Browns Veterinary Physiotherapy

10/06/2025

Spent a lovely few hours with these two gorgeous boys today 💚

Eddie (on the left) is a sweet senior gent who absolutely soaks up the love and TLC. He’s always happy to be fussed over 🥰

Blaze (on the right) is a little more reserved and usually too busy to stop for a hands-on session — but today he stayed still (thanks to a well-timed lickimat! 😄) and let me work with him. Just look at that face — such a handsome, photogenic chap! 📸 Eddie is also a gorgeous boy just his face is buried in the couch!

Their lovely dog mum is the talented Krysia @ The Creative Canine — thank you for having me 💚

10/06/2025

I love my job especially when I get to spend a lovely few hours with these two gorgeous boys💚

Eddie (on the left) is a sweet senior gent who absolutely soaks up the love and TLC. He’s always happy to be fussed over 🥰

Blaze (on the right) is a little more reserved and usually too busy to stop for a hands-on session — but he managed to stay still (thanks to a well-timed lickimat! 😄) and let me work with him. Just look at that face — such a handsome, photogenic chap! 📸 Eddie is also a gorgeous boy, just his face is hidden in the couch!

Their lovely dog mum is the talented Krysia @ The Creative Canine — thank you for having me 💚

05/06/2025

What Does a Healthy Sit Look Like?”

So now you’re probably wondering…
💬 “What does a correct sit actually look like?”

Let’s break it down. A balanced, healthy sit usually looks like this:

✔️ Back legs tucked evenly underneath the hips
✔️ Weight distributed equally on both sides
✔️ Spine relatively straight—not slumped or twisted
✔️ Dog able to rise smoothly without shifting weight forward

This posture means the core, hips, and hind limbs are doing their job—stabilising the body and supporting movement.

💡Why does it matter?

Because poor sitting posture isn’t just a habit—it’s often a sign of:

🔁 Compensation
⚠️ Discomfort
📉 Weakness
🔄 Or early changes in mobility

Dogs that consistently sit “wonky,” splay their legs, or plop sideways might be offloading one side of their body… and that can lead to a chain reaction of tension, imbalance, and overuse elsewhere.

The good news?
✨ When you learn what to look for, you can catch these changes early.
✨ You can support their body before the discomfort becomes chronic.
✨ And you become a key part of their long-term comfort and mobility.

04/06/2025

Why Does My Dog Struggle to Get Up from a sit to stand transition

You notice your dog’s legs splay when they sit down…
Or they struggle to push up from the floor…
But they’re not limping.
So is it really a problem?

👉 Here are some of the possible reasons dogs avoid proper sit-to-stand transitions:

🦴 Joint Issues
Hip dysplasia, arthritis, or joint injuries (like in the knees or hocks) can make movement painful — so your dog finds a way around it.

💪 Muscle Weakness
Weak hind legs or poor core strength can make it hard to stay balanced and push up smoothly.

🧠 Spinal Problems
Issues like lumbosacral disease or disc problems can create pain or nerve interference, making basic movements feel awkward or unsafe.

⚡ Pain
Sometimes the problem isn’t visible. A dog in pain might shift weight, sit to one side, or splay their legs to compensate.

🧬 Neurological Conditions
In rare cases, changes in coordination or sensation—like with degenerative myelopathy—can impact a dog’s ability to rise or sit evenly.

🍑 Or... it might just be an itchy bum!
Not every odd sit is serious. But when it happens often, or seems to be getting worse—your dog could be asking for help with their body.

💡 Small changes in how they move can tell you big things.
You don’t need to panic—you just need to notice. 🐾

Nora (in the picture) has weak back legs due to a spinal issue, however, she is getting stronger.

Can you tell from the photos, which back leg is weaker?

03/06/2025

Did you know - Sit to stand transition - Part 2
What Happens When They Don’t Use Their Back Legs

Let’s take a closer look at this one:
🚩 Your dog pulls themselves up from a sit using their front legs, instead of pushing up with the back legs.

