Loco-Motion K9 Conditioning and Rehab

10/23/2026

Meet Solo! 🐾

I’m so happy to introduce our newest Loco-Motion K9 patient, Solo! Solo is a 9-year-old German Shepherd mix, and he’s no stranger to the team. He’s a regular at Arizona Veterinary Ambulance, so when he started having trouble with his psoas, it just made sense for Loco-Motion to step in.

The psoas is a deep hip flexor that plays a big role in how a dog extends, stabilizes, and moves through the hind end. When it’s irritated or strained, it can quietly affect everything from stance to stride to how comfortably a dog gets up and down.

Solo is shy at first, but once he knows you, he’s a total goofball. We’ve taken our time so he feels safe and comfortable, because a relaxed dog is a dog who can really participate in his recovery.

We’ve already completed his assessment, and he’s been getting laser therapy, massage, and PEMF. The early results are encouraging: he’s already allowing more extension! Once he’s no longer painful, we’ll start adding in exercises to build strength and support that hip for the long haul.

A big thank you to Solo’s family for trusting us with his care and letting us share his journey. 🧡

I’ll keep you posted on his progress, the wins and the hard work too. Follow along as we help Solo prevent, recover, perform, and thrive! 💪

10/20/2026

Guppy’s Journey: Picking Up the Pace 🐾

It’s time for another check-in on Guppy, and this one’s a big one.

Her exercise is steadily building. She’s now taking longer walks with some trotting mixed in, and she’s tackling stairs. Both ask a lot of the hind end, so seeing her handle them comfortably tells us how far she’s come.

The numbers tell the story too. Her hip extension is now normal, which is a big change from the restricted left hip we saw at her first exam. And the muscle atrophy we found in her left pelvic limb? Her muscle mass is now even in both hind legs. That’s the result of consistent rehab, and it’s a big part of why she’s moving so well.

Guppy will continue on a long-term pain management medication under her veterinary team’s guidance. Her L7 malformation is a structural difference she was born with, so our goal is keeping her comfortable and strong for the long haul.

We’re still taking it one step at a time. A whippet with a taste for speed is going to want to go faster than her body is ready for, and it’s our job to keep her on the right pace.

Next up: where Guppy is headed from here. 💙

Prevent. Recover. Perform. Thrive.

10/06/2026

Guppy's Journey: Milestone Update 📈

It's been a journey already, but we're excited to share some real progress with Guppy.

She's now off her anti-inflammatory medication — a meaningful milestone that tells us her pain and inflammation are genuinely improving, not just being masked. Her range of motion has greatly improved, especially through that left hip that was so restricted at her initial exam. We're seeing a noticeable decrease in the muscle atrophy in her left pelvic limb — real, visible proof that she's using that leg again and rebuilding the strength she'd lost. Her stance has normalized — she's no longer standing kyphotic (hunched), which tells us her whole-body compensation pattern is starting to resolve, not just the original injury site.

Guppy has also been seeing Dr. Kishbaugh at Kishbaugh Chiropractic as part of her care team, and after several sessions, she's shown great improvement — another piece of the puzzle working alongside her rehab plan.

With all of that progress, we're now slowly increasing her exercises — building strength and stamina at a pace her body can handle, without undoing the gains she's made.

This is exactly the kind of progress we love to see: not just "she looks a little better," but measurable, functional improvement across the board.

Rehab isn't always a straight line, so milestones like this one matter — they're proof that the plan is working and that Guppy's body is responding exactly how we hoped.

Next up: we'll keep you posted as she continues progressing toward her goals. 🐾

Prevent. Recover. Perform. Thrive.

09/29/2026

So excited to be a sponsor at this amazing event. It will be soooooo much fun!

We’re incredibly grateful to have LocoMotion K9 Conditioning & Rehab joining the 2026 1-TDC Tournament of Champions sponsor lineup!

Specializing in conditioning and rehabilitation for sport and working dogs, they’re dedicated to helping our canine athletes stay strong, healthy, and ready to perform — from preventing injuries before they happen to supporting a full recovery when they do.

Our flyball dogs give us everything they’ve got in the lanes, and having professionals who understand the unique demands placed on canine athletes is something we truly appreciate!

Thank you for supporting our competitors, our dogs, and the sport we love!

09/24/2026

Guppy's Journey: A Session Behind the Scenes 🎥

We've talked about Guppy's diagnosis and her treatment plan — now let's take you inside an actual session.

Her early sessions start with PEMF and laser therapy, giving her tissues a head start on healing and calming inflammation before we ask her body to do any work. From there, we move into massage and stretching, working through the tight, compensatory patterns we found throughout her body — those tight deltoids, quads, and that tender lumbar area don't loosen up overnight, so this hands-on work is a session-by-session process.

And good news for us: Guppy is very food-motivated, which makes all of this so much easier. A well-timed treat goes a long way toward keeping a whippet still and relaxed through massage and stretching — turns out the fastest way to a sighthound's cooperation is through her stomach. 😄

It's slow, deliberate work — but every session builds on the last, and that's exactly the point. Healing well isn't about rushing; it's about giving her body what it needs, in the right order, every time.

Next up: we'll check in on how Guppy's progressing. 🐾

Prevent. Recover. Perform. Thrive.

09/07/2026

Guppy's Journey: The Treatment Plan 🩺

With a clear diagnosis and a full picture of what Guppy's body has been compensating for, it was time to build her plan — one that addresses pain, supports healing, and starts rebuilding strength the right way.

