Why physiotherapy?
In humans, physiotherapy is well established and used as a standard form of treatment for many conditions, such as osteoarthritis and as a rehabilitation aid following muscle injury or orthopaedic surgery (bones and joints). It is now possible for your pet to benefit from these proven techniques.
Physiotherapy can also help improve general mobility and therefore quality of life in spinal cases, paralysis, CDRM and arthritic animals.
Enhanced muscle tone, flexibility and strength improves performance and reduces the risk of injury. As with human athletes, competitive and working dogs can gain this advantage with the help of physiotherapy.
Common techniques
At WitsEnd® we use both traditional and modern physiotherapy techniques to stimulate the animal's cells to heal.
- Massage to aid tissue repair, circulation and pain relief.
- Stretching exercises.
- Hydrotherapy for weightless exercise to aid recovery from injury.
- Pulsed Magnetic Field Therapy for pain relief, bone healing and soft tissue repair.
Rehabilitation
Physiotherapy is not only concerned with the healing of an injury, but also concentrates on rehabilitation to ensure the return to maximum fitness and health. During and following an injury e.g. a fracture or contracted tendon, an un-natural gait is often adopted which in turn places excessive strain on other parts of the body.
Rehabilitation involves re-educating the limb involved and increases the chance that your pet will walk and run normally again.
Conditions that can benefit from physiotherapy
Pre and post operative:
- Cruciate repair
- Bone fractures
- Elbow and hip dysplasia and excision arthroplasty
- Spinal surgery cases
Other conditions include:
- Elbow-hip dysplasia
- Osteoarthritis
- Tendon Injuries
- Lameness
- Wounds
The earlier physiotherapy techniques are used the better the success rate for surgery!
How often will my pet need it?
The number of visits will depend on the condition being treated. In the majority of cases involving dogs, follow-ups are carried out when they come for hydrotherapy so that where progress is being made the treatment plan is altered at the same time.
What to do next
Either contact your vet to see if physiotherapy is suitable for your pet or contact WitsEnd® and we will discuss your pets needs directly with your veterinary practice.
Please note that before any form of treatment, it is a legal requirement that the physiotherapist obtains permission from your vet to treat your pet. By working in close association with your veterinarian, the optimal treatment programme can be devised for your pet.
All physiotherapy work is carried out by Dr Shahad Mohammed (PhD), a fully qualified animal physiotherapist and member of the National Association of Veterinary Physiotherapists (NAVP). Shahad has successfully run the Hydrotherapy Centre at WitsEnd® for many years.
Clinics
For clients of Ash Tree Veterinary Practice, Shahad runs a dedicated clinic at the Market Harborough Practice on a Friday between 11am - 3pm. Please speak to your vet if physiotherapy is suitable for your pet. Appointments can be made by phoning Ashtree Veterinary Practice on 01858 462839.
For Park Veterinary Group clients, Shahad runs a dedicated clinic at the Saffron Lane Practice on a Thursday between 11am - 3pm. Please speak to your vet if physiotherapy is suitable for your pet. Appointments can be made by phoning the Saffron Lane Practice on 0116 2831314.
Insurance
Most insurance companies will cover physiotherapy treatment. However it is always best to get confirmation from your insurance company before treatment if you wish to claim your costs.