Two Hands Four Paws is an awesome facility, but the people there are beyond awesome. Our Border Collie, Lorna Doone, spent 3 months there following spinal surgery just before the COVID-19 lock down. We did not see her for more than two months. When we did, she was just like her old self; and moreover, after bringing her home, she is always excited about going back and practically runs away with anyone who comes out to get her, never looking back! Lorna is not quite back to normal yet, mostly because she has an intractable infection at the surgical site that is going to require many months of antibiotics, but the progress she has made with the staff at Two Hands Four Paws has been amazing considering we were told by the surgeon before her surgery that she may not be able to walk again. So both the surgeon and Two Hands Four Paws are credited with saving her. We are so, so grateful to have our wonderful, if challenging, Border Collie back. read more

Two Hands Four Paws - Veterinarians Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Two Hands Four Paws is absolutely amazing! I met them four years ago when I rescued a shepherd who had been in a cage her whole life causing severe atrophy. She couldn't walk and the shelter vet said she never would. Leslie and her staff not only got my Ruby walking again, they gave her a new lease on life! Since Ruby I've now taken five more dogs to Leslie and she and her staff have given all of these once abused and injured dogs a whole new lease on life. This place really is a godsend for dogs! The staff is top of the line and everyone cares so much about each dog as if it's their own:) They are really just incredible! read more

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This review pertains ONLY to the Fun Swims, as that's the only service we have used at this facility. We brought y husband's guide dog in on a Saturday for a swim evaluation, because I wanted to take him to the fun swims. He needs a high energy activity to do regularly, because as a guide dog he walks a lot, but doesn't get a lot of "high speed" activities, because he risks getting hurt. Swimming is a great compromise: he loves it, he gets the energy out and doesn't risk hurting his pretty paws or legs because he goes crazy. So we arrived on Saturday and our dog loved swimming! We decided to book an appointment for the following Wednesday for a Fun Swim, where we were told there could be up to 3 more dogs swimming with him. My husband brought him with a friend and they had the pool for themselves. They all had so much fun and my puppy came home happy and spent :D Bryan is wonderful, I can tell that he really loves dogs. We will definitely try to bring our pups there every Wednesday. read more

I called this place to see if I could get my boxer fitted with his wheelchair and I also asked about water therapy in a pool as I had successfully rehabbed my Springer Spaniel when he got hit by a car and had a "spinal luxation". His spine completely separated and went back together which left him completely paralyzed. He could only move his jaw and tail. I brought him back to 90% mobility with pool therapy within 4 months. I exercised his legs, turned him over every 2 hours, cleaned and spoon fed him. But what really helped in the end was having access to a pool and putting bottles under his stomach while I exercised his legs. When I took him back to the doctor, he was so amazed that he took him to all the employees and said, "Wow, look at this, one in a thousand, I have never seen anyone take the time and dedication it took to get a pet back on his feet, most people would put them down". So all I wanted and called for was access to a pool and a wheelchair fitting. and they said they could help me with that. The first thing they did when I got there was to do everything but that, they started with acupuncture which I never asked for, then take a lot of time with small talk. They washed him off and put him on an underwater treadmill that moved itself which does not exercise the most important top part of the thigh which is what he needed. Then talked about how difficult it is for them to clean the pool as a dog sheds as much hair as 20 people. At the end a woman came in who was rude and she talked to us for another 35 minutes and when I asked her again about the wheelchair she said, "sure if we have time for that, we can do that". Then proceeded to give me a sales pitch on a halter which I already had, she wanted to sell me on the brand that they had. Then they told me and my Daughter I would have to bring him in 3 times a week for the same charged price of 275.00 a visit. If my math is correct that is 13,200.00 a year! Well I don't know too many people that can afford that. So now for the last 5 months me and my son have been taking care of my Boxer Moocher and every time we try the wheelchair he doesn't like it and we finally realized it was improperly fitted for him. 5 months later, I get a call from Valerie from 4 paws asking me how Moocher is and I told her I was very disappointed in the service and that I did not get what I came in there for and that is why I did not return. She explained to me that is not the way they do things and that my dog has "Degenerative Myelopathy" which by the way had no doctors diagnosis so how would they know how to treat him is he was not properly diagnosed so how would they know what was best for him? I told her I specifically called asking for a wheelchair adjustment, and I was mislead and told they would do pool therapy and the wheelchair adjustment. Valery then says she would be happy to make another appointment and charge me again. I said that is not right, you guys need to do the right thing and give me a wheel chair adjustment since I already paid for one and did not get one. She says she will ask the owner and call me back. She calls back and says "no they would be happy to do so but will charge me for another visit. I told her I would give her a bad yelp review to let people know that I did not get what I specifically asked to get and promised I would get. Then she tells me that her company does not head to bribery. After hearing her say that I then said to her, even if you give me a free wheelchair adjustment, I would not come in as I see the motivation here is all about getting return customers to keep a good income flow rather than getting pets back to recovery ASAP. So please if you care about your loved pet, this place is about money and I felt ripped off. My beloved dog Moocher means the world to me and my Family. If you love your pet do not take him here. They do everything to keep prolonging the visits rather than getting the pet on their feet and well again. The parking is dangerous and almost none. read more

