Frontier Vet Physio

27/07/2023

It is summer, which unfortunately for our four-legged friends means intolerable heat and discomfort.

The condition where someone's body temperature reaches above 40 degrees Celcius is called heat stroke. This can be fatal for our pets! Heat stroke is best prevented by keeping your pets out of the sunshine during the hottest parts of the day, preventing intense exercise in high temperatures, and ensuring your pet has plenty to drink. However, if the worst does happen, its important to know what to do!

The RVC has published new information on heat-stroke treatment in dogs, with evidence showing that the old advice of slowly cooling your pet with wet towels is not adequate. Instead, pets with heat stroke should be rapidly cooled with immersion in water or by evaporation cooling, which is where the animal is cooled by wetting their coat and then using a fan to create air flow. The animal should be cooled before transport to your local vet hospital!

Remember - cool first, transport second.

This lovely infographic by the Kennel Club shows the signs to look for in your dogs during hot temperatures that may indicate heat stroke. Remember, if in doubt, call your vet!

21/03/2023

Massage Therapy with Frontier!

As part of her physio qualification, Emma is able to provide massage therapies to pets!
Massage is a relaxing, hands-on physical tool that is used to relieve tension in the muscles. Massage works by using friction, pressure and movement to release tension in the muscle, which can feel like knots or sore areas. It is excellent for helping to correct muscle overuse, to stimulate underused muscles, to relieve 'trigger points' (which are areas where the muscle fibres have contracted) and to improve blood flow in the area.
Some techniques that are used in massage include:
-Effleurage - stroking patterns across the skin or fur that increase the blood flow and stimulate the area for warm-ups
- Petrissage - movement of the area with increased pressure, using movements such as kneading or rolling the skin
- Percussive - gentle striking actions with cupped hands or the sides of hands to stimulate an area, or to break down fluid
- Compression - high pressure, stationary technique that allows blood flow to an area

Massage therapy is offered as part of our physiotherapy sessions! Why not inquire if you want to know more?
Contact Emma on +44 7507 440783 for more information on Frontier's services!

20/03/2023

This is a great video from Linda Ryan talking about playing with cats!

Playing with your cat can not only build a bond with your pet, but you can also help your cat to develop their muscles with play?

Or, if your cat is older, did you know that watching a toy is still mentally rewarding for your cat? This can be great for your senior cats who might not be so enthusiastic about pouncing, climbing or jumping about so often!

Why not try playing with your cat today?

20/03/2023

Scentwork is an excellent way to give your pup a workout without a long walk!

Not only is scentwork a brain workout for your dog, it is also an important part of their behaviour and letting them sniff leaves your dog feeling great! Scentwork can be as simple as hiding some treats for your dog around the house, or using things tea towels for them to dig under.

If you are trying to cut down your dog's walking time, or if your dog is on limited activity, scentwork can be a good way to tire them out without exerting themselves. Whilst you are on your walk, why not shorten your route and allow your dog the time to smell their surroundings instead?

Credit to Mighty Dog Graphics for the infographic.

With such beautiful weather at the moment why not make the most of it with a 'sniffari' walk- although our walks are limited in distance that doesn't mean they need to be limited in fun!

06/03/2023

Snow and ice is on the way, which means that our arthritic friends are likely to be more sore and stiff than usual.

Arthritis tends to worsen in cold weather, as its thought that cold weather heighens pain perception. This means our friends with arthritis hurt more when its cold. Therefore its important that our furry friends are kept warm in the snow and ice!

Here are some tips to help alleviate some of that extra stiffness in the cold:
- Get your dog a well fitting coat. Coats are good ways to keep the cold and wet away from your pet, and add an extra layer of insulation to the body.
- Use a heat pack to warm up the affected areas. Heat packs should be wrapped in a towel to protect the skin, and only applied for 10-15 minutes. This should warm up the area and reduce the pain.
- Massage sore or stiff areas before your walk or exercise to prepare the area before you go out.
- Restrict tiled areas. Many arthritic animals like to lie on tiled surfaces because its cold - but this can worsen the stiffness they feel in cold weather! A nice comfy bed is much better for them.
- Try some mental stimulation indoors! Trick training, rehabilitative exercise, or even sniff-mats with treats are all excellent ways to keep your pet stimulated and active even without a long walk, which may be more manageable for your pet.

