MoveMore Veterinary Physiotherapy

10/01/2024

The photos show just a few things which can affect an animals movement.

Soft tissue (muscles, tendons, ligaments and fascia) is responsible for holding the skeleton together and enables movement. Soft tissue which does not expand and contract correctly can often restrict the movement of an animal resulting in less than optimal movement. Unfortunately soft tissue does not show up on x-rays, other imaging for example MRI is required.

The vet physio however is trained at recognising soft tissue restrictions, why they may have occurred, the effect they may have on other areas of the body and how to resolve them. They are also trained in recognising gait deviations caused by neurological issues and how the effects can be minimised, working with the vets consent of course.

No one should ever force a limb into extension or flexion. This could result in injury to restrictied soft tissue. Instead the vet physio will use electrotherapies or manual techniques, including massage to make the muscles and fascia more flexible and able to elongate. The animal will then enjoy a greater range of motion of the joint and be able to move in a more relaxed way.

Thanks to IndiePics Photography for the use of the photo of my daughter Kim and MInky enjoying themselves.

18/12/2023

A great use of technology showing how physiotherapy can help improve lameness. Jennny is a vet as well as a vet physio and is passionate about using her skills and knowledge to make horses more comfortable.

Sleip in Action!
I'm sure a few of you are wondering what this Sleip stuff is all about...well here is an example.

Look at these plots. They show a horse who has had a long standing RH lameness that I have been working with. He has also showed a lameness LF. He has trouble taking R canter lead. Is it the front? Or is it the hindlimb?

These data plots show pre and post physio treatment from 1 session.

Purple plot is for FL symmetry
Blue HL

Green=good symmetry/sound
Grey-yellow-orange-red= progressively greater asymmetry/lameness.

Here we can see resolution of the forelimb lameness after treatment.
The length of the grey line indicates the degree of asymmetry, longer =more asymmetrical.
The lameness RH has also decreased post treatment.
No drugs, no blocks, just physiotherapy.

How does this help? My interpretation of these results along with what I found on the horse's body and the way he functions leads me to believe that he is lame in front as a result of tension in the thoracic sling due to overloading. He may need help from the vet to move forward with the RH pain but physiotherapy is helping to improve the lameness.

I will now share these with his vet and we can make a plan to focus on the RH.

Thank you to Janet, Jo and Paul with Bear for allowing me to share this data.

14/12/2023

Thank you to all my amazing clients for supporting me this year. I wish you and your furry friends all the very best Christmas and look forward to seeing you all in the New Year!

Here’s the lovely Finnley with his new friends during his recent physio session. A video to hopefully brighten your day like they did mine!

18/11/2023

From calm ex-racehorses to wriggly cocker spaniels! Every patient is different and I love the variety and challenge of helping each animal move and feel more comfortable.

Here’s Pepper after her physio. She is very active and does like to stand on her hind legs to be part of what is going on! This leads to tight muscles and restricted movement. Her owner is a dog trainer which makes my job much easier, although when the patient is as wriggly as Pepper the treatment is never going to be straightforward! With gentle and persuasive handling I was really pleased to see how much freer she was moving after her physio. The added bonus for her owners was she slept so well after her session!

15/11/2023

Here is the lovely ex-racehorse George looking relaxed after his physio earlier this week. He was so very good having just been in his new home a couple of weeks and it was very windy! Like many ex-racehorses he had lots of soft tissue restrictions which made him feel more comfortable once they had been released. If you have an ex-racehorse which hasn't had any physio why not contact me to book a session?

I have put a video in the comments of George before his physio and wish him all the very best in his new life!

06/11/2023

05/11/2023

Spaniels just like to have fun - and physio can help them! Here's a video of Chase which it was lovely to receive from his dedicated owner yesterday.

I first saw Chase in April after Karen at BTPDS recognised pain was contributing to his reactive behaviour and recommended they contact me. Chase had been rehomed 9 months previously and initially seemed fine but when his exercise increased he became lame on his left hind leg. The vet prescribed pain medication and physio which had increased muscle on his left hind leg but he was still lame.

