The Balanced Pet, Veterinary Physiotherapy

12/07/2024

Conventional drugs can be a wonderful help and are often indicated at some stage for pain relief. But did you know there are alternatives you can try before this route?

Have a browse at our online store for a few options.

Our favourites include Walkease, ActiPatch and Zeel! And of course, physio.

06/05/2024

Is your dog recovering from an injury or in chronic pain? Are you wanting to decrease their chronic pain medication?

Our Actipatch loops can help with that! Pop over to our website and order one today 🤩

🇿🇦

15/09/2023

Yay! New toys! Thank you The Balanced Pet, Veterinary Physiotherapy for the great service and sourcing us these. My hands thank you. 😅

The hefty massage star is a great tool to use on fascia and trigger points especially. You’ll see me use this alongside manual therapy during my physio sessions.

* excuse the dog glitter from Hades(Ann Windeballe) in the pic. 🩷🤗😅

28/05/2023

Discover the benefits of Walkease Collagen, from The Balanced Pet!

www.thebalancedpet.co.za
https://web.facebook.com/thebalancedpetza
https://www.instagram.com/thebalancedpet_za

15/08/2022

if you have an incontinent pet

1. Drag bags can be worn with a baby nappie / doggy diaper

2. Our drag bags are lined with a waterproof material, keeping your dog beds, blankets and linen clean and dry

Shop yours at https://holisticpet.co.za/shop/drag-bag/

With thanks to our very handsome model-

06/07/2022

INACTIVITY AND PAIN

When we or our dogs are sedentary, we don’t use our muscles, so over time our muscles become stiffer, smaller and weaker 😰. If we don’t use them for a long enough time, they may even begin to atrophy.

Weak muscles are at risk of injury. When you are eventually forced to use these muscles, perhaps a friend invites you for a game of squash or you take your old dog out for a walk, it is likely that both you and your dog will be sore in the morning.

Inactivity also leads to bone loss. Weakened bones are at risk of breaking. 🦴

Further, not exercising leads to a reduction in joint range of motion and flexibility, which causes stiff, painful joints.

Then, a sedentary lifestyle also weakens the heart and diminishes the body’s ability to use oxygen effectively. 🫀

Finally, inactive dogs and people are prone to carrying excess weight, which places extra stress on the muscles, joints and heart muscle.

All of these factors together often result in feelings of chronic pain. This is the start of a vicious cycle, because when our dogs are in pain they move even less.

For more information on how to tackle this issue, check out our latest edition at:

https://issuu.com/hqmagazine/docs/2a_dq_digi_final?fr=sNmY1NTUxMjk4MjA

10/06/2022

AGILI-JUNKIE (NOUN) 📕

Definition: A person who is obsessed and/or addicted to watching and/or doing dog agility.

Hands up if you identify as an agili-junkie?!

Check out the article in our latest issue of DQ.

https://issuu.com/hqmagazine/docs/1c_dq_digi_final?fr=sOGQ4MzQ4NjY2MDA

15/05/2022

Great content!

WE’RE LIVE 🐾

Check out our latest edition here 🐶

https://issuu.com/hqmagazine/docs/1c_dq_digi_final?fr=sOGQ4MzQ4NjY2MDA

10/04/2022

Physical therapy is undoubtedly the best way to help your animal heal. SAAPRA offers a directory of therapists with a range of specialities, making it easy to find one near you who offers the treatment your pet needs. 🐾

https://saapra.co.za/

08/04/2022

Contact Woofable and change your pets life today

Changing your dog's diet is often the easiest way to treat issues such as itchy skin or bad breath. Woofable offers consultations to get your dog on the right path. 🐩

https://www.facebook.com/woofableza/

07/04/2022

Available at

https://www.thebalancedpet.co.za

PRODUCT OF THE DAY - WALKEASE

We 💜 Walkease as a joint supplement for your dogs because it is a 💯 natural and biological active form of Undenatured Type II Collagen (UC-II), which promotes healthy, working joints!

Did you know that UC-II is safe with no known side effects and also no evidence of liver, kidney or blood dysfunction. It is also significantly more effective in reducing symptoms of joint pain than glucosamine and chondroitin combined - actually twice as effective! UC-II demonstrated a 62% reduction in overall pain at 120 days versus 24% with glucosamine and chondroitin. What’s not to love? 🐶

02/04/2022

Having developed joint supports, walking boots, and thermoflippers, Holistic Pet is poised to make life more comfortable for your beloved pets. 🐩

https://holisticpet.co.za/

01/04/2022

Available from our online store

Walkease works to relieve pain and improve mobility, helping your older dogs live a fuller life. 🐶

https://www.gracepharmaceuticals.co.za/walkease

31/03/2022

Travelling with your pet? With , domestic pets can be accepted at the airport for a domestic flight subject to prior arrangements.

