is back to his old self. He is lean. He runs and jumps and plays just as if he was never injured at all. I LOVE HAVING HIM BACK! I highly recommend Dr. Sonnet. I am sure every case for her is different, but Oscar is a true demonstration of her abilities. Bulldogs have issues of all kinds: allergies, joint problems, bulldog teeth, and she is a miracle worker. Deb Smith aka Oscar's Mom |
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Wren and I truly enjoy our weekly appointments with Dr. Jarvis and would recommend her to any of our family and friends. She is amazing!
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Wren is our 10 y/o German Shephard that we rescued 3.5 years ago. As she has gotten older, she has had arthritic changes in her hips and right front paw. In order to be proactive in maintaining the mobility and strength that she had, we sought out a Physical Rehabilitation Specialist. We were extremely fortunate to get a recommendation for Dr. Jarvis.
Wren has now been seeing Dr. Jarvis weekly since February of 2020. Dr. Jarvis has not only implemented a physical rehab program that has helped maintain Wren’s mobility and strength, but has also created a plan that keeps Wren engaged. This is not an easy task for a dog that can be so stubborn you sometimes think she doesn’t know her own name, and while doing this all over Zoom. Dr. Jarvis has also provided us options for other therapeutic interventions that help with inflammation and pain. All of which have been beneficial. On top of this Dr. Jarvis is personable, compassionate, and caring, which is not always something you find. I can honestly say that Wren and I truly enjoy our weekly appointments with Dr. Jarvis and would recommend her to any of our family and friends. She is amazing! Kelly Borgwardt aka Wren's parent |
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I am confident that without Dr. Jarvis’ expertise, positivity, and patience, Duchess would not be where she is today.
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When Duchess was 2 years old, she developed a severe limp in her front right leg. For 6-8 months her lameness went undiagnosed. She was on various meds to help with the pain, but nothing worked. We saw multiple specialists who recommended surgery but could not guarantee the results. I was devastated. Nothing bothered me more than to see my young dog in such pain. Also, I was frustrated with the recommended treatment because she was so young, and nothing was guaranteed. I felt like her life was ruined. I realized that she would never be the same after surgery; after all, prior to the lameness, she was a highly active dog and loved to play fetch and go to Bulldog meetups. I decided to seek out an alternative to surgery and was referred to Dr. Jarvis.
Dr. Jarvis was a breath of fresh air! Our consultation went well, and Duchess was prescribed weekly physical rehabilitation visits and a home exercise program. After a few months, Duchess was well on her way to recovery, no surgery needed! I was so happy, and Duchess was no longer limping. Eventually she was able to play fetch again! Plus, Duchess loved to participate in the home exercise program and it only strengthened our bond. A couple years later, Duchess developed another limp. This time it was her rear leg. The diagnosis: a small CCL tear and unfortunately hip dysplasia. I knew these were serious issues and of course the recommended treatment for the CCL tear was surgery and the hip dysplasia would be a life-long problem. I immediately contacted Dr. Jarvis for a consultation and a plan moving forward! Duchess is completely healed of the CCL tear, no surgery needed, and goes for 30-45-minute walks daily as well as a home exercise and maintenance program. She has come a long way and is pain free. I am confident that without Dr. Jarvis’ expertise, positivity, and patience, Duchess would not be where she is today nor would she have such high quality of life. Dr. Jarvis is an amazing woman, veterinarian, and trusted advisor! Jen Green - aka Mom to the Duchess |
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Emma is now a healthy, happy, and active dog. She no longer limps and she has good muscle mass in her left leg. You would never have known she was injured thanks to Dr. Sonnet.
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EMMA (doodle)
In 2017, I was privileged to do a surgical foster for a large golden doodle that had surgery to pin her femur fracture. While she seemed to be progressing with several weeks of walking, range of motion, and massage, Emma did not put weight on her leg and continued limping, Unfortunately, Emma had to have an FHO due to losing bone density in the femoral neck. Emma began rehab again by walking, swimming and climbing stairs for 3 1/2 weeks. The surgeon found she still had muscle loss and extension of her leg was painful, so he believed she had a great deal of scar tissue in the leg and needed PT. I took Emma for a consult with Dr Jarvis. She gave her a thorough evaluation and demonstrated leg exercises she wanted me to do including walking on uneven surfaces, getting her to shift her weight, regular walking, and swimming. At our second appointment, included with the initial exam, Emma had laser treatments and muscle stimulation with a TENS unit. The biggest problem was her muscle atrophy and her use of the leg wound come in small increments. After only one week, she was able to bear some weight on her leg. She has been OK doing her exercises at home and enjoys the TENS unit I got her. We are now adding additional exercises and swimming. Emma is now a healthy, happy, and active dog. She no longer limps and she has good muscle mass in her left leg. You would never have known she was injured thanks to Dr. Sonnet. TRIP (golden) Trip is my old guy, soon to be 13. When he came into rescue at 4 years of age, he had to have his right leg amputated due to valley fever. He did well as a tripod until he was 11 and then started having trouble where he was unable to get up and dragged himself around. My regular vet diagnosed extreme osteoarthritis in his hip and knee and was concerned about his quality of life. He prescribed arthritis and pain meds plus injections done weekly at home. I took him to Dr. Sonnet because I knew she could help him. She evaluated him and started him on exercises that included balance exercises, pole weaving, swimming, and others similar to Emma’s. He also received laser treatments and treatment with the TENS unit. He was always happy to go and really was excited to be there. Sometimes he balked at doing some of his exercises, but since he loved to retrieve, we used that as motivation. Before long, Trip was able to get up and down, had no issues with his potty needs, and his quality of life improved greatly. Thanks to Dr. Sonnet, I still have my big boy who enjoys life and thinks swimming is the greatest thing in the world. Mom-Liz |
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Therapy has provided Kal a better life, and it has also made our lives easier.
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We had Kal for about 9 months before starting physical therapy. He was primarily wheelchair-bound, though he was able to walk for about 5 minutes without the chair before he got tired and would drag his back legs. He also was fully incontinent and terrified of the world outside the house. We had tried to build his strength on our own by keeping him mobile in his cart and taking him out of it at least once a day. We weren't making much progress, which is why we reached out to Dr. Jarvis.
Through physical therapy and laser, we noticed Kal could be out of his chair longer and wasn't having as many accidents in the house. He was also able to climb up the stairs! After about a year of therapy, he was strong enough that he no longer needed his cart to get around our house and yard. Then, he was able to go on walks around the block without his cart as well. Now, we rarely have accidents in the house. And recently, he's been able to swim short distances in the pool without his life jacket! Physical therapy has changed Kal's life. Without it, he would still be in a wheelchair, unable to fully lay down unless he was out of it. He wouldn’t be able to play on agility equipment, or be able to wrestle with his sisters. His confidence outside the house has grown significantly because of the obstacles he has been able to conquer at therapy. We can go into pet stores and cautiously walk around, where before he wouldn't get out of the car. Therapy has provided Kal a better life, and it has also made our lives easier. Laura Goodhue aka Kal's Mom |
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He is back to enjoying his daily three-mile walks. You would never know he had an injury to his leg. Without Dr. Jarvis, we wouldn’t have known what to do to help Benji recover as well as he has.
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Benji, our five-year-old dog, slipped out of the house to chase after a rabbit over Labor Day weekend, and was hit by a passing vehicle. Several kind passersby stopped to herd him out of the street and direct him towards home. Benji had lung contusions, scrapes, and he was unable to bear weight on his right front leg. Initially, that paw curled under when he walked, which, we were told, indicates nerve damage. We would need to wait and see how much function the leg would regain.
Dr. Jarvis evaluated Benji, and started him on a physical therapy regimen, but made no promises about how much progress Benji might make. The goals were to improve his balance and make his leg muscles stronger. Dr. Jarvis saw Benji once every one-to-two weeks. The beginning sessions involved activities like walking up and down ramps, over poles, under poles, around poles, and usually ended with laser therapy. Lots of treats were involved—freeze-dried chicken being a favorite. As therapy continued, the poles got higher off the ground, the ramps steeper. New skills were added—balancing on a wobble board (not a favorite), walking across an air mattress (not so bad). More treats! At home, between therapy sessions, Benji did homework. He walked over yardsticks balanced on books, around chairs, wobbled across sofa cushions. He was a star, but he was never able to learn how to offer a paw for a shake (good for muscle strength). Benji graduated from therapy in January 2020. Since then, he is back to enjoying his daily three-mile walks. You would never know he had an injury to his leg. Without Dr. Jarvis, we wouldn’t have known what to do to help Benji recover as well as he has. Benji's Peeps |
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We are so grateful to Dr. Jarvis for her knowledge,compassion, and excellent care which has far exceeded our expectations. She has turned the clock back for Molly and has given her a new life.