When I saw him in April I recognised that the restriction in his range of motion on his left hind leg was due to a restricted nerve caused by a healed fracture which had require surgery. Once the muscular compensatory restrictions were released and mobilisations performed to help reduce the nerve restriction Chase was much happier. Exercises helped build muscle and retrain him to weight bear on the leg. I last saw Chase in August when his medications had been significantly reduced and he was much happier and moving well. The video in the comments is of Chase when I first saw him. It was fantastic to see him happy and enjoying life!

29/10/2023

Some dogs which are reactive to people is due to pain which physiotherapy can help reduce. Being able to recognise the small behaviours dogs make before they escalate to growling and possibly biting is important when I treat them. Yesterday I watched Demi one of the instructors from the BTPDS team working with people reactive dogs. This enabled me to concentrate on watching their behaviour and how Demi reacted to it. Demi also runs her own business, The K9 Personal Trainer. I was pleased to feature in her recent newsletter in an article for Pain Awareness Month about how physiotherapy helped her own dog Pepper. Thank you Demi and the BTPDS team for an informative and enjoyable morning!

28/10/2023

Being inspired by the IRVAP conference yesterday. Interesting talks and conversations with colleagues will help keep me updated with new research and techniques. This means your pets will benefit even more from their physio sessions. Thank you IRVAP!

21/10/2023

When I thanked Roxy's new owner for the photos for my page to promote the pre-purchase physio assessment this is the lovely reply she gave.....

"I hope it works well. It should because there are so many benefits and at such a great price. 1.The report gives prospective buyers a physical 'starting point' 2. Recommendations on how to help him/her with exercises going forward. 3. Relieving him/her of any soreness in preparation for his/her journey to his new home. OR at the very least, if you decide the horse isn't a 'fit' you're helping the horse with any pain issues. What horse lover wouldn't be excited about giving that to a horse, even if they didn't purchase them.
Brilliant :)
So glad I had you to Roxy"

18/10/2023

Here's the gorgeous Roxy arriving in her new home after I had the pleasure of completing a pre-purchase physio assessment on her. Her new owner to be appreciated the videos and findings of my assessment, but also wanted to ensure she arrived in her new home feeling as comfortable as possible to start their new lives together. I think this was such a good idea especially as Roxy was having a change of discipline from driving to riding. I did release some restrictive musculature which was hindering her flexion to the left, this was almost certainly due to being driven on the right of a pair. I wish Roxy and her new owner all the very best for their life together!

If you are thinking of buying a horse or changing disciplines why don't you contact me as I will be happy to perform a pre- purchase assessment or carry out a physio session. This includes a full report including videos and will ensure your horse is as comfortable as possible.

08/10/2023

The body is very clever and adapts to the activities it does, which is why rehabilitation exercises can be so effective. However if an animal moves in an abnormal way the body develops to support this movement.

Here is Merle following her physio, she is a young dog who during her adolescence spent a lot of time standing on her back legs to look over the garden fence. This resulted in restrictive musculature throughout her body which once released made her much more comfortable. I have posted a video in the comments of Merle before her physio.

If you would like to discuss your dog or other pet please do contact me. Physiotherapy can make pets with many different conditions more comfortable. Many clients are amazed at the difference it has made and sometimes pain medication can be reduced as well, although this of course is discussed with their vet.

04/10/2023

Saddles and the impact they have on the horse are just one of the many things the vet physio will consider during an assessment. This article makes enjoyable reading with some useful links to more information.

I have an engineering degree and have considered how saddles can be improved for many years. We owe it to our horses to listen to them and ensure they are as comfortable as possible, please do contact me if you would like to discuss your horse.

Pretty much everyone agrees that it’s nice to ride in a comfortable saddle. Most likely, horses would agree that a saddle should be comfortable for them, too. In the last decade or so, the horse’s saddle has received a good bit of attention in equine studies, especially as to how it related to w...

