Dogs have ruff days too...

I have spent the last three years working towards my master’s in veterinary physiotherapy. Often, when I tell people I also treat animals, they respond with, ‘physio for animals? I didn’t even know that existed!’. Here, I will discuss a few ‘what’, ‘who’s’ and ‘how’s of all things animal physio. If you are an owner or a veterinarian and would like more information on the service we offer or how physio can help with specific injuries, then feel free to email me directly.

What is it?

The transition to animals has been relatively simple for me. Working as a human physiotherapist for nearly a decade, I already have a decent understanding of anatomy, biomechanics and tissue healing processes. Many of the same treatment and rehabilitation principles we use at Joint Dynamics for our human patients are as effective on slightly hairier and significantly cuter patients. I still use manual therapy and prescribe rehabilitation exercises for animal patients– sound familiar? For animals, the treatment application may need to be adapted slightly, and I definitely spend more time saying ‘who’s a good boy’, but the clinical reasoning process remains the same, regardless of the species.

Who can it help?

Horses and dogs are most frequently referred, but any animal can benefit from physiotherapy, from cats and rabbits to sheep and camels. Today, I will mostly discuss dogs.

Physiotherapy can help dogs with many types of issues. Of course, musculoskeletal injuries, such as a muscle strain or a ligament rupture (yes, dogs can rupture their ACL, too) are the most frequent type of cases referred by veterinarians. However, a dog can also hugely benefit from treatment for many other reasons, including chronic conditions such as osteoarthritis, hip/elbow dysplasia, post-operative recovery or following a spinal cord injury, to name just a few.

How do I know if my dog is in pain?

Pain can present in both physical changes and behavioural changes. The most obvious physical sign of pain in dogs is limping – or lameness, as your veterinarian may call it. This may present severely, such as not putting any weight through one limb or more subtly, such as a head bob when walking. Other signs can include excessive panting when not exercising, trembling, swelling, holding their head low, increased difficulty getting up off the floor or jumping onto the sofa.

Behavioural changes may include reluctance to move or go for walks, hiding,

snapping at you or vocalising when stroking them in certain areas, reduced appetite and excessive licking.

Some of these signs of pain can be seen with other serious medical or behavioural problems, too, so always discuss changes in behaviour or normal activity with your veterinarian first.

What would an animal physiotherapy appointment look like?

The structure of a session is similar to my human sessions in many ways. We start off by taking a thorough history of the issue from the owner, followed by an objective examination. This may consist of looking at how your dog is walking, checking how they get up from lying down or sitting, passively testing their limb range of motion, and palpating their muscles and joints.

Treatment will depend on direction from the veterinarian and what is found during the physiotherapy assessment. I also like to give the owners some exercises to work on at home with their dogs.

My dog is nervous. Do you think this is an issue?

Most dogs dislike a clinical environment, and a happy, confident dog can quickly turn into an anxious, reactive one in a stressful place. We offer home visits to ensure your dog stays relaxed in their own home. I also ensure we move at the dog’s pace and give plenty of rest breaks throughout the session. Sometimes, it can take a couple of sessions for them to relax, and they understand I’m not a vet and I’m not getting a thermometer out…

How can I book my dog?

In Hong Kong, every dog needs a referral letter for physiotherapy and a diagnosis from their veterinarian before their first session, and this is the first and most important step. If you attend an appointment without one, unfortunately, I legally cannot assess or treat your dog.

Once you have your referral, you can email me directly [[email protected]] or call the Joint Dynamics reception team [2762 0528] to get your pup booked.