Incredible, spacious facility with the most caring, professional and knowledgable staff. I have been bringing my 12 year old, terrier-mix, Chupey, here for physical therapy for the past several months and I cannot say enough great things about it! We have spent the most time here with Leslie, Amanda, and Susan who are simply fantastic and a pleasure to work with. Chupey has several ailments in addition to recovering from back surgery and cancer, and has IMPA which affects many of her joints. Chupey was having so much difficulty walking prior to seeing the kind staff at Two Hand Four Paws and now after receiving their care she is back to her happy, energetic self! Thank you, thank you TH4P for everything you have done to help my best friend! read more

Two Hands Four Paws - Veterinarians Near Me - Los Angeles, California

First off the front desk people are fantastic and that is it....I went today to get a CUSTOM wheel chair fitting for my dog(even says it on the website). The price was $100 for a 30 minute CUSTOM fitting. I waited in the room with my anxious dog for 15 minutes and then the owner, yes it is the owner that does the "fittings" not a doctor. He came in and took two measurements one of his height and one of his length. Total of 5 minutes tops and then I was handed a sheet of paper and told to order a medium wheelchair from an internet site and have it shipped to their address. What? Are you serious? I tried to remain calm. First, there was no 30 minute custom fitting. There was no custom wheelchair or any wheelchair to even look at. To top it off, I am supposed to order it myself and have it shipped to their address? I was then told I would have to pay again to pick it up there and have it fitted and put together as the box comes with the parts not assembled. I was completely scammed as there was no custom fitting, there is no custom wheelchair and there is no reason why I should have been charged $100. I could have easily done the measurements and ordered the wheelchair all from the luxury of home without causing my dog undo anxiety of going into a stressful facility in the heat. Oh and by the way, the website says to order a Medium/Large not a medium as the guy said, so had I listened to the owner, I would have ordered the wrong size and then been charged for him to put it together and had further damage caused to my dog by it not fitting properly. Called and they refuse to give me my money back for the fake custom wheelchair fitting. Terrible Terrible. Go to CARE rehab next door... read more

We got to experience Two Hands Four Paws at an event at Three Dog Bakery in Santa Monica. There we met Leslie who gave Angus a good 15 minute massage. Angus seemed happy and content and I think he would really enjoy it much more in the future when he grows up a little a sheds his puppy personality. But we got to learn a little more about their services of canine massage and rehab. Leslie was a nice lady who really is filling a need for dogs who need physical therapy and rehabilitation. She specializes in working with older dogs that have had health issues impairing their ability to move around with ease. Just talking to her and reading through her brochure, I felt she had a good deal of experience and would do a wonderful job. read more

On second review I would say go elsewhere. Too many young people who are clueless. They lost the only Acup doctor who knew anything. Do not get me wrong. They are nice just not good enough. Do not board your dog there They are in hot heat boxes all day. I see no compassion. They did help my Bulldog however over worked my Pug which lead to more problems. They let the dogs bark and cry with no concern. The owner takes no responsibility for her clueless help. Of course few are great. Like one or two. No air in there you could die of no oxygen. The owner treats her own dog like he is a pain in the ass. I am sorry to write all of this as I know they try. Not not enough experience period. Please take your dog to a large air condition cage if you must board them. Also be sure they get enough remedies to calm them. They do not. Just let them cry and bark. Sorry Actually they act they they do not give a shit. Excuse the French. read more

