Fido? He's in rehab -- for his knee (or is it his elbow?)

Nor is California Animal Rehab the pet equivalent of a day spa, despite the pan-flute music. The majority of its dogs are suffering pain and compromised mobility. Some come in barely walking at all. Sonny, a yellow Lab who has been boarding at the facility since a car accident two weeks ago left him unable to move, can now walk with a harness on his hindquarters and staffers helping him along. "Pretty soon he'll be up and on his own," Waldman said.

This kind of care doesn't come cheap. An eight-week, twice-a-week treatment program at the clinic -- accompanied by a two-hour initial consultation -- costs a little over $2,000. (They say they try to work with pet insurers.) A $275 fee will get the consultation and a personalized home exercise and nutrition plan.

"People are demanding better care for their animals," Kramer said. "It makes people feel better knowing they did as much as they possibly could for their animals."

Both women have pets. Waldman and her husband have a dog, Tate, who often can be found curled up in the facility's office. Kramer has a dog and two cats.

On a recent day, about half a dozen dogs were being put through various stages of therapy. While Maggie, a trembling 10-year-old Chihuahua-terrier mix, was receiving acupuncture in one room, Nixon, an 8-year-old pit bull-beagle mix, walked on a treadmill submerged in a foot of water, heated to a balmy 85 degrees. Kramer says water therapy puts less stress on joints while building leg muscle strength.

"Some think it's fun, some think it's not, most are ambivalent," therapy assistant Dave Cardena said as he gently coaxed a succession of dogs through the routine.

Nixon was ambivalent this day, dutifully plodding ahead, calmed by the rubber cow toy he clutched in his mouth. His tail slapped the water like a wayward oar.

Corine Redmon, the owner of both Maggie and Nixon, was walking her two dogs in September when all of them were struck by a car -- and all suffered ACL tears. "I'm in physical therapy three days a week and they're in physical therapy two days a week," said Redmon, a massage therapist.

"He's like a puppy again," she added, marveling at Nixon's improvement.

Veterinary referrals account for most of the business at the clinic, sometimes known by the acronym CARE.

"We send a great deal of patients to CARE," said Bruyette, "especially postoperative orthopedic and neurological patients that are going to require long-term physical therapy. The folks at CARE know what they are doing."