Diploma in Animal Physical Therapy

Module 1: Introduction

Have you had Physio?

In human medicine, physical therapy (or physiotherapy) is common as a treatment in its own

right or as a complement to medication or surgery. In animal medicine our fur friends have

been less fortunate, although in recent years things have started to change. Physical therapy

is now a rapidly expanding field of veterinary therapy and your fur-family can also experience

its healing power. In this first Module you’ll learn about the benefits of physiotherapy and how

it can help your pet.

1.1 The Benefits of Physiotherapy

1.2 The Aims of this Course

1.3 Working as Part of a Team

1.1 The Benefits of Physiotherapy

If a new drug was developed that could improve your pet’s

mobility and it was side-effect free, would you give it a go?

It’s a no-brainer. Yes. We want our fur-family to be fit and

well, and a safe, effective treatment sounds like a dream

come true. And this is why physiotherapy is rising so rapidly

in popularity. The therapies (and there are many)

encourage natural healing by mobilizing the body’s own

internal first aid kit.

Whereas 20 years ago physio for animals was largely

overlooked, science is now catching up. Research has

examined the benefits on a cellular level and has realized

there is proof behind the improvements.

A combination of happy pet parents and happy scientists means this brand of therapy is

gaining acceptance and growing in popularity.

Indeed, pet parents are driving the change. They hear stories about how physio benefited a

friend’s dog or cat, and are actively asking vets to refer their sore, arthritic dogs. Those pets

are returning from physio to the original practice with a spring in their step, and vets are

realizing the benefits of physio and using it to help more and more patients.

1.1.1 A Common Scenario

Does this sound familiar to you?

An elderly dog with arthritis is slowly stiffening up. He struggles to get out of bed in the

morning and pads painfully across the floor. He used to walk for miles without tiring, but now

he hobbles and it takes him an age to get even a short distance. So to save the dog

discomfort his pet parent takes him on ever shorter walks. He also spends more time resting

in his bed, which means he moves around less and those joints get even stiffer. The old-

timer is well enough in himself but, each day he looks more elderly, pottering around on

skinny legs with the bones showing beneath the fur.

What is happening here is a classic, vicious circle that is common in so many of our elderly

four-leggers. Our little old dog has arthritis, so his joints are sore. Because it hurts to walk, it

seems kinder to exercise him less. But, this means his joints seize up even more. Only now,

resting in bed all day means his muscles have wasted so the joints have less support and

walking becomes a real trial. Poor chap.

But there is another scenario, an altogether brighter, happier story (which doesn’t have a

fairytale ending, but it does involve a wagging tail). This time, something very different

happens. Our elderly dog starts physiotherapy. This little dog has a proactive pet parent who

decides there has to be a better way – and it looks like this.:

Acupuncture to help ease the pain

Massage to increase the blood supply to the joints and muscles

A program of therapeutic exercise which gently strengthens those flagging muscles,

but is done in a way that doesn’t hurt his joints

Hydrotherapy to take the weight off his legs but allows him to exercise, keep a trim

waistline and an active mind

And the great thing is the dog loves every minute because it’s fun, he feels better afterwards,

and he gets lots of wonderful attention.

Such is the paws-some power of physical therapy.

1.1.2 Common Uses of Physiotherapy

As we saw above, physio is a super therapy for

arthritis but, it also has a wide range of other uses

and it can benefit all of the body systems, increasing

the stamina of the heart and lungs, not just the legs.

Those situations you are most likely to find your pet

in need of physio include:

Recovery after surgery: This might be an operation to repair a fracture, which means

the dog has to rest for weeks. Unfortunately, according to the law of “Use it or lose it,”

rest equals muscle wastage. Physio helps condition the muscles and build them up is

a safe way, ready for the pet to take an active part in family life again.

Orthopedic problems: This refers to problems relating to muscles and bones, and

how they move. This could be anything from a sprain or strain, to building strength in

a leg the dog got into the habit of carrying.

Sports medicine: Just like a world class (human) athlete works closely with a

physiotherapist, a high-performance dog gets hands-on time with a physio. For dogs

that are competing in anything from agility to sledging, an extra second gained here

or an inch gained there can make all the difference, which is where physical therapy

can benefit them.

