PEOPLE YOU SHOULD KNOW
The BY LIESEL SCHMIDT
D
esigner pet leashes; dog strollers; gourmet pet food made with fresh, organic, all natural ingredients. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that people are extremely dedicated to their pets, giving them all the love and care they would a member of the family. Really, they are a member of the family; and for some people, those furry, four-legged creatures are even the next best thing to having a child.
With that level of care, there are considerations to be made when our pups encounter health problems, including mobility. Much like humans, dogs face injury, deterioration of strength, and flexibility issues, and for passionate dog-lover Dr. Danielle Bercier, addressing those concerns became her raison d'être.
Doctor
An equine veterinarian with 20 years in the field attending to lameness and performance issues, Bercier was active in dog sports and had a talented dog at the highest level of his sport. Naturally, keeping him there required research into how to keep him strong, flexible, and free from injury. Excited to learn about this new field of study, Dr. Bercier became certified in canine rehab through the University of Tennessee and then went on to take more sessions in sports medicine. “So much is being learned now about how best to enhance healing in animals and add to their longevity and quality of life, and that's a special thing to be a part of,” she says. With her newly acquired expertise, Dr. Bercier created a business that put all of it
to use, founding K9 Strong Rehabilitation & Conditioning in 2018 and setting up shop in Silverhill. While primarily focusing on dogs, the team has also worked with cats and even a ferret. And much like care given to humans, Dr. Bercier’s treatment of her patients requires a diagnostic process to determine the very best course of action. “Every case is different, so we begin with a comprehensive orthopedic and neurologic exam with digital thermal imaging and computerized gait analysis,” she explains. “We discuss nutrition, applicable history of the issues, and review radiographs and surgical reports. Then, we identify problems, prioritize goals, and develop a complete rehabilitation plan. The plans always include home exercises for daily workouts and a schedule of in-clinic visits that APRIL 2022
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