Last year, my 7 year old Rottie, Brandy had spinal problems, a torn ACL and arthritis in the hips to boot. She was paralyzed in the hind quarters and couldn't walk on her own. I found Two Hands Four Paws and after doing an assessment by the Vets, we decided that hydro-therapy would probably be the best start. Twice a week I brought her in. The staff worked with Brandy for roughly 5 months. Slowly, but surely, I noticed my big girl building confidence and healing. No surgery for the ACL or spine was necessary because I could literally see improvement every month. On Christmas day of 2013, I was awakened by an all too familiar gesture. Brandy was standing on all fours and pawing my bed trying to get me up. It was a miracle come true! I thank God every day for Two Hands Four Paws. They worked so diligently and with care for my big girl. Hands down this is the most caring, knowledgeable and selfless therapeutic environment I have ever witnessed for an animal in need of ANYTHING! read more

I wanted to like this place...saw their commercial at my drs office for physical therapy for my old dog. The place looks clean and there were a lot of people constantly walking the dogs outside... However , the street is very busy and I'd worry about my dog getting hit by a car from not being very fast from arthritis /able to get out of the way of a fast car. The receptionist were a real turn off. Seemed very snotty and didn't say hello. CARE around the corner was very welcoming and I was greeted and offered to take a tour with my dog to see where he would be taken care of for PT. They also have a safer parking lot. read more

Words cannot describe how amazing this place is! After only 2 sessions ( so far) my 14 1/2-year old dog is more energetic than she has been in a long time, and she is walking without a limp! I love Leslie, Dr. Ettinger, (wow) Amanda , and the whole crew! This is an AMAZING place, and I cannot recommend it enough. SO impressed and thankful that I live in a city that is close to such a wonderful place. Oh, your dog will thank you too! :) read more

This is the best place for canine therapy in LA. My dog is 3 and has dysplasia in both hips. Our own pjsical therapist reccomended it. We started going twice a week for the first month or two. Our insurance covers all but 20%. She got so much better that we come just once a week now When we arrived they gave Cali a thorough evaluation. Here's what happens. First, the PT massages her hips, straightening her legs and checking for tightness. Next they use laser light therapy on her hips. Then they take her into what looks like a giant aquarium with a treadmill on the bottom. They put a life jacket on her with a handle and walk her for about 10 minutes. Then they take her out, was her off, and take her in the pool, where they swim her around until she gets tired. Then they wash her off again, dry her thoroughly, and bring her back to the exam room. Then they ice her hips. Then they do acupuncture. She loves going there and both the PT's and the accupuncturists adore her. In fact, most of the dogs are immensely more "broken" than Cali and many can't walk. But they are wonderful with all of them. I cannot emphasize enough how much 2 hands 4 paws means to us. read more

The best place for dogs and their humans! I love this place and their staff! My husband and children used to take our very old saint Bernard here for several acupuncture sessions to make his life a bit easier when he had trouble walking. It might sound strange to say but he absolutely loved being there! He was able to completely relax during his sessions and his legs improved every time he had treatments here. The nicest was though to receive a condolence card from all staff members after he passed away! I have never seen anything that nice before. Our vet where we spent thousands of dollars at never sent out anything like that... Two hands 4paws you are the best, I recommend everyone to try to heal their pets here instead of at any regular vet. read more

Wow I'm blown away by the level of service you all provide! I truly found the best animal care providers in two hands four paws! My dog is recovering from an accident that left his hind leg lame; I went to multiple providers until finding the right one in two hands, four paws. read more

Two years ago when my German shepherd was fighting bone cancer, I contacted Leslie to see if there was anything we could do to help him. I knew that rehabilitation was not possible but I thought maybe swimming or getting him into a wheel chair might help keep him mobile. She showed compassion and really took the time to get a thorough history on his situation. She even consulted our oncologist before getting back to me. Unfortunately she thought it would be too much for him to handle so we didn't end up using her services. But I wanted to write this review because I think the owner acted with integrity and did not take advantage of me despite the fact that I was clearly in a desperate situation and would have paid anything if she thought it might help. Leslie, I don't know if you remember me but if so, just wanted to let you know that Kobe ended up swimming quite a bit those last months he was with us, especially after he lost the use of his hind legs. He loved it. Though you were right... because of the tumors in his abdomen, it would've been impossible for you guys to handle him. He was swimming up until 15 minutes before we put him to sleep. Anyhow thanks for being honest. I'm sure at some point in the future, I will use your services. I run a dog boarding and daycare now so I'll be sure to pass on your info to clients in need of therapy for their dogs. read more

I am grateful for the nurturing care and calm that Dr. Eve brings to my fur babies in our home. She is awesome with her intuitive acupuncture care of my high energy dogs and has been of the greatest help as a resource for natural food preparation choices to boost the specific vitamins and minerals missing in my pets diets. I am very excited that she will soon be incorporating the healing modality of Reiki in her practice as well! I highly recommend this business as an investment in your pet's wellness program. read more

