We exist to HELP DOGS RECOVER from injury, WALK AGAIN after paralysis, and LIVE ACTIVE and FULFILLED LIVES as they age.

Upward Dog Rehab & Wellness: In Person Canine Physical Rehabilitation & Online Education
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Canine Rehab

Help In Person & Online

In Person Canine Rehab in Porter’s Lake, Nova Scotia & Surrounding Area.

In person canine rehab assessment to determine the best course of action to promote healing and restore movement. Treatments tailored to your dog’s needs and may include hands on therapies, laser, PEMF, acupuncture, exercise therapy, client education and home exercise plans.
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DON’T LIVE CLOSE BY? Fret Not, WE CAN STILL HELP!

Virtual Consults

Are you struggling to get your dog moving again and don’t have the resources around you to help? Virtual consults provide 1:1 support and guidance from the comfort of your home focused on restoring your dog’s mobility and educating the pet parent.

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Online Learning

Feeling overwhelmed? Pick what you need and learn at your own pace. This course platform is designed for to empower pet parents of dogs with physical or neurologic impairments. The knowledge will help your care for your dog and support their mobility. Professionals’ Corner too

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Welcome! I’m Sarah…

I‘m a physiotherapist, canine rehab therapist but most of all, inspired dog mom. Sammie was the reason I returned to school to become a canine rehab therapist and later in life, our journey with degenerative myelopathy (doggie ALS) inspired me to create online education and programs to support other dog parents.

We help dogs recover from injury and when a condition is chronic or progressive we offer support and creative mobility solutions so you best friend can continue to be an active and happy family member. We aim to foster a supportive relationship with you whether it is in person or virtually so you feel empowered to help your best friend live their best life!

Our Motto… It’s Not Over, It’s Just Different

What Our Clients are Saying

Mandie Richard & Cooper 🐾. It takes a special gift to be able to fully communicate with a being whom can’t use words to express how they feel, but Sarah somehow manages to do this with grace and ease. Watching her interact with my geriatric lab is beyond endearing; her practices have made his life as a 14-year old much more pleasant and pain free. We started our visits with Sarah at a time where an on-set issue made us question whether he would ever walk unassisted again, and now, not only is he walking unassisted, but he’s swimming, playing and living his best ‘old man’ life. Monthly wellness checks keep us on top of our game, help us pick up on potential new issues (ie. arthritis, possible pain etc), and take away any like ‘creeks’ that pop up during the aging process. Working with UpWard Dog has been some of the best money I have ever spent for Coopers well being, we truly can’t recommend her enough for you and your furry best friends.

Leah Darche & Breah 🐾.

I first called Sarah in a panic for an assessment for my boxer girl, Breah. Breah was limping for a few weeks, then all of a sudden completely walking on three legs. The vet thought Breah had a partially torn cruciate tear and the instruction from the vet was to wait to see the specialist.. 5 months later. Talked to some people who recommended I call Sarah in the meantime. Sarah has been working with Breah for a while now and I am so thankful. I can’t imagine just waiting those 5 months, all while the injury getting worse. Breah is back to walking on all 4 legs, and is slowly building muscle and getting stronger while her injury heals (surgery not an option for her). I have and still am learning so much from Sarah. Everything from how dog’s bodies work, how important physio is for dogs (esp. senior, just like senior people), signs of pain, exercises to do at home, and so many great resources for nutrition, supplements, massage, rehab tools, etc. Also have to mention her FB support group where she interviews some incredibly knowledgeable people on a wide range of topics.. some of which are very moving! Get the Kleenex out.
Breah can be reactive with strangers sometimes (she needs her bubble space at times) but with Sarah, she was comfortable almost immediately. She now will even snooze through some laser treatments during appointments and starts whining in the car when getting closer to Sarah’s. Since the injury, there has been ups and downs, but I’ve also realized it’s not a straight road to recovery and Sarah is there to help us through it. Sarah will even check in with how I’M doing, the human, because she has been through things with her own dog so she knows the feelings we are going through on a more extreme level. Her motto is “it’s not over, it’s just different” and she is so right. She’s basically a physio/massage/friend/life coach for me at this point.. whether she knows it or not (haha)! Can not recommend her enough.

Kate Peardon & Pud 🐾.  Our boy Pud lives for mad dashes and long hikes, but several months ago he started lifting up a back leg after those mad dashes and long hikes. X-rays at the vet showed nothing. Friends recommended Sara and we are so glad they did. She is wonderful with Pud and us 😉 Pud is (slightly) thinner, a lot stronger, and increasing the intensity of his exercise with no leg lifting at all. Sara has taught us so much over the last few months. She provides detailed programs with videos and pictures that keep us on track at home. It’s a five-woof review from us!

Ken Lunder & Jannick 🐾. Sarah has gone out of her way to help us rehabilitate our dog. She has been kind, patient and to the point.

A few years after knee surgery our aging dog was beginning to struggle with mobility and weight issues, he has improved dramatically with her rehabilitation advice.

Everything has been done remotely/virtually because of distance. Using pictures, video and zoom we were able to achieve great results.
Thank you Sarah for your passion!

Holly Gallagher & Bella 🐾. We highly recommend Sarah and Upward Dog. The difference she has made in Bella’s quality of life is amazing. Our goal was to avoid a second knee surgery and achieved much, much more. Bella is in better shape, happier and healthier now than she was before her injury – and no surgery. Thank you Sarah!