In this issue ... join us Oct. 17 for our Virtual CE Event, technician grant, chronic pain survey, observe before you correct, back to routine, and more!

President's Message

We Look Forward to Learning With You This Fall!

Dear Colleagues,

As the hot summer days turn into crisp fall evenings, I always find myself thinking about going back to school. I remember the excitement, and nervousness, of a new school year, with new classmates, exams, and projects ahead. During my second year of vet school, I remember telling my mentors how much I was looking forward to graduating so I would never have to study again. They both laughed and said, “We never stop learning in this profession!”

Well, they were right. Veterinary medicine is a profession where we are always learning, growing, and discovering new ways to help our patients. Continuing education is an important part of our AARV mission, and we’re excited to provide another opportunity for our members to learn and connect through this year’s Fall Virtual CE Event.

Join us on Saturday, October 17, 2026, beginning at 9:00 a.m. CST, for 4 hours of RACE-approved CE. This event is free for all AARV members!

We have a phenomenal line-up this year:

Dr. Tari Kern will kick off our program with a lecture on neurological rehabilitation. We will then highlight two of our AARV Research Grant recipients and learn about the results of their research: Dr. Brittany Ludwig and Dr. Arielle Pechette Markley.

Our event will conclude with a lecture and roundtable discussion on joint disease and treatment options, featuring: Dr. Juli Goldstein, Dr. Jeffrey Christiansen, Kristen Hagler, RVT-VTS Rehab, Dr. Lisa Mason and Dr. Tom Yarbrough.

A special thank you to this year’s sponsor, PetVivo.

Registration for the Fall Virtual Continuing Education Event will open after Labor Day. Keep an eye on your email for the registration link!

We look forward to learning with you this fall!

With much gratitude,

Julie Servaites, DVM, CVA, CCRP, GDVCHM

president@rehabvets.org

AARV Members: Join Us for the 2026 AARV Virtual Continuing Education Event!

Saturday, October 17, 2026

9:00 AM to 1:30 PM CST

Online

The AARV Board is excited to present this year's lineup for the 2026 Fall Virtual CE Event, coming up on Saturday, October 17. This event is free to all AARV members and will be providing 4 hours of RACE approved CE.

The series will have lectures focused on physical rehabilitation of the neurological patient and an overview of intraarticular injection therapies, as well as the presentations of two AARV research grant winner abstracts. Our meeting will conclude with an exciting round table discussion of intraarticular therapies and multimodal approaches to osteoarthritis.

Thank you to this year's sponsor PetVivo.

AARV members: Registration for this free event will open after Labor Day. Please watch your email for an invitation with the registration link!

AARV 2026 Fall Virtual CE Program Agenda

Veterinary Technicians: Apply for the Rehabilitation Technician Case Report Grant By September 9th!

The AARV invites rehabilitation technician members to submit a case report for the Healing Oasis Rehabilitation Technician Case Report Grant. To learn more about the grant requirements and other grant opportunities, please log in to the AARV website and visit the Grant Opportunities web page in the Members Area.

Rehabilitation Technician Case Report Grant

(Note Updated Schedule)

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 to cover registration, transportation, and lodging for the 2026 Healing Oasis Conference. The conference will be held October 23-25, 2026, at the National University of Health Sciences, 200 E. Roosevelt Rd., Lombard, Illinois. Visit The Healing Oasis Wellness Center website to learn more about the 2026 Healing Oasis conference, “Resilience in Motion: Comparative Rehabilitation & Manual Therapies for All Beings.”

Case Report Submission Deadlines:

Submission deadline: September 9, 2026

Presentation of case report: October 23-25, 2026

Please note: Applicants must be AARV members in good standing to submit grant applications. If you are not a member, we encourage you to join AARV and apply for a grant. If you have any questions, please contact us at education@rehabvets.org.

Veterinarians: Take This Survey About Treatment Approaches for Chronic Pain in Dogs

We are conducting a survey to investigate current chronic pain management practices of veterinarians in the United States and Canada. We hope to use these data to guide continuing education and understand potential ways to improve veterinary pain management. 