YES LESLIE I WAS A CLIENT THERE. YOU AND YOUR HUSBAND OWN IT! Please save yourself a lot of time and MONEY! My poor dog got nothing out of it. No pain relief or reduction in inflammation. They got a ton of my MONEY. And they are sneaky about it too. Without asking, trimmed my dogs nails for $24.00! My neighbour donated his dogs wheelchair (remember I said donated) and they have the nerve to charge people to rent it out! Very disappointing read more

The doctors (Dr Leslie, Dr S acupuncture) here are hands down the most amazing people I have ever met. Long story short, its worth every penny. So far two different woman have done PT/swimming with my dog, and both are wonderful people. I can only remember Susan's name, shes so sweet and she made it the greatest experience for both of us. The young girl who's going to go to vet school is the sweetest girl in the world, I recommend everyone here. I love watching the staff work with dogs when the owners are not around, because you can tell they have the best job in the world and that they love what they do. If you think you can't afford to come here, reconsider. I wish I had come sooner. Your dog will benefit from one swim a month, honestly, it is so worth it to come here. It's affordable to pay as you go, so come check it out. My dog has a wheelchair we got with help from Bryan. She gets acupuncture and she swims. In ONE VISIT my chihuahua who cannot stand or walk, seemed to have improved strength and improved mood. Don't let any one person or any one review turn you off from this place. Your dog will get so much out of every visit. It also just might be the happiest place on earth. read more

Our pup loves coming here! We brought our girl here to get an introduction to water and swimming and to just get some fun new exercise! Bryan guided her perfectly, and now she just loves getting her paws wet! Luckily, my dog isn't in the need of any physical therapy. But after witnessing the staff and the beautiful big facility that they work with all the pups in, I would defiantly recommend them to anyone who may be needing that kind of assistance with their furry loved ones! read more

Wonderful place! Owners are extremely caring and compassionate. Our 12-year-old Labrador Charlie has really benefitted from swim therapy. When we first began at Two Hand Four Paws some three years ago Charlie was 94 pounds and struggling with arthritis in his back and shoulder. Thanks to weekly swims and water treadmill work, he's lost 14 pounds which has helped his daily life tremendously. Charlie can't wait for his Saturday morning swims! Excellent front staff support! Highly recommend for people who truly care about their pets' aging process and quality of life. read more

Two Hands Four Paws - Charlie warming up in the pool! - Veterinarians Near Me - Los Angeles, California

My dog Jake injured his back when he was eight years old, resulting in his hind feet not working properly. He would drag on his knuckles, particularly when he got tired. Eventually, he lost use of his back legs altogether. After consulting with a surgeon -- who advised against surgery, given Jake's age -- we began swimming Jake twice a week with Two Hands Four Paws. The difference in Jake's overall strength and attitude was impressive. He couldn't relearn to walk, but in the water he could swim freely, even using his back legs to some degree. Leslie McMahon helped get Jake fitted for a wheelchair cart, and with it, he was able to take walks around the neighborhood again. Disabled dogs are a lot of work, but it was great having the Two Hands Four Paws staff as a resource. We lost Jake at 14. I know his last six year were much better for all their hard work. read more

Wow! I would like to thank the entire staff at Two Hands Four Paws. Ralph and I had a tremendously positive experience from start to finish. Bryan was a dream to work with. Ralph was so happy and content, He didn't want to leave. We came home with a properly fitted wheelchair and went for a walk that night. I can't thank you enough. read more

Summit had swimming lessons with Brian. Initially he was afraid of the water/wasn't a great swimmer, but slowly but surely, Brian helped him become a real Labrador retriever! Thanks Brian! Summit sends his love read more

Two Hands Four Paws was recommended by my senior dog's surgeon after she had both her back knees repaired. They've done a wonderful job. The therapists are so gentle with her. Six weeks after surgery, she is making an amazing recovery! The cold laser, acupuncture, and exercises have made a tremendous difference. I'm very impressed with the number of dogs their Foundation rehabilitates. There are plenty of healing doggies looking for forever homes. read more