19/09/2023

PAIN - Why we need to minimise it and how the vet physio can help

Bess has a sore foot and wears a PAWS boot so she can still enjoy her walks. They don’t interfere with gait, can easily fit in your pocket and are cheap, there is a bit of a knack to putting them on but once mastered it is easy enough. This is just one method of reducing pain for a dog, but why is it important?

PAIN AND WHY IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED
Every effort should be made to minimise pain experienced by animals, not only from a welfare perspective but also to aid their rehabilitation. Reduced pain means less affect on gait, reduced mental stress and decreased stress hormones (costicosteroids). Corticosteroids inhibit inflammation, delay white cell activity and collagen synthesis, so less costersteroids means better healing. Rehabilitation exercises are designed to strengthen weak or injured tissues without causing further injury.

HOW PAIN IS REDUCED
Most owners will be familiar with pain medication prescribed by their vet. If you are concerned by the prescribed medication please do discuss this with them as there may be an alternative.

THE VET PHYSIO CAN REDUCE PAIN BY:
Massage
Passive Range of Motion (PROM)
Hot/cold
Pulsed magnetic field therapy (PMFT)
Laser or Low Level Light Therapy (LLLT)
Therapeutic ultrasound
Neuro muscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES)/Tanscutaneous Electrical Stimulation (TENS)

Here’s a link to a research article by Summers (2020) which gives an overview of different modalities and how they can help pain.

https://www.theveterinarynurse.com/review/article/introduction-to-complementary-and-alternative-pain-management-in-canines

I do have electrotherapies which I rent to clients so they can be used frequently. Please do contact me if you would like to discuss your pet.

05/09/2023

Everyone was happy after Oscar's physio session, especially Oscar! During Covid he had surgery for a luxating patella. This resulted in many compensations and physiotherapy was suggested by Karen Boyce from Beastly Thoughts Professional Dog Services. I am very grateful for Karen and her team, they are all so good at recognising when a dog isn't moving correctly and know that behavioural issues are very difficult to resolve if the dog is in discomfort. They are the people to contact if you want help with your dog's behaviour but if you think your dog may not be moving correctly please do contact me.

I have put a video in the comments of Oscar moving slower after his session as well as one before treatment too.

03/09/2023

Here's a flyer I made when asked to talk at a local vets about advice they can give to clients with mobility impaired pets and how physiotherapy may help. Osteoarthritis is very common and effects not just older animals. Canine Arthritis Management (CAM) is an organisation started by a vet to help owners with arthritic pets and has lots of useful information, here's the link to their website.

https://caninearthritis.co.uk

CAM reports that 80% of dogs over the age of 8 and potentially 35% of all dogs suffer with osteoarthritis to some extent.

I hope you find the information useful and please do contact me if you would like more information on how physio may help your osteoarthritic pet.

02/09/2023

It was very good to see the change in Albus's posture following his physio. With his owners willing to carry out the simple recommended exercises he should remain more comfortable and build muscle. If your dog stands like Albus in the first photo, physiotherapy may help them. Please do contact me if you would like any further information.

19/08/2023

It is so good to see this horse enjoying herself last week. I had been asked by her owner to look at her the week before as she didn’t seem right. Her vet, who I met also agreed she had some issues, suggested a change in shoes (to heartbars) the following day, along with physio to release the restrictive musculature. It really shows how the horse can benefit when everyone works together!

15/08/2023

Poppy like many older dogs has multiple issues but my aim is always to keep them as functional and comfortable as possible. It was lovely to see Poppy looking more comfortable and hearing from her owners how she had been happier since they had used the Photizo red light regularly which I rent to clients. The video is of Poppy at the start of her third physio session. I have posted in the comments a video of Poppy when I first saw her and at the end of the third session. Please do contact me if you think I may be able to help your pet.

07/08/2023

Physiotherapy is more than just soft tissue release but releasing restrictive musculature can have a very positive effect on how an animal moves. The scapula must be free to move as much of the forelimb protraction and retraction should come from the scapula, making it important that it is not restricted by harnesses, saddles or other tack.