The survey can be accessed here:

https://forms.gle/nTzszSbyuahbLFiD8

The survey takes approximately 7-10 minutes to complete. Please only submit one set of answers per individual, though sharing the study link with peers is welcome and encouraged!

Participation is voluntary and no incentives are provided. Your answers and submitted information will be anonymous and confidential. 

If you have any questions, you are welcome to contact the primary researchers by email at jordanfarrell@live.com.

Jordan Gibson, DVM

Theresa Wendland, DVM, DACVSMR

PT CORNER

Before You Correct, Observe

by Sonia Lucas, DPT, CCRT

PT Liaison

When we see a dog struggle with an exercise or posture, our first instinct can be to help them get it right. But that first repetition can give us a lot of information before we start changing things. Where are they putting their weight? What compensation are they choosing? Are they moving too quickly, shuffling instead of picking up a limb, or avoiding a particular position? Just as importantly, how might our own treat placement, body position, or cue be influencing what we’re seeing?

Rather than immediately correcting a foot or simply repeating the exercise, take a moment to watch the strategy the patient has chosen. Then consider whether the change needs to come from the patient, the exercise, or your own handling. For example, if a dog appears to be offloading a limb during a plank, try switching your position to the opposite side and retesting before assuming the dog is having difficulty with that exercise. Even the way a dog pushes into your hand can influence their position. Sometimes changing our own setup changes what we see.

During your next session, before correcting the patient’s posture or movement, watch that first repetition and ask yourself: “What is the patient telling me, and what might I be telling them?”

TECHNICIAN CORNER

Back to Routine: Helping Our Pets Adjust After a Busy Summer

by Nancy Couillard, RVT, CCRTech, VTS (Phys. Rehab), COCM, CCMT

Technician Liaison

September often brings a familiar shift for families. Vacations wind down, children return to school, and work and household schedules become more structured. After a summer filled with travel, outdoor adventures, and changing routines, our pets may also need a little help adjusting to the return of a more predictable schedule.

For dogs participating in rehabilitation or conditioning programs, consistency can be especially important. Changes in activity levels, missed home exercises, or periods of increased activity during the summer can affect strength, mobility, endurance, and overall function. Returning to a regular routine provides an excellent opportunity to reassess those goals and get back on track.

This doesn't necessarily mean adding more exercise. Instead, it means establishing a balanced and sustainable routine that fits into the family's new schedule. Short, consistent sessions of therapeutic exercise can often be more beneficial than occasional longer workouts. Incorporating exercises such as controlled sit-to-stands, weight shifts, balance activities, or prescribed strengthening exercises into a daily routine can help maintain progress while keeping rehabilitation manageable for busy families.

Certified rehabilitation technicians are an important part of this process. Working alongside the rehabilitation veterinarian, they can help clients reassess home exercise programs, modify exercises as patients progress, and find practical ways to incorporate rehabilitation into everyday life. They can also help identify when a pet may need additional support following changes in activity or routine.

As families settle back into their fall schedules, September is the perfect time to check in on our pets' wellness goals. A little consistency can go a long way toward maintaining mobility, strength, and quality of life.

Back to school doesn't have to mean back to square one — it's an opportunity to get the whole family, including our four-legged members, back into healthy routines.

Learn More About APRVT

The technicians 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!

• Facebook - Academy of Physical Rehabilitation Veterinary Technicians-APRVT 
• Instagram - APRVT_vetrehabtechs

AARV Members: Review Your Profile in Our Rehabilitation Professional Directory

Professional AARV members have the opportunity to be included in our Find a Rehabilitation Professional directory. The directory is searchable and available to the public.

AARV Members: Please take a few minutes to log in to the new website, review your profile in the member directory, and check out the member-only pages on the website.

To become an AARV member, go to the Join AARV page, choose your membership level, complete your member profile, and join online.

If you have questions about logging in or renewing your membership, please contact us at aarv@rehabvets.org.

Student Members:

Check Out the Student Section of Our Website!

by Britt Carr Benson, DVM, CCRT, DACVSMR

Education Liaison

Please see the student section of our website to view the benefits for student members. Membership is free to students enrolled in accredited veterinary, veterinary technician/nurse, and physical therapy programs.

