Amy McCoy IMSc Veterinary Physiotherapist
What is a Veterinary Physiotherapist?
A veterinary physiotherapist works closely with other members of a veterinary team such as the referring vet, vet nurses, receptionists and other animal care specialists, from your horse's farrier, dentist and coach, to your dog's hydrotherapist, walker or daycare provider, to ensure improvement in wellness, strength and performance of your animal. A veterinary physiotherapist uses manual techniques such as massage, stretching and myofascial release to promote a physical response. Many physiotherapists will use electrotherapies to assist in accelerating the healing and rehabilitation response to minimise any pain and discomfort for your animal. Additionally, techniques such as kinesiotaping can also be used to help both mobilise and immobilise joints while supporting potentially injured muscle tissue, rehydrating fascia and improving efficiency in the healing of bruises.
How can Veterinary Physiotherapy help to prevent injury?
The well known saying "prevention is better than cure" is very relevant for those working animals, albeit race horse/ greyhounds, eventers, police horses/ dogs or even those breeds that have predisosing conditions; for example, labradors and german shepherd that are genetically predisposed to hip displaysia. Similarly, many horses with longer backs are more likely to suffer from overriding dorsal spinous processes (kissing spines). In these cases, having early physiotherapy can help to increase muscle mass around the hips to support the hip joint, or help to train a horse to engage its core and hindlimbs to improve posture and reduce the likelihood of developing kissing spines.
What should you do before your first appointment?
Before your animal's first appointment please make sure you have filled in the appropriate session documents and have gained veterinary consent. If this is not the case, the session may be cancelled, including a cancellation fee.