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July 21. 2012 11:41PM
Animal therapist Jennifer Brooks works on front leg range of motion and stretching with a horse named Passion. (Courtesy)
Max the dog gets his walk on with an underwater treadmill at Horse 'n Hound in Nashua. (Courtesy)
New business provides physical therapy to animals
Animal therapist Jennifer Brooks works on front leg range of motion and stretching with a horse named Passion. (Courtesy)
Max the dog gets his walk on with an underwater treadmill at Horse 'n Hound in Nashua. (Courtesy)
NASHUA — Not many animals are privy to the luxury of physical therapy. But a new business in Nashua, Horse 'n Hound at 531 Amherst St., aims to give animals just that.
Physical therapist Jennifer Brooks, a certified canine rehabilitation practitioner, is the woman behind the business. Brooks said she feels blessed to be able to combine her professional skills with her love of animals.
“I've been an animal lover all my life, and an equestrian all my life,” she said.
Brooks said around 2000 she took a few years off from human physical therapy, using the time to reevaluate her career path. She found a flyer advertising a certification in equine rehabilitation.
“And I thought, gee, why not find my clinical profession that I love, physical therapy, and focus it on animals, that are my hobby.”
She said the stopped treating humans because the insurance industry began dictating what she could and couldn't do.
“The challenging part of human physical therapy is pretty much the change in the insurance industry that's made it less appealing for a clinician.”
“The positive of working with humans is that you've got the verbal/cognitive interaction, where with animals you really have to focus on their behaviors, and have a sense of animal behaviors and actions, and learn to read the animals.”
Working closely with veterinarians is a key part of the work, Brooks said. In order to see an animal, a veterinarian referral is required. Horse 'n Hound will set that up however, so customers can come to them first.
After working in Woburn, Mass., and conducting the necessary market research, Brooks decided to open Horse 'n Hound (website: hnhpt.com).
“The trend towards animal physical therapy in the U.S. started about 15 years ago, which is a little bit delayed,” she said. “In Europe and Australia and in various counties around the world, (it) is very common, and now the trend has moved to the U.S.”
Indeed, New Hampshire is only the sixth state in the country to allow physical therapists to treat animals, Brooks said.
The law, which was passed in 2011, was the result of a four-year collaboration between veterinarians and physical therapists, Brooks said. And she was one of the participants.
Brooks said there are some 90 small animal veterinarians in the area, but nothing in terms of physical therapy. It was the perfect opening for her business.
James Brooks, an electrical engineer by trade, helps run his wife's business.
In researching the market they received positive feedback about the potential for animal therapy in the area.
The clinic offers state-of-the-art hydro-therapy using an underwater treadmill for strengthening, flexibility and range of motion restoration. Treatments for weight loss, strengthening, osteoarthritis and other conditions are also available.
An open house will take place Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Amherst Street location.
Simon Rios may be reached at srios@newstote.com.
Physical therapist Jennifer Brooks, a certified canine rehabilitation practitioner, is the woman behind the business. Brooks said she feels blessed to be able to combine her professional skills with her love of animals.
“I've been an animal lover all my life, and an equestrian all my life,” she said.
Brooks said around 2000 she took a few years off from human physical therapy, using the time to reevaluate her career path. She found a flyer advertising a certification in equine rehabilitation.
“And I thought, gee, why not find my clinical profession that I love, physical therapy, and focus it on animals, that are my hobby.”
She said the stopped treating humans because the insurance industry began dictating what she could and couldn't do.
“The challenging part of human physical therapy is pretty much the change in the insurance industry that's made it less appealing for a clinician.”
“The positive of working with humans is that you've got the verbal/cognitive interaction, where with animals you really have to focus on their behaviors, and have a sense of animal behaviors and actions, and learn to read the animals.”
Working closely with veterinarians is a key part of the work, Brooks said. In order to see an animal, a veterinarian referral is required. Horse 'n Hound will set that up however, so customers can come to them first.
After working in Woburn, Mass., and conducting the necessary market research, Brooks decided to open Horse 'n Hound (website: hnhpt.com).
“The trend towards animal physical therapy in the U.S. started about 15 years ago, which is a little bit delayed,” she said. “In Europe and Australia and in various counties around the world, (it) is very common, and now the trend has moved to the U.S.”
Indeed, New Hampshire is only the sixth state in the country to allow physical therapists to treat animals, Brooks said.
The law, which was passed in 2011, was the result of a four-year collaboration between veterinarians and physical therapists, Brooks said. And she was one of the participants.
Brooks said there are some 90 small animal veterinarians in the area, but nothing in terms of physical therapy. It was the perfect opening for her business.
James Brooks, an electrical engineer by trade, helps run his wife's business.
In researching the market they received positive feedback about the potential for animal therapy in the area.
The clinic offers state-of-the-art hydro-therapy using an underwater treadmill for strengthening, flexibility and range of motion restoration. Treatments for weight loss, strengthening, osteoarthritis and other conditions are also available.
An open house will take place Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Amherst Street location.
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Simon Rios may be reached at srios@newstote.com.