Shetland Sheepdog
Our hardest-working patients.
Shelties have one of the highest care intensities of any breed we treat — an average of 26 sessions each. Hip dysplasia and disc disease are their most common reasons for coming in.
Shetland Sheepdogs are 2.7× more likely than the average RehabVet patient to come to us for Hip dysplasia.
27% of the Shetland Sheepdogs we treat — vs the clinic-wide average across 2,577 pets.
The conditions behind the visits
Share of Shetland Sheepdogs we've treated who carry each diagnosis. A badge means it's more common in Shetland Sheepdogs than across our patients overall.
Based on recorded diagnoses; a pet may have more than one.
How we treat Shetland Sheepdogs
Share of Shetland Sheepdog therapy sessions by type (booking data, 2023–2026).
A Shetland Sheepdog's typical journey
Hydrotherapy and rehabilitation form the backbone of Sheltie care, with underwater treadmill work to rebuild strength for these athletic herding dogs.
The Shetland Sheepdogs in our care
Ten years of staying ahead of it
Diagnosed with hip dysplasia as a pup, this patient began rehab early. Now ten, the condition has not deteriorated — proof of how early, consistent care changes the long arc of joint disease.
Is your Shetland Sheepdog slowing down?
Whether it's a sudden injury or the slow creep of age, the earlier we start, the more we can do. We'd love to help your Shetland Sheepdog move comfortably again.