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Almost twelve years ago our family adopted ‘the Dobie Gang’ - three young puppies who were rescued with their mother after being abandoned without food or water. The largest is Molly, who weighs over 100 pounds. For many years she was active and loved swimming and playing with us and her siblings on a daily basis.
All that changed several years ago when she began developing severe bilateral hip arthritis. As it progressed, it became increasingly difficult for her to move around and she was not a good candidate for surgery. Thankfully, our veterinarian, Dr. Richard Joiner, referred us to Dr. Sonnet Jarvis, who has helped Molly more than we could ever have imagined. Molly is very shy and was somewhat wary at her first appointment, but Dr. Jarvis’ gentle approach and patience put her at ease. She spent a great deal of time evaluating Molly’s affected joints, gait, agility, and pain levels. With her expert knowledge, Dr. Jarvis discussed various therapies and innovative strategies, and provided specific recommendations for home therapy between appointments. She also recommended a new medication protocol which has been extremely effective. With the treatment plan that Dr. Jarvis implemented, Molly's pain has been reduced considerably and her movement has improved far beyond our expectations. Dr. Jarvis has gone above and beyond with answering questions and adjusting Molly's exercise program in between appointments. Because of COVID-19 and Molly's difficulty getting in and out of the car, we scheduled a video phone conference for our most recent visit. The appointment went extremely well, especially considering the limitations of telemedicine. Dr. Jarvis had Molly walk around our house and backyard so she could evaluate her gait and level of pain and modify her medication and exercise regimen. Before Molly was referred to Dr. Jarvis, her quality of life had declined to the point that she seemed miserable, and we were growing less optimistic about her future. Today, under Dr. Jarvis’ expert care and guidance, Molly’s pain has been greatly diminished and she is again swimming and playing with her siblings, something she couldn’t do less than a year ago. We are so grateful to Dr. Jarvis for her knowledge, compassion, and excellent care which has far exceeded our expectations. She has turned the clock back for Molly and has given her a new life. We cannot recommend Dr. Jarvis highly enough. Karen aka Mom to the Dobie Gang |
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Today, 2 short months after Oliver’s first visit with Dr. Jarvis, he runs, swims, and plays with his brother like it never happened. I highly recommend Dr. Jarvis. If this story sounds familiar, know there is hope— there’s Dr. Jarvis!
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Oliver was a loving and happy dog with a sweet demeanor. He loved to play with his brother, swim, and would chase a ball forever if he could. At 4 months old, he was diagnosed with severe hip dysplasia. Though it’s common in labs, the severity at his age wasn’t typical.
When Oliver wasn’t yet four, his right hip began to hurt him and within months he was in extreme pain. We found the best surgeon. However, due to severe muscle atrophy and extreme deterioration of the bone, a hip replacement was not an option. Our only option was an FHO. We followed all instructions to help him use his leg following the FHO but months later, he still couldn’t walk. The surgeon was concerned and it hurt our hearts to see him not living the life he loved. He showed signs of depression and his love for life was gone. After months of seeing his leg dangle and slowly shrink, it seemed we may have no choice but to amputate. We needed a miracle. Then the surgeon recommended a physical therapist for Oliver. I searched around the valley and came across a testimonial for a German Shepard named Arya. She had experienced the same symptoms as Oliver and had an amazing recovery. I had to find out if this was possible for Oliver. I called Dr. Sonnet Jarvis at Arizona Veterinary Physical Rehabilitation for an evaluation and this is when our miracle began… Dr. Jarvis worked with him one time and the next day, Oliver brought his leg down and took a light step. We stared in disbelief and cried tears of joy. Her care, compassion, and experience gave us the hope we needed. Today, 2 short months after Oliver’s first visit with Dr. Jarvis, he runs, swims, and plays with his brother like it never happened. I highly recommend Dr. Jarvis. If this story sounds familiar, know there is hope— there’s Dr. Jarvis! From the bottom of our hearts, thank you Dr. Jarvis, for bringing our family back together again! Allisa, Rob, Oliver, and Odin. Glendale, AZ |
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Thanks to Dr. Jarvis Hailey has a quality of life that is greater than anything I could have hoped for. She loves her rehab exercises … tail constantly wagging no matter what I ask her to do … and she gets so excited to see Dr. Jarvis that she quivers with anticipation. Strength training has become Hailey’s “activity of choice” and she loves it.
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Hailey, an eight year old Briard, started her life competing in conformation, transitioning to herding and finally settling on agility as her preferred activity. By the time she was three we were focused almost entirely on agility and spent the following year preparing for her first competition. She was always happy to go to class, and excited for her turn to play, but gradually she developed an aversion to jumping. She would come bouncing out of her kennel, ready for class, and after a couple of jumps she would take the path of least resistance, circling around the jumps, then she would back away and play bow, playfully resisting the obstacle. Playfully, at first. Soon her playful resistance became more and more frequent and more and more concerning. Was it the playful defiance typical of a Briard or was it pain that was causing her to behave this way?
There were no injuries, and the behavior was not consistent or predictable, so we continued our classes but cut back on the frequency. As we started a new class, with new classmates, one of the other participants (who happened to be a veterinarian), commented that Hailey had such big feet and asked was it just all the hair (Briards have a lot of coat) or were her feet really that big. Following up on that observation, combined with the odd aversion to jumping, we started a longroad toward an attempt to diagnose what was going on. All medical tests were negative, yet she was unable to play with her brother without screaming out in pain. At this point we were referred to Dr. Sonnet Jarvis at Arizona Veterinary Physical Rehabilitation for an evaluation. Our initial focus was to identify the problem and then to work toward recovery so that Hailey could return to agility. We started rehab sessions where Hailey and I learned how to develop strength and flexibility. Over time her hypersensitivity to stimulus subsided and she was able to start playing with her brother again but there was still something odd going on. We are now at a point where not only is Hailey able to play with her brother (another Briard) but she has started picking up toys and asking for games of tug. She throws the toys in the air, bounces around like a puppy, and runs circles around the yard. Thanks to Dr. Jarvis Hailey has a quality of life that is greater than anything I could have hoped for. She loves her rehab exercises … tail constantly wagging no matter what I ask her to do … and she gets so excited to see Dr. Jarvis that she quivers with anticipation. Strength training has become Hailey’s “activity of choice” and she loves it. Thank you, Dr. Jarvis, for your patience, guidance and constant encouragement. Denise aka Hailey's Mom |
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She will always be on medication for inflammation and will probably always have some discomfort, but she definitely does better with Dr. Jarvis’ care.
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"My dog, Lucy, was diagnosed with elbow dysplasia in 2014. We have struggled with trying to help her as it has continually progressed. We have tried many things with little-to-no results including stem cell therapy, Adequan injections (she does currently get them weekly), steroid injections into her joint, and even a brace. Her disease, as I now call it, has continued to progress no matter our efforts and will continue to do so. I know she won’t get better, but it’s a matter of managing her pain and doing what we can to maintain her quality of life.
A few years back, we were introduced to Dr. Jarvis. It’s through her continued physical rehab sessions where we noticed the most improvement in Lucy. Dr. Jarvis turned us on to swimming as a great exercise for Lucy. She has gone swimming in her backyard a number of times. That and cold laser therapy have made a difference for Lucy with her mobility. We continue to try new things including a clinical trial for a new medication seeking FDA approval that is injected into the joint. Researchers know there aren’t many solutions for elbow issues and there is a need. We appreciate that Dr. Jarvis is with us every step of the way. Lucy will always have this condition and may always limp. She will always be on medication for inflammation and will probably always have some discomfort, but she definitely does better with Dr. Jarvis’ care. Gail, Lucy's mom |
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She's an advocate for her patient's needs. She always made sure Humphrey was comfortable during his sessions (cold laser, tens unit and PT). If he wasn't feeling it, she'd change what she planned for him.
