What is Animal Physiotherapy?
Animal physiotherapy is a science-based profession with a non-invasive and individualised approach for the assessment and treatment of musculoskeletal and/or neurological conditions in animals. It is a complementary therapy with primary aims to work with the body’s natural healing capabilities to enhance healing, reduce pain, restore mobility and optimise function. Physiotherapy employs a holistic approach to treating patients by taking into consideration each individual patients’ clinical history and providing a thorough functional assessment of the animal in order to formulate a safe, effective and evidence-based treatment plan.
Physiotherapy is an important element of a multi-disciplinary approach, working alongside veterinary surgeons and other animal healthcare professions with the aim of providing enhanced healing following illness or injury, and ongoing supportive care for more chronic musculoskeletal dysfunction. It can also be beneficial for enhancing performance in competitive animals. Reasons your pet may benefit from physiotherapy include:
- Post-surgical rehabilitation
- Conservative management of an injury or long-term condition
- Maintenance and injury prevention
- Fitness/conditioning and injury prevention in active sporting/working animals.
In accordance with the Veterinary Surgeons (Exemptions) Order 2015, remedial treatment by physiotherapy requires delegation 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 delegation 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.
As part of a vet-led team, it is the preference of Vita Vitalis Animal Physiotherapy that all clients seek consent for treatment by their animal's veterinarian, regardless of health status.