What is veterinary physiotherapy and how can it help my horse or dog?

Veterinary physiotherapy is a non-invasive treatment that supports recovery from injury, surgery, or chronic conditions, and enhances overall performance. For horses and dogs, this may include manual therapy, tailored exercise programs, electrotherapies, and gait analysis. Physiotherapy improves mobility, reduces pain, and supports long-term musculoskeletal health.

Does my horse or dog need a veterinary referral for physiotherapy?

Maintenance treatments for non pathological animals no longer requires registered veterinary physiotherapists to obtain veterinary consent. For all pathological or veterinary referral clients, a full referral form and case history will be requested by myself from your registered vet. I work closely with vets to provide integrated care tailored to your horse or dog's specific needs.

How do I know if my horse or dog needs veterinary physiotherapy?

All animals will find benefit from comprehensive physiotherapy sessions, much like us as humans. Signs include lameness, stiffness, changes in behaviour, reluctance to work, poor performance, or uneven movement. Gait analysis helps identify subtle issues before they become serious. Even healthy animals can benefit from physiotherapy for performance enhancement and injury prevention.

What happens during an equine or canine veterinary physiotherapy session?

Each session includes a thorough assessment of your animal’s posture, movement, muscle condition and overall health. Treatments involve a range of EPA’s, soft tissue work, joint mobilisation, stretching and exercise programs. For horses, I may include ridden or in-hand gait analysis to detect subtle biomechanical issues. For orthopaedic cases, the use of braces , splints or taping may also be included.

Can veterinary physiotherapy help with injury prevention and performance maintenance?

Maintenance physiotherapy helps identify and address minor issues before they become major problems. For performance animals, it enhances flexibility, strength, and range of motion, supporting peak physical condition and reducing injury risk over time.