Arthritis can feel like a big thing, but it can be managed effectively. For more information on how physiotherapy can help your pawly pet, contact Emma on messenger or visit our website: www.frontiervetphysio.co.uk

22/02/2023

Worming Reminder!

I have had a report from a local vet that there has been an increase in lungworm cases in the area recently. Lungworm is a parasite that is passed on to your pet when they eat slugs or snails and their slime trails. Lungworm cases can sadly be fatal, so it is really important to stay on top of their flea and worming treatments especially as the warmer months near.

Additionally, check that your wormer covers lungworm as some over-the-counter brands do not kill lungworm. For more information ask your vet about wormers!!

Don't forget to worm your pet!!

14/02/2023

With Valentine's Day and Easter comes chocolate, and with chocolate comes chocolate poisoning. Unfortunately for our furry friends, chocolate is poisonous, and can leave our best friends very poorly indeed. It is important to keep any chocolate far out of reach of any curious noses and always contact a vet if you suspect your beloved pet might have gotten into your Valentine's stash!

In the picture are signs of chocolate poisoning kindly created by the Kennel Club. For more information please see their post or go to thekennelclub.org.uk/chocolate

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. It's usually a day full of love... and chocolate. Chocolate is poisonous to our four-legged friends and can give them a worryingly fast heart rate. On and around Valentine’s Day, make sure to keep all boxes of chocolates out of paw's reach of any dogs.

Find out more about chocolate poisoning: thekennelclub.org.uk/chocolate.

14/02/2023

Happy Valentine's Day to all our pet parents and lovely clients!

How will you be sharing your special day with your beautiful pets?

27/01/2023

This is an excellent post from Canine Conditioning Coach on the East-West angular limb deformity and how conditioning and rehabilitative exercise can be beneficial for these animals.

Canine conditioning should only be done through a custom program with a qualified canine conditioning coach, such as physiotherapists and canine conditioning coaches.

What exactly is "East West"? Does your dog have it? And which conditioning exercises can help?

In dogs, East West is an umbrella term that refers to any external rotation of the thoracic limb that results in the toes facing outward. Nebulous… My favorite🙄🤦‍♀️. Given that there are several distinct postural deviations that cause the toes to face outward, I wanted to cover each, and discuss…

1. Where in the canine anatomy the East West / lateral rotation is stemming from.
2. Help you identify which one your pup might have.
3. Discuss what might be done to improve this postural deviation.

⭐️(Link to the full post, including more descriptive images, and links to exercise tutorials at the bottom go the post)⭐️

1️⃣TYPE 1: TRUE East West / External Shoulder Rotation

In dogs, this East West deviation is sometimes referred to as ‘elbows turned in’ or ‘loose elbows’. But this postural deviation is not technically related to the elbow at all. The elbow is a hinge joint. It does not rotate. Instead, this East West deviation comes from a lateral or outward rotation of the humerus at the level of the shoulder joint. As the proximal humerus rotates laterally, the distal humerus and antebrachium rotate medially. As a result, this postural deviation can be easily identified by a narrowness between the elbows and antebrachium.

2️⃣TYPE 2: Carpal Valgus

Carpal valgus is a lateral deviation of the paw, from the line of the radius / ulna at the level of the wrist (carpal abduction). Dogs with carpal valgus do not display the external shoulder rotation and resulting narrowness as described above, or the dwarf mutation / angular limb deformity covered below. Instead this East West deviation is localized to the level of the dog’s carpus or wrist joint. There are several progressive degrees of this deviation ranging from mild to severe.

3️⃣TYPE 3: Angular Limb Deformity

All chondrodystrophic or dwarf breeds are all affected by some degree of angular limb deformity. This is the result of intentionally breeding the genetic mutation that produces short limbs… which create the breeds’ unique look and function. These genetics cause a premature closure of the distal ulnar growth plate, and a length discrepancy between the radius and ulna, resulting in the East West appearance through the forelimbs of dwarf breeds. As with any genetic trait, this postural deviation can be seen with more mild or more severe characteristics.

❓So what can we do to help dogs with East West Deviation?

The first step is identifying which specific deviation your pup is displaying, and getting checked out by a rehab professional or sports medicine vet to ensure the postural deviation is not the result of a past or current injury. True East West / External Shoulder Rotation and Carpal Valgus deviations are likely to be improved by targeted strengthening exercises.

