At one year old, Heidi went to Massey University and was diagnosed with severe hip dysplasia. I was told her level of arthritis was so extreme - they were shocked she could still walk. At that age, there was nothing Massey could do for her. I was sent away and advised to manage her condition conservatively until she deteriorated enough to qualify for hip replacements. That’s how we walked into Helen’s clinic — absolutely broken. Heidi had been doing hydrotherapy, physiotherapy, and laser therapy religiously for two years before having her first hip replacement. The team at Massey were amazed by how quickly she recovered after surgery. Her muscle strength and stability gave her the best possible chance for a successful recovery post-op. A year later, she had her other hip replaced — and again, she recovered miraculously. I cannot thank Helen and the team enough for saving my Heidi girl's life. For the first time ever, Heidi is now pain-free!
I highly recommend Black Dog Physio. Our elderly labrador Finn (11) has multiple joint issues, elbow dysplasia, past cruciate repair surgery and more recently another cruciate tear. Surgery was not a good option for Finn with multiple joint problems & the amazing team at Black dog physio came to the rescue. Helen gives a thorough examination and in consultation with Finn's vet he has had several sessions in the hydrotherapy treadmill, plus we've been given ongoing home exercises. Lauren's very practical approach to teach me how to use my body to get Finn to do the exercises made a big difference. I'm very happy to report that Finn is weight bearing on his injured leg and going for decent walks. This is a great outcome & we won't be pursuing surgery! Thank you to the amazing team at Black Dog Physio!
Our 6 year old furbaby Lyra is a "regular customer" of Anneka as she recovers from recent TPLO surgery. Lyra takes a while warming up to people but Anneka has been amazing with her. We are also learning from Anneka's own experience with her dog. We cannot speak highly enough of Black Dog Physio. Super happy with the care Lyra receives.
We’re so grateful for the love, care, and expertise that Black Dog showed our beautiful girl Chuck. Sadly, Chuck developed paralysis in all of her legs. Because of Cates care, Chuck had the best possibility quality of life until we had to say goodbye. We absolutely trust Black Dog to look after our fur kids - so much so we’re back with another pup. Thank you for taking care of the pug kids!
Black dog physio helped our dog Sammy recover from spinal surgery recently. We were really impressed with Helen’s care and kindness. She has an amazing talent for working with dogs and gave us a set of fun and easy activities to do with our furry friend that saw him up and going in practically no time at all. 10/10.
Richard Buchan / Porirua
For the past few months, our lovely dog Lana has been attending weekly hydrotherapy sessions at Black Dog Physio. These visits have become a highlight for her, especially while recovering from ligament pain in both back legs. Sara’s gentle, patient approach put Lana at ease from the very first session. Her excitement when arriving speaks volumes about the care she receives. Since Lana’s recent TPLO surgery, Sara has supported us every step of the way. Physiotherapy has already made a noticeable difference. Sara clearly cares deeply for animals, and her ability to build trust gives us confidence in Lana’s recovery.
Clove loves her weekly visits to Black Dog Physio, which have been hugely helpful in her recovery. The physio sessions include laser, PEMF, and a personalised exercise plan that’s improved her strength, coordination, and nerve sensation. She recently started hydrotherapy and had a fantastic first session. She absolutely loves Helen and the team—thank you all!
I can't thank enough and I'm so grateful and lucky that my dog Shadow was referred to Black Dog physio by my Vet. He was hit by a car in April and could not use his right front leg. I firmly believe that Helen's early intervention saved his leg. He can walk now, still limping a bit but using his leg. Thank you to Tara as well for her input. I'm very happy and would highly recommend Black Dog physio!
Helen’s professionalism and compassion are outstanding. After contacting her about our dog’s collapsing back end, she saw him promptly and created a tailored plan. Over the year, her hydrotherapy and physio care helped him regain strength and stability. We saw such incredible progress and truly valued her support. Sadly our dogs have now passed but Tui (and Ben's) final years were helped so much by the rehabilitation and guidance we received.
We had our first session with Cate, and Sam had a great time. Cate was gentle, patient, and caring, and she built trust with him quickly—of course, the treats helped! I always felt very confident that my Sam was in the very best hands.