Fur Ability Animal Rehabilitation Inc.

Fur Ability Animal Rehabilitation Inc. Fur Ability provides physical rehabilitation for animals, working by referral to complement your vet’s care. Helping dogs move & feel better.

With over 20 years of vet experience behind the business, we focus on pain management, mobility, and recovery. Fur Ability provides physical rehabilitation for dogs, working by referral to complement your vet’s care. With over 20 years of veterinary experience behind the business, we focus on pain management, mobility, and recovery—helping dogs move better, feel better, and enjoy life to the fullest.

Big news at Fur Ability! We are beyond thrilled—this is even bigger than the underwater treadmill arriving… we’re not jo...
10/15/2025

Big news at Fur Ability!

We are beyond thrilled—this is even bigger than the underwater treadmill arriving… we’re not joking! 😄 Please join us in welcoming Erin to the Fur Ability team as our newest Rehab Therapist!

You’ll start seeing Erin around the clinic as she begins helping our existing clients and slowly building her own client base. This means more availability for appointments and shorter wait times for everyone—something we know many of you have been hoping for!

A little about Erin:

*"Hi, I’m Erin! I’m a physiotherapist with a background in acute care orthopaedics and a lifelong love of dogs. I graduated from Dalhousie University with a Masters of Science in Physiotherapy in 2019 and have spent the past six years working in human medicine. I’m excited to be expanding into the world of canine rehabilitation—a dream of mine since I was 16!

I’m completing the Animal Rehab Division’s certification program and love seeing how physio principles can help our four-legged friends move, recover, and thrive. My passion for canine rehab comes from my love of movement and exercise, and my long-time involvement in dog agility, a sport I’ve been part of for more than 23 years. Seeing how physical conditioning and recovery impact performance inspired me to pursue this path.

When I’m not working, you’ll find me doing dog agility, reading, hiking, or walking the beach with my border collie, Seeker!"*

We can’t wait for you all to meet Erin and see the skill, care, and energy she brings to Fur Ability. 🐾

It’s here! It’s finally here! ☺️After months of planning, waiting, and excitement, our underwater treadmill has official...
10/12/2025

It’s here! It’s finally here! ☺️

After months of planning, waiting, and excitement, our underwater treadmill has officially arrived!

East Hants now has animal hydrotherapy — well, almost! It’ll take a few more weeks to get everything fully installed and ready for action, but soon we’ll be able to offer this incredible modality to support our patients’ fitness, conditioning, and recovery.

We can’t wait to share updates as the setup comes together and to welcome your dogs to make a splash 💦

It’s here! It’s finally here! ☺️After months of planning, waiting, and excitement, our underwater treadmill has official...
10/12/2025

It’s here! It’s finally here! ☺️

After months of planning, waiting, and excitement, our underwater treadmill has officially arrived!

East Hants now has animal hydrotherapy — well, almost! It’ll take a few more weeks to get everything fully installed and ready for action, but soon we’ll be able to offer this incredible modality to support our patients’ fitness, conditioning, and recovery.

We can’t wait to share updates as the setup comes together and to welcome your dogs to make a splash 💦

Funny how one little throwaway comment can turn into a thing… and now here we are with Amber, Garnet, and Bronze — the f...
09/11/2025

Funny how one little throwaway comment can turn into a thing… and now here we are with Amber, Garnet, and Bronze — the fanciest beagles in town. 👑🐾

These three A-listers made their grand debut at our new clinic dressed head-to-tail in their finest beagle couture. Their mom never fails to bring the sparkle (and the giggles), and honestly, we wouldn’t have it any other way. 🎩💃

Best dressed patients at their first appointment? Absolutely.
Running joke? Now a clinic tradition that I would not have any other way.
And let’s be real — they’ve officially set the bar high… I’ll be continuing to expect outfits for every occasion from here on out. 😉

Week 1 at Fur Ability's new home, is in the books! ✨I couldn’t be prouder of what this little business is becoming. We h...
09/06/2025

Week 1 at Fur Ability's new home, is in the books! ✨
I couldn’t be prouder of what this little business is becoming. We had some settling in (and a few teething problems), but overall it’s been a beautiful start.

Here are just a few of the lucky first pups through the door:
🐾 Summer – our sassy senior, here for quality of life care (don’t tell her I called her a senior!)
🐾 MJ – recovering from spinal surgery, working on mobility, improving neuro input and providing comfort
🐾 Raynor – learning to channel his big emotions and finding relaxation after having his back pain addressed
🐾 Ember – keeping fit and ready for dog sports

It may have been a quieter week while we found our rhythm, but it perfectly showcased the heart of what we do—supporting dogs of all ages and needs through a collaborative approach with other rehab providers, behaviour focused vets and trainers, and sports trainers. 💙

Here we go! 🎉 Day 1 in our brand new space at 71 F Park Road, Elmsdale. Can’t wait to welcome you and your pets here!Mor...
09/03/2025

Here we go! 🎉 Day 1 in our brand new space at 71 F Park Road, Elmsdale. Can’t wait to welcome you and your pets here!

More tours later but here's treatment room one and waiting room for you ❤️❤️❤️❤️

The waiting room is nearly ready and waiting 😁Next to move all the rehab equipment over and we should be ready to go
09/01/2025

The waiting room is nearly ready and waiting 😁

Next to move all the rehab equipment over and we should be ready to go

It’s real!It’s really, really real!!!Well… at least almost real. The final room is being finished, and then it’s time to...
08/31/2025

It’s real!
It’s really, really real!!!

