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JULY 2019 | NEWS & UPDATES
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President's Message
Let's Get Together!
One of my favorite and fun ways the AARV gets to interact with members face-to-face is via our presence at veterinary conferences. This year we have had booths at VMX in Orlando, WVC in Las Vegas, SAVMA at the University of Georgia, and next month we will be in Washington D.C. for the American Veterinary Medical Association annual conference. Our attendance at each of these meetings is a time to connect with colleagues in the field of veterinary rehabilitation and sports medicine, and the AARV looks forward to each one. If you happen to be in D.C. for the conference, please stop by the booth and say hello. We would love to see you. If you would like to volunteer to spend a few hours in the booth for a free AVMA conference registration, please contact our membership chair, Katie Neforos, at
info@rehabvets.org and we will make that happen.
Hope everyone is enjoying their summer, and as always, please feel free to reach out with any questions or concern.
All the best,
Amber Ihrke, DVM, CCRT, CVA, CVSMT (Chiropractic), CVPP
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Heading to the AVMA Convention?
by Katie Neforos, CVT, CCRVN, CVPP
Membership Chair
Hello, AARV members ... please join us in Washington D.C. for the
AVMA Convention August 2-6, 2019. If you would be willing to spend 8 hours at the booth during the conference, the AARV will pay for your convention registration! Please email me at
info@rehabvets.org if you are interested. We look forward to seeing everyone in D.C.!
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Are You Willing to Be a Mentor to Students?
by Jessica Bunch, DVM, CCRT, CVA
University Liaison
Attention, AARV members: Are you interested in furthering and influencing the field of veterinary rehabilitation? How about making an impact on a student's (veterinary, technician or physical therapy) future career? There are many students who are interested in rehabilitation and sports medicine, but have no idea how to get started or simply want to know more.
The AARV is attempting to create a database of certified rehabilitation veterinarians, technicians, and physical therapists who are willing to mentor students or allow them to shadow at their clinic.
If this is something that interests you and you would like to make an impact in a student's future career, please contact our university liaison, Jessica Bunch, at
university@rehabvets.org
with questions or to add yourself and clinic to our database.
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Apply for the New Healing Oasis Rehabilitation Technician Case Report Grant by August 15th!
The Healing Oasis Wellness Center would like to offer a $1,000 grant to a CVT / LVT / RVT / LVMT that is a member of the AARV and APRVT, to be applied towards the registration, transportation, and lodging to the 2019 Healing Oasis Conference. The conference will be held November 1-3, 2019 at the National University of Health Sciences, 200 E. Roosevelt Rd., Lombard, Illinois. The conference theme is "Integration and Understanding: The Missing Links to Recovery."
Requirements to be considered for the grant:
- Be an AARV/APRVT member in good standing or an approved APRVT pre-applicant with AIN number.
- To provide a case report with a clinical explanation of why and how (from the functional point of view) the case improved. References must be included. The winner will present the case report during a 20-minute time slot during the conference to the general audience (Friday or Sunday).
- Case report must follow the AARV submittal protocol.
- Deadline for submitting case report: August 15, 2019.
- Case report must be submitted to the following address: technician@rehabvets.org.
- Submission will be evaluated by the AARV Board (after submission has been rendered anonymous) and voted on.
Winner of the grant will be listed on the AARV and APRVT website and newsletter during the first week of September 2019.
Case Report submission deadlines:
- August 1: Final call for submissions
- August 15: Submission deadline
- September 1: Decision notified to winner
- November 1-3, 2019: Presentation of case report
For more information about the Case Report Submission Format, please see the Grant Opportunities page in the Members Area of the website.
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Apply for the Royal Canin Student Case Report Grant by October 1st!
Calling all veterinary students! Are you interested in winning a trip to the 2020 VMX Expo in Orlando, Florida, January 18-22, 2020?
The American Association of Rehabilitation Veterinarians (AARV) has partnered with Royal Canin to offer an exciting opportunity for veterinary students with an interest in physical rehabilitation. Eligible students must currently be enrolled in a United States or Canadian veterinary school during the 2019-2020 academic year, be a member in good standing of the AARV (student memberships are free!) and be able to attend the VMX 2020 Conference. To be considered, a case report pertaining to physical rehabilitation MUST be submitted by October 1, 2019, 11:59 pm PST. NO LATE SUBMISSIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED.