👉 What’s actually happening here?

When the hind limbs are weak, sore, or stiff, dogs naturally shift the work to their front legs. They “haul” their body up rather than using the proper drive from behind.

Over time, this compensation leads to:

🔁 Overloaded shoulders, elbows, and carpal joints
🔁 Tight, overworked neck and chest muscles
🔁 Increased wear on joints not designed to carry that load
🔁 And eventually… a ripple effect throughout the entire body

Think of it like a person with knee pain who always leans on something, like a arm rest, to get up from a chair — they are avoiding discomfort, but the strategy itself can cause new problems.

They will often twist their body to avoid weight bearing on the sore knee, and use their arms to pull them up from the sitting position instead of using their legs to push up. What happens over time to the body? Lower back pain from twisting to avoid putting weight on the sore leg, arm muscles get sore from pulling up body weight, and the muscles throughout the back get tense and sore.

💡 That’s why a sit-to-stand is more than “just a movement”—it’s a quick window into how your dog’s body is really coping.

Even better? Once you know what to look for, you can make small changes that support their body before bigger issues show up. 🐾

📷 Next time your dog gets up—watch closely. What do you see?

02/06/2025

💡Did you know…Sit to stand transition
When your dog transitions from a sit to a stand, you can actually see if they are compensating?

🚩 Does your dog sit with one leg tucked under their body?
🚩 Do they pull themselves up using their front legs instead of pushing from the back?
🚩 Do they leap forward rather than rise slowly?

Subtle signs speak volumes if you know what to look for.
Your dog is always communicating. 🐾

These little details can be signs of discomfort, weakness, or muscle imbalance in the hind end.

How does your dog sit?

23/05/2025

My FREE 3 Day Dog Challenge starts tomorrow - Are You In?

🎉 The challenge kicks off TOMORROW!

✅ 3 days
✅ Short, easy videos
✅ Gentle massage + rehab techniques
✅ Real ways to feel closer to your dog—and help them heal

If your dog is healing from surgery or just slowing down with age, this is your sign to do something kind and helpful.

It’s not too late to join me!

👉 Last chance to sign up: https://brownsvetphysio.uk/peace-3046
📸 Drop a paw emoji 🐾 in the comments if you're in—and let us know your dog’s name!

❓ Overwhelmed by conflicting advice, and going Google crazy - and 2nd guessing what they should be doing, should they be walking more? Or less? Is that little wobble normal?

22/05/2025

FREE 3 day dog challenge

Do you truly feel connected to your dog?

Let’s be honest—sometimes we feel disconnected from our dogs when they’re injured or in pain.

You want to help… but you are not sure how.

👉This challenge isn’t just about massage or exercises—it’s about building trust and connection with your dog.

⭐Because when your dog feels safe, they’ll show you what they need.

Because when you know what to look for, your dog will start to respond with confidence and communication happens more easily.

For example, do you know what this photo shows?
In the picture on the left, the person has their hands over the dog's ears, and the dog (who uses ears for communication signals too!) is showing signs of anxiety, eyes are closed and nose lick are indicators the dog is not comfortable with this.

🐾 This is how you become an active part of their recovery and their wellbeing, by understanding their subtle signs of communication.

✨ If this is something you would like to learn more about, join me in the challenge.

👉 https://brownsvetphysio.uk/peace-3046

21/05/2025

FREE 3 Day Dog Challenge

In the challenge on Day 2, I am going to show you a head/neck and shoulder massage that you can use straight away on your dog, but you could also join me today and try a Mini Massage Right Now

💆‍♀️ Want to try a calming massage with your dog—right now?

Here is a 1-minute intro to effleurage: a gentle stroke used in canine massage to calm and connect.

🖐 Flat hand
➡️ Smooth, slow strokes
💚 Focus on shoulders or down the spine (always avoid bones/joints)

Notice how your dog responds: Do they sigh, lean in, or walk away? That’s them telling you something!

