Animal Recovery Therapy

10/06/2024

I had a client say the other day that she had purchased a new horse and would book it in for a session if any issues popped up so I wanted to remind you that the best time to check your animal is whilst they are healthy.

Healthy horses or newly purchased horses that are seen by an intended therapist or caregiver can prevent lots of issues in the future.

I get to see his/ her
Normal gait
Normal response to surroundings
Normal muscle tone or lack of
Normal body comfort or pain threshold
Normal body variations/ confirmation

So when he or she does get a ni**le we have a baseline to compare this to. This information is used as the horses norm and in some cases when they need to go into the vets for a lameness or poor performance exam this information is great to pass on to the vet.

So please get your horses checked routinely and not just when you have an issue. Let’s prevent that issue.

23/02/2024

I gained a yard helper 😍🥰

18/01/2024

Laser therapy can be safely administered to help wound healing. LLLT aims are to reduce inflammatory response, reduce scar tissue build up, increase collagen formation and reduce the risk of infection.

Clinical outcomes need to assessed before starting a course of laser for wound management. Working alongside your vet will help create a timeline for bandage changes which can help Laser be included in your rehab plan.

Laser aims to increase ATP, reduce pain and inflammation and get the wound healed as soon as possible to reduce the risk of infection.

Things to consider:
Sterile laser equipment or permeable barrier.
Confirmation from your vet of a non infectious wound.
Safe handling for owner and therapist.

22/11/2023

Arthritis can affect high and low motion joints in our pets. Don’t let the cold wet weather get your pet down in winter ❄️

*Speak to your vet about NSAIDs, librella or
biological therapies like stem cell & prp
*Modify your pets home plan including weight mangement, exercise, supplement use, home improvements like ramps and non slip rugs
*Attend regular scheduled therapy sessions for maximum benefit
*Heat therapy to could be used at home to help mobility and joint comfort

05/10/2023

Autumnal changes can impact our horses in a big way! 🍂🍁
As the sugar levels in the grass push for one last growth cycle and our horses cast the summer coat to make ready for their wollies this can put lots of strain on the body.
With the colder damp weather also comes mobility and joint issues for arthritic pets, so why not check in with your therapist now to help your horse transition through autumn.

Art cover Blackpool/ Preston and South Cumbria.

25/08/2023

Why is weight management important for arthritic animals?

We know that loosing weight has whole body benefits but loosing just 6% of excessive body weight will significantly reduce an arthritic dogs lameness.

We also know that obesity causes greater risk including:
heat and exercise intolerance
respiratory disease
hormone disturbance
skin issues

Studies found that Adipose tissue (fat) could shift from M1 macrophage to M2, this alteration is anti-Inflammatory to pro-inflammatory. This creates a negative cycle of inflammatory within the body causing further pain and damage to tissues and joints.

This is adding fuel to the fire if your pet is already arthritic!!
Weight management is essential to helping your pet manage with a degenerative disease.

Sources:
https://caninearthritis.co.uk/managing-arthritis/weight-management/

https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/59463

06/08/2023

When you transition barefoot

When you remove your horse's shoes, be prepared that they are likely to look quite ugly for a while, so try not to over-scrutinise their appearance, and whilst it is always nice to have pretty feet, functionality should be the goal. Unfortunately, by the time most horses come to have their shoes removed, their feet are already suffering the effects from long-term shoeing, which can include things such as underrun heels, weakened internal structures visible from the v-shaped hairline above the heel bulbs, soles that are thin and weak, cracked and infected walls due to nail holes, narrow frogs often with a deep infected central sulcus, and some hooves can end up so weakened that they are no longer even able to hold a shoe. But time and nature are great healers, and with a good diet and management system in place, supported with a good trim, most horses will transition well from shod to barefoot. Many hoof pathologies can be improved if not reversed, so try to relax because all you are doing is helping your horse grow their best feet.