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I’m a huge fan of Dr. Sonnet as she’s a true advocate for her patients. She always made sure Humphrey was comfortable during his sessions, which included physical rehab, cold laser, and the tens unit. If he wasn’t feeling up for what she planned, she’d modify the visit. She genuinely cared for him as I did and I always appreciated that she treated him as if he was one of her own. I just loved how caring she is and devoted to him and his well-being. Humphrey always looked forward to seeing her, unlike going to our regular vet’s office.
Now that I have Dino, another senior pup, I’ll be making an appointment with Dr. Sonnet soon. I know how much she can help him to maintain a great quality of life in his golden years, and I want my sweet boy to be feeling good and happy for as long as possible. I saw how much physical rehab with Dr. Sonnet gives seniors an improved quality of life and appreciate all she did for Humphrey. Anmarie, aka Humphrey and Dino's Mom |
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Without Dr. Jarvis' help, I'm not sure this would have been possible.
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Arya is a German Shepherd / Husky mix. After her first birthday, she was diagnosed with hip dysplasia. She underwent FHO surgery and all seemed well at first, but she wasn't using her leg as much as she should and the muscles began to atrophy.
We took Arya to see Dr. Jarvis in an effort to get some guided rehab for her leg, as the instructions we received from the vet were not working. Dr Jarvis was very kind, caring, and empathetic to our situation. After several weeks of following Dr. Jarvis' instructions, and sticking to the exercise regimen, Arya's strength in her leg returned. Arya is now happily running, jumping and playing like she was prior to the FHO surgery. Without Dr. Jarvis' help, I'm not sure this would have been possible. I would highly recommend bringing your dog to see her if it is in need of help that physical therapy can remedy. I wouldn't hesitate to bring Arya back to see her in the future should the need arise. Mike Rodriguez Buckeye, AZ |
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My dog actually whines with excitement when we get close to her office.
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I initially came to Dr. Jarvis because my agility dog needed an evaluation. She was occasionally not using one of her hind legs. After a complete examination we began working on strength building exercises. I was concerned at first because my dog suffers from seizure disorder and I didn’t want to add any stress to her life. We have continued to see Dr. Jarvis for several years because she works with my dog in a stress free environment, concentrating on positive re-enforcement. My dog actually whines with excitement when we get close to her office. We both enjoy the time we spend with Dr. Jarvis and will continue to do so.
Candyce McDougall and Coco |
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Her calm manner always puts us at ease no matter what we’re dealing with.
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Dr. Sonnet has always been a reassuring presence with our pets. Especially with our chocolate lab, Hunter. Over the years Hunter experienced several issues, including two torn ACL’s, one complete and another partial at the age of nine. At fourteen he’s still with us thanks to her expertise. Her calm manner always puts us at ease no matter what we’re dealing with. You can see how passionate she is about her work and her patients. She takes the time to answer our questions and respond to our concerns. Her love of all animals is evident. And Hunter loves her as much as we do.
Charis Keller, aka Hunter's Mom |
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I don’t like to think what the outcome may have been if we had not gotten connected to Sonnet when we did. The Neurologist did a fantastic job helping us understand the issue, but it was Sonnet who helped us understand the healing and recovery.
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This past weekend we marked one year since Whitaker stopped walking. The neurologist we spent a day with finally diagnosed “Coonhound Paralysis” in our 7-year-old poodle. He simply stopped walking and barely had the strength to lift his head. The Vet said it had probably been advancing for a full two weeks prior to his inability to walk, he just hadn’t shown any distress. We began the process of turning him from side to side every two hours, feeding him by hand and syringe and carrying him to simulate standing and motion. Whitaker has been a fighter his entire life having battled Distemper as a puppy. He has been non-visual, experienced rolling seizures that we only controlled once he was pulled from the shelter by AZ Poodle Rescue and given appropriate medications. Due to his ongoing medical needs, Whitaker only gets excited about two things, food and napping. Given his limited list of hobbies, the first physical therapist we were sent to feel if he was not more motivated there wasn’t much that could be done. It was at this point, three to four weeks after he stopped walking that Whitaker and I met Sonnet for the first time. She warned Whitaker that while his motivation might be limited, ours wasn’t and he should get ready. Things changed that quickly for the entire family, even if recovery would prove to be slow but steady.
Sonnet had a plan for Whitaker and us from the get-go – sensation stimulation, range of motion, strength building/mobility, coordination, and dexterity. Under all of that was CONSISTENCY. We met every other Friday for a work out/skill stretching session but the daily workouts at home based on the many things Sonnet taught us truly proved an answer to our prayers. Sonnet knew that if Whitaker’s motivation ran at a constant low setting, it was us who had to pick up the slack and make it happen. If you haven’t seen Sonnet at work, it’s quite entertaining and gets one ready to crawl around the floor and keeping things fun. I was impressed by how seriously the point of each session was taken while infusing as much humor, positive energy and reinforcement the time would allow. Sonnet didn’t watch the clock but judged the session by how Whitaker’s endurance was and getting me set up for the home workouts ahead. Once she was sure he was exhausted, and I was educated we went home. For me, this was inspiring and recharged my batteries for the work to be done. There were times when we would arrive on a Friday and I would report “no real change”. Sonnet would say, “Let’s see” and begin immediately identifying the small but significant advances Whit had made since the last appointment. No advance was too small, each led to the next milestone. I might not see them in the day-to-day but once highlighted and tied to what we needed him to do next, it all made sense. Sonnet knew the big picture goal as well as the daily snapshots that needed to occur to get there. We concluded formal PT sessions in early July having seen Whitaker go from barely able to lift his head and chew back to his confident little walking “going out and back in the house on his own”. I am happy to report He once again stands to eat from his dish at mealtimes and “jogs” around the yard at least once a day. He still works out, walking up and down inclines, balancing for both front and back leg strength and making right and left turns (he still hates lefts and refuses to back up but it’s a process). I don’t like to think about what the outcome may have been if we had not gotten connected to Sonnet when we did. The Neurologist did a fantastic job helping us understand the issue, but it was Sonnet who helped us understand the healing and recovery. The work was not easy, but I knew from day one we met that we were in the right place, getting the right attention from the right person who only looked for the potential. If you are reading this, you too have arrived at the right place. Roll up your sleeves for the work, open your mind for education and enjoy the journey. Mike Cunningham aka Whitaker's Dad |
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She is knowledgeable and compassionate and I recommend working with her for any senior animals or animals with mobility issues.
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I have entrusted three of my senior dogs to Dr. Jarvis and cannot recommend her more highly. She is a wonderful vet who is so knowledgeable and enthusiastic about what she does. We have a great time at our weekly workouts and my dog is always so excited to see her. I love that she coaches us on exercises that we can do at home to keep momentum, and provides reasonably-priced options for equipment along with guidance to make sure we are doing the exercises safely and effectively.
It's always hard watching a beloved dog aging, and Dr. Jarvis has helped me provide them all with an improved quality of life, helping to increase their strength, balance, and mobility while managing their arthritic pain. She is knowledgeable and compassionate and I recommend working with her for any senior animals or animals with mobility issues. Samantha Glauser |
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Chloe performed so well that she was able to Qualify for the 2018 AKC Agility Nationals. Chloe has made a full recovery. I have seen no signs of her previous injuries. We will continue to do exercises to keep Chloe strong. We are forever grateful to Dr. Jarvis for what seemed like a miracle.
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I would highly recommend Dr. Sonnet Jarvis as a rehab vet. Dr Jarvis is caring and wants what is best for the dog. It is a team effort, you have to do the homework.