To see a complete list of our current externship opportunities, visit our website, log in as a member, and go to the member-only Student Job Shadowing/Externships page.

Do you have a student club at your university that is interested in learning more about rehabilitation and sports medicine? See the Student Information page for instructions about how to register your club. We can help arrange a rehab lecture in your school for registered student clubs. Contact education@rehabvets.org for more information.

Check Out Our Sponsors Page for Discounts!

Did you know …

Many of our sponsors offer discounts on products as well as reductions on future course tuition and continuing education classes.

Visit the AARV Sponsors page for more information.

The AARV would like to thank all of the rehabilitation professionals who have volunteered to mentor and offer job shadowing/externships to veterinary and veterinary technician students who are interested in rehabilitation. To see a complete list of our current externship opportunities, visit our website, log in as a member, and go to the member-only Student Job Shadowing/Externships page.

If you would like to join our mentor list, please email Dr. Britt Carr Benson, Education Liaison, at education@rehabvets.org. 

Check Out AARV's Articles of Interest!

AARV's searchable Articles of Interest database is on hold due to our website transition. While we are working on developing a new searchable tool, please be sure to see our Articles of Interest PDFs in the Member Area of the website.

Each month, AARV posts Articles of Interest on its website that have been selected by AARV founder Dr. Julia Tomlinson because of their relevance to the field of veterinary rehabilitation. 

To view the Articles of Interest PDFs, visit our website, log in as a member, and go to the member-only Articles of Interest PDFs page.

Our thanks to Dr. Julia Tomlinson for selecting relevant journal articles each month and Dr. Bruce Henderson, AARV Secretary, for preparing the searchable articles.

Check the AARV Calendar for Upcoming Events

Want to learn which courses are coming up at Academy of Animal Sport Science (AASS), Canine Rehabilitation Institute (CRI), Chi University, CuraCore® VET, Healing Oasis Wellness Center, Northeast Seminars/NC State Veterinary Medicine, and University of Tennessee/Veterinary Academy of Higher Learning? Check the AARV Calendar of Events on our website, which contains upcoming rehabilitation classes and other continuing education events. You can also visit AARV's Training in Animal Rehabilitation page to learn more about these educational programs and find links to their websites. 

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.

Connect with the AARV on LinkedIn!

Let's network! Connect with the AARV on LinkedIn by clicking on this link or the LinkedIn logo at right.

Interested in submitting an employment ad or becoming a sponsor? See the Purchase an Ad or Sponsorship page on our website to submit your ad or learn more.

JOB POSTINGS

Employment postings can be found in the Members Area of our website, available to current AARV members.

Current postings include:

• Canine Rehabilitation Therapist, Oregon
• Certified Small Animal Rehabilitation Veterinarian, California
• Rehabilitation Certified Veterinarian, Ohio

Members: For complete details of job postings, log in to the AARV website using your username and password, then go to the member-only Employment Opportunities page to learn more about each job and how to apply.

To submit an employment ad, visit the Purchase an Ad or Sponsorship page.

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.

TIER 1 - PLATINUM: SPONSORS PROVIDING GRANTS & AWARDS

Canine Rehabilitation Institute (CRI): 10% discount for AARV members on any certification or continuing education course.

To redeem the CRI discount: Use the discount code "AARV10CRI" during registration.

Healing Oasis: 10% discount for AARV members on continuing education seminars.

To redeem the Healing Oasis discount: Contact Healing Oasis for details.

TIER 2 - GOLD: SPONSORS PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

Spryng: 15% off Spryng purchases directly though the Spryng website.

To redeem the Spryng discount: Use the discount code "AARV".

TIER 3 - SILVER: SPONSORS PROVIDING MEMBER DISCOUNTS

GingerLead: 50% discount off MSRP for any size order.

To redeem GingerLead discount: Contact GingerLead for details.

My Pet's Brace: 10%-15% discount.

To redeem My Pet's Brace discount: Contact My Pet's Brace for details.

TIER 4 - BRONZE: ADDITIONAL SPONSORS

Partner with us! We offer three opportunities for you to choose from. Find out more by clicking here.

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