Once you have removed the shoes, all horses will react differently depending on the condition of their feet, which will vary from horse to horse and largely depends on how they've been managed previously and the horse's current health overall. Some horses will have their shoes removed and are sound enough to carry on pretty much doing everything they were before. However, this is a situation where we would always advise caution because this is the time when horses are at quite a high risk of bruising because their feet haven't developed the necessary supportive structures, even though the horse seems to be sound, so it is always better to start slowly and aim to build up to any work over the harder ground. Other horses can appear pretty sore, which some owners will naturally find quite distressing, but it is important to remember that the horse is not lame or injured and is simply feeling exactly as we would if we were to remove our shoes and start walking around barefoot with soft feet that weren't used to being exposed to the ground.

If your horse needs to remain in ridden work during the first days and weeks after the shoes are removed, and if you have been given the all-clear from your hoof care provider, then most horses are fine to be ridden in a school. For hacking, it would be a good idea to invest in some hoof boots, which will allow the horse to be ridden as normal whilst also providing the benefit from the movement stimulating hoof growth and by adding pads to the boots, these effects can be increased.

It can take three to four months to develop a sole and nine to twelve months to grow a new hoof, so it is important to remain patient and not expect too much too soon. Find a hoof care provider that you feel you can trust and who can explain clearly so that you can understand what changes are happening to your horse's feet and how they are addressing them.

And finally, one other thing that you should prepare for is the need to develop a very thick skin and fast because you may be surprised at just how many hoof experts are out there that are only too willing to give you their opinion on your decision to remove your horse's shoes. Even vets and physios you have faith in may suggest that your horse would be better off in shoes. In these situations, involving your hoof care provider in this discussion is a good idea.

17/07/2023

Laser therapy helps Troy manage his osteoarthritis pain.
Note the shifted leg weight, soft lips and closed eye lids.

Laser offers pain relief by emitting light radiation into the soft tissues surrounding joints. This affects ATP, NO & ROS which are necessary to help reduce pain signals and help increase inflammatory properties to offer more joint comfort.

09/06/2023

IT IS TIME…… be kind get your muzzles on!

Signs which you can’t ignore:
Foot sore
Short stride
Puffy eyes or sheath
Hoof rings
Cresty
Raised digital pulse
Lower leg swelling or hot feet
Lethargic
Itchy skin

26/05/2023

Beautiful day treating lovely horses including Lemon and her new baby!
Aurora was interested in what her mum was doing and wanted to explore the LASER machine and check out the cups.

Summer coats = myofascial cupping therapy

15/05/2023

When you book a session with your equine or canine therapist you get more than what’s in our physical toolbox.
You get our years of knowledge, past case experiences, compassion, support and help.
Yes our tools usually include electro therapies or hydrotherapy suites but I think my greatest tool are my hands!! 🙌

They have the remarkable ability to detect numerous changes in your horses body, providing me with valuable information about their comfort or distress. While we can not diagnose or identify illness our hands can pick up on subtle body changes that significantly contribute to the overall outcome of your pets therapy session.

07/04/2023

Wishing you a peaceful Good Friday 🌻

A monument to appreciate the values of the border collie dog in the Mackenzie district. Without the help of which the grazing of this mountain country would be impossible!
~ Lake Tekapo

14/03/2023

Thursday 16th March 9am slot now available!!

This is my only availability before holidays. Sessions available after 9th May 🐶🐴

07/03/2023

Spring time is coming!
For most horses this means transitioning from stables to grazing, this change has a big impact on the horse.

Get spring ready…. Buy your grass muzzle and your electric fence posts for strip grazing.

Get your horse spring ready by ensuring he is a healthy weight when turned out to grass. Use the last few weeks of colder weather with reduced rugs or feed to help shed those KG’s!
Movement is key so up his work load and get the heart pumping.

25/02/2023

Sorry my phone has broken! If you need to contact me about therapy sessions please message me via Facebook or email ART.

Thank you!

22/02/2023

Reminder that equine therapy will not be available from 1st April until 9th May.

Sessions still available through March.