My agility dog Chloe, had a recurring injury from crashing in the tunnel. We had been to many vets & gotten x-rays, but we were told soft tissue injury is hard to diagnose. I would keep Chloe out six weeks and then she would be good for a little while before she would be limping again. In early May, Chloe starting limping again. I knew it was time to do something different. Dr. Jarvis came highly recommended as a dog rehab vet. Chloe always gave me her all so I owed my dog a full recovery. Dr. Jarvis offered no promises or false hope. We did not know if Chloe would ever run agility again. We started out on a rehab program to give my dog the best quality of life. Chloe didn’t do very well on the exercises at first. I told Dr. Jarvis she just needed to practice at home. She is a little unsure of herself with new things and strangers. We did our exercises every night. I think Dr. Jarvis & myself were both surprised at Chloe’s progress. Rehab exercises are not anything Chloe was familiar with & quite frankly I did not think she would cooperate. Every night we would go into the laundry room with our string cheese and perform the exercises. Chloe looked forward to it. Pretty soon, Chloe was running to the laundry room when she saw I had string cheese. Chloe was willing to do everything I asked. Each visit back to Dr. Jarvis, we got a new set of more challenging exercises. We both saw the improvement in Chloe’s strength with each visit. Finally, near the middle of September, I asked about returning to agility. Chloe was cleared to start back slowly. I also knew that we had only a short amount of time to finish qualifying for Nationals. When I looked at the number of show days we could attend, I didn’t think it was possible. Chloe would have to come back from being off, without training, and be nearly perfect. Chloe came back to agility with her normal speed, and accuracy. I am so blessed to have my best friend back running with me. Chloe performed so well that she was able to Qualify for the 2018 AKC Agility Nationals. Chloe has made a full recovery. I have seen no signs of her previous injuries. We will continue to do exercises to keep Chloe strong. We are forever grateful to Dr. Jarvis for what seemed like a miracle. Heather Ransdell & Chloe |
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Without Dr. Jarvis’s knowledge and expertise regarding pain management, it would have been much harder for Zach to progress in his recovery process.
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My first experience with Dr. Jarvis was with my dog, Zach. We have been going to see Dr. Jarvis for Zach’s physical therapy since the beginning of 2015.
Zach had 2 TPLO surgeries within 8 weeks of each other and he was having a rough time due to back-to-back surgeries. He barely recovered from the first TPLO surgery before his other knee gave out. Zach also had a torn calf muscle and significant arthritis in his right knee that added to the complexity of his treatment. Not knowing what to expect from this experience, Dr. Jarvis explained everything and created a regimen that allowed Zach to gain strength, stability and proper ambulation in his rear legs. His physical therapy regimen consisted of physical activities using a variety of obstacles & laser therapy. To aid in Zach’s recovery, Dr. Jarvis also adjusted his medication regimen to maximize pain management. This was critical in Zach’s recovery process and something many veterinarians are not comfortable doing. Without Dr. Jarvis’s knowledge and expertise regarding pain management, it would have been much harder for Zach to progress in his recovery process. Going to see Dr. Jarvis was a special time for Zach. He loved going to see Dr. Jarvis and was so eager to participate in therapy. Zach would bounce all over the therapy obstacles to please Dr. Jarvis, and of course get a treat! Zach progressed through his therapies and was able to d/c out of treatment. But as time went by, Zach began having issues with his rear legs and hips and we started seeing Dr. Jarvis for laser therapy. We continued laser therapy to manage his pain and discomfort until the day he passed. Zach loved Dr. Jarvis so much, you could see his excitement each time he saw her. I know he understood her hand in his post-surgery recovery & his comfort through his last days with us. We Love Dr. Jarvis and couldn’t have made it without her in our lives! Christy A. Zach's Mom |
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"The efforts of Dr. Jarvis at AZ Canine Rehab allowed AK to run like a champ again. We could not be happier with the treatment plan and the results."
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AK was breed out of a planned sport mix of a Border Collie and Staffordshire Bull Terrier. She was born in 2010 and has been training for flyball racing since she was born.
In 2014 she ran with X Flyball team and set a NAFA record time of 14.615 seconds at the CanAm tournament. In April 2015 she ran again with X at Westworld in Scottsdale and the team ran 14.584 seconds. In 2016, X Flyball again wanted to race at CanAm with AK. In October, the team had a fast time of 14.718 seconds. In June we attended a flyball seminar. The 4th time she ran, she started limping on her right front paw. We would notice that she would be just fine then something would happen and she would start limping again. We took her to our vet who could not find the source of the problem. It didn't help that AK has a very high pain tolerance and when in drive mode would not show any signs of injury. About a week later, a similar episode where she was fine then started limping, brought us back to the vet once again. We had a complete set of x-rays and were told they look like what a really healthy dog's x-rays should. After a third episode, we asked for a referral to a specialist. We were referred to AZ Canine Rehab and Dr. Sonnet Jarvis. We are so happy with the results. Dr. Jarvis diagnosed a problem with the pinky toe on the right front paw. It was a soft tissue injury so it did not show up on the x-rays. We started rehab doing exercises that would strengthen the toes and muscles. We could tell she was getting the proper care to be able to race in October at CanAm again. Dr. Jarvis also performed cold laser therapy. We were careful not to do too much with her until she was healed. She sat out during 3 local tournaments. The exercises we were doing were strenuous enough to give her the outlet for her energy, while not causing further injury. We have recently returned from The 2017 CanAm tournament and AK was again able to be the height dog, this time for our new team Crazy Train, and helped set a new team record of 15.391 seconds. At 7 years old she is still one of the best height dogs in the sport. The efforts of Dr. Jarvis at AZ Canine Rehab allowed AK to run like a champ again. We could not be happier with the treatment plan and the results. |
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"When we met Dr. Sonnet the first time she gave us hope that even if LJ had to have surgery she would be much stronger for the surgery, also that it is possible that she may not need surgery."
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Lady Jane (LJ) injured her Cruciate / ACL, her veterinarian recommended surgery. Based on her age and usage of her leg, we opted to research a less intrusive options. With that research we found Dr. Sonnet, one of the main reasons that we chose her over other physical therapist is because she is a veterinarian. When we met Dr. Sonnet the first time she gave us hope that even if LJ had to have surgery she would be much stronger for the surgery, also that it is possible that she may not need surgery. LJ had an extremely adverse reaction to one of the medications that she was taking for pain and became very ill during her first month of therapy. We had to stop her therapy for about 3 weeks, during this time we kept Dr. Sonnet advised of her illness and Dr. Sonnet gave recommendations of what type of exercises LJ should or more like shouldn’t be doing. Luckily within three weeks LJ was recovering from her illness and was able to return to physical therapy. On her first visit back Dr. Sonnet did a physical exam on LJ to make sure that she was okay to return to therapy. LJ has recovered from her illness and is doing so well in physical therapy that she has move up to advanced equipment and is back to living an active life style. We will always be grateful for the additional care and love that Dr. Sonnet has given to LJ. We would highly recommend Dr. Sonnet before, or after surgery. Robin Palazzolo LJ’s guardian |
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"Her rehab program included standing and walking on unstable surfaces to teach her to use her core muscles to help stabilize her."
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Leilani was born with a rare birth defect. Leilani was supposed to be one of identical twins, but the embryo did not split properly and Leilani ended up with a back leg with double parts, all of which were deformed. Instead of being euthanized, she was surrendered to Arizona Golden Retriever Connection for a chance at a better life.
Unfortunately, the deformity was too great and Leilani’s back leg had to be amputated. She became a tri-pawd at the tender age of 2 months old. However, Leilani had the rescue volunteers and her moms, Lisa and Brenda, on her side. She began physical rehabilitation with Dr. Sonnet at AZ Canine Rehab to help her body recover from surgery and adapt to only having three legs. Leilani’s rehabilitation focused on learning to balance, body awareness and proprioception, and coordination. Her rehab program included standing and walking on unstable surfaces to teach her to use her core muscles to help stabilize her. We also focused on preventing bad habits like scooting or pivoting on her bottom instead of standing up. As she recovered from surgery, we did exercises to help her strengthen her one good back leg. I even purchased some of the equipment and set up a "gym" in the living room to practice! Now we live in Indiana on a farm, we have other challenges and opportunities for exercise. Particularly challenging were stairs, but Leilani has mastered them very quickly! We have open land with a hill that Leilani runs on several times every day. She is so agile & fast, thanks to all of her early rehab, that she beats the four-legged Goldens up the hill! As a special note, Leilani was selected to participate in the Morris Foundation’s Golden Retriever Lifetime Study, which follows 3,000 golden retrievers from puppy-hood for their entire lives with the goal of learning more about cancer. In June, Leilani received her AKC CGC title and we became a registered therapy team with Pet Partners. Leilani earned the highest rating of "Complex", allowing us to work in difficult and unpredictable settings. Now she works with kids with learning disabilities at the Indiana School for the Deaf. She was able to get an autistic boy to smile and give her a hug! We'll work with the Physical Therapy/Occupational Therapy Coordinators that work with the kids. Bring on the balance equipment! Lisa Givan, Leilani’s Mom and Pet Partner Handler |
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"It is comforting to know that Dr. Sonnet will always be there to help Loki if he should need it!"
