Client Testimonials
Cooper
Cooper, my 4 y/o Belgian Malinois agility dog, was giving me subtle cues that all was not well. Malinois is a stoic breed, so he obediently ran for me, but I could tell something was not right. Thus began a long series of appointments with veterinarians, chiropractors, cold laser technicians, and, ultimately, an expensive MRI. All was well. But it wasn’t.
Then, we were directed to physical therapist Renee Scholz at the Animal Rehabilitation Facility (ARF) in Dexter, Michigan. Renee has a magic touch! As she ran her knowledgeable hands over him, Cooper relaxed and almost went to sleep. What she found were trigger points or painful spots/knots in the muscles. When she was able to manipulate and release them, Cooper visibly relaxed. After only a couple of sessions, Cooper was running agility like his old self and he had a new BFF in Renee!
All was well. But it wasn’t. Soon Cooper’s symptoms reappeared. So we went to see Renee again and Cooper was healed! It is clear that for whatever reason, Cooper is developing these painful trigger points and periodically needs to see his BFF Renee (and he loves it). He is now on a regular schedule to be checked by Renee and all is well. AND IT IS! Thank you, thank you, Renee
Sylvia Grossman and MACH Avonlea Cooper Extraction MXB MJS NF
Grizzly
We have a 12-year-old chocolate lab that had a problem with his right rear leg. It would go out on him when he ran. We tried everything over a 3 year time period including acupuncture and chiropractic. Since Renee started giving him manual therapy including trigger point release, the condition has gone away. After a third session, he even jumped straight up on a 3-foot platform with no difficulty.
We are so grateful to Renee that words cannot explain. We would recommend her to everyone.
Grateful,
Roger & Sandy Marcotte
Matcha
It is hard to adequately express my gratitude to Renee for helping my baby girl, Matcha, to feel her best! For those of you looking for a quick recommendation, she receives my highest accolades. Renee built a relationship with Matcha from the first visit. Her use of ultrasound in conjunction with massage therapy was able to greatly minimize firm scar tissue that was limiting the range of motion in an otherwise healthy agility dog. Best of all, she taught me (as a devoted dog mom) how to perform some massage techniques myself to reinforce the work she was doing in the office. Boy has this made a difference in Matcha’s life. I have a dog that is happy, who instigates play again, and who literally asks for her daily massages. For those of you who would like to hear Matcha’s full story, grab a cup of coffee and read on …
Matcha is my first dog, and to say “she had me at hello” is an understatement. I fell head over heels in love with my little ball of fluff. Matcha started her agility career just as she was about to turn one. What a fun way to play together! A few months later, I noticed a deep lump on her right side about the size of a small marble. Our vet aspirated the mass and it was found to have spindle cells. Taking precautions to make sure it wasn’t cancerous; we had the mass removed. Thankfully, the mass was benign, but 8 months later, a second mass presented itself on the left side near her pelvis. This was also removed and again was benign. Matcha successfully recovered from both surgeries and we were really enjoying competing on the agility stage.
When Matcha was three, I noticed she was hesitating before jumping over bars. A friend commented on her reluctance and suggested I make an appointment with a rehab specialist to rule out any physical concerns. It was found that Matcha had strained her iliopsoas muscles and we began rehab to support her healing and to improve her overall core strength. Matcha completed her rehabilitation and seemed to be in the best physical condition of her life, but was still hesitating when jumping. With other physical concerns ruled out, we started to suspect the scar tissue which had developed after the surgeries were causing discomfort. The idea was when Matcha reached full extension of her legs, it pulled on the scar tissue and hurt. This was supported by Matcha’s tendency to tuck her legs up when jumping. It was suggested that we meet with Renee to see if we could address the issue of this hard tissue.
At our first meeting with Renee, she evaluated Matcha and it was determined that she had a dime-sized ball of scar tissue on her right and a quarter-sized ball on her left. Both of the masses were fairly firm. By alternating ultrasound with deep tissue massage, Renee was able to start to break up the scar tissue. She taught me how to use cross friction to help spread out the scar tissue cells, where they could begin to be dissolved and dealt with by Matcha’s body. Matcha immediately relaxed with her treatment and it was apparent that the whole process made her feel fabulous. Four ultrasound treatments later, the scar tissue which had been firm can’t be felt on one side, and on the other, it feels like jelly. Most importantly, Matcha is visibly feeling more comfortable. She is able to jump comfortably when she wants to and will instigate play with her younger sister on a regular basis. This seems basic but is huge because Matcha was never a dog to instigate play. I now suspect that she had been uncomfortable for some time, but her behavior changes were so gradual, I wasn’t able to catch on to what was occurring. While I choose not to live with regret for past experiences, I certainly would recommend other pet owners who are going through surgical procedures start with massage directly after their dog’s body heals. I am confident that we wouldn’t have had these concerns had we addressed the scar tissue right away. That being said, the ultrasound treatment certainly made a huge difference in Matcha’s reduction and softening of scar tissue. As it was explained to me, the ultrasound heats the tissue from the inside and allowed Renee’s magic hands to really work at breaking up the hardness of the tissue. I will be forever grateful for the treatment Matcha has received.
When we were presented with the possibility of using ultrasound and massage, it was sort of a shot in the dark with no guarantees. I am so happy we had success with Matcha’s treatment and am hopeful that our experience will be helpful for other pet families who may be dealing with scar tissue issues as well. I feel Renee’s abilities in massage techniques, problem-solving, and communication were pivotal in Matcha’s improvement and highly recommend her to other families who are looking for treatment for their furry friends.
Kabrina Rozine
