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Life isn’t so ruff for Lilo — at least, not anymore.
Three years ago, Luce Clark and her partner were traveling through the Indonesian jungle when they spotted a small white pup tumbling through the brush along a busy stretch of road. After being unable to find the family he belonged to, they took him home.
These days, the scrappy rescue lives in Toronto, where he starts his mornings with a raw-meat breakfast, a mix of supplements and a goat’s milk “latte” before winding down at night on a red light therapy bed.
“I feel like he is my child. I want to make him feel good,” Clark, 27, told The Post. “Rather than waiting for any problems to arise, we’re using these small daily rituals so that hopefully, in the long run, we end up giving him a nice, long and healthy life.”
Lilo isn’t alone. A growing number of dog owners are investing significant time and money into increasingly elaborate pet wellness routines that rival — or exceed — their own.
Today, luxury hotels and apartments offer canine massages and “pawdicures,” while companies sell everything from AI-powered smart collars and laser therapy wands to at-home microbiome tests and infrared heating beds.
In all, Americans spent a record $158 billion on their pets last year, with more than half going toward health and wellness.
Here’s a look at four dogs — and the owners who love them — whose daily routines reveal what’s fueling the pet wellness boom.
Lilo: the rescue basking in red light
Lilo may have been free, but he isn’t cheap anymore. The 3-year-old rescue’s wellness-focused lifestyle costs his owners about $4,800 annually.
His mornings begin with a long walk, where Clark prioritizes mental stimulation as much as exercise.
“We don’t want him just physically tired, it’s also ensuring he’s engaged and fulfilled,” she explained.
Back home, breakfast is a raw-meat diet rounded out with super greens, roasted vegetables, omega-3 oil, dental supplements and a goat’s milk wellness mix. Before settling in for the day, Lilo tackles enrichment games that force him to sniff out hidden treats.
Come evening, he climbs onto an $800 Beddie Pet Therapy Bed for a 10-minute red light session while Clark slips on her own $600 Shark CryoGlow LED and cooling mask.
“It’s become a ritual, it’s how we wind down for the evening,” said Clark, who was inspired to try the technology after hearing a rumor it helped Paris Hilton’s Chihuahua live to 25.
Studies suggest the strongest evidence supporting red light therapy for dogs is in treating musculoskeletal pain and promoting wound healing. However, much of this research was conducted using high-powered veterinary lasers rather than the lower-intensity devices available for home use.
“Lasers are focused and stronger in intensity, so they can reach deeper into the tissue than red light therapy, which uses more diffuse light and is likely only effective at or near the surface of the skin,” said Dr. Julie Hunt, a veterinarian with Embrace Pet Insurance.
While the jury is still out on whether red light can help dogs live longer lives, some experts say it probably wouldn’t hurt.
“In addition to reducing inflammation, a key factor in aging, it helps mitochondria produce more cellular energy, enabling cells to function better for longer,” said Dr. Tom Ingegno, DACM, MSOM, LAC, a certified animal acupuncturist who uses the technology.
Simba and Kovu: small dogs, serious self-care
Amanda Loh is the first to admit her two dachshunds, Simba, 5, and Kovu, 6 months, have a better wellness routine than she does.
“I don’t take care of myself as well as I do them,” said the 29-year-old Los Angeles resident. “It is crazy to think about, though, because when I was a kid, dogs were just kept outside.”
For Simba, the extra attention started out of necessity. The pup has gut sensitivities, itchy allergies and joint issues. Like many dachshunds, he’s also at higher risk for spinal disc disease.
“High-impact activities like fetch can be detrimental to their joint health … Making sure you help them properly recover is so important.”
Abby Beek
To keep him comfortable — and hopefully head off future problems — each day starts with a massage to check for pain along his spine, followed by stretches and a few minutes of physical therapy to build his core strength.
At mealtime, Loh rotates Simba’s protein intake and uses lick mats for enrichment. When allergy flare-ups hit, he gets an herbal bath with Epsom salts or magnesium flakes.
Red light is also part of his regimen several times a week. Simba first tried it at a hydrotherapy clinic while being treated for his knee. Now, he shares Loh’s $550 Mito panel at home.
