Kayleigh Tulloch Veterinary Physiotherapy

23/01/2022

Not just dogs and horses.. Here's Oskar the Maine C**n enjoying some treatment 🐱

11/01/2022

Home exercises really do make such a difference, however there is never a one-size-fits-all approach so please consult a physio before attempting any new exercises! It's also important to add that as your dog's needs/health changes, your dog's exercise plan should be reviewed.

We know that you are doing everything you can to help give
But always seek professional help before you start any treatment or therapy for your dog.
You can learn more on managing pain in our owner centric course - CAM Essentials for only 20£
https://cameducation.co.uk/p/camessentials

06/01/2022

Happy New Year 🎉

I'll be returning to Hampshire in the next few days after a relaxing festive break in Orkney. I'm looking forward to seeing you all and of course all your lovely dogs and horses!

Get in touch if you have any questions, or if you'd like to discuss if physio could benefit your dog/horse/cat 🐶🐴🐱

29/12/2021

Arnie the cat showing his canine brother Fergus how it's done 🤣

I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas. I'm having a break in Orkney until after New Year (well, apart from my parents cats & dog as above 😂). But I'm still available to answer any questions or take bookings, for both existing clients and new clients (use WhatsApp, email or social media as I currently have no phone signal here) 🐾

21/12/2021

CUTE PUPPY ALERT 🐾

I had the pleasure of meeting Strudel the Schnoodle yesterday for a puppy check 😍 Her owners didn't have any particular concerns, but wanted to ensure they get her off to the very best start in life with a physio check 💥

After being a very good girl for her check over and some light massage, Strudel was in her element carrying out some proprioceptive exercises suitable for her age/stage of development. 🐾 Adding some of these exercises to her (already very impressive) repertoire of training tricks will improve her body awareness and help prevent injury in her active lifestyle going to work with her mum and dad 🤩

➡️ Swipe to see Strudel's 😛

15/12/2021

😍 This incredibly handsome duo came to me after their owner noticed that they sometimes had a bunny-hopping gait.

They have massage and manual therapy to ease any tight areas, and have started a home exercise plan to help correct gait, improve range of motion and strength. At only 1.5 & 3.5 years old, their owner is setting them up for the best musculoskeletal health and helping to prevent any future issues. 💪

Don't leave it until your dog goes lame before seeking advice - be proactive like Monty & Murphy's amazing mum! Prevention is always better than the cure.

➡️ Swipe to see me living my best life getting double spaniel kisses 🥰

03/12/2021

🎉 Shout out to Bob's fabulous owners who have been really consistent with doing his homework! 🤩 We've seen huge improvements in his flexibility as well as reducing muscular tightness between sessions. 💪

🔸I always ensure home exercises are achievable - not only for individual dogs, but for each client, fitting in with different busy lifestyles.

🔸Doing your prescribed home exercises really do make all the difference... They aim to maintain (or improve) your dogs condition between treatment sessions.

🔸Doing your exercises = happy dog = happy owner (and a happy physiotherapist!) 😁.

Get in touch if you'd like to know more about physio, massage or home exercises:
📞 07807106456
📧 [email protected]
🌐 www.ktvetphysio.com

30/11/2021

Happy teef out Tuesday from Baxter 😁 I think it's safe to say these lovely boys enjoyed their maintenance treatments today 🤩

28/11/2021

🔸Back to work🔸

After a fab week away exploring Cornwall in our campervan, I'm back to it and looking forward to seeing lots of lovely doggies this week!

I'm catching up on paperwork today and will be available to answer any questions. There's a few slots remaining in December so get in touch if you'd like your dog/horse to be feeling tip top before Christmas 🐾

22/11/2021

🔸Don't forget to WARM UP and COOL DOWN!🔸

What would happen if you jumped out of bed and went straight into a sprint without a little walk/jog first? 😬 (eeek my muscles hurt just thinking about it!).

This is similar to what our dogs are doing when we let them run off the lead (or at the end of a long lead) without a gentle warm up first. This includes chasing a ball in the garden, playing with other dogs, or going straight from the car to off-lead walkies.

Get in the habit of doing a 10-15 min walk on a short lead before & after any off-lead exercise. [If your dog is older/arthritic/has any conditions, or taking part in sports/working activities, they may require more specific warm up/cool down techniques - always best to consult a physio/rehab specialist.]