It's difficult to write a review about how great Two Hands Four Paws is without sounding as if I'm gushing, exaggerating, or simply making it all up. None of that is the case. These are quite simply some of the finest, most caring people it has been my privilege to know. Their knowledge and expertise in the care and rehabilitation of injured and ailing dogs in phenomenal. We first brought our shepherd mix to them when she had sever over-calcification in her joints. The poor thing was having a great deal of trouble getting about. Surgery had helped some, but it was plain that it would not be a long-term solution to the dog's problems. With a combination of massage, gentle exercise, swim therapy, and good common sense, the staff at Two Hands Four Paws helped our girl to move much more comfortably. It was absolutely the answer to our prayers. I cannot recommend Two Hands Four Paws highly enough. If ever another of my dogs needs them, I'll take him/her CLEAR ACROSS TOWN ... or pay for the handy taxi service I understand they now provide! It will be worth it. read more

Unfortunately, my experience here was not a good one - a "1 star" experience, but some of the employees here are some of the biggest animal lovers I've ever met, so I will give them credit for that. After my dog had surgery, I was given the name of this place and another place as referrals from the surgeon. I chose this place because the reviews were fairly similar here on yelp, and several people said that the other place (a bigger business) had just moved next door, and implied it was maliciously intended to put 2H4P out of business. Now that I've been to both places, I know that this is not true, but this is why I chose 2H4P first. 1) Therapy prices between this place and elsewhere are almost the same, so if you've been given referrals for 2 or more places, do what I didn't do and go check them both out. I came here first and made an uniformed decision. Go see all your options. Ask questions. Different places have different methodology. See which you are comfortable with. 2) The initial evaluation was not as thorough as it should have been. The full extent of the problems my dog had were not fully diagnosed or explained to me. It sounds like a good deal when 2H4P tells you that the first therapy session is included in the initial 1 and 1/2 hour evaluation, but after going to a 2 hour evaluation that didn't include the first therapy session elsewhere, I learned how much didn't happen at my 2H4P evaluation that should have happened. If your dog has surgery/ a problem in one part of their body, they will (naturally) use this part of their body less and develop problems in other areas (from overuse). This should be one of the big goals of recovery therapy: get them back to proper use of their body, as much as it's possible. My dog was not comprehensively evaluated here. Things were missed and exercises that my dog should have been doing were not given to me. Problems were not noticed and/or measured. 3) I was not impressed with the training of the technicians. In the evaluation, it was the technician who was using the PT laser on my dog (hopefully this is not standard practice here). He did not know how to use it. Someone was teaching him how to use it while we were in the evaluation. They said "just move it around and if the dog seems uncomfortable, move it elsewhere." What? Technicians don't even use the PT laser where I go now - only trained/lead physical therapists do. Also, I wish my dog had been handled more gently by the technician in the evaluation. 4) Exercises were not emphasized. They gave me a print out of 4 exercises basically as an afterthought while I was paying before I left. No one explained how to do them properly. One exercise was too advanced for my dog at this stage (couldn't do it at all). Another, I did not have the equipment for. I did the other two exercises with my dog religiously, but looking back, I know now how completely incomprehensive this was (even if she could do all 4). No stretches were recommended at 2H4P and this has been a very important part of my dog's recovery. No one told me how to properly apply ice/heat to my dog or even if I should apply ice or heat at all. 5) The dog daycare is very lax and unsupervised. They have multiple small dogs in a little dog pack in a small area behind the receptionists desk. Not safe! Busy receptionists who are answering phones, processing credit card payments, and scheduling appointments cannot watch multiple dogs. There are better ways to supervise dogs that have had thousands of dollars worth of surgery. Also, there's almost always a large unsupervised dog wandering around. I'm sure the dog is very sweet and probably belongs to someone who works there, but lots of dogs are afraid of other/larger dogs. Also, supplement recommendations were not discussed. Two brand names were listed on a piece of paper I got as I left. I went to the websites and couldn't figure out which one to get. Those particular brands make lots of different pills. No one ever mentioned whether or not they sold them there. Which, looking back, they probably do, but no one told me this. My sheet also said "acupuncture as needed for pain." This kind of goes hand and hand with the rest of my experience as this wasn't explained either. In your professional opinion, how much pain is my dog in? Would you recommend acupuncture? How are the results? They had me rate my dog's pain level - in my untrained opinion - but no one ever gave me their professional opinion on this. read more