All case reports will be reviewed, and the student whose case report is selected will win a trip to the 2020 VMX Conference (reimbursement up to $1,500). The selected student will present their case report as a 15-minute podium presentation during the AARV lecture track.
Case Report submission deadlines:
- August 1: Second call for submissions
- September 1: Final call for submissions
- October 1: Case report submission deadline
- October 15: Decision notified to authors
- VMX 2020: Presentation of study results
Thank you to Royal Canin for their continued support of our future veterinarians.
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Tripawds Foundation Maggie Moo Fund for Tripawd Rehabilitation Reimbursement!
Now Taking Applications for Tripawd Rehab Reimbursement
"Just let your dog be a dog," our veterinarian advised when our dog Jerry lost a front leg to osteosarcoma. If only we had known about the importance of rehabilitation therapy! Today, the Tripawds Foundation that Jerry inspired is educating pet parents with new amputees so they never have to learn the hard way like we did, through the
Maggie Moo Fund for Tripawd Rehab.
Sadly, most Tripawd parents still do not know of the importance of seeing a credentialed rehabilitation practitioner. We are trying to change that, by getting Tripawd parents through your clinic doors as soon as possible after surgery. When they do,
their first visit is on us!
Thanks to generous
sponsors and donors who support the
Maggie Moo Fund for Tripawd Rehab, the Tripawds Foundation will grant up to $200 in reimbursement to any member who visits a certified animal rehabilitation therapist for a
first-time evaluation. Anyone can qualify; this is not a need-based grant.
"This experience showed me that going to rehab is a critical step in aftercare for any amputee. It taught me why my dog is uncomfortable, where he is uncomfortable, and exactly how to fix it so he can live a pain-free, quality life," says
Piper's mom, a recipient.
We want more Tripawds to experience the benefits of rehabilitation therapy and appreciate your letting clients know about this valuable program.
Got questions?
Contact Tripawds Foundation today. We are here to help you help Tripawds everywhere. Stay tuned for additional AARV and Tripawds Foundation partnerships!
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Healing Oasis Wellness Center
The Healing Oasis Wellness Center LLC is an educational institution dedicated to the advancement of Veterinary Spinal Manipulative Therapy (VSMT), Veterinary Massage and Rehabilitation Therapy (VMRT), and clinical and functional neuro-anatomy as they apply to the above postgraduate programs, and to providing continuing education. The school has been in existence since 1998 and has achieved several state and national approvals and accreditations. The HOWC is a nationally accredited institution recognized as an accrediting agency by the U.S. Department of Education. No other school offering integrative veterinary health care modalities has achieved such standards.
At HOWC, quality education is used to create leaders in this particular health care modality. By providing a 2:1 student to instructor ratio, the HOWC and its instructors ensure proper training and one on one learning to achieve competency on each of the certification programs. The HOWC strives to provide a variety of teaching methods and aids, to help students integrate and master the subject at hand. They are committed to helping students learn the basic knowledge necessary to provide safe, efficient, and competent treatment of the program registered for. The faculty and instructors are there to help pupils achieve successful completion of the program.
Continue reading about Healing Oasis Wellness Center ...
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LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
Focus on State Practice Acts: California
by Theresa Pancotto, DVM, MS, MS, DACVIM(N), CCRP
Legislative Liaison
Now that all of the AARV links to practice acts are updated, I'm going through each state at random and providing an interpretation of the acts to better guide individuals in managing physical rehabilitation as it pertains to their practice and state.
Interpretation
"Physical Therapy/Physical Therapist" are protected terms in the state of California covered by the California Physical Therapy Practice Act.
Animal physical rehabilitation (APR) is covered by the veterinary practice act and covers veterinarians, technicians supervised by veterinarians, and assistants with direct veterinary supervision. Specific rehabilitation training is not required. Licensed physical therapists are not allowed to practice APR.