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Loki was diagnosed with hip dysplasia at 4 months of age. Loki is a Boerboel so we knew he would be over 100 pounds! So we started with Dr. Sonnet. She evaluated him and discovered he was only putting 4% of his body weight on his bad. (She started him with exercises to get him to use his weaker leg. He even worked out with a small weight on his back leg. Loki did “elephant” pivots, back-up, wobbleboard, balance equipment, and hill work. Loki did stairs and stepping exercises too.)
After 7 months of weekly therapy we got him up to 18% (normal is 18-20% for a back leg) weight-bearing. He is now doing great and holding his own. We know that his workouts will be a lifetime commitment. It is comforting to know that Dr. Sonnet will always be there to help Loki if he should need it! Robin Bobriwicz, Pet Parent |
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"One of the first things Dr. Sonnet did was to place him on a pad that measures weight distribution."
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Ronald is a two year old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel who was born with a straight left rear leg. He is being shown in AKC Confirmation and even though this malformation is not considered a fault, it does factor in when a judge is making his decision for best of breed. This malformation never hindered his movement in the ring but it was very noticeable and it did affect his balance when being stacked on the table or free stacked on the ground. After checking with a veterinary orthopedic specialist to see if anything could be done, we were referred by them to Dr. Sonnet to see if physical therapy would be of any benefit.
One of the first things Dr. Sonnet did was to place him on a pad that measures weight distribution. His numbers showed he was bearing most of his body weight on his right side which was affecting his balance when stacking. We began a regiment of exercises to help build muscle and as he was introduced to a new piece of equipment, we would buy that piece to work on at home. We have the inflatable donut, K9 FITbone, 2 small balance discs, the wobbleboard, the 4 paw pods and the ladder. We have all of his equipment set up in our spare bedroom and we use it 2-3 times a week. A few weeks ago Dr. Sonnet checked his weight distribution again and this time his numbers were 22% and 20% in the back legs showing that his weight is now much more evenly distributed on both sides of his body. Building up his muscles throughout his body helped with his overall balance. Building up the muscles in his left rear leg gave the leg more definition so much so that it no longer draws attention to itself. Ronald has been doing so well at each show, that he has just recently acquired his AKC Championship title and will now go on to work towards a Grand Championship title. Sincerely, Peggy Preston |
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"All Harry knows is that he adores Dr. Jarvis and he’s having fun! And that’s the way it should be."
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Let me introduce you to Harry, my two year old Bullmastiff. He is a loving dog! Harry, however, is easily distracted and has a short attention span. He becomes quickly bored with repetition and doing things the ‘proper’ way. Harry would live life by his own rules if he could.
When he ruptured his right anterior cruciate ligament, playing in the mud after a heavy rain, his surgeon recommended physical therapy after his surgery. I’ll admit I was skeptical. One of the staff recommended Dr. Jarvis at Arizona Veterinary Physical Rehabilitation. Dr. Jarvis understood Harry almost immediately. She developed a program working with Harry’s personality. She sometimes has to think outside the box and sometimes has to let Harry think an exercise is his idea. Harry doesn’t know he is building muscle, strengthening his core or improving his balance. All Harry knows is that he adores Dr. Jarvis and he’s having fun! And that’s the way it should be. Thanks, Sue Betcher Harry's Mom |
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"Let me tell you about Dr. Jarvis. The first thing that you notice about her office is the smell of excitement."
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Hi, my name is Challenger. I am a ten-month-old, boy, Italian Greyhound puppy. I have been seeing Dr. Jarvis nearly my whole life. (I think she has the hots for me because she keeps wanting me to come back.)
My story is that I was born with my hind legs twisted together. My left leg was straight out behind me and my right did two complete wraps around it like the stripes on a candy cane, hence my name, “Challenger”. They think I will have a challenging life and I am a challenging case. ( I think I will be spoiled rotten and get everything I want.) Now don’t think I am a small sickly runt. I’ll have you know that I was the first in the litter to start crawling out of our bed. When I was two days old I had my first vet appointment. I remember the word amputation being mentioned but that is not the route that was chosen. It is a good thing too, because in hind-sight, they would have taken off what has become my better leg. Anyhow, the vet took x-rays to send to an orthopedic surgeon. I met my surgeon when I was 4 weeks old. He developed a plan for me based on an article that his mentor (teacher?) wrote on surgically correcting dogs with class 3 and 4 patellar luxation. (He said I had about a class 11 luxation, but I am not really a luxation case. I had an accident that happened in the womb.) When I was 5 weeks old I had surgery. They found my patella/knee cap behind my leg. The surgeon wove a wire through my knee joint, allowing the rotated bones to stay in place. (SQUIRREL! Where was I? Oh, yah.) Thinking I would do better at home, I was sent home wrapped in bandages up to my hips. But my canine mom did not want to take care of me and I was not eating solid food well yet. That’s when I started to learn to work things to my advantage. The only thing I would eat was freeze-dried pheasant soaked in puppy formula. That’s also when I started sleeping in bed with my human parents. (I have them both wrapped tightly around my little toe.) I was allowed to run and play as I healed to encourage me to use my legs. During my recovery, I had a small set back in that I had been able to scamper around in my bandages but then I suddenly got very sore. They thought I just over did it, but they put me on an antibiotic just in case. Two weeks after my surgery my bandages came off. Shortly after that I was to start rehabilitation. My mom was given choices on where to take me. She chose Dr. Jarvis who was the only one that was a veterinarian who specialized in this area. There are advantages of having a veterinarian instead of the other. (I eventually took advantage of her ability to prescribe pain meds for me.) Let me tell you about Dr. Jarvis. The first thing that you notice about her office is the smell of excitement. (All the other vet offices smell of fear and sickness.) Mixed with the smell of excitement, is an array of delicious scents like beef liver, chicken, cheese, and shampoo. I have never figured out why it smelled of shampoo. I liked Dr. Jarvis the minute I set eyes on her. She is long, light boned, and skinny. She must have sight hound in her. By the long hair over her ears, I would guess she is part Saluki (a breed of sight hound.) I have never been able to fully straighten my hind legs and I walk in what looks like a pooping position, so my treatment consisted of stretching my hind legs. Dr. Jarvis would also flex my knee and tarsal (hock) joint to keep them flexible. To begin with, I had almost no flexibility in my left hock and it was hyperextended. My right hock had more movement but it was still limited. Eventually, we got most of the range of movement in my right leg and we made improvements in my left leg. It is this limited movement that ended up causing this leg to be my bad leg, even though it was my other leg that was all twisted. The best part of my appointment came at the end. Dr. Jarvis would spend the last few minutes playing on the floor with me. I loved playing in her long hair- remember I was only 8 weeks old when I started seeing her. After a number of weeks, I went in for my second surgery. (SQUIRREL!!!) The plan was to just do a few tweaks. What they found was that the wire had been a path for bacteria and caused a massive infection. Although the infection was now gone, it had destroyed many of my ligaments, tendons and my kneecap. When I was healed, I went back to therapy for more stretching. I have to say for all that is wrong with my legs I get around really quite good. I have several different strides depending on my speed. I can use all 4 legs individually kind of like a normal dog, or I can hop with my back two, more like a rabbit, or I walk on my front two. I often blend them all together doing several strides of each one. The fact that I still could not straighten my legs fully led to my third operation. They tried a hamstring release. What they did, under anesthesia, was they straightened my hind leg out as far as it would go. They would find which muscle bundle was keeping it from straightening any further and then they would cut that bundle. This was repeated until my sciatic nerve was the tightest “bundle”. This is where they stopped. As before, my surgeon had me start therapy 2 weeks after my surgery. Dr. Jarvis advocated for me. She made sure I had plenty of good pain medicine. I still am not able to straighten my legs properly but I now have a wider range of movement. In fact it is more than the average dog. In fact it looks like my hind legs were put back on wrong! Now you might be thinking that they put a puppy through more than they should have. After all, I had 3 surgeries by the time I was 5 months old. But you have not met me. I am a very happy well-balanced puppy. I love life, and I now have finally learned why Dr. Jarvis’s office smells so delicious. I FINALLY got to start strength training on the FitPAWS equipment. Now I get to “get the chicken.” My sessions have become very fun. I stand on these wobbly objects and eat all the chicken I want. They say the purpose is to build up my muscles and my core strength. By having a strong core, I will be less at risk for injury. It must be working, because Dr. Jarvis says I am ripped like a body builder. Even my hamstrings, that were cut, have a firm definition. At this point I am in maintenance. Because I do not move the way nature intended, I am at risk for trigger points and back problems. My mom has been shown how to make sure that I stretch out my spine to help prevent future complications. My future looks bright. I hear there is talk of me being a therapy dog. Well, I am getting writer’s cramp and I have to go chase the rabbits out of the back yard. Sincerely, Challenger |
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"I appreciated how Dr. Jarvis would involve me in the exercises so I could repeat them correctly at home."
