Louisa Purkiss Veterinary Physiotherapy

05/05/2024

A lovely treatment session with Jim in the sun this week💛

This handsome boy is a retired flyball athlete, and has physio to help strengthen him and manage his spinal weakness in his older years.

I hope everyone is enjoying their bank holiday weekend as much as Jim enjoys his time out in the sun 😎

13/03/2024

A very boring post but I would just like to highlight my terms and conditions. Just to ensure that we’re on the same page throughout your animal’s treatment journey 😊 www.purkissvetphysio.co.uk/terms

29/02/2024

To mark Rare Disease Day, here’s the beautiful and spirited little Bisto 🤎

Poor Bisto is only 4 m/o and suffers from neosporosis, which is a complex parasitic infection that results in a variety of symptoms. For Bisto, it has resulted in neurological weakness of the right hindlimb, which has progressed to rigid extension and contracture of the stifle and hock.

While the vets at Wear Referrals have been treating him with antibiotics, Bisto has been having intensive physiotherapy treatment which has consisted of;
* Heat, massage, and stretching to the muscle contracture
* Passive range of motion to the joints
* Withdrawal reflex testing
* Standing practice and step training
* 2x weekly hydrotherapy in the underwater treadmill
* Experimentations with anti-knuckle aids and splints
* Pulsed electromagnetic field therapy
* & K-tape (that Bisto likes to take off!)

His owners have been incredibly dedicated to his care, but unfortunately he will still need to undergo corrective surgery or amputation. However, he is lucky to still be with us, and he has built a lot of strength which will help support his recovery post-surgery. We count our blessings with this special boy ✨

07/02/2024

Here we have Danny the clever boy, who is an English show Cocker that doesn’t actually understand English! He speaks Hungarian only 🙅‍♀️ while I poorly attempt to say words like ‘okosh’ and ‘ül’ to communicate with him, he is actually very good at reading my body language and I’ve managed to teach him a thing or two -like the forelimb elevation stretch, to target hindlimb strengthening while also stretching out his epaxials and hip flexors.

Danny had spinal surgery in November following T13-L1 disc extrusion. He is 10 years old and has unfortunately had a long history of IVDD, having had 2x conservative treatment previous to this episode. His owners have been very proactive though, and had me out to treat Danny 2 weeks post-surgery. He is now doing really well, and is managing 20-30 mins walks 💪

20/12/2023

All finished for Christmas🎄 I’ve had a lovely last few days treating the animals - I’ve received copious amounts of chocolate and even a handmade gift (2nd pic), very kind🥰

I won’t be giving any treatments between now and the 2nd, but I will still be taking enquiries and feel free to drop me a message if you have any concerns about your furries.

Merry Christmas and I look forward to seeing you all in the New Year✨

📞 07933646631
📧[email protected]
☑️ Qualified (MVetPhys), insured, & RAMP & NAVP (CAT 1) accredited

13/12/2023

Super proud of Mr Monty Don who has just reached 10kg of weight loss 🥲

I see Monty at House of Hound for hydro and physio to manage his spondylosis. He is unfortunately one of those dogs that just has to look at food and he’s a kg heavier. However before he knew it, he was 10kg too heavy 😬 while he was happy with his extra snacks, it was stunting his progress in hydro/physio and he was struggling with his mobility on walks. His owner agreed that he needed to be put on a strict diet, and she has been excellent at ensuring he sticks to it. Now, Monty is doing brilliantly on walks and he is so much sprightlier in himself. We have seen such an improvement in his general wellbeing.

So well done to Monty and his dedicated owner. Team House of Hound are very proud🖤

(Btw, Monty is aware and very embarrassed by the little white hair on his nose.)

07/12/2023

A big shout out to Roo who has made excellent progress in just four physio sessions🧡

Roo has had TPLO surgery for both cruciate ligaments. He was unfortunately getting lame and down in the dumps over the past few months. But he has been such a good boy in physio and has worked very hard on his exercises, so he has made great progress already - improving his posture, abdominals, and hindlimb muscles💪 making him more comfortable as a result.

Well done Roo!

17/11/2023

Reviewing vet physio exam content for post-grad vet nurses and paraprofessionals. Checking for technical accuracy🧐 I actually really enjoyed doing this!

12/11/2023

Dylan did not enjoy posing for pictures, but he did enjoy all the cuddles he received (pic 3)😂

Interesting day of CPD yesterday on canine assessment skills. It’s always good to learn from other practitioners to develop knowledge and skills. Thank you David at and all the very good doggos 🐾

25/10/2023

A lovely customer review!

Did you know that I do hydrotherapy clinics at House of Hound Hydrotherapy on Mondays and Tuesdays 💦 excellent facilities and it's great to work alongside such caring and experienced practitioners.

Feel free to drop me a message if you think your dog could benefit from hydrotherapy.

