Kristen Giglio
Certified Equine Sports Therapist
Animal Health Veterinary Technician
Since I can remember I have been drawn to animals. This continued passion and connection I feel towards them has made me extremely driven to dedicate my career to their well being.
In my early teens my horse pulled his left hind hamstring muscle group, and the only treatments available to him were anti-inflammatories, pain killers and stall rest. Even at that young age I felt frustrated by the limited options, and thought that there must be an alternative. This experience was what inspired me to begin my career as a rehabilitation therapist for animals.
At that time, there were no Universities that offered animal therapy or rehab. Upon researching the medical profession and wanting to expand my medical knowledge, I applied to a University to be an Animal Health/Veterinary Technician.
After working in the Vet industry for 8 years and laying the foundation of my medical knowledge and desired future, I worked at a small and large animal Vet Practice and then went on to work with another Vet who specifically treated animals with both Traditional and Eastern Medicine.
In 2001 I was then accepted to the B.C. College of Equine Therapy, a 2 year program with an extensive curriculum specializing in Equine Therapy. After graduating in 2004 I started my professional practice and to date have successfully treated hundreds of horses for numerous weaknesses and injuries, but also as preventive therapy, incorporating different modalities of therapy into each session.
About 2 years into my career I started receiving phone calls in regards to dogs with chronic and acute ailments. My training as an A.H.T. and an Equine Therapist both gave me the in depth knowledge of the canine musculoskeletal system and the tools required to successfully treat dogs. Since that time and because of lack of complimentary treatments available to dogs, I have successfully incorporated them into my practice.
Because I, myself have suffered from injuries that I would not have recovered from without the treatment and options of complimentary therapy; I have lived out how the body compensates and how much these therapies are crucial to the body's healing process.
It is my personal goal to improve your animal's quality of life by helping to alleviate chronic or performance related ailments through preventive therapy and sports massage.