Read More: bit.ly/3iOYnEp

15/03/2022

Check our our advert and discount code in this new dog mag!

OUR FIRST EVER EDITION IS LIVE 🚀

Click on the link below to dive in!

https://issuu.com/hqmagazine/docs/1a_dq_digi_final?fr=sMmM3ZTQyMTY4NzI

04/02/2022

Lickimat stock is loaded onto our online store! Head on over and check it out. 👅

19/12/2021

Ideal for older, arthritic dogs, especially large breeds.

07/12/2021

The Balanced Pet donated some Walkease to Snoopy. We love the work done by Funda Nenja and are happy to support where we can ❤️

01/12/2021

100% cotton ensuring maximum drying. Made in South Africa.
Protecting your car and home from your wet pooch. Making sure they dry quicker.
Available now from our online store!

https://thebalancedpet.co.za/shop/

28/11/2021

We are super excited to receive our stock from .pooch this week! Limited stock available so pop onto our website and grab yours now!! 🐩

20/11/2021

It's never just “tight hamstrings”

Often when we think of a muscle, we imagine a specifically shaped part of the body, in a certain anatomical location, which functions to contribute towards the movement of the organism as a whole.

In the anatomy books, muscles are classified with relation to the relationship between their attachments to the body; their origin and insertion. For example, the hamstrings are classified as a retractor of the hindlimb; contraction pulls the insertion of the hamstrings on the distal femur and tibia, towards the origin in the pelvis, which in turn draws the limb backwards in the retraction phase of the stride.

However, the hamstrings are not the only muscle which act to retract the hindlimb; the middle gluteal also plays an integral role. When we consider the biomechanics of the body as a whole, we see that muscles often act as part of groups.

Moreover, muscles can belong to more than one group. The semitendinosus, which is part of the hamstring group (along with the semimembranosus and biceps femoris) and the hindlimb retractor muscle group, also acts as part of the hindlimb adductor group which functions to bring the leg towards the midline (inwards).

To further complicate things, the middle gluteal muscle, which is also part of the hindlimb retractor group, acts as a hindlimb abductor which brings the leg away from the midline (outwards). Both the semitendinosus and middle gluteal muscles are hindlimb retractors, yet when we consider their actions within the sagittal plane of the body they perform opposing actions.

Each action has a consequence, and as such each muscle group has an opposing muscle group, whose role is to perform the exact opposite action to balance the forces within the body and control movement. In the same way that we have agonist and antagonist pairs of muscles (ie the biceps brachii and triceps brachii muscles which act to bring your arm up and down), muscle groups have agonistic and antagonistic functions. The antagonists of the hindlimb retractors are the hindlimb protractors, which advance the hindlimb forwards in the swing phase of the stride.

So why is this important for us to know?

Because tension in a muscle will never only influence that muscle individually.

Tightness, spasm or atrophy (dysfunction) of an individual muscle will mean that its role within the muscle group as a whole will be impaired. As such, the other muscles within the group will have to take up a greater role in performing the function of the group, ie retracting the hindleg. This will increase their risk of fatigue.

Consequently, as the agonistic group begins to weaken, the synergy between the agonistic (hindlimb retractors) and antagonistic groups (hindlimb protractors) will become unbalanced. This will result in uneven forces being exerted on other anatomical structures of the body; the tendons, ligaments and joints. Furthermore, in the case of the hamstrings not only will protraction/retraction be affected, but also abduction/adduction.

These effects will not just be isolated locally to the hindlimb...

Each muscle is encased by the fascial network which expands across the entire body, connecting each muscle to their neighbours and globally linking each and every part of the body together into one unit. Often muscle origins and insertions are not as discrete as they are depicted in the anatomy books, thus the principle that muscles act alone within the body to perform a singular role has been challenged.

Through the work of both human and equine anatomists, it has been identified that muscles act within chains, known as myofascial chains/meridians/pathways, which span across the body linking certain muscles together within a pathway. Meaning that dysfunction within one muscle will not only have local effects to that region of the body, but will have further reaching global impacts across the body as a whole.

The hamstrings are part of the Superficial Back Line myofascial chain, which starts at the back of each hind hoof, then extends through the caudal muscles of the hindlimb, over the muscles of the croup, and through long back muscles, before each side then passes under the shoulder blade through the neck and over the poll to through the face to the muscles of the jaw (see the blue line).

Through this chain, we can see how dysfunction in the hindlimb can travel through the body to have a significant influence to the horse's back, neck, across the poll, and also extending to influencing the acceptance of the bit.

Conversely, myofascial chains work in both directions; tension in the hamstring group may not be due to dysfunction of the muscle itself, but may be as a result of issues elsewhere in the dorsal chain. For example, this may stem from hypertonicity and spasm through the epaxial muscle group (back) or of the dorsal cervical region (neck), which in turn may relate to a poorly fitting bridle or saddle.

