Exciting Times - Small Animal Complimentary Service Now Available
/I am so excited and thrilled to announce that from July 2019 I will offering a specialised integrated package of care that combines land and water based physiotherapy (hydrotherapy), rehabilitation techniques, management strategies and positive behaviour solution service for small animals (apologies to my horsey clients!). I will be based, initially, one day a week at the Lichfield Canine Hydrotherapy Centre so it will be by appointment only.
The reason I am so excited about this news is because advanced land and water based physiotherapy (hydrotherapy) can help with so many of the issues we come across when sharing our lives with gorgeous animals. My use of specialised advanced physiotherapy, hydrotherapy and aquatic therapy (aquatic pilates or ‘pawlates’), canine tai chi, body balance conditioning and natural balanced motion work will improve the quality and speed of healing and a chance of returning to better health and fitness, hence improving your beloved pet’s quality of life. I’ve listed a few of the issues and conditions below but the list isn’t conclusive and more details will be on my website in due course, or you could just give me a call to see how I can help.
Hip or Elbow Dysplasia – pre and post-operative or conservative treatment.
Legg- Calve- Perthes disease.
Cranial Cruciate Ligament Rupture/Injury – pre and post-operative or conservative treatment.
Patella Luxation – pre and post operative or conservative treatment.
Post-operative Fracture Repair - to strengthen and build muscle.
Soft Tissue (Muscle/Tendon) Injuries, Muscle Spasms.
Spinal injuries – to include intervertebral disc disease and spondylosis.
Fibrocartilaginous Embolisms.
Osteoarthritis - young or old.
Cervical Malformation Syndrome (wobblers).
Chronic Degenerative Rediculomyelopathy (CDRM).
Osteochondritis Dessecans (OCD).
Obesity/Weight Loss - if we would like our 4 (or 3) legged pets to lose a few kilo’s, without overly stressing their joints, in conjunction with a healthy diet and moderate exercise. Many owners decide not to exercise their pets if they are extremely overweight and the dogs find it difficult to exercise on their own due to the amount of pressure being exerted onto their joints even when they remain standing still. The buoyancy of the water allows for enough pressure and weight to be alleviated from the joints so the animals is able move around efficiently and burn off excess fat effectively.
Part or full limb amputation - it may not be easy for your dog to learn how to move around as they once did as the absence of part or full limb makes normal movement a bit of a task, your dog will have to learn how to rebalance themselves and learn how to make up for it before they become their usual, bouncy selves again. Using the beneficial properties of water can have huge benefits for your dog, it can help with building muscle, rebalancing their body, ensuring they maintain a good weight amongst many other benefits.
Accidents - road traffic accidents, getting stuck in places, falling etc.
Strength and conditioning for working/sporting dogs - most of the major muscle groups can be toned and we can improve the general cardiovascular (heart & lungs) fitness of the dog. Movement in water is more difficult due to the resistance of the water and water based exercise uses 30% more oxygen than similar land based exercise.
Senior/Older dogs can be provided with special therapeutic care, support and management they need.
Young growing dogs diagnosed with developmental conditions - help to keep them at bay for as long as possible.
Confidence - help to gain or improve a dogs confidence in and around water in a safe and ‘hands on’ environment.
Hydrotherapy is an effective means of care when in conjunction with supportive veterinary assistance and in the presence of a trained individual. It is better that dogs are treated in warm water since cold temperatures can cause constriction of the blood vessels near the skin and to the superficial muscles causing the muscles to be less efficient. Warm water increases the circulation of blood to the muscles, increasing the supply of oxygen and nutrients and flushing away waste products, leading to muscle relaxation and a reduction in pain and stiffness. The water is also treated with bromine instead of chlorine as it is gentler on the dog’s coat/skin and does not leave an unpleasant chlorinated smell! Although I do also use therapeutic showering methods pre and post their pool session, this is used to warm the muscles up ready for action and for hygiene reasons.
Hydrotherapy therapy is considered to be a natural anti-inflammatory device due to its ability to reduce tissue swelling, due to the hydrostatic pressure applied to the body in water as this encourages oedema (fluid swelling) in the limbs to move away from affected areas back towards the body. The buoyancy effect of the water reduces the pressure on the animals weight bearing joints, which in turn helps to reduce pain, and allows easier and increased movement of joints. Buoyancy and hydrostatic pressure also help to support the body during exercise; this can aid the re-education of gait patterns in neurological conditions and reloading of a limb post-surgery.
Hydrotherapy has specific therapeutic effects on body including:
Relief of pain, swelling & stiffness
Muscle strengthening and maintenance
Alleviating muscle spasm
Increased range of motion in joints
Improved circulation
Cardiovascular fitness (heart & lungs)
Increased tissue healing
Increased speed of recovery
Gait modification
Hydrotherapy can make a world of difference to our small animal family members with physical problems. Not only that, the exercise releases endorphins which make your best friend feel better – just like in humans. One of the best long-term benefits of integrated land and water based physiotherapy (hydrotherapy) is a better quality of life for your pet! So why wait? - give me a call or send me a message to discuss next steps.
