Animal Mechanics Veterinary Physiotherapy

Animal Mechanics Veterinary Physiotherapy Specialist Veterinary Physiotherapy I am able to visit your home or where your animal normally lives and treat accordingly from a Veterinary Referral.
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I am fully insured for public and professional liability through my membership with the Institute of Registered Veterinary and Animal Physiotherapists (IRVAP) and in accordance with the Veterinary Act 1966, will only ever treat an animal with a veterinarians’ referral. As you might be aware, Veterinary Physiotherapy consists of manual therapy, electrotherapy and performing functional exercises in

order to treat musculoskeletal conditions, neurological conditions, age related deterioration and to prevent injury and improve performance or quality of life in animals. Animal Mechanics can provide a suitable method of pain relief, enhance the healing process following injury or surgical procedures, and ensure optimal muscle function following surgery, and rehabilitate musculoskeletal and neurological conditions.

My dogs Oakley & Solomon have their own instagram page following their adventures visiting dog friendly places among oth...
08/11/2024

My dogs Oakley & Solomon have their own instagram page following their adventures visiting dog friendly places among other insights into their lives. So please give them a follow, you will find them at labradors_on_tour

We just recently had a trip to Jimmys farm & wildlife park which was great. Very lucky that it is local and so dog friendly.

For anyone who buys their yumove from Amazon 😔
03/11/2024

For anyone who buys their yumove from Amazon 😔

It is good practice as an animal physio or for any therapist working with animals to be a member of a professional body,...
15/10/2024

It is good practice as an animal physio or for any therapist working with animals to be a member of a professional body, as to be a member means that you will have passed certain criteria and been vetted by them as such. I am a member of two professional bodies, which are the Institute of Registered Veterinary & Animal Physiotherapists (IRVAP) and the Register of Animal Musculoskeletal Practitioners (RAMP). To be a member of IRVAP and Ramp I undertake Continuing Professional Development (CPD) every year, this can be in various forms. I have recently spent 3 days undertaking CPD in the form of a conference organised by IRVAP and a 2 day dog anatomy weekend.
I think it is always important to keep learning and refreshing my knowledge, there is never a point in your career when you can know everything no matter how experienced you are.
Attending conferences and courses are also a great way to network with fellow therapists.

Picture of my wingmen who got to accompany me on my travels and enjoy a change of scenery!

10/10/2024

Rupture of the CCL is one of the most common reasons for hind limb lameness, pain, and subsequent arthritis. The development of this problem in dogs is much more complex than in humans. Furthermore, dogs suffer from different degrees of rupture (partial, complete).

It was exciting to get the opportunity to write an article for Dogs today magazine on canine Physiotherapy 😁
08/09/2024

It was exciting to get the opportunity to write an article for Dogs today magazine on canine Physiotherapy 😁

12/08/2024

For all those with yellow Labradors and anyone with friends who have them.
Very interesting new study on the link between colour and predisposition for CCL rupture.

The more we know about our dogs the more power we have to put into place preventative measures! 🥰

Prevention is always better than cure!

All credit to Laurie Edge-Hughes for sharing this information.

It’s based on the following study:



Lee BT, Baker LA, Momen M, Terhaar H, Binversie EE, Sample SJ, Muir P. Identification of genetic variants associated with anterior cruciate ligament rupture and AKC standard coat color in the Labrador Retriever. BMC Genom Data. 2023 Oct 26;24(1):60.



And here’s the short synopsis:



Cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) injuries are a common cause of lameness in dogs, particularly in breeds like Labrador Retrievers. Interestingly, recent research has uncovered a potential link between coat color and the risk of CCL rupture. Labrador Retrievers, which come in black, chocolate, and yellow, show different risks for this injury, with yellow Labs being more susceptible.



The study suggests that genetic factors linked to coat color might also influence the likelihood of CCL injuries. Specifically, the MC1R gene, which determines yellow coat color, is involved in inflammatory pathways that could predispose dogs to ligament issues. The researchers used a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to identify genes associated with both CCL injuries and coat color, focusing on a region of chromosome 5 near the MC1R gene. This region showed significant associations with CCL rupture, suggesting a complex interplay between genetic traits that influence both coat color and joint health.

Interestingly, the study also identified several other genes related to bone and cartilage health, inflammation, and gene regulation that may contribute to CCL rupture. These findings highlight the complex genetic landscape behind this common canine injury and open the door for further research into how coat color and other seemingly unrelated traits might influence health outcomes in dogs.



This groundbreaking study not only advances our understanding of CCL injuries in dogs but also provides valuable insights into the genetic factors that could help predict and prevent these injuries. As research continues, we may find more connections between seemingly unrelated traits and disease risk, ultimately improving the health and well-being of our canine companions.

Photo credit Marie Marketing

10/08/2024

Bee and Wasp stings

From early spring to late Autumn your dog could be at risk of being stung.

Signs of being stung include:
🐝limping
🐝chewing or licking excessively
🐝pawing at their face
🐝smacking their lips
🐝drooling
🐝localised swelling
🐝whining and/or panting
🐝struggling to breath

If you suspect a Sting, check to see if there is a stinger still in place. Bees leave their stingers behind whereas wasps and hornets do not. Bee stings continue to inject venom for a while after they enter the skin so removing them ASAP can help.

If you think they have been stung on the face, monitor very carefully for any signs of trouble breathing and contact the vet immediately for advice.

30/07/2024

Over the past couple of years, some of you may have heard of the Cambridge Vet School non-surgical IVDD study. The results have just been published. It’s a great write-up and quite groundbreaking!

Dogs unable to walk due to disc extrusion (IVDD) were cared for WITHOUT surgery. They had an MRI scan at the start of the study and another MRI scan after 12 weeks. These scans helped to make the diagnosis, and they also showed how compressed (squashed) the spinal cord was in each case.

The big questions were:
❓How many of these dogs would start walking again without having had surgery?
❓How compressed was each dog’s spinal cord at the start of the study?
❓Were they still just as compressed at the end of the study, 12 weeks later?

Results were interesting and included the following:
✅Out of the dogs that had deep pain sensation, NEARLY ALL of them (49 of 51 dogs, 96%) started walking again within 12 weeks. Most of them walked much sooner than this.
✅Out of those with NO deep pain sensation, nearly half of them (10 of 21 dogs, 48%) started walking again within 12 weeks. That’s WITHOUT surgery.
✅Spinal cord compression reduced in some dogs over the 12 week study period. That’s despite not having had surgery to remove the disc material that caused this compression.
✅Many dogs started walking again despite the fact that their spinal cord was still compressed, ie ‘Recovery was not dependent on the resolution of compression’

💛The authors concluded that if spinal surgery isn’t possible as it’s not available in the area or is too expensive, non-surgical management is a valid alternative.

There’s plenty of detail in the write-up, and it’s free for all to read or download via this link: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/jvim.17149

Many thanks to Jep for this photo

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I am able to visit your home or where your animal normally lives and treat accordingly from a Veterinary Referral. I am fully insured for public and professional liability through my membership with the Institute of Registered Veterinary and Animal Physiotherapists (IRVAP) and in accordance with the Veterinary Act 1966, will only ever treat an animal with a veterinarians’ referral. Veterinary Physiotherapy consists of manual therapy, electrotherapy and performing functional exercises in order to treat musculoskeletal conditions, neurological conditions, age related deterioration and to prevent injury and improve performance or quality of life in animals. Animal Mechanics can provide a suitable method of pain relief, enhance the healing process following injury or surgical procedures, and ensure optimal muscle function following surgery, and rehabilitate musculoskeletal and neurological conditions.

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