I have been bringing my Corgi here for physical therapy for several years as his back legs started to lose feeling which caused him to not be able to walk. We would also board him here at $275 per night night which includes a therapy session. Here is what happened today which has caused me to write a review: I called to ask if I could board My Corgi from Wednesday-Saturday. The girl that answered the phone asked me if that would be including physical therapy to which I answered no as My Corgi's is at an age where physical therapy will no longer help him. The girl then replied and said she had to check with the owner and that someone would call me back which I thought was odd considering I've boarded him there several times before. The girl called me back and said the rate will be $275 per night to which I responded but we are not doing physical therapy. Her response was the rate was $275 because the dog cannot walk...I've been bringing My dog here for years and he couldn't walk since day one! I find this highly unethical and will not be returning here. Ironically, we brought my dog here two weeks ago to go get fitted for a set of wheels at their suggestion. He is now more mobile than most dogs that go there. ***This is in response to Leslie's post*** Leslie, let's clear up some facts. 1. We were here last in December of 2015 for our dogs wheelchair fitting. 2. Your response claims that it is against the law for a dog to be boarded and not have therapy. If that is the case, why did your receptionist ask if we would like physical therapy in addition to the boarding or not? If it's the law then isn't it a bit odd that the question would be asked, don't you think? 3. The gal who called me back said the rate would be $275 without therapy. When I asked why the rate was the same as with therapy her response was BECAUSE OUR DOG CANNOT WALK. That is what I believe to be unethical as my dog could not walk from day one when we brought him here last year and yet here I was being told that my rate will be the same without therapy because my dog cannot walk. WHAT!? Had she simply stated what you said in your response there would be no issue and I would be bringing my dog here for boarding. It appears to me that rules are made up as you go over there hence the reason behind your receptionist saying she would need to speak with the owner about my dog being boarded here when I called which was odd because that was never the response when I called to board Sam in previous times. If the law is that a disabled dog must receive therapy should he/she be boarded then there is no reason to ask if we would like to include therapy with the boarding or not. read more

It's been nearly 3 years now since we've been coming to Two Hands and my opinion remains the same. I credit the therapy for dramatically changing my dog's life. She was diagnosed with clinical degenerative myelopathy nearly 1-1/2 years ago and she can still stand up and get around for the most part. I really do believe that had she not been going to therapy she would have been paralyzed by now. If you love your elderly dog please take them to Two Hands! read more

I brought my American Staffordshire Terrier here for several months of therapy before she had TPLO surgery on her right knee. I also brought her back after the surgery, for strength training, laser and massage. My dog and I both really enjoyed the experience, and I was really happy with the results. My dog recovered more quickly from the surgery and was back in action sooner than a lot of dogs, and I think the care and workouts she got at Two Hands Four Paws were the reason why. The staff is friendly, skilled, great with dogs and everyone seems happy. After a few months went by, my dog had surgery on her other knee (a common occurrence in dogs with cruciate tears), and it was time to get back to rehab. I would have gone straight to Two Hands Four Paws, but I had heard from several people in my dog community that I should check out the place next door, a similar facility called CARE (California Animal Rehabilitation). Although I wasn't unhappy with anything at Two Hands, I caved to pressure and took a tour of CARE's facilities, just in case there was something I was missing. After the tour, however, I walked next door to Two Hands and made an appointment for my dog's first post-op appointment. People seem to be interested in comparing the two facilities, so I'll explain why I chose to stick with Two Hands Four Paws: 1. CARE does seem like a much slicker, more advanced facility when you walk in the door. The lobby is specious and quite lovely. But what Two Hands Four Paws sacrifices in lobby space (it's very tiny), they make up for with a spacious, fun pool, and a terrific therapist coach, Brian, who can get any dog in that water. I started bringing my little terrier in to take swim lessons. Brian had my nervous dog barking to jump in after three sessions. CARE, by contrast, only has a small lap pool, just for fitness training. Dogs can't dive into the pool after their tennis balls, which is what my little guy so loves to do. 2. It's possible that owners with reactive dogs would appreciate CARE's special accommodations for them, like separate therapy rooms and more space around the entrance. If I had a reactive dog, that might sway me. But neither of my dogs is particularly snippy, and we've never had a problem with other dogs coming in. Also, both of my dogs seem to enjoy the calming influence of the older, resident dogs at Two Hands Four Paws, who often are not leashed. This is something that might be different for everyone, but owners of reactive dogs should be aware of it. The owner's two dogs and one therapist's dogs hang around at Two Hands Four Paws. One of them became my little dog's playmate, and the other two are older and calm. We like that, but not everyone will. 3. This is a cursory impression, because I cannot speak to the level of expertise at CARE. I'm sure it's great, but all I did was take a tour. But: I did feel that at Two Hands Four Paws I had better communication about my dog's needs and progress than I would have at CARE. I have a lot of PT equipment at home; what I need a facility for is hydrotherapy and massage. The therapists at Two Hands Four Paws have always respected that I do agility and obedience with my dogs, and don't need time spent on basic exercises. The person who gave me the tour at CARE, however, suggested that hydrotherapy could set my dog back, and it felt like no matter how many times I said, "She's done really well with hydrotherapy," she insisted that they wouldn't have her do it. They also seemed to have fewer underwater treadmills, which is a big part of Two Hands Four Paws' set up. The massages and laser are great, and the vet check-ups are, too. (Two Hands has the doctor who literally wrote the book on veterinary medicine, Dr. Ettinger, on staff.) But hydrotherapy, to me, is also an important part of the sessions. 4. There are rabbits and cats at CARE, and a pig. Again, this is an individual case issue: My dogs like other dogs, but go out of their minds when they see cats, rabbits and pigs. (This, despite the fact that we have two cats at home. Go figure.) I think this would create added stress for them. 5. Overall, while CARE felt serious and quiet and controlled, I liked Two Hands Four Paws' more relaxed and fun atmosphere better. I really think the differences between these two places are very slight, and both offer absolutely the best rehabilitation services in the business. But I also feel like a place for dogs should be upbeat and happy, and I always somehow feel a cheery attitude when I'm at Two Hands Four Paws. They also have a nice outdoor patio where I sometimes sit and read. Both my dogs just think Two Hands Four Paws, and everyone in it, is the bomb. I have to agree. read more

