Frequently Asked Questions

• No primary care. Ruff Day’s scope of practice is 100% acupuncture and physical rehabilitation so we can stay focused on our mission: to minimize pain, maximize mobility, and improve function.

  • We do not express anal glands, do trim nails, give vaccines, perform blood draws, as these very important services tend to erode patient trust or fall outside of our focuses.

• No euthanasia or emergency services. We carry no drugs/pharmaceuticals.

• No x-ray or lab work capabilities. Sometimes I may recommend that you visit your primary care or specialist veterinarian for specific lab work or x-rays.

• No hydrotherapy. Ruff Day currently does not have a therapy pool or underwater treadmill, but we have a great referral relationship with local facilities who do.

• We require that all of our patients have an established relationship with a full-service veterinarian, and has been seen by their veterinarian within the last 12 months. The scope of our medicine is limited to providing long-term lifestyle based care, which complements the extremely important check ups and routine care that your primary care Veterinarian provides.

• If your pet’s mobility condition is new and you have not visited your primary care vet yet, we do recommend seeing them first, when possible.

• The services we provide are designed to be complementary to general, primary veterinary care in nature. This means that our medicine relies on baseline medical needs having been taking care of by other outstanding professionals who “specialize” in general care, have advanced diagnostic capabilities (such as x-ray machines, blood analyzers, and staff available to provide this primary care), and are able to ensure that routine medical needs are being addressed on a regular basis.

Nope! I take care of all of that for you!

Records will be requested from the pet’s primary care veterinarian and any pertinent veterinary specialists prior to the scheduled consultation. Your vet will likewise be kept updated after important visits. This is to facilitate open communication and a collaborative environment between all members of your patient’s medical team, consistent with our dedication to the development of a safe and effective treatment plan for all of our patients.

1. Prior to your pet’s appointment, our Veterinarian will review records from your primary care veterinarian, including any medications prescribed to your pet, pertinent lab work, imaging studies, and specialist’s reports.

2. During the initial consultation we will have a relaxed chat about your pet’s history regarding the condition(s) affecting them, and your pet will have time to relax and get acclimated to our office--this gives time to share valuable information and make behavioral observations while allowing us to make friends in a non-threatening way.

3. Next comes a general physical exam, an assessment of your pet’s neurological function, and a thorough palpation of your pet’s musculoskeletal and connective tissue system (called a myofascial exam). We will discuss pain-relief and functional restoration options, including your pet’s diagnosis or suspected diagnosis, treatment goals, types of treatment(s) recommended, risks or possible side effects associated with these treatments, and the anticipated treatment frequency.

4. For the majority of pets, we are able to start treatment as long as it is medically appropriate and time permits.

5. We send an update to your family veterinarian after the initial consultation. This dedication to communication helps ensure your pet gets the very best care possible from every member of his or her medical team.

At Ruff Day Vet, we welcome cats, provided they can be transported safely and securely to our Pet Gym by their owners. We recognize that not all cats adapt well to new environments, so we rely on you, the owner, to determine if an appointment will be beneficial for your pet. For cats that thrive in our setting, we ensure a positive experience filled with treats and plenty of affection, helping them form happy associations with their visits!

Ruff Day’s services are cost-effective because we provide targeted treatments that lead to quicker and more effective results. Regular sessions help prevent serious health issues, reducing the need for costly emergency treatments and surgeries. We use tried and true tools and techniques to ensure high-quality care, resulting in better outcomes and fewer visits over time. Our comprehensive treatment plans complement general veterinary care, minimizing complications and additional treatments. Effective treatments mean faster recovery for your pet, saving you time and reducing stress. In the long run, high-quality care today can save you significant time, uncertainty, and money.

Sadly, though we wish we had extraordinary powers of divine origins, we do not work literal miracles. We are proud of our work and the results that we help our patients achieve, but there is nothing supernatural about what we do. Outcomes come down to the following:

1. Every individual’s situation is different, and sometimes we achieve really good, improbable results that are unanticipated. Sometimes tests, labs, and the prognosis of providers may not reflect the ability of a pet to improve, or accurately predict how their individual physiology will progress with assigned procedures or protocols.

2. Owners who experience “miraculous” results are due much of the credit for their hard work, and their personal attention to making progress in their own home practice. They often undervalue their role in a positive patient outcome.

3. The hard work of our doctor and staff help us to help many patients. We always aim to surpass expectations, but acknowledge that results may vary. It is our job to improve our operations and practices to continually seek improvement and growth.