My dog is young, very active and loves to run, chase and play with other dogs. Every walk begins & ends with a slow walk on the lead (using treats to slow him down if necessary) which gradually builds in speed over 15 mins or so. In reality, all this means is we take the longer route to the park/woods/fields - an easy habit for us to implement! 🐾

19/11/2021

Following on from my post about pet steps last week... I cannot stress enough how important environmental modifications are!! Covering any slippery floors and limiting jumping by using steps/ramps or lifting on/off furniture can make such a difference - not only for arthritic pets (however it is extra important for them!), but for all pets!

Your dog maybe trying to 'learn how to live with the pain'!
But you can make this better for him! Ensure the environment around him is convenient for him to walk around and as 'exertion-free' as possible so that he doesn't have to bear the pain!
Rugs and ramps go a long way, because remember, is a multi-modal approach!
You can check out some of CAM picks dog safety: https://www.camonlineshop.com/pet-safety-healthcare-therapists-groomers-dog-walkers/
And some products perfect to help support your best friend around https://www.camonlineshop.com/dog-harnesses-leads/

16/11/2021

Winter is coming! ❄️ Brrrrr I've definitely felt a chill in the air today!

Now is a good time to get your animal checked over, especially if they are older or if you've noticed them slowing down or getting stiff.

Also, a reminder that dogs of all ages can suffer with arthritis - a whopping 80% of dogs over 8 years old have arthritis and 20% of dogs over 1 years old have it!! 🤯

✉️ [email protected]
📞 07807106456
🌐 www.ktvetphysio.com

10/11/2021

Is your dog allowed on the sofa or your bed? 🙋‍♀️🙈

Repetitive jumping can lead to all sorts of issues in joints and soft tissues, particularly if your dog is overweight, injured or elderly. Pet steps or ramps are sometimes recommended in these cases, however I think they could be useful to anyone who has their furry friend on the sofa for cuddles - after all, prevention is better than the cure!

I am particularly conscious of the forces going through Rodney's forelimbs and back when jumping DOWN from the sofa or bed, so thought we'd try them out. As always, it's taken some training (and treats!) to make sure he uses them safely. He even decided to use them for a nice slow stretch (see photo 2) 😆!

⚠️ It's important to point out that pet steps/ramps are not suitable for every dog, and if used incorrectly could cause injury. Always talk to a physio/rehab vet for some advice before introducing them. ⚠️

02/11/2021

It was so lovely to make this sweet girl melt and help her feel more comfortable 🥰

Mobile physio allows me to treat dogs in the comfort of their own home, helping them to relax. I always tailor my approach to suit the individual needs of each animal.

After a telephone chat with Floki's owner, we came up with a plan to work around her anxiety of strangers, which included an informal walk prior to entering the house, extra covid measures & testing allowing me to be mask-free, and allowing extra time for introductions.

Get in touch for a chat if you think your dog might benefit from home physio:

📞 07807106456
✉️ [email protected]
🌐 www.ktvetphysio.com

25/10/2021

Never ever "just a pet" ❤️

Sending love to our pets in Heaven and to everyone who has ever lost a pet.




All On The Board book - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tfl-Quote-of-the-Day/dp/1473691249

18/10/2021

The importance of SLOW exercise 👇

I often ask owners to perform their dog's (and horse's!) exercises very slowly - for example slow leash walking, slowly stepping over poles or performing a slow figure-of-8, etc.

The specific exercise chosen depends entirely on the individual dog/case, however the benefits of carrying it out in a slow deliberate manner are similar:
🐾 Improve proprioception (awareness of limbs).
🐾 Improve neuromotor control.
🐾 Encourage even weightbearing between limbs.
🐾 All of these help to improve coordination and strength.

This interesting article from Vital Vet discusses in more detail the importance of slow movements for all levels of dogs, even athletes! https://vitalvet.org/blogs/news/why-does-your-dog-need-slow-movement-exercises

** Always consult a physio/ rehab professional before undertaking new exercises with your dog**

15/10/2021

Exciting delivery 🤩. Absolutely love my new branded clothes - great quality and service from .

(Obviously the nosy puppy had to get involved too 🐶)

05/10/2021

Happy from Rodney while practicing his standing/planking (with the help of his fave liver paste 😋)

04/10/2021

I'm a big believer that prevention is better than the cure, and the same goes for our dogs/horses. We can prevent so many common issues by maintaining good function, strength and mobility. However - maintaining good function, strength and mobility requires more than just daily walks. Veterinary physiotherapists have years of training in how to achieve this for individual animals. This often involves only a few physiotherapy sessions and some personalised home exercises to suit you and your dog/horse.

Get in touch for a no-obligation discussion to see if physiotherapy is right for your dog/horse. Remember we have 20% off all appointments in October with some remaining availability for this week and the weeks of the 11th and 18th.