Veterinary Practice Act 2019
Article 4 Section 2038.5
Animal physical rehabilitation is defined as the treatment of injury or illness to address pain and improve function by means of physical corrective treatment. APR does not include relaxation, recreational or wellness modalities including but not limited to massage, athletic training, or exercise.
A veterinarian must establish a valid VCPR.
RVT may perform APR under supervision by the veterinarian in the valid VCPR. Veterinary assistants may perform the APR under the direct supervision of a veterinarian. This requires the veterinarian be in the general vicinity of the treatment area.
Musculoskeletal manipulation is specifically covered by Article 4 Section 2038 and may only be performed by
- a veterinarian with sufficient knowledge to diagnose the medical condition of the animal and must have signed consent by the owner that MSM is considered to be a non-standard therapy
- A CA licensed doctor of chiropractic working under direct supervision of a veterinarian
Physical Therapy Practice Law 2014
"Physical therapist," "physiotherapy," and "physical therapy" are protected terms. BPC Division 2 Chapter 5.7
AB 3013 that would have allowed physical therapists to treat animals under the supervision of a veterinarian died May 2018.
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AARV Has 450 Articles of Interest in Its Database!
AARV's searchable Articles of Interest Database has expanded to include 450 articles! The database includes Articles of Interest from January 2017 through June 2019 and is available to AARV members in the Members area of its website.
AARV will keep adding journal articles to the database each month to develop its usefulness as a research tool. We also will continue to include links to our past Articles of Interest from 2010 to the present in PDF format. All Articles of Interest have been selected by AARV founder Dr. Julia Tomlinson because of their relevance to the field of veterinary rehabilitation.
To search the database, log in to the Members Area of the website and go to the Articles of Interest Database page. Enter a keyword, author's name, or other search term to begin your search. A list of matching article abstracts will be displayed. A link to the full version of the journal article will be provided if available.
Our thanks to Dr. Julia Tomlinson for selecting relevant journal articles each month and AARV Secretary Dr. Andrea Henderson for preparing the articles for the database.
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We've Updated Our Pet Insurance Summary!
AARV has just released a newly updated version of its summary of pet insurance coverage for rehabilitation services, current as of July 2019. Please see the updated Pet Insurance Summary chart on the AARV website. The Pet Insurance Summary is available as a printable PDF. Our thanks to AARV Industry Liaison Dr. Pedro Rivera for coordinating this update.
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Check the AARV Calendar for Upcoming Events
Want to learn which courses are coming up at Canine Rehabilitation Institute (CRI), Healing Oasis, and CuraCore? Check the AARV Calendar of Events on our website, which contains upcoming rehabilitation classes and other continuing education events. You can also visit the Canine Rehabilitation Institute, Healing Oasis, and CuraCore websites directly to learn more about their courses.
Do you have an event to add to the AARV calendar? All calendar posts are now free for AARV members. Please send your calendar event to info@rehabvets.org and be sure to include the name of the event, speaker, topic, date, time, location and URL. Rehabilitation related events/classes only, please.
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AARV Member Achievement Alert!
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Connect with the AARV on LinkedIn!
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TECHNICIAN CORNER
Cats Can Get Rehab Too!
by Mary Ellen Goldberg, BS, LVT, CVT, SRA, CCRVN, CVPP
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Lou the cat, not willing to do much.
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Most cats are brought to a physical rehabilitation center because of injuries from trauma or joint conditions. Conditions include degenerative joint disease, fracture recovery, neurological conditions, and femoral head and neck excision (FHNE), with the most common being weight reduction.
Basically, the rehabilitation nurse/technician must understand cat behavior and how cats think. The old saying "a cat is not a small dog" definitely holds true. Motivating a dog is far easier than motivating a cat. Cats are not going to perform an exercise to please you the way a dog will. (See picture of Mary Ellen's son's cat, Lou.)
Structure for cats is quite different than structure for dogs. Dogs like routine and readily accept a routine sequence in their physical rehabilitation. Cats on the other hand attempt to confound everything you'd like to do in a routine manner. Get the cat to think what you are asking them to do is their idea. Use toys such as feathers on a stick, laser pointers, therapeutic balls, wedges, easy cavaletti rails and hydrotherapy. If they have pain, make sure it is relieved prior to the therapy sessions. If you cause the cat pain during a therapeutic exercise, it is going to be very difficult to repeat that because they remember that they hurt performing this.