💪Exercises for East West: External Shoulder Rotation

The following exercises help to address the strength and mobility discrepancy between the muscles in the rotator cuff. In all of these exercises, we are looking for the upper and lower forelimb to demonstrate less external rotation over time. These exercises may have prerequisites, all of which are listed at the bottom of each video tutorial.

📌Fold Back Down
📌Ipsilateral Foot Target
📌Manual Leg Lift
📌Bow

🤌Exercises for East West: Carpal Valgus

The following exercises help to strengthen the musculature on the medial aspect of the carpus. These exercises may have prerequisites, all of which are listed at the bottom of each video tutorial.

📌The Dig Dig exercise activates the caudal thoracic chain which runs along the back portion of the thoracic limb. These muscles have a primary action of carpal flexion, but also support the medial aspect of the carpus and assist in carpal adduction.

In the following exercise, we will leverage the shape of the PawPod to create a carpal bias, which re-aligns the paw, allowing the medial carpal stabilizers to work and strengthen.

📌PawPod Carpal Bias
📌Manual leg lift on Paw Pods

🛑Running in sand or gravel, or feeding from an elevated feeder are often suggested activities to help ‘fix” carpal valgus. And while there may be some mild positive changes attributed to these methods, this is not the best approach. We know from human physical therapy and fitness modalities, that implementing targeted exercise that produces neuromuscular re-education is far superior, faster and more effective long term. Teaching the dog to properly engage the deep and superficial digital flexors is the actual solution to the problem, and carries much less risk than running a dog repeatedly on gravel. For more on this topic, check out my blog post on neuromuscular re-education.

‼️Exercises for East West: Angular Limb Deformity

Dogs with Angular Limb Deformity will also benefit from targeted conditioning exercises, but require a more customized approach, and will see best results by working with a credentialed fitness professional (CPCFT, CCFT, CSCC) or a credentialed rehab professional (CCRP, CCRT) to build a Custom Program.

https://canineconditioningcoach.com/what-is-east-west-in-dogs-and-does-my-dog-have-that/

27/01/2023

Happy Friday everyone!

Its the last Friday of January already! Hasn't it just flown by! On the 5th of February Frontier will be celebrating 2 months of trading. Hasn't that gone quick?

What have you and your pets achieved throughout the month of January? Did you try a new walk? Did you master that tricky obstacle at Agility? Did you gain a new time at flyball? Why not let Frontier know in the comments!

23/01/2023

Core Exercise and the Bow-and-String Theory
You probably know that strengthening your dog's core muscles as part of your exercise regime is super important - but do you know why?
Its called the bow-and-string theory.
Think of a wooden longbow. You have the wooden handle and the string. The wooden handle can be likened to the spine of your dog. The wooden handle is where the power of the bow comes from. Its strong, flexible and doesn't break when pressure is applied. However, the bow does not form the classic shape if pressure is not applied.
The string is likened to the stomach muscles. When pressure is applied to the string of the bow, the wooden handle flexes and forms the power it needs to fire the arrow. This is exactly what happens when the core muscles are activated. The muscles flex the spine, giving it the power it needs to lift the weight of the body and support itself. It prevents the spine from bending towards the ground and becoming weak and painful.

The core muscles are also super important for balance! If your dog is struggling with walking on unstable or thin surfaces, core conditioning might be the best thing to look at.

For more information on core muscle strengthening, why not book a fitness session with Emma? Find out more at www.frontiervetphysio.co.uk

16/01/2023

Personal Time Off

This is just a reminder that Emma will be on annual leave from the 1st February and is returning for bookings on the 6th. Any messages will be responded to after this time. If you have an urgent message please leave her a message on Whatsapp and she will respond as soon as she can.

Thank you!

12/01/2023

Conditioning for Cats!

That's right, you can do exercises with your cats, and the great part about it is that its mostly just playtime!

This is Apollo, a 4 year old mixed breed tomcat, who is owned by Emma. Apollo is fit and healthy, and regularly goes outside.

In the video, Emma is playing with Apollo using a simple kicker toy, and encouraging him to stretch across the platforms, up and down the different levels, and onto different platforms. Because Apollo is a big cat, and due to the design of the cat tower, these platforms can be quite wobbly for Apollo - this instability means Apollo is using his core muscles and improving them, too!

Its important to keep our cats happy and healthy too. For more bespoke and tailored advice, contact Frontier on Facebook or Whatsapp.

