WHAT IS PHYSIOTHERAPY?
Veterinary Physiotherapy is a science – based profession that uses a holistic outlook to treating animals’ health, with a non-invasive approach that treats a range of musculoskeletal and neurological conditions. Physiotherapy is a complimentary therapy which works with the body’s natural healing capabilities to enhance healing, reduce pain, and optimise mobility and body function.
Animals can suffer from a range of orthopaedic, neurological, and degenerative conditions. Veterinary physiotherapy is an integral component in the management of such diseases, and forms part of a multi- disciplinary approach, collaborating with veterinary surgeons, hydrotherapy, and other healthcare professionals to provide enhanced healing following injury or illness.
Physiotherapy involves assessing movement and posture and aims to reduce pain and restore musculoskeletal health and function. Through individual assessment and treatment plans, it provides remedial exercises to optimise healing, movement, and tissue strength. Physiotherapy therefore can be used to support conservative management of an injury or long – term condition, improve recovery post-surgery, prevent further injury and secondary complications, maintain and improve overall quality of life. Sporting and working dogs can also benefit from regular physiotherapy to prevent injury and improve performance.
The Veterinary Surgeons (Exemptions) Order 2015, states anyone providing physiotherapy to an animal requires permission or referral by a veterinary surgeon, who has first examined the animal. In all cases where an animal is being seen for the treatment of any clinical condition, injury or post-surgical rehabilitation, the animal must have an associated veterinary referral form signed by their veterinary surgeon before treatment can commence
Physiotherapy for the purpose of maintenance or fitness and sports conditioning in a healthy animal does not require referral by a veterinary surgeon. However, the animal must still be registered with a veterinary surgeon, and the musculoskeletal therapist must be appropriately qualified. At the first sign of any symptoms that may suggest underlying health issues, maintenance treatments will cease, and the owner will be asked to take their animal to a veterinary surgeon for clinical examination. Veterinary physiotherapists are not allowed to diagnose.
It is the preference of Carina Medd Veterinary Physiotherapy that all clients seek consent for treatment by their animals’ veterinarian, regardless of health status.