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Sandy Gregory working with a cat getting used to being in the water.
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Keep all sessions short! Cats are the attention deficit disorder patients because they cannot concentrate on a specific exercise for long. Therefore, have a plan written out to change what is being performed every 1-2 minutes. If there is objection to a specific thing, remember to move on to something more pleasurable. Don't fight with the cat! If all they will do is walk in an underwater treadmill, then do that beginning with very short periods (i.e., 2 minutes). Remember obese cats have no cardiovascular or pulmonary stamina.
Helpful Hints:
- Know normal cat behavior
- Make physical rehabilitation play
- Keep any session short
- Don't fight getting them to do something objectionable; work around this and try again later
You'll find that physical rehabilitation for cats can be a rewarding experience.
Learn More About APRVT
The technicians on the Organizing Committee of the APRVT would love to speak at your clinic or local conference! Contact us at vetrehabtechs@gmail.com to find someone in your area!
Please visit the APRVT website and social media sites to learn more about us and don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter!
Do you have an article in mind for the Technician Corner? Contact Sandy Gregory, M. Ed, RVT, CCRA, AARV Technician Liaison, at technician@rehabvets.org to submit an article (suggested length of 200-300 words) or suggest a topic.
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CLASSIFIED AD
Veterinary Technician or Assistant - Physical Rehab, Daly City, California
Nor Cal Veterinary, in Daly City, CA, is hiring a CCRVN, CCRA, or CVMRT (could be in training). This position will work closely with Dr. Erika Gebhard, DVM, CVA, CCRT, to implement rehab treatments in a fast-paced environment. This opportunity allows you to work independently with patients and their owners for appointments and provide support between appointments as needed. We have Class 3b LASER, underwater treadmill, E-stim, acupuncture, electro acupuncture and a variety of therapy tools. We also have a beautiful new facility filled with natural light (even the treatment room).
Interested candidates please email Aly Mitton at alysha.mitton@bluepearlvet.com.
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CLASSIFIED AD
Credentialed Technician With CCRP or CCRA Certification, Stamford, Connecticut
Cornell University Veterinary Specialists (CUVS) is seeking a credentialed technician with CCRP or CCRA certification (or desire to work towards their certification) to work with our board-certified SMR specialist. The Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation Service offers each rehabilitation patient an individualized treatment plan which may include: post-surgical assessment, neurologic assessment, manual therapy, therapeutic exercises, massage, thermotherapy, cryotherapy (Game Ready), neurofunctional acupuncture, weight control and programs for core strengthening and stability. CUVS offers an outstanding compensation package and an amazing culture! Individuals with a passion for their work should contact Alexandra Ocampo at
hr@cuvs.org.
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Please take a moment to visit our sponsors!
We've learned that some email programs may cut off the end of our newsletter. If you don't see the AARV mailing address at the end of the newsletter, click on "View Entire Message" to see our complete newsletter including special offers from our sponsors.
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TIER 1: EDUCATION AND RESEARCH SPONSORS
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Healing Oasis: 5% discount for AARV members on continuing education seminars To redeem Healing Oasis discount: Contact Healing Oasis for details |
Canine Rehabilitation Institute (CRI): 10% off most continuing education courses
To redeem CRI discount: Register for a continuing education course, and your discount will be available at 'checkout'
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TIER 2: SPONSORS PROVIDING MEMBER DISCOUNTS
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Hero Braces: 5% discount for AARV members
To redeem Hero Braces discount: Contact Hero Braces at 308-423-2612 for your 5% discount code
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Hudson Aquatic Systems: Receive a FREE Therapist Bench, a $332 value, with any new AquaPaws unit purchase.
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OrthoPets: 5% discount
To redeem OrthoPets discount: Contact OrthoPets for details
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GingerLead: 50% discount off MSRP for any size order
To redeem GingerLead discount: Contact GingerLead for details
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My Pet's Brace: 10%-15% discount
To redeem My Pet's Brace discount: Contact My Pet's Brace for details
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TIER 3: ADDITIONAL SPONSORS
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