Welcome to Strong Strides Veterinary Rehabilitation & Acupuncture

Here, you can learn about who we are and how we care for your pets with compassion and expertise.

About Strong Strides

Strong Strides was formed to offer in-home assessments for physical rehabilitation, acupuncture, medical manipulation and integrative medicine consultations. I feel that most pets are less stressed and more willing to accept treatment in their home environment. This approach also allows for more personal time with the client for consultation and for me to evaluate the home area and give advice for modifications if needed.

Client Testimonials

Leo was paralyzed 😞 he was given a 5 percent chance of ever walking again… then we found Dr. Kelly Vernon 💕 She did wonders, through love, physical therapy, acupuncture and laser therapy… gave us so much hope. We are so very very grateful to Dr. Vernon. Our little dog is doing things we never thought he would ever do again. He’s up walking, out to potty and lol running about throughout our home again. We truly have our little boy back.

Leo & Family

My precious girl Loki, who turned 10 in June of 2025, started struggling with back, left shoulder and carpal pain. She was miserable and on 3 different medications and no activity allowed. I was worried sick about her and her long term prognosis.

Thank goodness I found Dr Vernon! She examined Loki and we started a rehab program for Loki that included laser & shock treatments as well as a specialized home exercise program. It has absolutely done wonders for Loki! The fact that Dr Vernon comes to the house was a lifesaver for me as well. So much less stress on my sweet Loki and on myself too.

Loki is now doing great! We were able to eliminate 2 of the medications Loki was on, and she is once again a very happy girl who can go on walkies, play with her toys and chase her brother Nugget around.

I can’t say enough good things about Dr Vernon. She is excellent at what she does and is a wonderful person who takes the time needed for her patients and to answer any questions. I would highly recommend Dr. Vernon to anyone who has a fur baby with back or other mobility issues. She definitely knows her stuff and I am forever grateful for what she has done to help my sweet girl.

Lynn Reid - Loki’s mom

We were referred to Dr Vernon of Strong Strides Veterinary Rehabilitation and Acupuncture in early 2022 for Physical Therapy for our 13-year-old Corgi, Nikki. Nikki had just been diagnosed with Degenerative Myelopathy, a debilitating progressive disease of the spinal cord. At the beginning of our weekly physical therapy sessions, Dr Vernon developed a comprehensive and personalized care plan to address Nikki’s lower back mobility issues. As the disease progressed over the next 2 and a 1/2 years, Nikki received laser treatments, acupuncture, massage, strengthening exercises and B12 injections with positive results.

As a result of Dr Vernon’s expert knowledge and compassion, Nikki’s everyday life was better managed. If an emergency arose, we knew we could rely on Dr Vernon for her availability and calm demeanor. We are forever indebted to Dr Vernon for providing Nikki with a better quality of life throughout the course of her disease. We could not have been on this journey without Dr Vernon’s support, guidance and above all kindness.

Sincerely, Rita and Rich Steiner with Nikki always in our Hearts

I cannot recommend Dr. Vernon highly enough. She provides acupuncture and shockwave therapy for my dog, who is not always easy to work with, and she is consistently patient, gentle, and kind. With her care, my dog has recovered from two IVDD surgeries- after being paralyzed both times, and is now walking, running, and playing again.

I am also a veterinarian, and I confidently refer many clients to her knowing that they are in exceptionally skilled and compassionate hands.

Dr. Ashley Sutton, DVM

Here To Serve You

I am based in Belleview, Florida and provide care from Ocala to the Villages. Consultations and treatments are by appointments offered Monday through Friday. I will work with your primary care veterinarian to coordinate the best treatment options for your pet.

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Meet Dr. Kelly Vernon DVM CVA CCRP CVMMP

Dr. Kelly Vernon has had the dream of being a veterinarian since she was a little girl. Her love of animals took off after volunteering at the local animal shelter during elementary school, and since then she’s been focused on how she can continue to improve their lives. She was accepted to the early admissions program at the University of Florida, where she earned her BS in Wildlife, Ecology and Conservation, and then her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 2004.

Once out practicing in general and emergency medicine, she wanted to be able to offer more options to patients with chronic pain or mobility issues. She earned her acupuncture certification from the Chi Institute (now Chi University) in 2011, then went on to obtain a certification in canine physical rehabilitation in 2019. Her most recent educational journey was back at Chi University to secure her small animal veterinary medical manipulation certificate (similar to chiropractic manipulations in humans).

Dr. Vernon’s passion for providing care to pets with pain and mobility challenges led her to open her own practice, Strong Strides Veterinary Rehabilitation and Acupuncture, in order to focus fully on these services for her patients.