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Greta is a 3 year old Greater Swiss Mountain Dog. She loves to go for walks and chase rabbits.
We had walked three miles early in the day last August, and Greta was napping on the cool floor that afternoon. However, when she woke up, her right rear leg appeared out of joint and she wasn’t putting any weight on it. The emergency vet said she had a luxating patella and would need surgery to repair it. I was reluctant to have her undergo knee surgery (although both my husband and I have had several between the two of us!) Yet Greta was only 2 1/2 years old, weighed 105 pounds, and I knew her knee would go out again given the state of her knee, age and propensity to run. Therefore, we did our research and found a surgeon that we believed could help her. The surgery was extensive and required a bone graft. The surgeon said she would need to be confined to her crate for two months, and that her weight-bearing, when taking potty breaks, would be sufficient rehab for her recovery. Nevertheless, I noticed that Greta’s right rear leg was not tracking normally when she would walk on it. I understood her reluctance to put weight on it during her recovery time, but was worried she would develop a habit of shifting more of her weight on her “good” rear leg, which I believed would permanently weaken her right rear leg. I mentioned this to a friend of mine and she highly recommended I see Dr. Jarvis for an assessment. Greta was usually shy with strangers, but immediately took to Dr. Jarvis. Given the surgery and Greta’s condition, Dr. Jarvis had us start with the very basic exercises and therapy. I appreciated how Dr. Jarvis would involve me in the exercises so I could repeat them correctly at home. Greta was definitely improving under Dr. Jarvis’ care. Unfortunately, Greta suffered a setback because I hadn’t put her in her soft crate when driving to our appointment with Dr. Jarvis. Greta’s right rear ACL was slightly torn when I had to stop the car suddenly and she skidded in the back of the SUV. Fortunately, we were on our way to see Dr. Jarvis; she was able to diagnose Greta’s condition, which was confirmed by her surgeon. Therefore, we had to revert back to many of the basic exercises to allow Greta's ligament to heal. Greta has again made great strides under Dr. Jarvis’ care. Greta has dropped weight, and has once again developed lean muscle mass and looks beautiful. An unexpected and welcome benefit Greta has developed under Dr. Jarvis’ care is her confidence and body-awareness. Greta used to be skittish and reluctant to approach strangers; now she is willing to explore new activities and people. I highly recommend Dr. Jarvis. Dr. Jarvis is incredibly knowledgeable, caring, and compassionate. Sara Donaldson, Greta's Mom |
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"I have worked with rehab vets and dog physical therapists for many years; Dr. Jarvis is one of the best."
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Zar is a 7 year old Swedish Vallhund who came up lame in December 2013. Multiple vets looked for the cause and despite a lot of crate rest, he wasn’t coming back to full ability. Dr. Jarvis correctly diagnosed his injury which led to a TPLO surgery to repair a very tiny tear in the cruciate ligament. Zar also had an underlying iliopsoas muscle injury. After the surgery, when Zar was cleared to begin rehab, Dr. Jarvis’ knowledge helped him come back to full competition in agility, herding and the conformation ring. She is able to get the best out of the dogs and has knowledge that will help any dog be better than they are today. Even if you think your dog is in great shape, she can help them be better.
Zar is now on a conditioning and exercise program to increase core and limb strength to keep him from further injury. All of my performance dogs get routine assessments with Dr. Jarvis to see where they are weakest. Particularly in agility, weak areas can lead to injury. Dr. Jarvis helps tailor my fitness program to try to keep each dog strong and balanced so they will be less likely to injure themselves and we can enjoy many years of competition. I have worked with rehab vets and dog physical therapists for many years; Dr. Jarvis is one of the best. I am very grateful for her knowledge and support in maintaining my dogs’ fitness levels. Michelle Fromm Zar's Mom |
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"Dr. Sonnet was great and worked with me to train me how to properly put Beau through the exercises. She was also extremely flexible about working around my schedule."
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Beau, my 7 year old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, ruptured his left cranial cruciate ligament the end of June in a fluke accident as he was racing around with my other Cavalier, Bella. After surgery he had to do strict crate confinement for 4 weeks at which time the surgeon stated that he could start back slowly with gentle activity. However, by this time Beau was used to not using his leg and seemed reluctant to put weight on it. Plus the surgeon had stated that with this type of injury, re-injury to the affected leg or his right leg was highly likely. My regular Vet suggested I see a Rehab Vet and gave me a couple of brochures. We choose AZ Canine Rehab, and Dr. Sonnet, and Beau started with a series of PT exercises. He started out with several simple exercises to strengthen his rear leg and his core. Many of these, such as backwards walking, sidestepping, sits to stand, figure 8s, etc. do not need special equipment. However, I did make him a ladder out of PCP pipe to practice stepping through (for balance and core strength) and got him a balance disc to practice with. As time went on we increased the difficulty of his PT exercises and his outside leash walking time. Beau had a difficult recovery period as he would get better with using and putting weight on his leg and then have a setback. This happened a couple of times such as when he tried to get a rabbit while we were walking up a hill. When the setbacks happened, we would back up his exercises to almost the beginning ones and work our way up again. Dr. Sonnet was great and worked with me to train me how to properly put Beau though the exercises. She was also extremely flexible about working around my schedule.
I also brought my other Cavalier, Bella, into Dr. Sonnet for an evaluation as she has hip dysplasia and I wanted to see what type of exercises would be beneficial for her. Over time, I did turn my spare room into an exercise space with a padded floor for the dogs and me and purchased a few other pieces of equipment (which I was able to get directly from Dr. Sonnet). Both of my dogs are doing great, but their exercises will continue to be part of their routine. When the time comes and I get another dog I will start them into an exercise routine as I believe it could decrease the chances of having an injury like Beau’s occur. Beau is now 7 months out from surgery and is up to 40 to 45 minutes of leash walking, including hills, and is back to chasing Bella around to pull her ears. Not so sure, Bella is glad that he is back to normal! Sincerely, Beau's Mom |
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"Dr. Sonnet is knowledgeable, caring and has a genuine concern for her patients. We are very happy and thankful that AZ Canine Rehab service is on the West side and that we had such a great outcome for our girl, Ghita."
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We knew that our Papillon, Ghita, had Grade 3 luxating patellas in both of her hind legs, but had no major symptoms until she jumped off the couch and came up lame in her right back leg in November 2013. After taking her to the vet, we were told she had torn her ligament. After considering our options for treatment, we decided to initially start with physical therapy with Dr. Sonnet Jarvis. My husband recently had hip replacement surgery and had physical therapy prior to and after his surgery so why not our dog!
Ghita is a very shy girl, but has a big attitude and personality. Dr. Sonnet was very gentle with Ghita in her initial assessment and made her feel comfortable. Ghita fell in love with Dr. Sonnet and enjoyed her workouts. Her training helped in strengthening her abdominal core and to assist in her balance so she could deal with walking on three legs with the upcoming scheduled surgery. In January 2014, Ghita had the surgery to repair the torn ligament and luxating patella. We could tell her leg was painful as she was not bearing weight on her leg. Following release by her surgical vet, we went back to Dr. Sonnet in March to help Ghita in putting weight back on her leg and to strengthen the leg muscles. Dr. Sonnet indicated that Ghita’s muscles were very tight so she showed me how to massage her leg, place warm compresses and perform passive range of motion exercises to loosen the leg muscles. We also were given additional exercises to train her to correctly sit and weight bearing exercises on her operated leg. We went to rehab twice a week for two months and, at the end, Ghita had a very good result in using her leg again. Now that her right leg was repaired and she was doing well, we decided to have her left rear knee repaired in October 2014. She was experiencing her kneecap locking up so we were ready to begin the process again. At three weeks post op, we went to Dr. Sonnet for rehab. Over the course of rehab, we learned Ghita has amazing balance and has the best abdominal core strength in our household! She enjoyed her rehab so much that I purchased a FitBone from Dr. Sonnet in order to keep up the training. At 10 years of age, she is doing very well with her new knees. Dr. Sonnet is knowledgeable, caring and has a genuine concern for her patients. We are very happy and thankful that AZ Canine Rehab service is on the West side and that we had such a great outcome for our girl, Ghita. Ghita’s Mom, Elaine Vandenbosch |
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"With the all rehab he did, he is even stronger and has better body awareness and core strength than before."
