Synergy Pet Health & Rehabilitation

06/09/2025

⚖️ Small Steps, Big Benefits 🐾

This pup is working on a weight-shifting exercise — a simple routine that takes just a few minutes but brings huge benefits. By gently shifting weight from side to side, pets build balance, strengthen stabilising muscles, and improve joint health.

It’s an easy yet powerful way to support recovery, prevent injury, and keep your pet active for longer.

💬 Curious if this could help your pet?
📲 WhatsApp us today for an assessment and personalised fitness program!

03/09/2025

Stray!!

02/09/2025

Saul’s story is one of courage, resilience, and the power of rehabilitation. After undergoing a hip resection to remove the damaged ball of his hip joint, he worked hard through his initial recovery. Just as he was regaining strength, he faced another challenge: a femoral neck fracture on his opposite hind limb.

Despite these setbacks, Saul is making remarkable progress. While his rehabilitation is ongoing, he is confidently using both hind limbs, demonstrating the effectiveness of therapeutic exercise and the incredible dedication of his mom. Her consistency, patience, and support have been pivotal in every step of his recovery.

Saul’s journey highlights the resilience of dogs and the critical role of structured rehabilitation. He is living proof that, with determination, proper care, and a devoted owner, pets can overcome even the most daunting challenges.

👉 If your pet is facing similar obstacles, contact Natasha at Randpark Ridge Veterinary Hospital on 011 678 7526 to learn how rehabilitation can help them regain strength, mobility, and confidence.

27/08/2025

🔍 What is the Biceps Femoris?

The biceps femoris is a large, powerful muscle running along the back of the thigh in both dogs and cats. It plays a key role in:

✅ Extending the hip
✅ Flexing the stifle (knee)
✅ Extending the hock (ankle)
✅ Propelling the body forward during walking, running, and jumping
✅ Stabilising the limb during standing and movement

Because it crosses multiple joints, it’s often affected by overuse, injury, or compensation — especially in aging pets, post-surgical cases, or animals with underlying joint issues.

🚩 Signs of Biceps Femoris Issues:
🐾 Lameness or skipping in the hind limb
🐾 Reluctance to jump onto furniture or into the car
🐾 Stiffness after rest or difficulty standing up
🐾 Thigh muscle loss or weakness
🐾 Sensitivity when touched behind the leg
🐾 Reduced activity, cautious walking, or posture changes

Whether your dog is showing signs of hindlimb lameness or your cat isn’t jumping like they used to, this muscle could be part of the problem.

🧘‍♀️ How We Help at Synergy:
We tailor each treatment plan to the specific needs of your pet, providing:

✅ Targeted massage and myofascial release
✅ Laser therapy (Photobiomodulation) for healing and inflammation
✅ PEMF therapy for cellular repair and deep tissue relief
✅ Gentle stretching and therapeutic exercises
✅ Posture and gait assessments
✅ Home-care guidance so you can support your pet daily

All of this is done in close partnership with our team of skilled, experienced veterinarians to ensure a complete and compassionate care plan.

📍 Located at Randparkridge Veterinary Hospital
📞 Book a muscle and mobility consult with Natasha: 011 678 7526
📧 Email: [email protected]

💚 Whether it’s a high-energy dog or a graceful (but suddenly grounded) cat — we’re here to help them move with ease again.

27/08/2025

🐰🐶 Why Does My Dog Think He’s a Bunny Hopping Around? 🐶🐰

It might look adorable, but if your dog is bouncing their back legs together like a bunny, it’s worth paying attention. At Synergy Pet Health and Rehabilitation, we know that bunny hopping is often more than just a quirky gait — it can be your dog’s way of saying “somethinIt might look adorable, but if your dog is bouncing their back legs together like a bunny, it’s worth paying attention. At Synergy Pet Health and Rehabilitation, we know that bunny hopping is often more than just a quirky gait — it can be your dog’s way of saying “somethin ’s not quite right.”

🤔 What is Bunny Hopping?
“Bunny hopping” is when a dog moves both hind legs forward at the same time instead of walking or running with an alternating back-leg pattern. It might happen when they run, go upstairs, or even during slow walks — and while it can look cute, it’s usually not normal.

🚨 Why Do Dogs Bunny Hop?
🐾 Hip Dysplasia – The hip joint doesn’t form properly, causing pain and stiffness.
🐾 Lumbar Spine or Nerve Pain – Back pain can limit flexibility and cause dogs to move differently.
🐾 Weak Glutes or Thigh Muscles – Dogs lacking strength in their back legs may hop to compensate.
🐾 Knee or Ligament Issues – Conditions like patella luxation or cruciate ligament strain can change how dogs move.
🐾 Tight Muscles or Trigger Points – Just like humans, muscle knots can limit motion and cause awkward movements.
🐾 Neurological Problems – If the nerves aren’t firing correctly, gait changes can happen.

🧘‍♀️ How Can Synergy Help?
At Synergy Pet Health and Rehabilitation, we work closely with a team of amazing, skilled, and experienced veterinarians to ensure your pet receives the highest level of care.

