I’m Dr. Laura Schwanebeck. I received my Doctorate in Physical Therapy from The University of Florida (Go Gators!). I have spent the first part of my career working with human patients in a variety of settings, and while I enjoyed helping people, over time I began to feel burnt out working in healthcare, so I decided that it was time for a change. I always had a deep love and passion for animals, so I decided to combine my love for animals with my current career, and I completed a Canine Rehabilitation Certification through The Canine Rehabilitation Institute.

I don’t know that even in my wildest dreams, I would have ever envisioned myself as a business owner. But in looking for a change, I decided to create PawsUP Canine Rehabilitation. I noticed that there was a need for additional canine rehab services in my area, and there were no mobile rehab providers serving Volusia County. Mobile rehab is unique in that all visits are conveniently done in your own home. There is no need to struggle with loading your dog into the car, fighting traffic to make the trip to an office for a visit, or worrying about possible interactions with other dogs, especially for those with reactive pups. I travel to your home with my equipment and work with your dog in the place they are most comfortable.

Physical therapists are fortunate in that we spend more time with our patients than many other health care providers. That is one of the things I enjoy, the opportunity to create a partnership between myself and you, the pet parent. I feel that it is a key part of the success of a dog’s rehabilitation journey to have their pet parents involved in the process. This includes both during each rehab session, and between sessions, with the performance of the dog’s prescribed home exercise program. Consistency and dedication go a long way in promoting success through rehabilitation!

All dogs are unique, and so their rehab treatment plan should be as well. Rehab should not be approached with a cookie cutter mentality. I create individualized treatment plans for each dog, based on the findings of my examination and their identified needs and limitations. Treatments can include the use of therapeutic exercises, hands on manual therapies such as stretching, massage, and joint mobilizations, and anti inflammatory and pain relieving modalities including Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) therapy and LASER therapy. Ultimately, the goal of rehabilitation is to address impairments in order to promote improved function, mobility, and quality of life in our pets.