Pet Experts Corner
Leslie Gallagher McMahon
Canine Rehabilitation Therapist
Contributor Since 12/11/2008
Experience
- Founder, Two Hands Four Paws, Inc.
- Canine Massage Therapy
- Rehabilitation and Swim Therapy
EXPERT QUOTE
"Rehabilitation therapy for senior dogs is all about improving their quality of life. When I can get a formerly paralyzed dog to walk again or a painful arthritic dog to wag his tail again, or get an injured dog to be able to play fetch again, I can think of no greater satisfaction than that in MY life!"
EDUCATION, AWARDS and CREDITS
- B.A. Scripps College, Claremont, CA
- Certified Canine Rehabilitation Technician, Canine Rehabilitation Institute, FL
EXPERT CONTENT
Helping Your Senior Dog Lose Weight Will Keep Them Younger
By Leslie Gallagher McMahon CCMT, CCRT
The call from Alex's owner was typical. "My dog is somewhat overweight and needs to have surgery for a torn cruciate ... read more
How to Prepare Your Senior Pet For A Long Journey
By Leslie Gallagher McMahon CCMT, CCRT
If you are thinking of travelling this summer with your senior pet or pets, you need to take into consideration a few ... read more
Sophie's Choice - My Road to Canine Rehab
By Leslie Gallagher McMahon CCMT, CCRT
I came to the world of canine "rehabilitation" (we cannot use the term "physical therapy" for animals. It is a protected ... read more
Common Conditions Treated in Canine Rehabilitation
By Leslie Gallagher McMahon CCMT, CCRT
In the canine rehabilitation world we see some of the same injuries and orthopedic issues all the time. For example, take ... read more
How To Prepare Your Pets For Winter Weather
By Leslie Gallagher McMahon CCMT, CCRT
Seeing as we live in sunny Southern California this may sound like an odd article for me to be writing. But even dogs living ... read more
Is Physical Therapy for Dogs all Hype? Why Spend the Extra Money?
By Leslie Gallagher McMahon CCMT, CCRT
Human physical therapy has been recognized worldwide as a very successful adjunct to recovering from injuries and surgery ... read more
Ask an Expert
- Q: My dog is very overweight and sedentary. She has a very hard time getting around. Can you help?
- A: While paralysis is my specialty, obesity and exercise are my passions! A huge majority of the animals I work on are overweight and most vets consider it the number one health problem that they see. When you are dealing with an injured animal that is also overweight, it is extremely important to get the weight off to help the animal ambulate. I can develop diet and exercise programs for any animal (yes, even diabetic ones) and will work with you to help get your animal back into shape.
ABOUT
After inheriting an older German Shepherd, who was paralyzed, Leslie took her dog to a long series of specialty veterinarians all of whom told her to euthanize her dog. Believing that it was outrageous to be asked to end a dog’s life just because they were older and unable to use their hind legs, she decided to go back to school to learn how to help other pets so that no other animal would be euthanized for lack of rehabilitative services.
In 1999 she opened her own practice and became one of the first in Southern California to be certified in canine rehabilitation by the Animal Rehabilitation Institute. For the next several years she was the only certified canine rehabilitation technician in Los Angeles and was amazed and gratified by the large steady stream of older, injured and disabled dogs whose owners felt the same way she did.
She lectures on the benefits of canine massage and rehab to groups throughout California. Leslie’s passion is in working with senior dogs and helping them and their owners achieve the highest quality of life possible for an aging animal.
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