Here is Rocco, watch his right foreleg. This was the day after I had released some musculature in his neck as he was struggling to flex to the left, and musculature attaching his right scapular, I also performed scapular glides and lifts. I have posted in the comments a video of him the day before when his right foreleg was dishing and he was flexing to the right. If you think that your pet may benefit from physiotherapy please do contact me.

27/06/2023

This is so true! Physiotherapy is all about keeping animals functional and enjoying a good quality of life and I love the jumper!

25/06/2023

Here is Islay after her second physio session. The vet had diagnosed, using x-rays, osteoarthritis in her right stifle and both hocks and prescribed medication for her pain. I had helped the owners with their other German Shepherd so they and their vet thought physio was a good idea. I have posted a video of when I first saw Islay in the comments. She was lame on her right hind leg but also had restricted foreleg musculature. She moved much better after her first session but was still lame on her right hind leg, this lameness only lasted a day or so though. It was so good to see her a month later looking much more comfortable.

19/06/2023

Exercises carried out by owners between physio sessions can make a big difference to the movement of an animal and I always try to make them easy to incorporated into their lives. Here Poppy's owners have placed some poles which Poppy trots over every time she goes in and out of the garden. This will help build even musculature, increase the flexion of her limb joints and regulate her stride length. It's good for proprioception too, both human and dog!

14/06/2023

A lot of information about the musculoskeletal condition of a horse can be obtained from watching them turn small circles. It shows how well they can laterally flex, how good their co-ordination is and if they are off loading one leg faster than others.

This is the gorgeous young Duke. He had just been backed and his lovely owner wanted to make sure he was as comfortable as possible. The video is following treatment when I noticed that he wasn't flexing his neck properly. Once I had released the restriction he managed a great baited stretch! I have posted in the comments the video of his small circle before his physio.

It demonstrates how important it is to reassess movement following treatment. Owners are always given the videos so they have a record of progress.

08/06/2023

Your pet like us, over it’s life will have compensations due to illness and injuries. As they age reducing pain is very important, for which your vet may prescribe medication. The vet physio can often help, not just with controlling the pain but also helping to reduce restrictive soft tissue and gently mobilise joints as well as simple exercises to improve stabilising musculature. Improving quality of life for your pet is our goal but we are also here to help you make those hard decisions which we sometimes have to make.

06/06/2023

Here's Maggie last week. I have put a video in the comments of when I first saw her in August last year. She had regular physio sessions until February, it's so good to see her moving well and happy!

02/06/2023

Here’s Maggie who I have posted about previously. She was very lame when I first saw her last July and had many compensations. Physio helped her become more comfortable but being a young spaniel she was prone to developing new restrictions which I would release. Her owners were good at carrying out the suggested exercises increase her stabilising muscles. I hadn’t seen Maggie for a while so it was lovely to hear that she is enjoying 2 walks a day with no lameness and is the happy lively spaniel she should be.

30/05/2023

Sorry for not posting recently, but you have all kept me busy, thank you!

Here's the lovely Toby enjoying some soft tissue release and stretching yesterday. I find the restrictions by asking about the behaviour, watching them move and performing a hands on assessment including ROM of all legs. Following the release I recheck ROM to make sure I have had the desired effect. I always take before and after videos which I send to the owner.

20/04/2023

Harnesses are the best way to restrain your dog but they can restrict the scapula and cause pressure on it's surrounding musculature. Look how Sidney's harness pulls tight behind his elbow (where important muscles lie) when he puts his head down to search for treats on the ground. It's best to minimise the time your dog spends wearing their harness too. In the comments I have put a video of Sydney moving before his physio as well as one after his treatment. He was much happier and although I had warned his owners he may be quite tired after the treatment he had zoomies round the garden for about 10 minutes!

15/04/2023

It was so good to see Rebel again, her owner had been carrying out the exercises I had suggested which helped increase her stride length and stabilising musculature. The video is after her second physio session. I love how she can walk up the steps one hindleg at a time, this ensures there is even loading on them. I have put in the comments a video I took before her first treatment which was 2 months previously. The exercises given to owners are easy and enjoyable to do, take only a few minutes and can make a big difference to your dogs movement and comfort.