What is animal physiotherapy, and will it help my pet?

​Animal physiotherapy is a holistic therapy based on scientific research and usually carried out under veterinary referral. From horses to dogs, farm animals and more, animal physiotherapy has been proven to significantly improve mobility and health. Here we answer the questions "What is animal physiotherapy?" and "will physiotherapy help my pet?" 

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An introduction to animal physiotherapy  

​Physiotherapy for pets and animals is the treatment of disease or injury by using a variety of physical methods. These include massage, heat therapy, cold therapy or the prescription of specific exercises. Not only can physio help restore function and movement in the animal, it can also help reduce the risk of further injury or illness in the future. Whilst these methods can be used on their own, often these techniques are combined with surgery, medication or both.  

Which conditions can animal physiotherapy help with?

There are many conditions that animal physiotherapy can help treat, such as the following:

• Post spinal & orthopaedic surgery for conditions such as fractures or hip replacements 
• Tendon and ligament strains 
• Nerve damage e.g. fibrocartilaginous embolism 
• Joint problems e.g. arthritis, hip and elbow dysplasia
• Soft tissue damage 
• Bruised / sore muscles
• Tendon and ligament issues
• Splints
• Wounds 

Will physiotherapy help my pet?

Animal physiotherapy can help a range of animals and household pets. This can be in different ways, from reducing pain to increasing the range of movement in their limbs and overall improvement of their quality of life. Whilst horses, dogs and cats are among the most common animals to receive physiotherapy, the treatment can be used on a range of animals.

With years of experience, veterinary physiotherapists are very highly trained and therefore can use this expertise to specifically target the issues your pet is having and amend the treatment accordingly.  

​Whether your pet has soft tissue damage, arthritis, hip or elbow dysplasia, reduced mobility, muscle spasms, damaged nerves or spinal problems, seeing an animal physiotherapist can be a great option. Not only can they help reduce the level of discomfort in your pet, but the ongoing treatment and exercises can also help prevent more serious health problems from occurring later on in your pets life. An example of this is if your pet suffers badly from arthritis in a certain joint. Over time if this is not treated it can cause more wear and tear on other joints due to the rest of the body trying to compensate for the injured area. Dealing with the issue head-on through physiotherapy can therefore see life long results for your pet if the treatment is continued as recommended.

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