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On May 29th 2013, Graphic had a freak accident during agility training resulting in an injury to his left rear leg. Five weeks later, on July 4th, he dislocated his left hip. After the dislocation, it was assumed that the original injury was likely a partial dislocation with the hip going back in on its own. The following day, he was treated and his hip was put back into place through closed reduction. This was followed by strict crate rest for 4 weeks. Graphic later was cleared to begin training again after two months. On October 26th, he returned to agility competition. He was running just as well as before the injury, until February 1st when he dislocated his hip again. At that time we were referred to a surgeon in Tucson. He felt that the best treatment for Graphic would be a total hip replacement. However, he was unable to do the surgery due to Graphic’s size. He does not have implants small enough for the size of his femur. He then referred us to Dr. Josh Jackson at Veterinary Specialty Hospital in San Diego. On March 20th, he was scheduled for a total hip replacement. The morning of the surgery Dr. Jackson called me after he had Graphic under anesthesia and told me that after reviewing his records and x-rays and examining him under anesthesia, as well as awake the previous day, he was not comfortable doing a hip replacement on him because he was so young and he has very good hips. He felt that the problem was that the ligament that holds the hip together was damaged and that was the reason for that repeated dislocations. He then told me about a procedure called toggle pin and suture which could be done on him and save his healthy hip. This surgery basically puts in a synthetic ligament to keep the hip in place.
Two weeks after surgery he was able to start rehab. That was when I contacted Dr. Sonnet Jarvis for rehab. Graphic started rehab in April and we went every 2-3 times a weeks. I also worked him at home 5-6 days a week for about 30-45 minutes each day. Luckily Graphic enjoyed doing the exercises; he just seemed to think he was getting to do tricks. We did a variety of exercises including core strengthening using different balance equipment, cavalettis, crawling under, tricks requiring him standing on the left leg, backing up to focus on rear end awareness and a variety of other exercises. We quickly noticed that Graphic is an expert cheater. He would shift his weight off the left to right so we had to change up exercises to force him to put his weight on the left rear leg. Along with the exercises, he also got to swim and take leash walks to strengthen the leg. After a few months of rehab, he was able to start jumping again starting with destination jumping from the floor onto things and then eventually over agility jumps. The change in Graphic’s core strength during rehab was just amazing. When he started, he could not even stand on the balance disc. By the time he was cleared to return to agility, he was not only doing sits to stands on a variety of balance items but was walking around on them without tumbling off. With the all rehab he did, he is even stronger and has better body awareness and core strength than before. Seven months after surgery he was able to return to agility competition and is running just as well, if not better, than before the surgery and rehab. Denise Titzer aka Graphic's Mom |
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"At the very first visit, there was an immediate connection between Dr. Sonnet and Abby. Initially I thought it was because Abby is so special and endearing. (Yes, I admit to being biased!) However, come to find out, Dr. Sonnet has a special connection with all her patients."
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Abby, our Cavalier King Charles Spaniel foster dog, was born with very bad back legs (grade IV medial patellar luxation). Unable to use her back legs, she got around by dragging her hind legs behind her. At approximately five years of age, Abby was surrendered to the Cavalier Rescue Trust. At the time of her surrender, Abby was in poor condition physically. She was underweight and her hind legs were scabbed and calloused from dragging them on a concrete patio. Through generous donations, the Cavalier Rescue Trust was able to fund corrective surgeries. Although Abby will never walk like a normal dog, she can now ‘waddle’ without dragging her legs behind her, and is even able to scratch her ears with her back foot. She uses a wheeled cart for mobility, and while in her cart she can run like the wind!
Immediately following her surgeries, Abby went through several months of post-operative swim therapy. Abby was not at all crazy about swim therapy. She would shake every time she got near the pool and try to run away. Wanting to do something additional/better/different to promote Abby’s well being, my husband EJ and I brought her to Dr. Sonnet for a consultation. At the very first visit, there was an immediate connection between Dr. Sonnet and Abby. Initially I thought it was because Abby is so special and endearing. (Yes, I admit to being biased!) However, come to find out, Dr. Sonnet has a special connection with all her patients. Dr. Sonnet did a thorough examination, obtained Abby’s history, and asked pertinent questions about Abby’s current routine and diet. She also asked my husband and me about our goals and expectations for Abby. After that first visit, Dr. Sonnet followed up with some recommended diet changes and suggestions for a couple pieces of home exercise equipment to aid in Abby’s rehabilitation. Through a combination of visits to Dr. Sonnet’s office, and home visits by Dr. Sonnet, and home exercises designed by Dr. Sonnet, Abby built up her strength and mobility, and became a healthy, happy dog. It was amazing to see this dog, who considers herself a princess and expects to carried everywhere, perform all the exercises Dr. Sonnet asked her to perform, and then some! I do believe she would walk through fire for Dr. Sonnet. Of course Dr. Sonnet always kept a very close eye on Abby to make sure she didn’t do too much, or get overly tired. You would have to see this to believe it, but when I would tell Abby that Dr. Sonnet was coming for a home visit, she would get very excited and get on her fitness disk, waiting with eager anticipation for Dr. Sonnet to put her through her paces and reward her with generous, loving praise and healthy treats. I would highly recommend Dr. Sonnet to anyone with a dog in need of physical therapy. Dr. Sonnet is a knowledgeable, caring, Certified Canine Rehabilitation Therapist. Your dog will love her, you will love her, and you will see amazing results. Sincerely, Judy Harank |
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"Who knew Henry would love these workouts as much, it’s a hoot to see him so enthusiastic to get up on a donut ball and balance for two minutes."
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September 2013, Henry, my 7 year old terrier mix had TPLO surgery. In post-surgical follow-up I asked the surgeon what I could do to promote full healing and get Henry back to his active life. He handed me the pamphlet for Arizona Veterinary Physical Rehab and recommended Dr. Jarvis. In the early post-surgery sessions Dr. Jarvis did laser therapy and what I call passive exercises to insure full range of motion and flexibility would be maintained when Henry was healed. With Henry, nothing is easy, he ended up needing follow-up surgery. Dr. Jarvis kept a close eye on the little guy throughout the critical early healing and coached me as well on homework to support healing before we could start rebuilding the muscles. I learned how to stretch, flex, and massage his leg and body as well as added dietary supplements to promote long term healing. The fun really started when Henry could get to the balance beam and various core balance equipment. Henry loves going to see Dr. Jarvis. They connected. He worked his tail off getting up on balance balls and stepping over obstacles, all for a coach’s enthusiastic praise and a yummy treat. I tell my family and friends, he would learn to do handsprings and summersaults for Dr. Jarvis, she knows how to inspire dogs…and people. Dr. Jarvis encouraged and taught me how to develop a long term workout regime for Henry. I take advantage of berms at my neighborhood park to complete “glute” workouts, wood plank and cinder blocks serve as a balance beam and I have accumulated a fairly extensive home dog gym with various FitPAWS equipment. Who knew Henry would love these workouts as much, it’s a hoot to see him so enthusiastic to get up on a donut ball and balance for two minutes. I have learned awareness that I believe will help us navigate throughout the years. Henry is back to full health and the active life he loves. I love when my family and friends ask, “Now which leg was it?” I am so grateful to Dr. Jarvis.
Ann Pollock and Henry |
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"Our Sunday judge, a well know lecturer on structure, commented on how impressed he was with her conditioning and especially her strong back. WOW. Thanks Dr. Jarvis!"