Medical Management
Guppy's plan includes a multi-modal pain management approach prescribed by her veterinary team, combining an anti-inflammatory with medications that target nerve-related and chronic pain pathways. This layered approach helps address her discomfort from multiple angles as she starts rehab.

Supplements
To support joint and muscle health from the inside out, Guppy's plan also includes omega-3 fatty acids, green-lipped mussel extract, and MYOS Canine Muscle Formula — all aimed at reducing inflammation and helping rebuild the muscle mass she's lost.

Rehab & Bodywork
This is where the hands-on work happens:

* Laser therapy to reduce inflammation and support tissue healing
* Massage to release the tight, compensatory muscle patterns we found throughout her body
* PEMF therapy, twice daily, to support cellular healing and pain relief
* Targeted stretches to improve her range of motion, especially in that left hip
* Core strengthening work to build the stability she needs to take pressure off her spine and pelvis

Every piece of this plan works together — calming the pain and inflammation while we rebuild the strength and mobility Guppy needs to move comfortably again.

Next up: we'll take you behind the scenes of one of her actual sessions. 🐾

Prevent. Recover. Perform. Thrive.

08/24/2026

Guppy's Journey: The Assessment 🔍

Before any rehab plan begins, it starts with a thorough exam — and Guppy's turned up something a little more complex than we initially suspected.

Our veterinary partner, Dr. Lisa Wirth of Arizona Veterinary Ambulance performed Guppy's initial assessment, and radiographs confirmed the diagnosis: a vertebral malformation at L7, the last bone in the lumbar spine, right before the sacrum. Her L7 transverse process — a small wing-like projection of bone — developed straight and off to one side, rather than in its typical shape and position. Because of that abnormal shape, it's rubbing against the pelvis where it meets the ilium (the large upper wing of the hip bone).

This type of finding is known as a lumbosacral transitional vertebra, and it's a recognized cause of intermittent hind-end discomfort and lameness in dogs. Essentially, a spot where bone is contacting bone that shouldn't be creates friction and irritation right where the spine meets the pelvis — which can easily show up as the kind of on-and-off lameness Guppy's been dealing with.

But the exam findings didn't stop there — and this is where whole-body assessment really matters. Guppy also presented with:

* Significant muscle atrophy in her left pelvic limb
* Decreased extension in her left hip (measurements were taken to be able to monitor her progress)
* A muscle knot in her right triceps
* Tight deltoids on both sides
* Tight quads on both sides
* Pain on palpation along her lower back musculature (worse on the right)
* A kyphotic (hunched) stance at rest

Taken together, this paints a clear picture: Guppy hasn't just been dealing with one isolated problem. She's been compensating through her entire body to avoid discomfort in that left hip — and over time, that compensation created new pain points and tension patterns of its own. It's a great reminder that lameness is rarely just about the leg that's limping.

This gives us a lot of measurable starting points — limb symmetry, muscle mass, range of motion, and posture — that we'll be tracking as key markers of her progress throughout rehab.

Next up: we'll walk you through the treatment plan we've built specifically around Guppy's anatomy. 🐾

Prevent. Recover. Perform. Thrive.

08/09/2026

Meet Guppy 🐾

We're kicking off a new series here at Loco-Motion K9, and we couldn't think of a better patient to start with than Guppy — a 4-year-old whippet with all the speed, sass, and sensitivity her breed is famous for.

Guppy came to us after developing intermittent lameness following a suspected gracilis injury back in September 2025. If you're not familiar, the gracilis is a muscle whippets and other sighthounds are particularly prone to injuring — it's practically a breed-specific hazard given how they're built for speed.

We'll be following Guppy's rehab journey right here — the ups, the tough days, and (hopefully!) the moments where she gets back to doing what whippets do best: running like the wind.
Stay tuned for updates as we work through her plan. 💙💚

Prevent. Recover. Perform. Thrive.

07/17/2026

🐾 **Lots of things to be excited about at Loco-Motion K9!** 🐾

Ever wonder who we trust for our veterinary partnership? 🤔🐕

Wonder no more — it's the incredible Dr. Lisa Wirth, VMD, CCAT, and the team at Arizona Veterinary Ambulance (AVA)! Together, we're bringing your pups an even more connected circle of care — working to keep your dog moving, healing, and thriving.

Two teams, one goal: helping Tucson's dogs live their happiest, healthiest lives. 🐾💙

*Prevent. Recover. Perform. Thrive.*

Stay tuned as we roll out more details on how this partnership will benefit you and your pup!

📞 (520) 261-7177
🌐 locomotionk9.com

07/15/2026

🐾 **Big progress at Loco-Motion K9!** 🐾

Okay, we know what you're thinking: "That's... a wall." 😂 But this unglamorous stretch of copper pipe and conduit is actually a huge milestone — the plumbing and electrical for our underwater treadmill is officially complete! 💧⚡

Behind those pipes and breakers (labeled "HEATER" and "TREADMILL," if you look closely 👀) is everything needed to safely fill, heat, and run the treadmill for aquatic therapy and conditioning.

Huge thanks to Best DAM Plumbing, LLC for the top-notch work! 🙌

Not exciting to look at — but exciting to know what's coming! Stay tuned. 🐕‍🦺✨

*Prevent. Recover. Perform. Thrive.*

📍 406 S Plumer Ave, Tucson, AZ
📞 (520) 261-7177
🌐 locomotionk9.com