📞 07933646631
📧 [email protected]
☑️ Qualified (MVetPhys), insured, & RAMP & NAVP (CAT 1) accredited

28/09/2023

A really interesting post. A reminder of the link between chronic pain and emotion, and therefore behaviour 🐾

🐾 Why does chronic pain have an affect on behaviour? 🐾

The emotion of pain is a form of fear-anxiety and it can directly affect behaviour by increasing vigilance and leading to behavioural responses that are designed to keep the individual safe. For this reason an animal in chronic pain may show avoidance behaviour and try to keep distance from anything that it perceives to be a risk in terms of exacerbating its pain. This may lead to the pet being less engaged in social interactions and showing less interest in play or making very obvious attempts to get away. Painful animals may also show less obvious behaviours of inhibition or appeasement.

Inhibition involves the animal taking in information by watching and listening but not giving anything away. The result can be a pet who is very quiet and can easily be misinterpreted as being relaxed. It is important to watch for signs that the pet is monitoring the environment, for example by watching for ear movement and staring, and not to simply accept that they are "being very good". Appeasement involves exchanging information with others and because dogs are socially obligate animals they will often use this behavioural response when they are in pain. These dogs will seek information from those around them as well as give information back. This is often done through touch and these dogs may lean into people or nudge at them in ways that are misinterpreted as "attention seeking" and seen as unwanted or naughty behaviours.

Dogs may also sniff and lick at people in ways that are misinterpreted as affection. It is therefore important to be aware of changes in social interactions and not to dismiss increased interaction which might signify an emotional change. The other potential response to pain is repulsion and this involves behaviours which are designed to make the perceived threat stay away. Anything that the animal perceives to be a risk in terms of inducing pain can lead to a repulsion response and these responses can vary from a low grumble, to a significant growl, to an air snap and even a bite. While these repulsion behaviours are often considered to be the most serious, because of the potential consequences, it is important to remember that the pain can be equally significant for the pet regardless of which of the four behavioural responses it gives. It is very important to take repulsion seriously and to take steps to avoid the potential consequences of these behaviours but we must not disregard avoidance, inhibition and appeasement which are also important signs that an animal may be in pain.

In addition to the direct effect on behaviour chronic pain can have an indirect effect by reducing an animal's emotional capacity. The chronic pain uses up some of the animal's emotional "space" and means that they are more likely to react to other stimuli, such as noises or social interactions. When this happens the main thing that a caregiver may notice is a change in behaviour but the underlying pain also needs to be treated.

22/09/2023

A great post for Animal Pain Awareness Month 🐾

Do you know the signs of pain in your dog?

We all would like to think we do. But dogs are very stoic, which means they only show us lameness when they cannot hide it anymore. And often the first sign of pain we notice is lameness. However, the signs can be there way before any lameness starts.

🐾 Has your dog become a little more grumpy than usual?
🐾 Has your dog started spooking at noises, movements or generally become more nervous?
🐾 Has your dog's coat started looking like a zig-zag or sticking up, particularly down the back or over the hips or shoulders?
🐾 Has your dog started hesitating when they go up/down the stairs?
🐾 Has your dog started sniffing more on walks or lagging behind you?

The list sadly can go on. But if you have answered yes to any of these questions, or if you have noticed any of these other signs in your dog, they may be in pain.

Physiotherapy can help your dog feel more comfortable by relieving their pain and building their strength to support painful joints. I also work with you to help you figure out a management plan that works best for you and your dog.

Get your dog booked in today for a pain check and to start their physiotherapy journey!
📞: 07734 382578
📧: [email protected]

17/09/2023

On Friday, I had to say goodbye to my vibrant, crazy, sweet, beloved Narla. An enormous loss. She brought such joy to our lives for over a decade, and truly taught me so much as a vet physio.

Thank you to Tom at Haverhill Swayne and Partners Veterinary Surgeons for making her passing as peaceful as possible.

& thank you for the patience and understanding from the clients I have had to reschedule. It has been a tough week, but I know I will find solace in treating your animals in the coming weeks.

25/08/2023

A review from an owner of an IVDD warrior💪 sweet little Betsy, who has made great progress thanks to physio, hydro, and a very dedicated owner. Now living a much more functional life.

📞 07933646631
📧 [email protected]
✔️ Qualified (MVetPhys), insured, & RAMP & NAVP (CAT 1) accredited

04/08/2023

Little Betty ☺️ holding less tension each time I see her!

20/06/2023

A lovely client review 😊

Testimonial Tuesday 🌟

Thank you to Laura for sharing a lovely review about the level of care and knowledge she experienced at House of Hound with her dogs!

27/04/2023

It’s great to see one of my physio clients progressing in her hydrotherapy - go Betsy! 🥰👏

📞 07933646631
📧 [email protected]
☑️ Qualified (MVetPhys), insured, & RAMP & NAVP (CAT 1) accredited

05/02/2023

Have had the pleasure of treating this little lady🐱

28/11/2022

Newfie Harry enjoying his massage 💕 Giant breeds, such as the Newfoundland, are more prone to developing skeletal disorders but Harry’s owner is very good at bringing him for maintenance hydro to help prevent these kind of issues. He also gets a massage now & then to help make him more comfortable in his older age. What a cutie!

