Happy to have met Kate and Geoff!

We first met Geoff Mehrtens the Vet and canine rehabilitation therapist Kate Donald after our wee Kelpie Pepper jumped off a flying fox platform in August 2018 and ended up with a carpal hyper-extension injury to her front left leg. We had been referred to a specialist vet who advised that the best option for Pepper was arthrodesis surgery to fuse the joint or amputation as her injury was too severe and would not heal. We were not at all happy with this option so we decided to obtain a second opinion from Geoff. Geoff took further x-rays and also advised Pepper had done a lot of damage but there was a chance that she could heal so we decided to go down a different path and Geoff referred us to Kate. Kate arranged for a customised brace to be sent from the United States and after approximately four weeks of Pepper having her leg in a splint we changed to the brace. Kate’s advice was to initially keep Pepper very quiet and mainly in a crate which we were dreading but she ended up coping really well. We then made a special area for her so she could go in and out of the crate but was not able to jump on or off any furniture. For some time we were only able to take Pepper for small five minute walks so we purchased a trolley so she could still come on walks with us and our other dog Monty. We had weekly physio visits with Kate who showed us exercises and stretches to do every day which we religiously did as we really wanted to avoid the surgery at all costs. After several weeks of physio Pepper was doing really well and we were able to increase her walks up to half an hour with the brace on. Kate then suggested hydro therapy which we did once a week for several months and as a result Pepper was able to walk without the brace. Pepper gradually got stronger and stronger and was able to have more and more time without the brace both at home and on walks. With guidance from Kate, we kept increasing the time and monitoring whether or not she was limping and she just kept improving to the point where now she can go on long walks without her brace and basically be brace free for most of the time apart from when she is outside alone with Monty as they like to race around and play quite vigorously. We are so happy that we met Kate and Geoff and cannot recommend them enough.  It’s only been six months since the injury happened and now when we see Pepper run and jump it is impossible to tell that she ever had an injury. We feel like we have our wee Pepper back and that we can again do the things we love doing the most like going for long walks on the beach or at the dog park. We think it is very important that all dog owners are made aware that there are sometimes very good alternatives to surgery.