11/01/2023

January is National Dog Walking Month!
Dog walking is one of the best ways to keep your dog healthy, as well as allowing you to bond?
Walks can be a great low-impact exercise for your pup, and are best kept to 30 minutes to an hour.
To make sure you're getting the most out of your walks, make sure you add a warm-up and cool-down to your walk by keeping your dog on their lead for the first and last 10 minutes.
Why not try playing some games whilst you walk as well? Something as simple as tossing a few treats along their path to sniff out and enjoy is a great way to encourage them to use their nose which will help make their walk exciting too!
Walking can be a great method of exercise, but for more comprehensive advice or a training regime, why not book a Fitness session with us? 1 hour of 1-to-1 time with a fully qualified vet physio who comes to YOU. Find out more at www.frontiervetphysio.co.uk or contact us on Whatsapp!

09/01/2023

Stretching For Beginners!
Stretching is a super important part of your fitness routine as it improves your pet's flexibility through its motion. This is great as it can help elongate your pet's strides, which will improve performance.
Frontier has put together some helpful tips to help you stretch with your pet. For more in-depth advice, contact us through Whatsapp or our website: www.frontiervetphysio.co.uk

06/01/2023

Exercise Focus: Sit-To-Stands

Sit-to-stands are a super common exercise that will be prescribed to help strengthen your dog's hind limbs! This exercise is great for targeting the hamstring and quadriceps muscle groups, which are essential to giving your dog speed and control.

Sit-to-stands should be controlled movements by your dog. Ideally, they should not need to move their feet at all to complete the movement, and will simply push up with their back legs to return to a standing position. Some dogs, especially those who have lost muscle in their back legs due to conditions such as arthritis, will have trouble with this. You can help them by placing your hands under the backs of their thighs, and gently help them lift up into a standing position.

Remember this will tire out your dog - so don't do too many in one go! 3-5 per session is usually a good amount (although this will depend on the individual) and you will notice your dog might be struggling a little towards the end! Over time and repetition your dog will find it easier and will soon be completing the exercises easily!

Sit-to-stands are common for exercise programs such as the ones Frontier designs. For more information, contact us using Whatsapp or Messenger and get your pet working better than ever!

05/01/2023

Warm Ups in Exercise!

Warming up is very important before you exercise - even if you are just having a walk! Warming up is shown to prevent injury and its a great way to prep yourself psychologically for the upcoming exercise or sport.

A warm-up's aim is to increase heartrate and circulation, and ensure the muscles are ready for work. When warming up your dog, you want to aim for your dog to be breathing faster, but not completely exhausted or out of breath, and you will be able to feel their warmth through their coat. Warming up will take longer on cold days, and will be faster on hot days. Take care not to overdo it at this stage - you don't want to completely exhaust your dog before you've had a chance to move on to your main sport!

Some ideas to get you started:
- A ten minute on-lead walk. This is useful for ALL exercise, including your daily walks.
- Tug-of-war. A great way to get your dog's hind legs working and active. You can encourage them to move side to side (keep their head and neck level) to warm up their core and get them ready to bend (great for weaving poles!)
- Backing up. Get your pet to move backwards away from you, moving one paw at a time (rather than shuffling or hopping backwards) several steps, and then reward them with a treat. To make this harder you can add in a small step as a target for them to place their feet onto.
- A massage! Massage can be a great way of warming up the muscle and loosening them up. Vigorous and strong hand movements over the body until a gentle warmth can be felt through the coat is an effective warm up.

For more tips and ideas that are tailored to you and your pet, why not book a fitness session with Frontier? 1 hour with a trained physiotherapist professional, and includes a bespoke exercise program just for you, for only £45 an hour. For more information visit www.frontiervetphysio.co.uk or message us on Whatsapp!

04/01/2023

January's Focus is on Sports and Fitness in prep for the upcoming season!
I have put together a poster for sports enthusiasts - whether agility or hoopers, flyball, or canicross! Hopefully these tips will help you to create something that elevates your fitness programme to the next level in 2023.
Frontier offers fitness and conditioning sessions - 1 hour with a trained professional who will put together an exercise programme tailored to you and your dog, with a focus on demoing exercises and stretches to ensure you understand and are comfortable with them.
For more information message Frontier on facebook or Whatsapp, or visit our website for more information at: www.frontiervetphysio.co.uk