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I just have to give kudos to Dr. Jarvis. In February I took my 3 year old Bernese Mountain Dog, Esmeralda to her for hind leg lameness which the vet could not isolate. Not only did Dr. Jarvis identify the injury in her hip but she worked with Essie and got us on a Fit Paws program. (I now have a home gym). This past weekend, Essie and I went to a large 3 day California dog show. She was awarded Winners Bitch all three days (2 of them majors) and finished her Championship. Our Sunday judge, a well know lecturer on structure, commented on how impressed he was with her conditioning and especially her strong back. WOW.
Thanks Dr. Jarvis Nancy Stewart Essie's Mom |
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"I could see her stamina build and confidence grow as those little thigh muscles would start to tremble while she worked hard to control her balance..."
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One day I noticed our little 10 year old Pug Lulu was favoring her back right leg when she walked. I gave it a week or so thinking maybe she tweaked her leg or knee while playing or jumping off a chair. When I saw no improvement I took her to our veterinarian hoping it was nothing serious. Lulu underwent two major surgeries two years ago due to severe respiratory issues and one of our biggest fears is putting her under anesthesia. Without doing an MRI her vet strongly suspected a partially torn ACL and recommended laser and rehab therapy. I wasn’t familiar with canine rehab therapy, but I was more than happy to give it a try in hopes of repairing Lulu’s knee without surgery.
Dr. Jarvis and Arizona Veterinary Physical Rehabilitation came highly recommended so we set up a consultation and our rehab journey began. Lulu completed 12 therapy sessions and it was so encouraging to not only see the progress she made in therapy, but to see how much she enjoyed the workouts. Dr. Jarvis would add new and more physically challenging exercises with each session and much to my surprise, Lulu would rise to the occasion. I could see her stamina build and confidence grow as those little thigh muscles would start to tremble while she worked hard to control her balance, work her core, while never losing sight of the prize--the coveted lamb treat! During her sessions I not only learned about exercise but also about the importance of a healthy diet that includes dietary supplements. Lulu now takes a probiotic to aid in her digestion, and supplements to help strengthen her ligaments and tendons, and lubricate her joints. We hope our little pug is around for many more years and believe by continuing to exercise and eat a healthy diet, as she ages she will be happier, healthier, and may even live longer. Today she maintains a home therapy program that continues to help strengthen her knee as well as prevent further injury down the road. Lulu plans to visit Dr. Jarvis a few times each year to make sure she is not losing ground and to see if there’s anything else we can do to make her senior years golden. Thank you Dr. Jarvis! Sandy Day Lulu's Mom |
"Dr. Sonnet is incredibly knowledgeable and she made myself and Harvey feel incredibly comfortable throughout the entire treatment process." |
Choosing to rehabilitate my dog, Harvey, with Dr. Sonnet post Harvey's TPLO surgery was by far one of the best decisions I have ever made. His recovery would not have been as successful as it was had it not been for Dr. Sonnet. She was amazing and I was beyond impressed with my experience with her. Dr. Sonnet is incredibly knowledgeable and she made myself and Harvey feel incredibly comfortable throughout the entire treatment process. She spent quality time with both of us to ensure progress was made both at her treatment facility and at home. Harvey was by far provided with the absolute best care and treatment and I recieved the best advice during every visit. Dr. Sonnet is genuine, very knowledgeable and she knows what she is doing. It was worth every penny to rehabilitate my dog. I am so thankful I found Dr. Sonnet and I would highly recommend her to anyone with a dog that is in need of physical therapy.
Sincerely, Bridget Brown Harvey's Mom |
"Dr. Jarvis has great people skills as well as dog skills. She explained everything completely and answered all our questions in a patient manner." |
Our Bodie (a 14 year old golden/pyranees mix) was experiencing the typical problems of an older dog. Until two years ago Bodie was jogging and hiking up to two miles. He was slowing down and so we started to "baby" him. He didn't have to sit for a treat, or wait at the door...he could lie down whenever he wanted, etc.
Last summer in Colorado Bodie received chiropractic and acupunture services. They were helpful and he was able to walk up a long ramp we had installed on our back stairs. When we returned to Phoenix in October we wanted to continue his treatments and were referred to Dr. Sonnett Jarvis by our friends at Arizona Golden Retriever Connection. We were immediately comfortable with Dr. Jarvis. She did a very thorough evaluation and had excellent ideas for strengthening Bodie's rear muscles and helping him with flexibility and overall movement. Dr. Jarvis has great people skills as well as dog skills. She explained everything completely and answered all our questions in a patient manner. We decided to take Bodie for two months of physical therapy. We are so glad we did!!! First of all, Bodie loved going to see Dr. Jarvis. As soon as he got out of the car, Bodie would run to the door and bark! With her patience and understanding, (coupled by those delicious treats) Bodie did all his exercises with enthusiasm! My husband, Berek, took Bodie to Dr. Sonnett each week. He felt at ease with Dr. Sonnett and was impressed with the amount of work accomplished at each session. Berek asks questions..and Dr. Sonnett gives answers! Bodie improved tremendously under Dr. Sonnett's care. He gets up easily and still trys to jump and play with his younger brothers. Yes, he is still an older dog. But, we feel that his physical therapy has given him a better quality of life. We have a small obstacle course at home (which Dr. Sonnett has approved) and take him through strengthening and flexibility exercises for a few minutes every other day. We have the highest regard for Dr. Jarvis and her skills. She has expertise in the field and is a kind and loving doctor. Bodie's quality of life has definitely improved with her care. He continues to take long walks every day and still jumps in when his two golden brothers are playing. Bodie is a happy dog! Dr. Jarvis has our unqualified recommendation. Donna and Berek Novak Bodie's Parents |
"I am SO HAPPY with Dr. Jarvis and the difference it has made in Ginger’s life and mine. Thank you so much!” |
“I have a 13 year old Golden Retriever named Ginger. She used to love to run, play catch with the ball and swim. This last year she started moving slower and slower and eventually a casual walk became a struggle. In the last 6 months, the only thing she wanted to do was lay around. It was difficult for her to get up and even more difficult to get her to stand on her feet for longer than a couple of minutes. She would even lay down to eat.
After a couple of x-rays and examinations, we learned that Ginger had arthritis and some hip problems. Over the course of months, we tried many different types of pain pills, injections and other treatments to ease her pain. I went online one day to research arthritis in dogs and read about physical therapy for dogs (animals) and the remarkable success owners were experiencing. One testimonial stated that their 15 year old dog was running about like a puppy again. I thought that was probably a little bit of an exaggeration, but I was glad to hear all the positive feedback people were saying. I spent 2-3 weeks trying to find someone locally that did animal therapy, but the closest person was over an hour away. Much to my surprise, my vet called me the following week and told me about Dr. Sonnet Jarvis. She just opened her practice in Phoenix – Arizona Veterinary Physical Rehabilitation. I immediately called her and scheduled a consultation and scheduled Ginger’s first therapy session. After just one session, I could see an improvement. After the second session, Ginger was getting up and on her feet more. After the third session, Ginger was following me around the house going from room to room like she used to do. I even started taking her for walks again every day. The other day I saw her eyeing the couch and she was getting ready to jump up on it, but I stopped her. I knew she could probably do it; that’s how good she’s feeling now. She’s more playful and she even chases the ball, which I never, ever thought I’d see her do again. This all has transpired within only four treatments. I am SO HAPPY with Dr. Jarvis and the difference it has made in Ginger’s life and mine. Thank you so much!” Carl Clingman Ginger's Dad |
"We very much appreciate Dr. Sonnet's honesty and respect her advice in the treatment |
"My fiance and I met Dr. Jarvis at a Pet Club event in October and were instantly impressed with her genuine concern for our boxer, Zeus, who had been diagnosed with a unilateral cruciate ligament injury and was prescribed TPLO surgery. Dr. Sonnet helped us do a lot of research to determine if surgery was the right choice for Zeus and suggested several options for us to consider before jumping into such an invasive surgery. We ultimately decided to go with a conservative management approach and attempt to heal the injury as best as we could naturally. Dr. Sonnet taught us stretches, range of motion and other exercises designed to build the muscle. Needless to say, Zeus is doing great and has at least postponed his date with the surgeon.
We very much appreciate Dr. Sonnet's honesty and respect her advice in the treatment of our boxer. She freely shares her knowledge and has the health of the pet as her utmost priority. I would HIGHLY recommend her to anyone looking for a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Therapist that genuinely loves animals and that has the pet's best interest in mind." Lynelle & Jeff Zeus' Parents |