There is currently no regulation of the Animal Physiotherapy profession in the UK. As a result there are many different registrations and qualifications ranging from weekend courses to Masters level qualifications.

To become ACPAT registered a Veterinary Physiotherapist must first complete a Bachelors degree in Human Physiotherapy. Following this they then complete a 2 year Masters in Veterinary Physiotherapy.

This guarantees that all ACPAT registered Veterinary Physiotherapists are trained to the highest possible level with full public and professional liability insurance.

For more information check out:

https://acpat.org/

Under the Veterinary Surgeons Act (1966) most animals will require the completion of a consent form prior to starting Physiotherapy and Hydrotherapy treatment.

Some exemptions do apply in cases where the treatment is for maintenance purposes only and there is no active treatment of an injury.

If a consent form is required this will be arranged on your behalf by either Ania Williamson or the Canine Hydrotherapy team on confirmation of your first booking. Often vets require at least a week to complete these forms and in many instances longer, therefore it is advised to have Physiotherapy and hydrotherapy specifically advised in writing on any discharge letters post operatively etc if speed is of the essence.

The assessment starts with a few questions to find out what your dogs problems are. There are chairs for the owners to sit on but for much of the assessment I will sit on the ground to be closer to the dog. This gives your dog the opportunity to get comfortable with me and the surroundings. If your dog is particularly nervous it can be helpful to bring a familiar blanket or bed for them to lie on.

Next I have a look at how your dog is moving on a straight line or around the room, followed by some simple commands such as sit, stand, lie. It can be helpful to bring some treats or a toy with you to make this bit easier.

Finally there is a hands on assessment of muscle tension, overall body condition, joint range of movement, and balance/coordination. Often the assessment is mixed up depending on how the dog is coping and some parts may be repeated to see whether the dogs reactions are consistent.

One of the most important therapies available is exercise therapy as it promotes healing, strengthens muscles, loosens joints and improves balance and coordination. During the session you will be taught what exercises to do with your dog and encouraged to do them on a daily basis for optimum improvement. During follow up assessments these exercises will often be progressed to harder ones with the aim of ultimately returning your dog to as normal and happy a life as possible!

Underwater treadmill exercise is often recommended in combination with land based exercises. It takes muscles 6 – 8 weeks to strengthen, so often it is recommended to do a course of underwater treadmill work along side land based Physiotherapy sessions to gain optimum benefits. If you don’t think your dog would cope with the treadmill sessions, or you cannot attend the sessions  – no problem, i’ll show you what to do at home and adjust how much time we have between follow ups to reflect what you can commit to. Its always better to do something than nothing!!