I am obsessed with this place! I was previously going to C.A.R.E. but they were too restrictive with my dog's activity; after seven weeks of acupuncture and limited activity I was ready to try something new. I literally saw an insane improvement after just one water therapy session at two hands four paws. My dog is now 100 times stronger than he was before he started coming here. Thank you for all that you do and can't wait to keep watching my baby progress! Teddy mittens loves you all! :) read more

I can't believe there aren't more reviews on this business. I could have sworn I did a review before, but I guess not. I took my precious sweet Joey here when he was 13 and having stiffness and discomfort. Not only was he very well cared for, but everyone seemed to love him almost as much as I did. I'd previously taken Joey somewhere else in West Los Angeles (a place that shall remain nameless, but here's a hint - it's moving it's facility right next door to Two Hands! That's right. In all of L.A. the ONLY place they could find to rent just happened to be right next door to Two Hands - Really?! Unbelievable). Back to what's important. About 10 months ago Joey's sister (by adoption), Mouse, a 13 year-old Shepherd/Rottweiler/Golden Retriever/Seal mix, suffered Vestibular Disease. It was horrible. She could barely walk and when the condition "passed" it left her back legs very weak, in addition to the arthritis she was already suffering from. In this economy I was hesitant to spend the money. But my sweet girl's pain and discomfort won the day, and I decided to see how it went for a month. After a month she was so much better (in less pain, moving better, back to playing and even, occasionally, getting on her favorite sofa), that I continued the treatment. About four months later, apart from the stiffness of arthritis, she is 100% and in a whole lot better shape than most 13 year old 63 pound dogs. She's back to playing fetch - good AND bad news, since in her heyday she could spend five hours (I kid you not) fetching until I thought my arm was going to fall off. This place really is the greatest. Not only do they know what they're doing, but they love doing it, and they adore dogs. For those of us who have four-legged furry children, you know what I mean when I say how grateful I am to see my little girl acting like a 9 year old again! There is nothing better than being able to give these sweet creatures pain free joy again, and I thank Lesley, Brian, and the wonderful, caring, physical therapists for that. read more

My father brought our aging Border Collie, who suffered from diabetes, arthritis, neurological issues, etc. to Two Hands Four Paws to see if she could benefit from a wheelchair after losing her ability to stand or walk. The veterinarian on staff was honest and told him that unfortunately, her front legs were also in bad shape and that at her age and in her condition it was not a sensible purchase. Sure enough, just one day later her neurologist recommended her quality of life had deteriorated to the point that it was best to put her to sleep. Thank you 2H4P for your honesty and integrity. Yes, this is a for-profit business so I can't fault them for trying to make money as other reviewers have noted, but our experience was a positive and compassionate one. I highly recommend. read more