Well… at least almost real. The final room is being finished, and then it’s time to move in and make this the best rehab space I possibly can ❤️

This simple picture represents years of hard work, months of stress and sweat (thank you, NS summer heat 🥵), and the dream of what could be, finally coming together.

A quick reminder: we’ll be partially closed next week while we move in. An email will be going out with our new address, and of course there will be more pictures soon! We’re just waiting on the final permit sign-off before it’s officially home.

Happy International Dog Day from all of us at Fur Ability Animal Rehabilitation!Today we celebrate the zoomies, the flop...
08/26/2025

Happy International Dog Day from all of us at Fur Ability Animal Rehabilitation!

Today we celebrate the zoomies, the floppy ears, the dramatic sighs when you dare sit down without them, and of course the sneaky treat thieves who somehow always know where the carrots are hidden (Sherbet and Phoenix we are looking at you 👀)

We’re lucky to spend our days with dogs who make us laugh, teach us patience, and remind us that life’s better with muddy paw prints on the floor and nose smudges on the windows.

So give your pup an extra belly rub today—they’ve earned it (yes, even if they just rolled in something questionable).

Happy International Dog Day, friends!

Pictures of the terrible twosome "assisting" with renovations ❤️

08/24/2025

Refurbishment update: it’s now safe enough for Princess Phoenix and Imperial Highness Sherbet Lemon to carry out their official flooring inspection. Their chosen method of testing? Zoomies and wrestling across the brand-new rubber flooring.

We’re pleased to report it passed the royal durability test with flying colours.

Yes there is a lot of dust still to clean up but it's getting there 😊

It seems there’s been some discussion recently about my qualifications, so I thought it might be a good time to reintrod...
08/12/2025

It seems there’s been some discussion recently about my qualifications, so I thought it might be a good time to reintroduce myself and Fur Ability.

I’m Kirsty Powell Palmer, owner of Fur Ability, where my focus is on helping dogs move more comfortably, recover from injury or surgery, and maintain mobility as they age.

My background is a little different from many in this field. I originally trained in the UK as a Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) and spent many years in veterinary practice. Later, I completed a two-year Postgraduate Diploma (PgDip) in Veterinary Physiotherapy—an advanced, postgraduate qualification academically equivalent to a Master’s degree.

While I maintain my RVT registration, those skills are not the basis of my work at Fur Ability. I’m not a veterinarian—full stop—and I’m not a human physiotherapist who has transitioned into working with animals. My training was focused entirely on animal anatomy, physiology, and rehabilitation from the outset, building directly on my years of clinical experience in veterinary practice.

Other pathways into rehabilitation bring their own strengths, and I value the variety of expertise they contribute to the profession. My route simply specialised in animals from the very beginning, which has shaped the way I work today.

In Nova Scotia—and in Canada—I’m something of a unicorn due to my international qualifications. These have been formally assessed and recognised following discussions with the NSVMA, and I work strictly by veterinary referral. This ensures your vet and I can collaborate effectively, with each of us contributing our own expertise to support your animal’s health. If I identify anything beyond my scope or requiring further investigation, I refer back to your vet and, where appropriate, recommend other specialists.

This is not a sideline or a short course; it’s the result of more than 20 years in the veterinary industry, over a decade dedicated specifically to rehabilitation, and more than six years of formal education plus countless hours of continuing professional development. My work is grounded in clinical knowledge, collaboration, and a genuine commitment to improving quality of life for the animals in my care.

If your dog is recovering from surgery, managing a long-term condition, or needs support to stay active, Fur Ability is here to help—always in partnership with your veterinary team.

Picture: One of Fur Ability’s very first patients was also my youngest ever—“Reese,” who started treatment at just 12 weeks old. This photo captures her being her silly self during a session, complete with the ever-present “dog hair glitter” that comes with daily life here.

Edit because you lot are wonderful. 🥰 Bonus Qualifications: Certified Chesapeake Bay Retriever wrangler, Master of belly rubs, licensed treat dispenser, champion comforter of anxious dogs, and skilled at earning a place in most dogs’ inner circle of trust.

🌟 We're back from vacation and diving straight into something BIG! 🌟We’re beyond excited to share that Fur Ability is gr...
07/06/2025

🌟 We're back from vacation and diving straight into something BIG! 🌟

We’re beyond excited to share that Fur Ability is growing up — we’ve officially signed the lease on our very own building!
It’s still in East Hants because we wanted to stay local. Our new home will be in the Elmsdale Business Park, right off the highway for easy access.
Our new space is set to open around September 2025, and we’re already knee-deep in plans to make it everything your pets deserve.

Here’s what we’re working on:
-Continuing the same cozy environment you and your pet are used to
-Non-slip floors for safety
-Multiple entry points to make it easy for reactive or mobility-impaired patients to come in
-Low-stress, thoughtfully designed spaces
-A large indoor training and conditioning area, with possible private rental options
-2 treatment rooms
-A proper reception and waiting area (finally!)
-And some exciting new equipment on the horizon… 🐾💦

There’s so much more to come — and we can’t wait to welcome you into our new space when the time comes. Stay tuned for updates!

(PS: We might also be on the lookout for some amazing humans to join the team… but more on that soon!)

Address

Elmsdale, NS

Telephone

+19027090247

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Fur Ability Animal Rehabilitation Inc. posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Fur Ability Animal Rehabilitation Inc.:

Shortcuts

Share

Category