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VITAL VET NEWSLETTER | PET PARENT EDITION
OCTOBER 4, 2026
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It's been a while since our last Vital Vet Pet Parent Edition, so we wanted to quickly reintroduce ourselves.
"Some days, caring for your dog means helping them enjoy a long walk. Other days, it's helping them feel better. Both matter.
Vital Vet was created to help make caring for your pet a little easier—especially when they’re recovering from an injury, having trouble walking, or experiencing pain.
The Vital Vet team has been working closely with veterinary rehabilitation, fitness, and sports medicine professionals for 25 years. We're taking what we learn and sharing it with you. This includes 1) practical tips, 2) expert guidance, 3) helpful products and resources, and 4) ideas you can use at home or discuss with your veterinary team.
Our goal is simple: to help you be more informed, more prepared, and better able to support the animals you love.
I hope we can help. And I'm glad you're here." Ilaria Borghese
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LUMA LIGHT THERAPY
Could At-Home Light Therapy Help Support Your Pet's Comfort?
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Is Your Pet Slowing Down, Struggling with Stairs, or Having a Harder Time Doing the Things They Love to Do?
MedcoVet offers a free 30-minute consultation with a veterinary clinician to discuss your pet’s condition and whether at-home red light therapy could be a good fit. There’s no pressure or obligation—just a chance to ask questions, understand your options, and get personalized guidance.
| | Luma is used by pet parents across the country and by more than 250 veterinary clinics. | | |
TOP STORY
Is Your Pet Knuckling or Dragging? Here's Where to Start
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Knuckling, Paw Dragging, and Worn Down Nails Can Happen for Many Reasons
Knuckling or scuffing can come from physical weakness, joint pain or discomfort, or nerve or neurological problems. The most important step is understanding why it's happening before deciding how best to help your dog.
That’s why we created our new Paw-Dragging Guide: a step-by-step resource to help you understand what to look for, when to involve your veterinary team, and how rehabilitation, home modifications, and assistive devices can help.
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Moozie Taught Us How Much the Right Devices and Care Can Matter
Years after being rescued by Animal Aid USA and adopted by Vital Vet's founder, Ilaria Borghese, Moozie developed a progressive neurological condition that affected his balance and ability to walk. Moozie’s journey shows how he continued to thrive far beyond what was expected, and how rehabilitation, mobility aids, and changes around the home helped him continue doing the things he loved.
Moozie's life became a powerful reminder that helping a pet with mobility challenges is rarely about finding one perfect solution. It’s about understanding what they need today—and being able to adapt as those needs change.
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Why Is My Pet Dragging a Hind Paw?
Weakness, pain, stiff joints, and neurological changes can all affect the way a pet walks.
LISTEN: This PetAbility episode explores how joint stiffness can contribute to mobility problems—and how therapeutic range of motion exercises can help support more comfortable movement.
[ LISTEN HERE ]
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DIFFERENT PROBLEMS NEED DIFFERENT SOLUTIONS
Choosing the Right Support at the Right Time
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A Harness, Movement-Assist Garment, and Paw-Lifting Device
Can All Help a Pet Move Better - But They Solve Different Problems
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Coodeo
Dog Lift Body Harness
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Ultralight, cost-effective alternative with full-body support.
Moozie used this harness during his own mobility journey!
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Lucky and Loyal
Dynamic Mobility Brace
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Support garment that provides gentle assistance with each step.
It helps support the hips and legs and encourages a more natural walking pattern.
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Thera-Paw
Hindlimb Dorsi-Flex Assist
| A durable boot-based mobility aid to stop pets from dragging or knuckling their hind paws. Elastic straps lift the paw to improve toe and ankle positioning. | | |
FROM RESCUE TO ROYAL TREATMENT
Meet Lorenzo, Dasha & Their Furry Family
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Remember Moozie? His Story Actually Connects Several Members of the Vital Vet Family
Before Moozie was eventually adopted by Vital Vet's founder, Ilaria Borghese, his rescue journey began with Animal Aid USA, the nonprofit co-founded by Lorenzo Borghese, her brother.
Animal rescue has remained an important part of Lorenzo's life. Today, he and his wife, Dasha, serve together on Animal Aid USA's board and share something that will be familiar to almost every pet parent reading this newsletter:
Once an animal becomes part of your family, caring for them becomes part of everyday life.
That philosophy also inspired another part of Lorenzo's work. He created Royal Treatment, a line of pH-balanced grooming and pet-care products influenced by his family's Italian heritage and generations of experience in the beauty industry.
For Lorenzo and Dasha, rescue, advocacy, and everyday care all come from the same place—a deep love of animals and a belief that they deserve to be treated like family.
In future issues, we'll introduce you to more of their dogs, their work with Animal Aid USA, and the stories behind Royal Treatment.
| | Vital Vet readers receive 20% off their first order with code VitalRoyalty | | CELEBRATING RECOVERY
One Dog's Journey Back to Walking | | |
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