Prehabvet

14/09/2026

Due to demand, we have opened Thursday, October 1st for evening and afternoon appointments at the Four Paws Rehab location in Kentisbeare, Devon. This is not bookable online; please contact us to arrange.

Hopefully, everyone is pleased to move towards softer ground now, as the lack of rain has caused a bit of havoc on working dog feet.

Check your dog's paws for cracks, fissues, and sensitive areaS; this is important for our little fellows with arthritis and other mobility issues, too - as they can't fully avoid altered loading patterns.

Adaptable pads are need at the beginning of the summer, but we're seeing excess callous formation as we move into autumn - even one trapped thorn, under the thickening!

Dermoscent BioBalm is what we use to help with this, lathered into the pad in the evenings, with a loose sock to help with absorption. This is the best product available for the job, and has equally been recommended by specialist dermatologists - and don't forget the stopper pad, too.

If you're unsure, please check with us - your vet team, as there are other pad conditions that can create cause for concern. We can help differentiate this from soft tissue causes and primary injury.

28/07/2026

Just a note that we are currently booking into September, with limited availability remaining for August. If an expedited appointment is needed, always contact us - we are happy to accommodate urgent cases and changes.

You will have by now been introduced to our new booking system, and we've been pleased to see the uptake on our remote rehabilitation and conditioning services over the past few months, since the launch of our updated website last year. A fair portion of our professional time has been spent on developing video gait analysis (over ten thousand walks, trots, and runs assessed by video) and understanding of remote triage, so it's been a privilege for to use these skills for more complex cases, in a practical manner. You all have been fantastic to work with.

We will be closed the week commencing August 10th, September 14th, and 21st to both compete at the ISDS English National Sheepdog Trial, and support friends at the World Sheepdog Trial, held this year outside Edinburgh.

However, looking for an appointment August bank holiday? Don't worry - we're open.

The World Trial is only held every four years, with the last cancelled due to COVID. We'll be meeting up with Food for Fen, and are beyond excited to see some international competitors (where it all started for us, tripping up and down the North American east coast). It's been nice to see more and more sheepdogs for proactive conditioning and maintenance in the clinic.

Watch this space - Prehabvet's mobile and in-person range will be expanding to serve Bristol and North Somerset towards the end of this year. You asked, we said yes!

Photo: Dalriada Ripple, our puppy-in-training.

11/03/2026

This should be fantastic - Fiona is my go-to for any questions, and for those asking what I've been feeding my border collie pup through growth; it's based off of conversations with Food for Fen.

Choosing appropriate ration for a working/trial dog , energy and nutrient requirements and interpreting dog food labels and home made diets

23/09/2025

Our website is currently undergoing scheduled maintenance as we make space for Prehabvet Hub - our home for carefully vetted courses, resource libraries, and community support.

In the meantime, you are very welcome to e-mail us with any new case enquiries at [email protected], or enquire through WhatsApp.

Clinics are on today, and we look forward to treating some lovely dogs. Current clients can continue to book appointments online through Jane: https://prehabvet.janeapp.co.uk/

28/08/2025

🩺 Appointment Availability

One appointment left on Monday, September 8th at Four Paws Rehab - 1:30PM. Suitable for a puppy check, or treatment session.

27/08/2025

Active Recovery, Not Just Rest 🌿

After an intense weekend, my dogs had a rest day — but today, I chose a light jog instead of training, stretches, or treatment. Why? Because movement itself is a therapy. It lubricates joints, stretches, and helps the body relax.

While we still have competitions on the block, the dogs don't have a watch telling them to slow down; that's on me. I use the following guidelines for building a moderate recovery set.

✔️ Pace — requires light concentration, but allows sniffing and exploring
✔️ Stride — smooth, even, no forced changes
✔️ Breathing — relaxed, no strain
✔️ Duration — mild to moderate, on stable terrain

It’s about picking the right movement, at the right time.

17/08/2025

Sweep (2.5 MO) and Ripple (5.5 MO) working hard “on set”, as examples of posture work during different stages of growth. (Or, are they just having fun?)

We’ve got three foundation courses filmed for you, as well as topics on health, injury and conditioning for Prehabvet Hub - launching September 24, 2025.

Don’t want to wait? Send us a message - we do private tuition.

08/08/2025

Looking for an appointment? We've updated our contact details:

Email: [email protected] – for any general queries.

Jane App Client Portal: Messaging will be activated for all new and repeat clients at their next appointment.

WhatsApp: For booking queries or video submissions; this has now been placed on our website's contact page.

Every communication you receive from Prehabvet is directly from me, the veterinarian. As an independent practice, I am extremely proud to break down barriers in clinical support and continue to advocate for your pet’s wellbeing in close communication – both inside and outside the consult room.

Enjoy jumping into your weekend, as much as this wee pup!

18/10/2024

What's the difference between jumping for agility, versus Mondioring? How do we approach counter-conditioning in a sheepdog, and does the dog's style play a role in this?

Tomorrow, we’re heading to Leamington Spa to discuss how performance skills impact our plans for injury and physical conditioning. It's exciting to see a pup return to working status, but what should we realistically expect in terms of skill retraining and retention?

While we know a competitive career isn’t always linear, there are common patterns that can guide our expectations. Rehabilitation isn’t just about reactive treatment; veterinarians and physiotherapists also play a crucial role in staging fitness, skill training, myofascial health, and providing preventative care (also known as "prehab"— which is our founding principle).

Our goal in this lecture is to connect the training patterns we instinctively use with a broader care plan, collaborating with the high level of academic expertise and medical knowledge of professionals in the field. We're honoured to be invited and look forward to hearing from other speakers.