💚 We offer:
✅ Full gait and mobility assessments
✅ Pain relief through laser, PEMF, massage, and stretching
✅ Targeted rehab exercises to strengthen weak areas
✅ Support for long-term conditions like arthritis and hip dysplasia
✅ Home-care guidance so you can help your dog hop less and move more 🐾

📍 Located at Randparkridge Veterinary Hospital
📞 Call Natasha to book a consult: 011 678 7526
📧 Email: [email protected]

So, if your dog thinks they’re a bunny — let’s work together to get them moving like the strong, confident canine they truly are.

643 likes, 13 comments. “"Bunny hop" (her hinds stay together and hit at nearly the same time) Dogs with hip dysplasia have trouble walking, jumping, and running because their hip joints pop and rub with every significant motion they make. Lila's case is a severe bilateral hip dysplasia and arthri...

26/08/2025

😔🐶 "My Dog Always Looks Sad and Walks With His Head Down" 🐶😔

Does your dog seem withdrawn, walk with their head lowered, or just look… sad?

At Synergy Pet Health and Rehabilitation, we often hear concerned guardians describe their pets this way — and while it’s easy to assume it’s just a mood or "bad day," these signs can actually be your dog’s body crying out for help.

🧠 What Could Be Causing This?
A dog that walks with their head low or appears downcast may be experiencing:

🔹 Neck or Cervical Pain – Holding the head down relieves pressure on painful neck joints or muscles.
🔹 Spinal or Shoulder Discomfort – Pain in the upper back or shoulders can cause a hunched or guarded posture.
🔹 Arthritis or Muscle Soreness – Chronic pain affects energy, posture, and even mood.
🔹 Myofascial Trigger Points – Painful muscle knots may cause tension and reluctance to move freely.
🔹 Neurological Issues – Head positioning can change if there’s nerve involvement or spinal cord pressure.
🔹 Emotional or Physical Fatigue – Anxiety, chronic discomfort, or stress can impact posture and expression.

🐾 What You Can Do:
At Synergy, we dig deeper to find the root cause — because a dog that looks sad might be hurting, not just feeling blue.

💚 We provide:
✅ Full physical and postural assessments
✅ Gentle massage and myofascial release
✅ PEMF & laser therapy to relieve inflammation
✅ Exercise rehabilitation for neck and spinal support
✅ Tailored home care plans to continue healing
✅ Close collaboration with our skilled and experienced veterinary team to rule out deeper medical issues

📍 Located at Randparkridge Veterinary Hospital
📞 To book an assessment, contact Natasha: 011 678 7526
📧 Email: [email protected]

A lowered head doesn't always mean a lowered spirit — sometimes it’s a sign of pain. Let’s help your dog lift their head, their body, and their joy again. 💛

25/08/2025

🔍 What Are Trigger Points?

Trigger points are tight, hypersensitive spots in a muscle or its surrounding fascia (the connective tissue around muscles). They feel like small, firm nodules and can:

⚠️ Cause localised pain
⚠️ Restrict movement and flexibility
⚠️ Refer pain to other areas (just like in humans!)
⚠️ Lead to postural changes, limping, or behaviour shifts

They often develop in overworked or compensating muscles, especially in pets recovering from injury, arthritis, or poor posture.

🐶 Signs Your Pet Might Have Trigger Points:
Flinching or growling when touched in certain areas

Licking or chewing at one spot repeatedly

Stiffness after rest or slow movement when getting up

Lameness without obvious joint problems

Reduced range of motion or reluctance to jump

Behavioural changes due to chronic discomfort

These are often misread as ageing or "moodiness", but they could be due to ongoing muscular pain.

💆‍♀️ How We Help at Synergy:
At Synergy Pet Health and Rehabilitation, we specialise in identifying and releasing trigger points using:

✅ Targeted Massage Therapy – to gently relieve tension and restore normal muscle function
✅ Stretching and Passive Range of Motion (PROM) – to reduce stiffness and prevent recurrence
✅ Laser Therapy – to reduce inflammation and support deep-tissue healing
✅ Rehab Exercises – to strengthen surrounding muscles and correct compensatory patterns
✅ Home Guidance – we’ll teach you gentle techniques to help manage and prevent future trigger points

📍 Located at Randparkridge Veterinary Hospital
📞 Book a muscle consultation with Natasha: 011 678 7526
📧 Email: [email protected]

🦴 Don’t let hidden pain slow your pet down. Trigger points can be treated — and your pet deserves relief.

22/08/2025

🤝🐾 Did You Know? 🐾🤝

Synergy Pet Health and Rehabilitation is proudly partnered with S.C.A.R Canine Training and Behaviour!

That means your pet gets the best of both worlds —
💚 Expert rehabilitation to heal and strengthen the body
💚 Professional, force-free training to support behaviour and confidence

Working together allows us to approach your pet’s wellness in a truly holistic way — addressing both physical and emotional needs.

✅ Post-surgical rehab
✅ Arthritis and pain management
✅ Behaviour modification
✅ Puppy and lead-work classes
✅ Support for anxious or reactive pets
✅ At-home plans and guardian education

📍 Both services are based on the property of Randparkridge Veterinary Hospital
📞 Rehab bookings: 011 678 7526 | [email protected]
📞 Training enquiries: 082 828 3880 | [email protected]

One team. One goal. Your pet’s best life. 🐾



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