Genetic problems: Some dog breeds are born with genes from their parents which

make certain diseases more likely. A classic example is an elbow and hip dysplasia

(badly formed joints) in breeds such as the Labrador, German shepherd, or Rottweiler.

By teaching owners to do physio on their dogs at home, this helps build muscle tone

to support the joints and help those dogs to stay mobile for as long as possible.

Old Age Problems: Isn’t it great news that more of our pets are living to a ripe old

age? This means they are also surviving through to ages when arthritis starts to take

its toll. This is a field where physio can truly shine because from building muscle

strength to easing sore joints, it can make a real difference to senior’s quality of life.

1.1.3 Your Pet

What about your pet?

Time for a mini quiz.

Answer the following questions honestly:

1) Has your pet been laid up for a long time because of ill health or surgery? Y/N

2) Does he limp or rest a leg, because of an old injury? Y/N

3) Is he stiff in the morning or when he first gets up? Y/N

4) Does he have difficulty getting up and down stairs? Y/N

5) Is he a canine athlete? (Think agility, Triebball, Flyball, sledging.) Y/N

6) Does he have sore hips or elbows? Y/N

7) Has he got a nagging limp that just won’t go away? Y/N

If you answered “Yes” to any of these then your pet is a candidate for physiotherapy…

Oh, and did we mention that physio provides valuable mental stimulation for elderly

pets and helps them feel fantastic?

1.2 The Aims of this Course

The aim of physical therapy is to help your pet to heal and to rediscover more of the

vim and vigour which mean they are paws-itively enjoying life again. The aim of this

course is to open your eyes to the paw-tential of physiotherapy; how you access

professional help and what you can do at home.

This course helps you understand:

The science (but without long words) behind how physiotherapy benefits the body

The almost miraculous power of the body to heal, when you give it the right

encouragement

How to get your paws on a good physiotherapist

Hands at the ready! Types and techniques of physio to try at home

Recognizing when to stop, because physio isn’t right for your pet

From the ancient therapies of acupuncture and massage to the modern world of lasers

and treadmills: Understand the different types of physio to help pep up your pet

…and look at the bigger picture and ways to keep your pet moving and get the most

out of life

OK, now is a good time to point out this course is NOT designed to qualify you as a pet

physiotherapist: To become an animal therapist requires a degree in veterinary medicine and

surgery, followed by a further specialist degree in physiotherapy. And just to prove we’re not

being awkward, here is legislation passed in July 1996; “The Guidelines for Alternative and

Complementary Medicine” which states that:

“Veterinary physical therapy [physio] should be performed by a licensed veterinarian or,

where in accordance with state practice acts by (1) a licensed, certified, or registered

veterinary or animal health technician educated in veterinary physical therapy or (2) a

licensed….”

You get the picture so we won’t bore you further. Stern stuff. So guys, don’t go doing

physiotherapy on other people’s pets and most especially don’t ask for money for doing it or

you’ll end up in hot water with the law.

But remember, whereas cold laser treatments and acupuncture are done exclusively by a

qualified practitioner, the same is not true for massage and therapeutic exercise. Indeed, the

pet parent is a crucial part of the treatment team. Because the therapist doesn’t live with you

(unless you’re exceptionally fortunate!) it’s down to the owner to repeat the exercise regularly

at home. Of course, this is after adequate instruction, but none-the-less it’s down to you.

So why bother with this course?

Simply, it will benefit your pet.

By taking this course you’ll learn massage techniques and

therapeutic exercises, you’ll become aware of ways to

make your home easier to get around fora stiff, sore dog,

or help you decide physio is a worthwhile investment after

all…Remember, knowledge is key to understanding your

pet’s needs.

You’ll find out how to access a qualified physiotherapist in

Module 1.3. But don’t forget, physios usually see

outpatients, and you are expected to continue the

exercises at home. Let’s face it, no one can run a marathon

by going for just one training run. It’s the same with

physiotherapy, repetition of the exercises at home is

crucial. So the better informed you are, the more confident you will be when it’s just you, the

dog, and a list of exercises.

Once the animal has been assessed and exercises allocated (see Module 1.3 and Module

4), you will be expected to undertake a conscientious home routine of exercises with your

pet in order to make progress. One of our aims is to be a resource to refresh your memory

(and also to know when to stop and seek help).