I love this place and everyone who works here! Our dog Cooper went through two major knee surgeries last year and we were having a difficult time with his rehab on our own. Worried that he was not getting stronger, we started bringing him here and I believe it truly saved him. Leslie is so wonderful, welcoming and understanding. Dr. Barsky is amazing and Susan is incredible - she has worked with him the most but I know others have worked with Cooper as well and I want to thank everyone who has helped him with his rehab. The entire team here is so lovely; I miss seeing them more often! But it's a good thing because our dog is much happier, healthier, balanced and strong. And I am so thankful we started bringing him here. I have to thank his surgeon as well - Dr. Kim Carey - for taking such good care of Coop and for referring us to Two Hands Four Paws! read more

These guys are so awesome! Violet got her massage at 3 Dog Bakery (where we work.) And we will definitely be going in for a full consult to find out how we can prevent any further damage or surgery due to Violet's luxating patella. The ladies were so kind and they did such a good job. You can feel how much they love dogs and those are the kind of people I want to be around. read more

Incredible! This place SMELLS amazing, has yoga mats everywhere for the doggies to walk on and the underwater treads are just incredible. The staff and docs are so patient and helpful. We took our aging Shiba Inu here who has been having a really tough time with arthritis & developing kidney disease. The initial consultation was about an hour or so, we got so much useful info & tips, and came away feeling so encouraged. We'll be returning for weekly acupuncture sessions; our little old man is doing very well in response to that short session and a few minor changes to his daily routine, thanks to this joint! I am really turned off by hard sales and pushing products but there is none of that here. They'll let you know what can benefit your pup and leave the decisions up to you. Fabulous! I STRONGLY DISLIKE being in Santa Monica but this is beyond worth it. We will happily be back again & again!!! Thank you!!!! read more

"Pandy P" must have written his/her review for someplace else. These guys are the most caring, respectful, patient, and COMPETENT people I have ever dealt with when it comes to dog rehabilitation. My 9-month old puppy injured his shoulder, and they helped me through every step of the way. They are angels. read more

This place is absolutely phenomenal! My dog, Sassy, has severe spinal problems and had spinal surgery two years ago to repair a disk. The first time we brought her in to Two Hands Four Paws we met the owner Leslie, Dr. Tsai and therapist, Amanda. They conducted a thorough assessment and recommended laser therapy and acupuncture. Initially Sassy could not walk, but with each therapy session there was significant improvement-- Sassy began to walk. Their technician Nami has also worked with Sassy and she is AMAZING-- she has such great energy! I travel about 40 miles to take my dog to this center because the results have been remarkable. I am so grateful and I cannot say enough great things about this center! My only regret is that I did not take my dog here sooner. read more

My vet recommended a physical rehabilitation consultation for my young dog to discuss his issue with his back knees, which are fine now but could become problematic when he gets older. In trying to be proactive, we decided to have a consultation to learn exercises we could do with our dog to help him gain muscle and thus hopefully prevent future problems. I was a little surprised when I learned the cost of the appointment ($275 for 1.5 hours), but I'm sure most pet owners would agree you can't put a price on your dog's good health. I was pleasantly surprised when we arrived at how clean the place smelled. We were brought to a therapy room, which actually smelled and sounded like a human spa..cute! The staff seemed very well trained, professional, and friendly. They were very sweet with my dog, who can be kind of a spaz. They had him use the underwater treadmill, and though we don't have that option at home, it was neat to see how it worked and to be able to consider it in the future if we have issues. They asked us lots of questions, got to know our pup, and also showed us some exercises and gave us print outs of the exercises to do with him at home. I'll be honest, that some of the exercises seemed like common sense and may be things I could have found on the internet if I had searched, but it was still nice to have the peace of mind if having professionals tell me this was what was best for my dog, since they met him and understood his problem. I do wish my dog could have gotten more out of it, but it wasn't really the fault if the facility and was more because he tends to be a spaz like I said, getting overly excited and hyper in new places. I'm glad I went and feel confident working the exercises at home with my pup. read more

Love these people and their service is absolutely first class. Nini my terrier mix is butter in their hands, she loves the treatment she receives loves all the staff, she senses the love & feelings they have for all their patients. She seems happier after each visit. I know she must be feeling more comfortable. read more

When my 2 year old chihuahua, Oscar, had double knee surgery for luxating patella's, I brought him to Two Hands Four Paws for therapy and couldn't be more pleased with the outcome. Leslie and her team are so knowledgeable and helped my little guy build up his strength and muscles after not being able to walk for two weeks due to the casts around his legs. They put Oscar at ease right away and after our sessions, gave me exercises to do at home with him. And the love that he got every time we had an appointment was priceless : ) We had a great experience and I highly recommend their services. read more