FAQs (Physiotherapy)

What conditions can physiotherapy treat?

Physiotherapy can be used for a wide range of conditions, including but not limited to the following:

  • Post-operatively: Cruciate ligament surgery, patella luxation surgery, intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) surgery, hip surgery (femoral head ostectomy, total hip replacement & others)
  • Conservative management: Hip and elbow dysplasia, arthritis, patella luxation, cruciate ligament rupture, IVDD
  • Pain management and wound healing
  • Neurological rehabilitation
  • The ageing canine
  • Musculoskeletal and sport injuries

Are there any conditions that cannot be treated with physiotherapy?

There are some treatment methods that are not appropriate for certain conditions, for example you cannot apply Ultrasound therapy on the joints of a young dog. However, due to the wide range of methods available, all dogs can be safely treated with physiotherapy as long as the correct methods are selected. This is why it is vital for us to collect your dog’s medical history before we begin any treatment. If you have any specific questions about your canines’ condition, please contact us.

Do I need Vet consent?
It is a legal requirement to have veterinary consent before treatment is carried out, unless your animal is being seen for maintenance purposes. This would include if your dog is a sporting or working dog who is being treated for fitness purposes.

If your animal has a condition or an injury, we would require consent from your veterinary surgeon before we can assess and treat them. The veterinary referral form can be found on our website, and can be sent off to your vets to request completion.

How many sessions will be required?
The duration of treatment will depend on several factors; the severity of the condition, the time passed since the injury, your dogs’ age and healing capacity, how well the exercise plan is carried out at home and more.

We never want to keep you and your dog coming for treatment longer than is necessary and will regularly re-assess your animal to see what progress is being made. Once your pet has made significant improvements we can decrease the frequency of your treatment, discharging them once all their primary and secondary issues have been resolved.

For orthopaedic and post-surgical conditions, you may be required to come for 6-12 weeks, or potentially more if the recovery is slower.
If we are treating your dog for a long-term chronic condition such as arthritis or hip dysplasia, it is beneficial for the dog if they can continue the treatment long term. We hope to reduce the frequency eventually to once every few months, so we can assess how they are doing and keep them in a stable, comfortable state.