Canine Treatment
How can veterinary physiotherapy help your dog?
Every dog is different. That's why regardless of if your dog is recovering from surgery, or is an agility star, I will help support your dog reach their goals - whatever they may be.
Read below to see some of things I can help with...
Scroll down to read more about how I can help and see some case studies...
More interested to see what equipment I have for your canine companion...click here
Want to know more about specific conditions/injuries I can help with, click here
Want to know what an initial session will look like for your dog, click here.
Recovery after injury and surgery
Helping your dog through recovery of surgery or injury can be worrying, and daunting. Similar to human physiotherapists, my job is to support your dog through their recovery and get them back to doing what they love. Luckily there is a lot I can do help your dog regardless of injury or surgery...
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Optimising healing for speedy recovery (any injury/surgery causes damage to bone and muscle, I can help promote healing)
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Re-educating /re-gaining their movement
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Managing any pain that may arise in the process
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Reducing compensatory issues that may arise
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Wound healing
From muscle tears, to TPLO's (for damaged cruciate ligaments) I can help support your dog's path to recovery. If you want to read more about what I use to do this, click here.
Annie
Reducing pain and discomfort
No one likes the thought of their dog being in pain, and as a physiotherapist I know the impact that pain can have on the rest of your dog's body. If you think about any time you have had pain or discomfort, I'm sure you can think of how that impacted you, and what it may have prevented you doing.
I have a lot of treatments that I can use to help...
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Reducing acute pain (pain that is sudden onset and may have started after surgery or injury)
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Reduce chronic pain (pain that your dog has been experiencing for a longer period of time)
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Reducing pain in muscles, tendons, ligaments and bone.
One of the benefits of the treatments I use is that they can often be used alongside any medication your dog might be taking. If you are interested in what treatments I use, please click here.
Pip
Conservative management of conditions
Surgery might not always be the chosen path for some dogs. On some occasions, surgery is not appropriate, or it may be that you first want to try managing a certain condition without surgery first.
You might be looking to support your dog through osteoarthritis, hip/elbow dysplasia or cruciate damage and veterinary physiotherapy can help to manage these conditions (any many more) if surgery is not the chosen way forward.
It is often important to strengthen the target area and help to maintain and increase function while reducing discomfort and compensations that may arise.
Pip
Dudley
Optimising and maintaining strength and condition
Increase in mobility, maintain joint and muscle health
If you own a working or sporting dog, have you ever considered how veterinary physiotherapy can be helpful for them?
With any sport or active job comes tight muscles and those areas can begin to restrict movement. Overtime this could potentially have an impact on your dog's performance and potentially lead to injury.
Semi-regular sessions with a veterinary physiotherapist can help...
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Reduce muscle tension which can help improve overall movement
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Improve the strength and conditioning of your dog for their work or sport
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Identify any areas of imbalance that could benefit from further strengthening
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Optimise muscle function
You might have noticed that you dog is starting to slow and their mobility is not what it used to be. If this is the case, I can help! I would within your dog's team alongside your veterinarian to help manage the reason your dog's mobility might be reducing.
Are you wanting to protect your dog, and prevent development of issues? Semi-regular sessions with a physiotherapist can allow for issues to be identified before they grow and cause greater issue. I can provide treatment to help encourage good joint health and we can discuss little changes you can make to support your dog.
The same can be said for your dog's muscles. If you own a dog actively working or taking part in sport, consider them an athlete! Athletes muscles need to be in top condition to be able to work optimally. From massage, to stretching, I can help make sure your dog is ready to perform at their best.
Regaining neurological function
Helping to support your dog through a neurological injury can feel overwhelming. That's why support from a veterinary physiotherapist you trust can be extremely beneficial for your dog's recovery. I can help....
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Maintain joint and muscle health while your dog may have reduced mobility
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Healing of any surgical wounds
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Discussion about home management
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Home exercises and activities that can help your dog's recovery
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Treatments to help with healing and musculoskeletal health
What can I help with?
There really is no limit to what veterinary physiotherapy can help with, however below is list of things I can help with...
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Cruciate damage (non-surgical management/recovery from surgical intervention such as TPLO etc.)
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Hip dysplasia (non-surgical management/recovery from surgical intervention like total hip replacement etc.)
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Elbow dysplasia (non-surgical management/recovery from surgery etc.)
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FCP (fragmented coronoid process)
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UAP (Un-united anneal process)
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OCD (Osteochondrosis dessicans)
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Intermittent upward fixation of the patella
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IVDD (non-surgical management/surgical intervention)
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Degenerative myelopathy
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Neurological conditions
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Vestibular episodes
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FCE (Fibrocartilaginous embolism)
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Wobblers
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Fractures
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Muscle/tendon injuries
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Ligament injuries
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Osteoarthritis
This list is not exhaustive! If you don't see the condition/injury that your dog has on this list, please get in touch, I am sure I will be able to help support you and your dog.
Alfie
What do I use to help your dog
I am trained in the use of a wide range of different manual therapies, electrotherapy's and remedial exercise to help support your dog. Through assessment the most appropriate course of treatment will be chosen. Below are some of the treatments I regularly use.
Manual therapies
Massage
Myofascial release
Stretching
Passive range of motion
Trigger point therapy
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Pulsed electromagnetic field therapy
Photobiomodulation
Laser Therapy (class 3b)
Photizo
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Improve joint health
Reduce pain/inflammation and much more...
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Reduce pain
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Aid in bone healing
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Speed recovery
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Reduce inflammation and much more...
TENS/NEMS
Transcutaneous electrical muscle stimulation.
Neuromuscular electrical stimualtion
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Reduce pain
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Activate muscle
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Maintain movement and much more...
Therapeutic Ultrasound
Short wave ultrasound
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Reduce pain
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Aid in muscle and tendon healing
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Speed recovery
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Break down fibrous tissueand much more...
Remedial exercise
Wide range of physiotherapy equipment to
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Improve movement and joint mobility
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Increase muscle development
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Reduce compensation and much more...
What does and initial sessions look like?
After welcoming you and your dog into my treatment space the first part of the session will involve sniffing and talking!
While we talk about your dog's history and current issues, your dog will be allowed to sniff and relax.
After this I will assess how your dog stands and moves. A gentle 'hands on' assessment is usually the next step. Here I feel your dog's muscles and I may then assess the movement of specific joint. If deemed appropriate, further spinal or neurological tests may be carried out.
I will discuss my findings with you and explain my treatment goals for the session. Your animal will then receive treatment. If needed I may want to leave with you some treatment/exercise to do with your dog. If this is the case, I will work with you to ensure that you are comfortable with performing any prescribed exercises.
A full write up of my findings will be sent to your dog's veterinarian and any other professional working with them (i.e. hydrotherapist).
If throughout the assessment I notice something that is of concern (i.e. a new undiagnosed condition/lameness), I will refer your dog back to your veterinarian to determine the cause. This is in the best interest of your dog and to allow for my treatment to be targeted and safe.
I will maintain contact with your veterinarian and any other professionals working with your dog (like your hydrotherapist etc) to ensure they are kept up to date with your dog's process!
Stay tuned...
Keep checking back to read updates about some of the case studies pictured above....
In the mean time, have at look at the Driscoll Therapy Facebook page to see recent news cases. Don't forget to give it a like!
Or have a look below at my promotional video showing a little more of what I do....
