“We specialize in helping SENIOR DOGS improve their INDEPENDENCE with their daily routine, so they can live their GOLDEN YEARS without the need of pain medication”

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Chicago Clinic

TheK9PT is Chicago’s highest rated dog physical therapy and rehabilitation clinic! We have been in business since 2017, and in 2020 we opened a state-of-the-art facility that is designed like no other dog rehabilitation clinic in Chicago. We kept in mind our positive reinforcement and fear free type of approach, and each dog have their own room for the whole session and does not need to come into contact with any other dogs during their appointments. We are conveniently located in the Mayfair/Irving Park neighborhood, just 1/2 mile off the I-94 expressway at 4521 W. Lawrence Avenue. Our clinic is easily accessible to the greater Chicagoland area, even during high traffic times. Parking will NEVER be an issue as we are proud to offer FREE and CONVENIENT parking with two exclusive parking spots available to our clients directly in front of the clinic. Assistance will be provided if you need help getting your pet in or out of your car. 

TheK9PT Chicago parking and storefront

4521 W. Lawrence Avenue (Unit 108), Chicago, IL

TheK9PT Dog Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Entrance
TheK9PT Dog Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Gym

Here’s What Other Pet Parents Like You Are Saying About the Outstanding Care they received at TheK9PT, Chicago’s Highest Rated Dog Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Clinic…

 
 
 
  Excellent  
    
 Based on 123 reviews 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 Yassmeen Saleh 
 
 
 Yassmeen Saleh 
 
2024-04-16
 
 
  
This is such a wonderful place. My 7 year old German Shepherd dog suffered a partial tear of his ACL and The K9PT was recommended for post-op physical therapy to help in the recovery process.  My dog greatly benefited from the physical therapy provided by The K9PT and I am so glad I chose them. My dog not only looked forward to going to his sessions - I even looked forward to going myself! My dog can now run, jump and play like a puppy again. The staff is absolutely amazing and wonderful and Dr. Alex is truly a healer in his practice. Would 100% recommend and I was completely satisfied with the service I received. Thank you for opening this place so close to home and being the absolute best to my dog when he needed it the most!
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Emily Conde 
 
 
 Emily Conde 
 
2024-04-03
 
 
  
The K9 PT was pivotal to Bug’s recovery after his IVDD surgery in 2022. At a time when I was scared of how Bug was going to walk again, the K9 PT provided us with so much support not only during his in person sessions but also with exercises we could do at home. Bug LOVES everyone at the K9 PT and is so thankful for the important role they have played in his IVDD journey!
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Toi Houston 
 
 
 Toi Houston 
 
2024-03-23
 
 
  
We love K9PT❤️This place is phenomenal! They are caring and supportive of your pet and of you as the pet parent! We wouldn’t take our Sully anywhere else! Btw, Alex and Alex are the dynamic duo of sensitivity with a great sense of humor! 😂
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Jerry Bischoff 
 
 
 Jerry Bischoff 
 
2024-03-23
 
 
  
I love this place. They are knowledgeable, professional, and just go above and beyond for your pet. My dog had ACL surgery and they educated me as to how to best care for him and speed up his recovery. I would not take my pet anywhere else for rehabilitation services. And just a shout out to Alex and Alex. You two have fantastic people skills too.
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Christine Zenino 
 
 
 Christine Zenino 
 
2024-03-20
 
 
  
I highly recommend K9PT. Makenzie my 2 year old Bernedoodle had emergency femoral head ostectomy (fho) surgery on her back leg. I was worried that she would have a lifelong issue after the surgery. Luckily we found K9PT! Alex her Physical Trainer was amazing! He is caring and knowledgeable and developed a relationship with Makenzie while having her do all the exercises and treatments. Alex and the entire staff thoroughly explained the treatment plan, her progress, payment options and insurance coverage. Makenzie has made a full recovery thanks to their help and services! I highly recommend using K9PT!   Makenzie had a great experience going there and was so excited each time we went.  They were very friendly  helpful,  patient and had great follow up.Thanks so much Alex and the team.
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Arpana U 
 
 
 Arpana U 
 
2024-03-19
 
 
  
K9PT, Francisco, Alex, and the entire team are wonderful. We saw so much improvement with our bulldog that came in with a lot of mobility issues. PT and vet care literally turned it around and he's trotting around now as happy as can be. Alex treated our boy like a king: cold water, personal fan, rolled out the red carpet and our guy knew it. Francisco moved at his pace with individualized plans. Our boy was always happy to come here (no anxiety like another place we had started with before switching to here). Highly recommend.
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Collette Tennant 
 
 
 Collette Tennant 
 
2024-03-08
 
 
  
When Oliver suddenly lost his ability to walk or even stand on his rear legs in mid-November we were terrified and had no idea what it meant for his future. Our pup had back surgery for 2 herniated disks within a couple days and had some immediate improvements but a long road ahead for recovery. When he was cleared to begin therapy we found K9PT and over the past few months Oliver has gained so much movement and strength back. When we started working with Dr. Francisco Oliver needed support in order to walk around and now he can walk without assistance and can even play with his pup-brother again. I love that Dr. Francisco teaches me how to do the exercises at home and even helps me figure out what I could use at home in place of the PT supplies he’s using during our sessions. Although Oliver will always have some impairment because of his back injury, his quality of life has been returned and we can never thank Dr. Francisco and the team at K9PT enough for helping get our happy Oliver back.
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Leanna 
 