The trick is to always work within your pet’s comfort zone and stop as soon as they show

discomfort.

1.3 Being Part of a Team

Imagine you are an elite athlete in training to run marathons. You’re running for the country

and it’s no longer about you, a pair of running shoes, and the road. You have a personal

trainer who monitors your fitness levels; a coach who watches your running technique; a

medic who checks your heart, lungs, and health; a specialist surgeon for when you tear a

knee ligament; and a physiotherapist to manipulate your leg as it heals, get you back on your

feet and running again.

The point is that everyone has a specific job to do, to get the most from your body.

1.3.1 Why Speaking to the Experts Matters

Think of your pet in the same way, and make sure you speak to the right people first, before

starting massage at home.

Let’s take the example of an elderly Labrador. She’s started hobbling on a back leg and looks

very sorry for herself. You are convinced it is arthritis and are tempted just to start some

gentle massages to help strengthen her leg. But instead, you pick up the phone and call the

vet.

This is exactly what every pet parent should do, for lots of reasons and here’s why:

The problem may not be arthritis but, something even more serious. For example bone

cancer is well-known for starting in the knee joint. If you delay taking the dog to the

vet,it delays treatment, gives cancer a chance to get established, and it could even

give it time to spread. The take-home message is: Never delay seeking a vet’s opinion

when your pet is unwell.

OK, you skip the vet check and start massage on a leg with bone cancer. Doing physio

on bone cancer is a big “No no”. All the processes that stimulate healing also help

spread cancer. By improving the blood supply to the bone it provides a superhighway

for cancer cells to spread through the body. It also increases pain, and you risk

fracturing the weakened bone. Take home message: Get a diagnosis first, before

starting therapy.

Pain hurts. OK, it may sound obvious but it’s a fact often overlooked. If a dog is lame,

it’s usually because the leg hurts. If you then manipulate a sore leg, you increase the

pet’s distress rather than ease it. Take home message: Speak to your vet about

effective, safe pain relief BEFORE starting physio.

Get the advice of the experts. Your vet may well refer your pet to a physiotherapist.

This is because physios are experts in their field. If the dog had heart disease, you’d

see a heart specialist. The physiotherapist knows how to assess the way animal

moves, the stresses and strains on joints, and the amount of pain the pet is in, in order

to decide on the most appropriate therapy. Then they’ll draw up a treatment plan and

create a carefully staged program to get your dog or cat back on their paws. And then,

they’ll talk you through the home exercises; show you exactly where to place your

hands, and how much pressure to apply. Take home message: Home physiotherapy

is about more than rubbing a sore leg. It takes science.

Another consideration is that the team behind your pet will do their utmost to improve

your pet’s life, and that includes looking at the bigger picture. They can use all their

expertise to suggest changes at home to help your pet get around.

1.3.2 How do I Find a Good Pet Physio?

It turns out human physiotherapists aren’t high enough qualified to treat pets. (You always

knew your pooch was special.) What Buster needs is a veterinary physiotherapist, and

although the latter is not common, their numbers are increasing. But here’s the rub, you can’t

just find one on the internet, make an appointment, and rock up. No. Your pet needs to be

referred by a vet.

Actually, the reasons for the referral rule are pretty much the same as in Module 1.3.1. You

vet is the expert in your pet’s overall health, so they are aware of any reasons why

physiotherapy isn’t a good idea. They have also got your pet to the right stage to consider

physiotherapy and are aware of your pet’s physical limitations. If the physio was to work the

case up from scratch it could take some considerable time, which is the time they’d rather

spend giving the pet physical therapy.

If your pet is currently under veterinary care, then make contact with a vet you can trust, and

ask for a referral. They write a letter (or send an email) and include the pet’s medical history

and any relevant test results.

If your vet is new to physical therapy and doesn’t know of a suitable expert, then you may

have to find one first and then ask the vet to refer you. To find an expert go through the

recognized governing body in that field such as:

AUSTRALIA

Animal Physiotherapy Association - An umbrella organization with a section for animals.

CANADA

Canadian Physiotherapy Association – as for Australia

UNITED KINGDOM

ACPAT (Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Animal Therapy)

UNITED STATES

American Association of Rehabilitation Veterinarians.