The foundation of a strong physiotherapy treatment plan is a comprehensive assessment. Your initial consultation will take one hour. Prior to this, we’ll ask your permission to contact your vet for a copy of your dog’s veterinary records. This provides valuable information on which to build an effective treatment program.
At your initial consult, we’ll ask you for a detailed history about your dog. We’ll then assess your dog’s movement by observing them walking and/or trotting. We will then examine their structure paying particular attention to any identified areas of pain and other signs of dysfunction such as postural changes or muscle wastage. We’ll also discuss goal setting that’s specific to your dog’s individual needs.
To help relieve pain and improve range of movement, a variety of techniques can be used including massage, joint mobilisation and dry needling which can help to release tension from knots and pressure points in muscles. These techniques can be very effective in dogs and are always applied in a safe and gentle manner.
As with any holistic wellness program, exercise at home can enhance the effectiveness of a physiotherapy session and is an important part of the journey. It will also help your dog improve quicker and stay well for longer. We’ll prescribe specific exercises for your dog that can be progressed to achieve the best results long term however we’ll always ensure the recommended conditioning exercises reflect the abilities of your dog and your priorities.
The best results are achieved when you are actively involved in your dog’s treatment. Our role is to guide you along the path that’s right for your dog. One of the most important things we can do is educate you on your dog’s condition, our findings and the best treatment options.
When humans are injured or in pain, physiotherapists work as part of an allied health team to achieve the best outcome. That’s the process we follow here by actively engaging with other vet practices and specialist centres to ensure the best possible care for your dog.