 
 Leanna 
 
2024-02-09
 
 
  
When my Maya tore her CCL, I was at a loss thinking how I would manage this alone, living in a fourth floor walk-up.  A few people in a dog group I'm in recommended The K9PT.  The owner, Francisco, offered to sell me a Help 'Em Up Harness, which is normally reserved for clients.  This was a lifesaver because I would've had to wait a few days for delivery if I bought it online.  When I went there to buy it, he also helped me w/the fitting, showed me how to use it and basically gave me a free consult.

So after Maya's TPLO surgery, I did not hesitate to do her PT here.  We had Dr. Alexander and he was amazing!  He was patient, kind and more available for advice post-surgery than the team at MedVet.  Maya looked forward to going there every week!  I have to say, Alex at the front desk is the best too!  So friendly and helpful!

I'm so glad we came here because it made Maya's recovery easier for the both of us!
  
 
  
 
 
 
 L Hall 
 
 
 L Hall 
 
2024-02-05
 
 
  
There's a reason K9PT has over 100 five star reviews. I think everyone would give them more stars if they could. Pets are family and everyone at K9PT understands that.

I found K9PT after my 11 year old goldendoodle (Lana) started slowing down and seeming more stiff in her joints. We have been working with Dr. Francisco for about 5 months now. I've seen a huge difference in my dogs mobility and comfort. She is stronger, more flexible, and seems healthier than she's been in over a year.

Going to the PT sessions has equipped me with knowledge I'm able to implement at home. It enables me to quickly spring into action and work on different exercises that help get my dog back on track. That means the world to my family because we hope Lana will maintain the best quality of life for as long as possible.

Not only is the entire team at K9PT amazing, my dog actually LOVES going. She is thrilled to see Francisco and knows lots of treats are headed her way. :)

Thank you for caring for our special furry friends!
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Theresa Dambrose 
 
 
 Theresa Dambrose 
 
2024-02-03
 
 
  
We had an amazing experience at K9PT!  My Golden recovered beautifully from her TPLO and we loved being able to incorporate all the stuff we learned.  Thank you!

We understand that you may want to find out more about cost and availability BEFORE booking a dog physical therapy & rehabilitation appointment for your pet. If you want to know how much it costs and what availability we have, please click the button below and complete a short form:

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How can we help you?

We have put together some of the best educational content for pet parents in a series of newsletters on several topics and conditions. Download our newsletters (currently free) ​to start helping your pup right away…



The Truth About Arthritis in Dogs




Intervertebral Disc Disorder (IVDD)




Hip Dysplasia – Surgical & Non-Surgical




Post-Surgical ACL/CCL Care




ACL/CCL Conservative Management




Want help deciding if dog physical therapy & rehabilitation can help your pup?


Choose the option that works best for you…


Free Phone Consult


We realize some pet parents may be unsure if dog physical therapy and rehabilitation is right for their pet. It could be that you’re not sure it will work, or whether we can help with your pet’s current issues, or maybe you had a bad experience with rehabilitation in the past. We would love to chat with you to learn more about your pup and see if we are a good fit to help you, please fill out the short form below and tell us more so we can better answer your questions:


Free Phone Consult
Talk to a Doctor First


It is okay if you are not ready to book an appointment for dog physical therapy and rehabilitation right now. Perhaps you have questions and think it would be good to talk to someone at TheK9PT first so you can be 100% sure that we can help you. Perhaps you have tried some form of canine rehabilitation before without much success. That is completely understandable, and if that is the case please click the button below and fill out a short form to schedule a call. We would have no issues answering all the questions you have over the phone, completely free:


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Frequently asked questions






Just like humans, dogs who participate in rehabilitation programs after surgery are more likely to achieve an optimal outcome compared to those who skip it. Post surgical rehabilitation through activity will help keep blood pumping nutrients to the healing tissues as well as stimulating your pup’s mind to prevent boredom and depression. Getting your pup up and moving and putting weight on the post-surgical leg sooner rather than later decreases the risk of injury to the opposite leg, muscle atrophy and loss of strength on the surgical leg. A standard post-surgical CCL rehab program at TheK9PT more often than not consists of 10 rehab sessions in total spread over a 5-6 month period, with more frequent sessions in the first 4-6 weeks before we start spacing those sessions out as pet parents start to progress their home exercise program. To learn more, visit our page here.












Whether hip dysplasia can be treated best conservatively or with surgery depends on the severity of the condition as well as the dog’s age. In some cases, surgery may be warranted to provide the best possible outcome for a dog with hip dysplasia. Before opting in for surgery, it is important to be aware of all the alternatives available that may help to manage the condition more conservatively. A healthy diet and weight, joint supplements, daily exercise and pain medication when necessary can do wonders for managing this common condition. Our goal is to offer much in the way of improving your dog’s quality of life through education, manual therapy and exercises specific to your dog’s condition. To learn more, visit our Hip Dysplasia page here.


















