<meta name="google-site-verification" content="6AbHLzkoIgjWFPcNowI5-ke6QXevOruey8AFdUifMOo" />
What is Veterinary Physiotherapy?
Veterinary Physiotherapy is a specialised field of Veterinary care that focuses on the assessment, treatment, and management of musculoskeletal, neurological, and movement disorders in animals. It involves the application of various physical therapy techniques to promote healing, reduce pain, improve function, and enhance the overall well-being of animals.
Veterinary Physiotherapists use their knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and biomechanics to evaluate the animal's condition and develop individualised treatment plans, based on scientific reasoning.
Veterinary Physiotherapy is subject to Vet referral, as per the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966.
You can ask your Vet to refer your pet for physiotherapy by asking them to complete a simple form.
How can Veterinary Physiotherapy help?
Physiotherapy can help treat sore backs, stiff joints, muscle pain, loss of function, lameness, and quality of life consequences that may arise from a number of conditions, such as...
Injuries / acute conditions
Bone fractures
Tendonitis
Tendon strain / rupture
Proximal suspensory desmitis
Locking stifle
Muscle strain / tear / rupture
Fibrotic myopathy
Skin wounds
Panosteitis
Luxating patellar
Tendon contractures
Swimmers syndrome
Neurological conditions
Intervertebral disc disease
Fibrocartilaginous embolism
Wobblers
Degenerative myelopathy
Brachial plexus damage
Stroke
Post-surgery rehabilitation
Cruciate
Intervertebral disc disease
Hip dysplasia
Patellar luxation
Amputation
Long term conditions
Osteoarthritis
Hip dysplasia
Cruciate disease
Kissing spines
Lumbosacral disease
Osteochondrosis
Medial shoulder instability
Navicular syndrome
Sacro-iliac disease
Laminitis
Elbow dysplasia
Cancer
What does a session entail?
Assessment
Subjective History
Following referral from your Vet, they will usually provide some information on your pet's condition, but this is just the starting point.
Caroline will spend time understanding your pet's day to day life, exercise, diet, husbandry, and your goals for them.
Static & Gait Analysis
Caroline will assess your pet as they stand - what their feet look like, how they carry themselves, their conformation.
Then she will watch your pet move in different ways such as walking, trotting, cantering, lunging, tackling stairs, moving in circles, and backing up, as required.
Objective Assessment
Caroline will examine your pet by feeling bones, muscles, joints, tendons, ligaments and fascia. This helps to identify range of motion, asymmetries, areas of tension, pain, and inflammation.
Treatment and Management
Treatment
Following assessment, a treatment plan is formulated.
Treatments may include:
Manual therapy (massage, fascial release, stretches)
Passive & Active Range of Motion
LASER therapy
Ultrasound
Pulsed Magnetic Field Therapy
Thermotherapy (heat)
Cryotherapy (cold)
TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Stimulation)
NMES (Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation)
All treatments are chosen based on scientific evidence based research and clinical reasoning for your pet and their condition.
Exercise Prescription
At-home exercises are key to successful physiotherapeutic outcomes. Caroline will set and demonstrate appropriate exercises or activites to help your pet progress in their treatment plan. This could involve building strength, stretching, proprioceptive and balance exercises.
Additionally, specialist equipment can be hired to help with exercises or electrotherapies to optimise healing, reduce inflammation and pain.
Follow-up & Support
Following the first session, Caroline will provide a report to your Vet and will then continue to inform your Vet of progress regularly, as required. Vet reports are always included free of charge.
Tracking progress with measureable outcomes is important, so Caroline will regularly make notes about your pet's progress.