This is just a tiny taste of what we’ll do in Day 2 of the challenge.

👉 Join us here: https://brownsvetphysio.uk/peace-3046

📹 If you try it, tag me or share a pic of your dog after their mini massage. If you would like to learn more about this, then join me in the 3 Day Dog Challenge

👉 Join us here: [link]
📹 If you try it, tag me or share a pic of your dog after their mini massage.

20/05/2025

FREE 3 Day Dog Challenge
👉Is my dog hiding pain?

⭐But my dog’s not limping/crying or shaking… so they must be fine, right?

Many people assume they would know straight away if their dog was in pain — but the truth is, dogs are surprisingly skilled at hiding discomfort. The subtle signs can be easy to miss and often go unnoticed for weeks… even months.

Or perhaps you may think their behaviour is just 'naughty' or 'lazy' because they don't want to go for their walks any more.

Here are 3 signs that might be red flags:
👂 Licking a specific limb over and over, or nibbling at the limb
😴 Sleeping more—or suddenly being restless at night, like they are unable to get comfortable
🐾 Avoiding stairs or jumping on the sofa like they used to, or avoiding usual walks and stopping etc when out on walks

These are just some of the things we will explore in Day 1 of the challenge.

🎥 I’ll teach you how to see what your dog’s body is really saying—so you can help sooner and more confidently.

👉 Sign up here: https://brownsvetphysio.uk/peace-3046

✋ Has your dog ever shown a weird little quirk that turned out to mean something? Let’s chat in the comments.

19/05/2025

FREE 3 Day Dog Challenge - 24th - 26th May 2025

Are you unsure if this free 3-day challenge is for you?

This is for you if:
🐾 Your dog is recovering from surgery or injury (like cruciate, hip, or limb issues)
🐾 You want to spot early signs of discomfort, even if your dog seems “fine”
🐾 You’d love to feel more in tune with your dog’s body and emotions
🐾 You’re not a pro—just a loving, proactive dog parent!

This isn’t for you if:

❌ You’re looking for a quick fix with no involvement
❌ You don’t believe in hands-on support or building connection
❌ You’re not ready to learn a few simple skills to help your dog feel better

✨ If you’re still reading, chances are this is for you.
👉 Sign up here: https://brownsvetphysio.uk/peace-3046

📸 Drop a photo of your dog in the comments if you’re joining us!

23/02/2025

Thistle’s Journey – From Wobbly Steps to Strength and Stability 🐱💙

Meet Thistle, a special cat with an incredible spirit! Adopted from Oaktree Animal Charity, he’s a large, long-backed cat facing mobility challenges due to a luxating patella and a lesion near his sacral area. These issues have caused weakness and muscle wastage in his back legs, making movement more difficult.

When I first met Thistle, I expected him to be quite reserved, but he surprised me! Instead of hiding, he was curious and engaged, showing his playful personality. While he’s still gaining confidence with hands-on work, his progress has been amazing!

Thistle’s Physiotherapy Plan
His dedicated owners have embraced his structured exercise plan to improve his balance, strength, and coordination. His routine includes:

🐾 Wobble Cushion Training – Engaging his core muscles for stability and body control.
🐾 Pole Work – Encouraging better paw placement, proprioception, and range of motion.
🐾 Sits with High Fives – Strengthening his back legs and improving balance.

The Power of Home Exercises
In physiotherapy, 80% of progress happens at home. We provide the plan, but consistency makes the difference. Thanks to his owners’ dedication, Thistle has made huge improvements in just a few weeks—he’s steadier, stronger, and more confident!

Thistle’s story is a testament to patience, love, and commitment in animal rehabilitation. With the right support, even the wobbliest steps can become strong strides!

Well Done, Thistle! 🎉🐾
Has your pet faced mobility challenges? Physiotherapy isn’t just for dogs—cats can benefit too! If you’d like to learn more, feel free to reach out. 💙