“He sits on my lap next to it while I do it and I focus the red light on his back, and he seems to love it,” said Loh, founder of Way of Woof, which sells functional dog treats, including $24 probiotic peanut butter and $21 flavored goat’s milk that Simba loves.
Simba also occasionally hops onto a vibration plate — another growing wellness trend marketed to improve strength and recovery.
The treatment is still being researched, but one study found dogs with hip dysplasia built more muscle and owners reported less pain after regular whole-body vibration therapy.
“The treatment should be mild vibration, and it should not be used if the pet has a severe injury or a broken bone,” Ingegno said. “Also, never force the pet onto the plate.”
Last year, Loh estimates she spent $4200 on Simba’s care. Looking ahead, she’s eager to take Simba to an acupuncturist.
“Acupuncture has been used on animals as long as it has been used on people,” said Ingegno. “In general, most animals show some improvement within a few treatments.”
Harvey and Azula: recovery is part of the workout
For, Abby Beek, a certified dog trainer in Austin, Texas, recovery is a nonnegotiable part of her two pit bull mixes’ fitness regimen.
“High-impact activities like fetch can be detrimental to their joint health because it puts so much strain on their muscles,” Beek, 27, said. “Making sure you help them properly recover is so important in making sure they can do the things they love.”
“Anything we can do to extend valuable time with them, even if we don’t know if it actually works, is worth it.”
Abby Beek
After every long hike, run or play session, her dogs, Harvey and Azula, spend time on a $749 PEMF-and-infrared recovery bed from HigherDOSE before moving on to stretches and strength exercises.
PEMF-powered gadgets use low-frequency electromagnetic waves to stimulate the body’s natural cellular repair processes, a treatment that’s been used by veterinarians for decades, particularly in racehorses.
“PEMF therapy has demonstrated improved bone healing, improved wound healing, less use of pain medication post-op, improved prostatic hyperplasia and improved post-operative edema in dogs,” Hunt said.
Beek’s canine companions also get daily joint supplements to keep them mobile.
“My focus is on keeping my dogs healthy and active for as long as possible,” she said. “Anything we can do to extend valuable time with them, even if we don’t know if it actually works, is worth it.”
Hadley and Harper: making every day count
Claire McNab’s wellness routine for her two Malshis took on new urgency this year. Harper, 8, was recently diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma, a form of cancer. Hadley, 12, is also slowing with age.
“Right now, our focus is on doing everything we can to keep [them] healthy, comfortable and happy for as long as possible,” McNab said.
Together, the sisters’ care costs the San Antonio family about $450 a month, or $5,400 a year. They, too, have a HigherDOSE PEMF pet bed that both dogs lounge on daily.
“Harper especially seems more relaxed and settled when she uses it,” McNab said. “It’s hard to say definitively what benefits are directly from the bed, but for us, it’s a combination of noticing that they genuinely enjoy it and the peace of mind that we’re doing everything we can to support their well-being.”
Both dogs also receive a daily dose of glucosamine to support their joints and overall wellness.
Experts note that most healthy dogs eating a complete diet don’t need supplements, though some products may benefit senior dogs or those with specific medical conditions, like Hadley and Harper.
Still, Ingegno urges owners to be skeptical of miracle claims.
“Supplements that seem too good to be true are often a fad, lack evidence or don’t even have the ingredients they claim to have in them,” he said. “It’s important to ensure the information about these products and services is of high quality.”
The bottom line
Hunt, the vet, and Ingegno, the animal acupuncturist, agree that these wellness tools may help improve a dog’s health or quality of life, but none are guaranteed to extend lifespan — and none are necessary to be a good owner.
In fact, experts say the biggest returns still come from the basics.
“Prioritize exercise. Let them go outside. Give them good food,” said Dr. Jan Pol, a veterinarian and star of “The Incredible Dr. Pol” on Nat Geo Wild. “It’s basically the same as it is in people — if you eat right and you keep moving, you’ll live longer and feel better.”
For many owners, though, the high-end tools and treatments aren’t replacing those fundamentals. They’re simply another way of trying to give their dogs every possible advantage.
As McNab put it: “When your dogs get older, you realize very quickly that you would do anything you can to keep them comfortable, healthy and happy for as long as possible.”