02/10/2021

Animals are masters at hiding pain, often only showing obvious signs (e.g. limping or yelping) when it is too much. Behaviour changes can often be overlooked signs of pain. Canine Arthritis Management share lots of useful information on recognising and managing pain in dogs.

30/09/2021

Why lie on the comfy treatment mat when you can just use your brother's bum as a pillow instead. 🤷🤣 These two lovely gents were inseparable throughout both of their maintenance treatments. 😍

Maintenance physiotherapy is beneficial for most dogs of all ages. Just like us, dogs can get little aches and pains, however they are masters of hiding these with compensatory movement patterns, so often go undetected until it worsens or the compensatory gait creates injury/discomfort elsewhere.

Maintenence treatments allow us to detect and treat any issues early, as well as prevent future issues with use of targeting conditioning and gait retraining. 💪 Get in touch if you'd like to find out more. 🐾

rehabilitation

23/09/2021

Someone is happy to be featuring on my leaflets (any excuse to pose for a photo!) 🐶

So happy with my leaflets & business cards from 🤩

21/09/2021

This happy chap was an absolute star during his first treatment. Monty's owner got in touch to help him feel more comfortable and protect his joints in his senior years. Great work Monty 👏

17/09/2021

Why do we prescribe home exercises (Remedial Exercise Prescription / REP)?

REP can include:
🔸 Specific exercises to target certain areas (with or without equipment).
🔸 Guidance on general exercise.
🔸 Therapeutic techniques such as massage or stretching.
🔸 Advice on home or lifestyle adaptations.
🔸 Guidance on seeking advice from other professionals such as a saddle fitter or dog trainer.

During your physio appointment, we use various techniques (e.g. manual therapy, EPAs) to improve your animal's condition, and the aim of your REP is to maintain or improve that condition until your next appointment.

There is never a "one-size-fits-all" approach - REP is individualised to your animal based on their goals (e.g. improve healing, increase strength, protect joints, etc), and is adapted as your animal progresses. It involves challenging the tissues, while balancing the amount of stress applied to prevent overuse or disuse.

Much like ourselves going to the gym, exercising once in a while is unlikely to have any effect. Carrying out therapeutic exercises once a week or once a month might have a small benefit, however, it is the continuation of these exercises at home on a regular basis that will make the difference 💪

It is important that you consult a physio/rehab professional before undertaking specific exercises or changing your animal's exercise routine.

14/09/2021

Electrophysical Agents (EPAs / Electrotherapy) ⚡️

You may have noticed that many vet physios use EPAs (e.g. LASER, pulsed electromagnetic field therapy, therapeutic ultrasound or electrical stimulation), and wondered how they work or why we use them?

Every animal cell contains electrical energy resulting in natural bioelectrical currents running through the tissues. Injury/stress triggers a cascade of events which increases tissue voltage and a cellular response to aid in healing. However, in cases of delayed healing, tissue bioelectricity can be impaired.

We use EPAs to deliver energy to the target tissue, altering bioelectricity, with the goal of influencing tissue healing, pain or muscle function. Practitioners often find that animals respond incredibly well to their use, however EPAs are just one part of a vet physio's "toolkit" and are used in combination with many other techniques to deliver the best results.

There are several very important factors to consider before using an EPA (e.g. tissue structure/anatomy, chronicity, contraindications, dose calculation, etc) in order to safely initiate a therapeutic response. Therefore, it is vital that EPAs are only used by trained individuals who understand the mechanisms involved in tissue healing & the modalities used.

It's an incredibly vast and complicated (but fascinating) subject area, so this is just a tiny simplified overview, but do get in touch if you'd like to know more about EPAs.

10/09/2021

September is animal pain awareness month. Animals feel pain just like us, however they can't tell us, and often only show obvious signs once they can't take anymore. Many animals are so loyal to their owners they are willing to temporarily push through pain to please us, or push through because of excitement (e.g. chasing a ball).

Talk to your vet if you notice any of these more subtle signs. Injuries/conditions are often more easily treated if detected early.

09/09/2021

By choosing a physiotherapist which is a NAVP member, clients can be assured that their physiotherapist is highly qualified, insured, abides by veterinary legislation, works to a professional code of conduct and continually enhances their skills through CPD. This aims to promote the highest standard of veterinary physiotherapy, providing a safe and effective treatment for your animal. I'm proud to be a member of NAVP.

