About RISE Canine Health and Rehab
RISE Canine Health and Rehab is a family-run, multi-site pet care service based in Tarleton Lancashire and Southport, Merseyside, owned by Amy Ferguson, a Registered Veterinary Nurse and Certified Canine Hydrotherapist. The centres specialise in expert-led animal care services designed to support pets' health, recovery, and wellbeing.
Our Approach
At RISE Canine Health & Rehab, we adopt an integrative approach to canine care, combining evidence-based therapies to support your dog's physical, emotional, and behavioural well-being. Our team of Registered Veterinary Nurses, Veterinary Physiotherapists, and Hydrotherapists collaborates to create personalised treatment plans tailored to each dog's unique needs.
By integrating services such as hydrotherapy, physiotherapy and laser therapy, we aim to enhance mobility, alleviate pain, and promote overall wellness. This comprehensive approach ensures that your dog receives the most effective care, whether recovering from surgery, managing a chronic condition, or striving for optimal health.
Meet Our Team
Our dedicated team at RISE Canine Health and Rehab is committed to providing the highest standard of care for your pets.
Amy Ferguson RVN CertECC
Hi, I’m Amy – Owner of RISE Canine Hydrotherapy & Rehab
I’m a Registered Veterinary Nurse (RVN) and qualified Canine Hydrotherapist, with over 13 years’ experience in small animal practice. I qualified as an RVN in 2015 and have continued to build my clinical expertise through advanced training, including a City & Guilds Level 4 Certificate in Emergency and Critical Care and the BSAVA Merit Award in Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy.
I am a Level 3 qualified hydrotherapist, with an additional Level 4 qualification in Advanced Canine Aquatic Treadmill Techniques. My work is veterinary-referral led, and I work closely with referring vets, physiotherapists and owners to deliver individualised, evidence-based rehabilitation programmes that support recovery, mobility, pain management and long-term quality of life.
I am Class IV laser trained and work clinically with the Companion Care laser system within the clinic. Laser therapy is integrated where appropriate alongside hydrotherapy and physiotherapy to support pain relief, soft-tissue healing, post-operative recovery and management of chronic musculoskeletal conditions.
I’m also a Suitably Qualified Person (SQP), allowing me to prescribe and supply certain veterinary medicines where appropriate. This enables a joined-up approach between clinical treatment, rehabilitation and practical ongoing care.
Alongside my clinical work, I lecture and support veterinary nursing students, sharing real-world experience in rehabilitation, clinical reasoning and professional practice. Education and mentoring are an important part of my role, and something I’m continuing to develop alongside my clinical career.
I’m a member of IRVAP, reflecting my commitment to professional standards, accountability and ongoing CPD within veterinary rehabilitation. I continue to invest heavily in further training to ensure RISE delivers safe, progressive and clinically appropriate care.
I’m originally from Hesketh Bank and come from a farming background, growing up around sheep and cattle. That early exposure to animal care led me into mixed veterinary practice before specialising in small animals, veterinary nursing and ultimately rehabilitation and hydrotherapy.
Outside of work, life is busy and full. I’m a mum to three brilliant children, share life with a small menagerie, and when I get a rare quiet moment, you’ll usually find me planning our next adventure (often Disney-related) or sketching out new ideas with a coffee in hand.
Registered Veterinary Nurse & Certified Canine Hydrotherapist - Owner
Ephie Nash BSc (Hons)
Veterinary Physiotherapist
NAVP Registered
Hi, I’m Ephie – a fully qualified and insured Veterinary Physiotherapist with a First Class BSc (Hons) in Veterinary Physiotherapy from Harper Adams University. I’m a proud member of the National Association of Veterinary Physiotherapists (NAVP), and passionate about providing evidence-based, tailored care for every animal I work with.
I’ve been part of Nell’s since we first opened, offering physiotherapy alongside hydrotherapy sessions to provide a more integrated approach to rehabilitation. As well as working from the centre, I also continue to offer mobile appointments, visiting clients in their homes where needed, something I really value for the comfort it brings to both pets and their owners.
I relocated from Staffordshire to Lancashire with my partner, and we now live on his family’s beef and sheep farm, which is a dream setting for someone who’s always loved the countryside.
I grew up in rural Staffordshire and was riding horses from a young age, so a career with animals always felt like the right path. I spent many years working on dairy and beef farms and have a real passion for cattle—an exciting and expanding area within physiotherapy.
As a teenager, I competed in eventing before retraining my ex-racehorse, Q, who has kissing spine. We now compete successfully in British Dressage. My background includes years of owning competition horses, playing polo at university, and working at an equine rehab yard as part of my degree. I have a particular interest in performance and rehabilitation of competition horses.
I’ve been fortunate to gain experience working for orthopaedic vet David Prydie at Physio Vet, and alongside Dr Simon Gower, Veterinary Director of the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB). These roles have given me valuable insight into working closely with some of the UK’s top canine veterinary professionals.
Rachel F Veterinary Physiotherapist NAVP Registered and Registered Veterinary Nurse
Hello, I’m Rachel, a Registered Veterinary Nurse who qualified in 2020, with over seven years of experience working in small animal practice. I am also a fully qualified and insured Veterinary Physiotherapist, having completed an MSc in Veterinary Physiotherapy at the University of Nottingham. I am a member of the National Association of Veterinary Physiotherapists (NAVP) and am dedicated to providing evidence-based, patient-centred physiotherapy and rehabilitation programmes.
I have a special interest in canine physiotherapy and enjoy supporting dogs through post-operative recovery, injury rehabilitation, long-term musculoskeletal conditions, and helping active or working dogs perform at their best. I work closely with vets to create tailored, evidence-based treatment plans, always focusing on improving comfort, movement, and quality of life.
Having grown up with dogs and horses, and with a background in competitive showjumping, I bring a real understanding of both family pets and athletic animals. This allows me to take a calm, compassionate, and holistic approach to every patient I treat.
Outside of work, I’m a proud mum to a young baby boy and love spending time outdoors with my family where we are usually exploring new walks with our dogs or visiting the stables with my horses.
Rachel L
Hydrotherapist & Physio Student
Hi, I’m Rachel, a fully qualified Level 3 Canine Hydrotherapist, currently studying Veterinary Physiotherapy at Harper Adams University while working towards my Level 4 in Hydrotherapy.
I began working in the industry in 2022 at the age of 15, after receiving special permission from the exam board to complete my Level 3 qualification early. Since then, I’ve gained experience across several centres, building on my practical skills and deepening my knowledge of canine rehabilitation.
Animals have always been my passion, especially dogs, cats, and horses, so much so that being at work genuinely feels like the best part of my week. Outside of university and hydrotherapy, I love spending time dog walking, pet sitting, and playing horseball, a fast-paced equestrian sport I’ve recently fallen in love with.
Jen Joinson
Student Hydrotherapist
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