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Why Rehabilitation for Pets
Veterinary Rehabilitation is not only for pets recovering from surgery or sports injuries, it also improves their quality of life. At Balanced Paws, we strive to create more good days than bad days for our patients. Whether it's getting them to use their leg after surgery, helping them walk again after a neurologic diagnosis, or making sure they can continue to live their best lives as they age.
Meet Michelle
DVM, MS, DACVECC, CVA, CCRV, CMMP
Originally from a small town outside Buffalo, NY, Dr. Savigny knew from a young age that she was meant to be in the veterinary field. She grew up fostering dogs through a local rescue before finally landing her first veterinary job at the age of 16. Since that time, Dr. Savigny has worked in the veterinary field in one capacity or another. After graduating veterinary school at Texas A&M and completing an Emergency and Critical Care internship and residency at Auburn University, she has made the beautiful Pacific Northwest home.
Dr. Savigny spent most of her career working as a criticalist in different specialty hospitals in Western Washington. In 2018, she adopted a Golden Retriever with severe elbow dysplasia. While she had always had an interest in rehabilitation therapy, it wasn’t until then that she truly saw the benefits and potential that the field held. After two years of exploring different types of rehabilitation therapy with her own dog, Dr. Savigny decided that it was time for her to make the switch from emergency medicine to rehabilitation and integrative care.
And she hasn’t looked back since! Dr. Savigny enjoys focusing on each individual animal so that she can offer a comprehensive evaluation and detailed recommendations personalized for that patient, family and situation. While she enjoys caring for all types of patients, she has a special place in her heart for older dogs and cats. She utilizes a multi-modal approach of care that includes facets of both Eastern and Western medicine in order to offer every animal the opportunity to enjoy more good days.
When not at her “regular” job, Dr. Savigny also works part-time at the Humane Society of Cowlitz County providing medical care to a plethora of dogs, cats, livestock, and even the occasional turtle. She still fosters animals from time to time but mostly spends her free time enjoying a glass of wine and time with her mixed menagerie. Her slowly growing farm includes her three dogs: “tripawd” Newfoundland Willow, the notoriously goofy Golden Retriever Brix and rescue Heeler/Saint Bernard mix Torren, as well as her collection of cats and backyard flock of chickens and ducks.
Balanced Paws was formed on the notion that life is all about balance. We all have things we know we should do, and those things we want to do. Rather than focus on either end of the spectrum, we instead need to work on finding the balance between the two that allows us to live longer and happier.
What People Say
CHRISTY
We highly recommend Dr . Michelle Savigny & Alicia. They are great advocates for a patient’s well being. Balanced Paws Rehab has been instrumental in helping my girl, Remy, bounce back after her neurological episodes over the past year.
These episodes have caused hind end weakness, ataxia, muscle loss & nausea. She also had previous minor injuries from her time as a sport dog. After a full physical evaluation they provided acupuncture along with guided exercises which have really improved Remy’s quality of life.
She has returned to eating well & enjoying 1-2 mile walks. She has also begun to play again.
Remy wasn’t too sure about being poked with needles but their gentle & relaxed setting along with tempting special treats, she now gets excited to see them. They take the time to help your pet feel comfortable. Remy enjoys her monthly follow ups.
PARSAN
I cannot recommend Balanced Paws enough! Alicia and Dr. Savigny are genuinely two of the kindest, empathetic, and intelligent souls I have ever met.
We have two 9 year old German Shepherd Dogs, and each struggle with arthritis in the lower back and legs. Since starting acupuncture and laser services, both of our dogs have such an improved quality of life!
One of our dogs was struggling to get up on our bed even with stairs and had lost interest in playing. After a few sessions, we noticed his personality come back in full swing! It was incredibly heartwarming to see him open back up and we are just mad at ourselves for not calling Balanced Paws sooner!
The level of care Alicia and Dr. Savigny provide is first class! I feel like they meet each creature where they are. Both of our dogs struggle with human reactivity, but they both have quickly warmed up to Alicia and Dr. Savigny. They are able to read where my dogs are that day and make any adjustments to their plans to ensure that our dogs' comfort is the top priority.
They have also provided amazing recommendations for physical therapy and treatments we can do for them in between times, and it has become a nice way for us to spend time with our dogs and give them the physical and mental stimulation, all while helping them stay strong and age
gracefully.
I truly cannot express in words the level of gratitude my husband and I have for Alicia and Dr. Savigny. They really have helped us identify, manage, and treat our dogs pain and it has allowed us to see their full personalities come back after years of feeling like we were at a loss. It has been bittersweet to realize just how much pain they were in before with how happy and well they are doing now (knock on wood!)
Thank you for giving us this time to spend with our kids, Alicia and Dr. Savigny - we are forever grateful for what this allows us to do as a family.
DEENA
Dr. Savigny and Alicia have made a huge difference in the well being of my disabled dog.
We first worked with them at a vet rehab center where they provided acupuncture, laser treatment, Chinese herbs, traditional medications, management, exercises and water therapy.
When they left the center as a team, we did not hesitate to follow them to their next stop on the way to this current home-visiting private practice.
They each and together have a gentle and caring approach and managed to develop a trusting therapeutic relationship with my over-enthusiastic and reactive pitbull. We never imagined he would tolerate a single needle let alone become prone to falling asleep during treatment! Dr. Savigny and Alicia are up to date on a wide range of current treatment approaches, are highly compassionate and skilled people of integrity and I trust them as much as my dog does.
I recommend them whole heartedly and without reservation.