Our members will have covered topics such as in-depth anatomy, neurology, orthopaedics, physiotherapy and much more. They are skilled in clinical reasoning and the application of a treatment programme designed for the individual and therefore do not just use prescriptive programmes

For further information on course content, you should contact the universities delivering a veterinary physiotherapy degree course directly

06/09/2021

👋 A little bit about me.. I am a qualified veterinary physiotherapist based in Alresford, Hampshire, providing a mobile service for dogs and horses throughout Hampshire & surrounding counties.

Originally from the Orkney Islands, I moved to Hampshire 9 years ago, and studied at Sparsholt before going on to complete a degree in veterinary physiotherapy from the Royal Agricultural University, achieving a First Class Honours as well as the university prize. I am fully insured and a proud member of the National Association of Veterinary Physiotherapists.

I am passionate about physiotherapy and believe that most animals can benefit, whether it be rehabilitation from injury, management of conditions (e.g. hip dysplasia or osteoarthritis), keeping older animals more comfortable in their golden years, or improving function & mobility in healthy animals to prevent any future issues (particularly in predisposed breeds).

I am a self-confessed crazy dog lady, and enjoy spending my free time exploring the beautiful Hampshire countryside with my partner and our dog Rodney. I love to discuss all things animal related, so feel free to get in touch, whether you'd like to know more about physio or just have a chat about your animal.

✉️ [email protected]
📞 07807106456
🌍 www.ktvetphysio.com

31/08/2021

NEW WEBSITE 🎉 To celebrate the launch of the website I'm doing an introductory offer. Get over to the website to find out more ➡️ www.ktvetphysio.com.

NEW LOGO 🙌 so pleased with my new logo designed by my very talented cousin Erin Watt 😍

AVAILABILITY 👉 A few slots for equine or canine physio in Alresford, Alton & surrounding areas for later this week and next week. Get in touch to discuss ➡️

31/08/2021

17/08/2021

❓ What is veterinary physiotherapy ❓

A few people have recently asked what vet physio is, and why would an animal need physiotherapy. So I thought I'd put together a little post to explain the basics whilst my website is still under construction.

Get in touch to discuss if physio could benefit your pet ⬇️
📞 07807106456
✉️ [email protected]

03/08/2021

🌟 Canine & equine physiotherapy appointments now available 🌟

I am passionate about improving the lives of animals, and since discovering the magic (or science) of veterinary physiotherapy a few years ago I have been so excited to get started!

Physiotherapy can help most animals - young or old - athlete or pet - active or couch potato! Please get in contact for your free telephone consultation to see if your animal could benefit 🐴🐶

[website & more updates coming soon]

24/07/2021

Exciting changes coming soon...

Apologies (again 🙈) for the lack of posts, I've been very busy finishing my degree, followed by a much needed break in Orkney.

I'm absolutely delighted to share that I have graduated with a first class honours in BSc Veterinary Physiotherapy, as well as being awarded the university prize for student of the year 2021, from the Royal Agricultural University. 🎓🍾🎉

I have loved my studying journey and I can't wait to get started in the world of veterinary physiotherapy very soon 🤩

15/04/2021

April is so I thought I'd share a little bit of what Rodney and I have been working on. 💪

As he is only 4 months old, it is all about gentle introductions and building strong foundations. The exercise in the video shows us working on a bit of hind end awareness. This is hard work for him so we keep the reps very low and the training sessions to only a couple of minutes at a time.

As you can see he loves it and after 1-2 reps begins to anticipate what I want him to do! Next session we will concentrate on slowing him down and staying square 😅

11/04/2021

80% of dogs over 8 years old suffer from arthritis. Here are some top tips from the brilliant Canine Arthritis Management on exercising your arthritic dog safely, however, I think dogs of all ages could also benefit from many of these tips to help keep your pooch injury-free and happy 🐶

All week we've been sharing TOP TIPS for exercising your dog!!

SHARE the summery below of our expert tips to avoid injury and pain when exercising. 🐕

Give 👍

04/04/2021

I had such a brilliant time on clinical practice with an amazing (and very lovely) vet physio earlier this week. I feel so lucky to have the opportunity to pursue my passion, only 3 months to go!!

30/03/2021

Myofascial trigger points

Commonly known as a "knot", many of us humans have experienced these, but did you know that animals can get them too? In fact, I find them in most animals that I assess!

Often caused by injury or chronic overuse, trigger points are localised areas of tenderness and constant contraction within a muscle. They can create a twitch and pain response, and if left untreated can lead to further pain, disuse and consequent compensatory issues.

Massage and myofascial techniques are extremely effective in releasing trigger points, improving muscle tone and easing the associated pain, leading to happier animals 🐎💛🐕