We work with your regular veterinarian to create a successful rehabilitation program specifically for your pup. A specialist will educate you on proper mechanics of exercises so you can work with your pup to maximize the results of treatments. Our staff also provides information on how to create a safe home environment during the recovery period to minimize risk of reinjury. We also emphasize educating pet parents through teaching exercises that they can do at home as for us that is likely the most important aspect of a successful rehab program. We love working with pet parents who want to feel empowered in their dog’s recovery, and that model has been a win-win for everyone as it has allowed us to achieve tremendous outcomes with our patients while decreasing the frequency of visits needed during a rehab program when compared to other rehab clinics.


















A degenerative disease affecting intervertebral discs, which are found between most of the bony vertebrae in the spine. Composed of fibrocartilage, they are like cushions for the spine, acting as shock absorbers and enabling mobility. The disc is similar to a jelly donut. It has a fibrous outer layer and a gelatinous, jelly-like inner layer. IVDD refers to weakened discs more capable of rupture or herniation, which is what happens when that jelly-like substance leaks out into the area of the spinal cord and connected nerve roots. IVDD can be treated conservatively or with surgical intervention, but ultimately the severity of the symptoms will determine that decision. No matter if a dog has had surgery or not, it’s important to get the right treatment from a qualified canine rehab therapist to ensure your pup lives a happy and pain-free life. Read more about how we treat IVDD here.














Dog physical therapy and rehabilitation is focused on optimizing the patient’s response in relation to function versus just on a specific medical diagnosis. The medical diagnosis provided by your veterinarian is important, but even more important is for us to assess each dog to determine how that diagnosis is affecting them. No dog is the same, and each one of them responds differently to an injury or rehab program, therefore it is important for us to develop a rehabilitation program tailored specifically to each pet. We work hand in hand with your veterinary team who manages all medical issues and medications while we work to restore your pet’s function and mobility.












The best way to get your pup moving again, whether that means taking them on walks, playing fetch at the park, or jumping into bed, is to intervene with a tailored exercise program. The program does not need to be complicated, but it does require a progressive approach to give your pup the comfort that they deserve. During the first phase of our rehab program we will focus on getting your pup feeling and moving better, so we can then focus on teaching you a progressive exercise approach always with an emphasis on teaching you what to do at home with your dog. We need a solid foundation to build a house, and to help our aging dogs we need to build their foundation through a progressive and consistent strengthening program that you can follow at home.




















The best way to answer this question would be to start by going over “the cycle of arthritis”. We need to understand that arthritis is a normal part of the aging process, both for ourselves and our pets, and the best thing that we can do is to be proactive rather than reactive. Arthritis can be asymptomatic as well, but once our pups start to show symptoms then we definitely need to start being more proactive than before.


The cycle starts when a pup with arthritis starts to show signs of joint inflammation, which can lead to pain, discomfort, and stiffness. As they feel stiff they tend to be less active, and if we let that happen over time they would lose muscle mass while also gaining weight. With added weight the pressure on their inflamed joints becomes even more uncomfortable, which in turn leads towards increased stiffness and a decrease in their level of physical activity. That is how the cycle of arthritis keeps going on and on, unless we do something about it. Read more on how we treat Arthritis here.




















This is a question that we get a lot! To answer it, here at TheK9PT, we do not use the underwater treadmill as a form of treatment for several reasons as rehabilitation is much more than one modality of treatment, and underwater treadmill is just one small piece of the puzzle. The premise of the underwater treadmill is that the buoyancy of the water will decrease the effects of gravity and thus assist with gait training. The water height can be adjusted in relation to the patient—the higher the water level, the less body weight the patient uses. However, although its use could be beneficial in a minority of cases, the reality is that underwater treadmill is vastly over-used in the field of canine rehabilitation and most of the time, dogs recover much better from injury or surgery without using an underwater treadmill in their rehabilitation program. For even more in depth information, please follow this link where we discuss The About Underwater Treadmill.












Not only are pet parents allowed in each and every session, we encourage it! We pride ourselves on educating pet parents with at home exercises they can do and make you a big part of the treatment plan!


The K9PT Difference


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    We listen to YOU. We spend time learning about your pup’s unique issues and needs, your concerns, and your goals to get your pup as healthy as possible. We know that you are the expert on your pup.
    

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    Fear free approach. TheK9PT is dedicated not only to your pet’s physical well being, but their mental well being as well. We place a priority on building trust with all our patients by not forcing them into situations outside of their comfort zone in order to foster an environment where our patients are excited and eager to participate.
    

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    Education. We place a heavy emphasis on educating our pet parents to empower them with life-long strategies to help improve their pet’s quality of life.
    

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    Payment plan options. Our various payment plans allow you to choose what is best for you and your budget.
    

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    No “cookie-cutter” approach. Your pup’s recovery plan will be created specifically for them! No two dogs are the same, so why should their plan of care be the same?
    



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