14/11/2022

It was a few weeks back now, but I attended a brilliant CPD weekend on canine exercise rehab. Of course I always practice what I learn on my own dog first 😂

Here you can see Narla practicing some foot targeting to aid limb & postural awareness. It’s also a great tool for static assessments. Other than her spinal posture & forelimb alignment, I don’t think she is looking too bad for 11/12 y/o! She has done physio exercises since she was around 7 & i defo think it has paid off 💪

*Please do not attempt foot targeting without direction from a rehab professional under a certified body*

02/09/2022

A special little friend that I see for hydro & physio❤️

The face of an angel......

Well actually a frenchie.

Chewie is doing so well..... She was referred to us from Parragon following cervical disc surgery and right hind patella luxation. She also had subarachold diverticulum T3/4 and lumbosacral disc disease with ataxia. Chewy also has skin allergies.

Despite all this, she is amazing. She is a brilliant canine companion to her mum and all round fantastic girly.

She comes to us for hydro and physiotherapy. Well done Chewie for being a champion 🐶

12/08/2022

Important information in this weather 🔥

MANAGING DOGS IN THE HEATWAVE

1) AVOIDING the heat is the best approach. Some basics are:

-Walk in the early morning or late evening
-Reduce activity e.g. keep dogs on leads or avoid ball games, etc
-If your dog is outside it must have access to shade
-Keep dogs inside during the hot part of the day in a ventilated room (but with the windows shut), with curtains or blinds pulled and ideally a stone or tiled floor
-Get a mobile AC unit or fan
-Water must always be available
-A few ice cubes on their own or in the water bowl will cause no ill effect BUT this will not offer any significant cooling benefit.
-Consider clipping (see 2 below)
-Spray your dog with water from a garden spray, plant sprayer, hose
-Provide a paddling pool
-To keep the house cool, open windows at night and close in the morning and pull curtains/blinds. Your house is insulated and will keep heat out during the day

2) If your dog is at HIGH RISK OF HEASTROKE OR THE CONSEQUENCES OF HEASTROKE and you cannot avoid the heat then you should strongly consider getting it clipped. When I say clipped I don’t mean removing all its coat or clipping it very short. High risk includes:

-Large dogs
-Dogs with thick coats
-Overweight dogs
-Unfit dogs
-Very active dogs
-Dark coloured dogs
-Old dogs
-Ill dogs
-Dogs with chronic heart or respiratory conditions
-Dogs with upper airway problems
-Brachycephalic breeds

The more of these factors that apply to your dog the higher the risk of heatstroke.

*** IF YOUR DOG IS PANTING AT REST IT IS NOT COMFORTABLE AND IS NOT COPING WELL WITH THE HEAT AND IT'S BODY IS UNDER STRESS ***

3) CLIPPING the coat of some dogs can result in abnormal hair growth and this may affect some breeds more than others. Personally, I'd rather have a dog with abnormal hair growth than one that had suffered permanent health damage from heatstroke or worse.

4) Making the coat too short could increase the risk of SUNBURN but NOT heat stroke

5) Learn to recognise the SIGNS OF HEATSTROKE

-Faster, heavier panting
-Barking, whining or signs of agitation
-Excessive thirst
-Excessive drooling
-Increased pulse and heartbeat
-Dark-coloured (red or purple) gums or tongue
-Glassy eyes
-Elevated body temperature of 40ºC (104ºF) and up
-Staggering, weakness or collapse
-Seizures
-Unconsciousness

HEATSTROKE is a MEDICAL EMERGENCY and requires IMMEDIATE ACTION and VETERINARY SUPPORT. Cool your dog by hosing or pouring COLD WATER all over the body or place in a paddling pool (but don't leave unattended in case of collapse) to rapidly reduce temperature and call your vet! This could save your dog's life. If you attempt to cool with Lukewarm/Tepid water your dog will be at increased risk!

CLARIFICATION ON COLD WATER
Hot Over 40°C
Warm - 30-40°C
Lukewarm/Tepid - ~35°C (the definition is variable according to source)
Cold - 10-20°C
Ice Cold

12/08/2022

14/03/2022

Last weekend I enjoyed learning all about K-taping in the canine patient, so that I have another tool to add to my physio box 🐾

Narla has been very kind allowing me to practice on her. Here you can see the effect the tape has on a trigger point found in the thoracic portion of the trapezius. My application isn’t perfect in the video (trying to perfect the skill!), but it just demonstrates how soft tissue can respond to a bit of K-Tape. Pretty cool!

02/02/2022

Had to share this photo of Archie - one of my favourite pups that I see for hydro! He is in the late stages of rehab following a fibrocartilaginous embolism, what a little trooper💪

Little man Archie. Comes for both hydro and physio.

Who can resist those ears 🐶🥰