And so we see that it is never just “tight hamstrings”. It is important to consider the posture of the horse as a whole, and not just fixate on tension in one muscle and how to fix it. Often by addressing the whole posture and mechanics of the horse, we will see the resolution of dysfunction in particular muscles as the body functions in improved balance.

Or...it might just be that your horse has been larking around in a wet slippery field the day before and has strained his hamstrings. It is always about how the horse presents on the day, and addressing these issues early on can intercept the cycle of compensation before it becomes a whole body issue. Listen to your horse and trust your therapist’s palpation and clinical reasoning to best address your horse 🐎

19/11/2021

ON SALE: R120

Pomms Ear Plugs are ideal to use in horses who are affected by noise or environment, whether it be whilst competing, racing, hacking out or during fireworks displays. They are made from a comfortable, soft, non-irritating material & are easy to place in the ear canal for a secure, comfy fit. Pony Pomms are 3cm in diameter & should be used in ponies under 14hh. Horse Pomms are 4cm in diameter & should be used in horses over 14hh.

Made in the USA

Washable and re-usable
Comfortable
Secure (won't fall out)
Non-irritating
Soft, pliable, discreet, and durable

SA Showjumping Legal.

https://thebalancedpet.co.za/shop/pomms-premium-equine-ear-plugs/

28/10/2021

We’re counting down to Veterinary Physiotherapist Day on 4 November 2021!

that after a thorough clinical assessment, a veterinary physiotherapist can identify any musculoskeletal, neurological, cardiorespiratory or biochemical dysfunction that could limit an animal’s performance or functioning?

Let’s shine a well-deserved spotlight on this specialised science-based profession!

27/10/2021

What products would you like to see stocked on our online store?

Www.thebalancedpet.co.za/shop/

26/09/2021

Thanks for this. I hear this from people often- that their dog doesn’t “cry” so can’t be in pain. Often these dogs are really uncomfortable!

Learn to look at your pets behaviour- any changes should be investigated.

26/08/2021

Unfortunately, respiratory diseases are more common in horses. 🐴 One form is equine asthma, which can affect the horse's well-being for the rest of its life. It is usually triggered by excessive dust exposure and the resulting irritation of the lungs.

The constant coughing 💨 causes the respiratory muscles to tense up, which is very unpleasant for the horse as well as making breathing more difficult. 😖 With the NOVAFON, you can treat and loosen the cramped muscles in addition to veterinary therapy. Be sure to consult your animal therapist or vet about this. 👩‍⚕️ Use the disk attachment or disk attachment XL and move over the back muscles with level 2 (50 Hz) and the lowest intensity.

In this tense and stressful situation, the affected horses find this very beneficial. Your animal therapist can certainly show you what you can also do with the NOVAFON. 💚

Does your horse have a respiratory disease?
_______

Atemwegserkrankungen kommen bei Pferden leider häufiger vor. 🐴 Eine Form ist das Equine Asthma, welches das Wohlbefinden des Pferdes ein Leben lang beeinträchtigen kann. Es wird meist ausgelöst durch eine zu hohe Staubbelastung und die dadurch folgende Reizung der Lunge.

Durch das ständige Husten 💨 verkrampft sich die Atmungsmuskulatur, was neben dem erschwerten Atmen für das Pferd sehr unangenehm ist. 😖 Mit dem NOVAFON kannst du die verkrampfte Muskulatur, unterstützend zu einer tierärztlichen Therapie, behandeln und lockern. Sprich dich hierzu unbedingt mit deiner/deinem Tiertherapeuten/Tiertherapeutin oder Tierarzt/Tierärztin ab. 👩‍⚕️ Nutze den Telleraufsatz oder Telleraufsatz XL und fahre mit der Stufe 2 (50 Hz) und der kleinsten Intensität flächig über die Rückenmuskulatur.

In dieser verkrampften und stressigen Situation empfinden das die betroffenen Pferde als sehr wohltuend. Dein/deine Tiertherapeut/Tiertherapeutin kann dir sicherlich auch zeigen, was du außerdem unterstützend mit dem NOVAFON tun kannst. 💚

Hat dein Pferd eine Atemwegserkrankung?

07/08/2021

Do you want to provide easy yet effective home treatments for your dog or horse? I have one Novafon (dog and cat) and one Novafon Power (horse) still left to purchase!

The gentle vibrations of NOVAFON sound wave devices help to reduce pain and relieve the consequences of neurological disorders. Deep tissue stimulation triggers the body’s own response mechanisms and supports the rehabilitation after a wide range of illnesses.

Contact us for more info.

01/08/2021

29/07/2021

With our consults becoming so sought after [there's obviously a huge benefit to the pet here], don't forget that you can claim your consult fee from Medipet.

How awesome is that?

Claims are valid under their Holistic Care Option.