Dog Physiotherapy Plymouth

All breeds and temperaments are welcome for canine physiotherapy at CARE – Dog Physiotherapy in Plymouth.

If your dog is anxious or shows signs of aggression please do not hesitate to contact me to discuss any concerns.

What you can expect from an initial dog physiotherapy consultation in Plymouth?

Treatments

Working and Sporting dogs

Referral form

D

Some extra time for your therapist to meet your pet and allow them to adjust to someone new in their home, in a calm and relaxed way.

D

Discussion about your pet’s current condition, daily routine, exercise tolerance, medical history, current medication and supplements, behaviour and home environment.

E

A full assessment of your dog’s gait and ability to move around from one position to another. Photos and videos can be used to track progression and regression.

E

A full orthopaedic & muscular assessment which will include, joint range of movement, palpation of soft tissues and joints, assessment to identify any areas of heat, swelling, pain, tenderness and muscular tightness either as a result of primary injury, pathology or as a result of compensatory movements.

D

If needed, a neurological assessment. We can also undertake any initial treatments to begin the recovery phase.

Start the referral process
for Vets

Complete the form

Treatments may include:

Manual Therapies

Kinesiology Taping

Therapeutic Exercises

Electrotherapy

Stretching

Aftercare

Please note Canine Physiotherapy is not a substitute for correct veterinary care and in all emergency situations or if your animal has an undiagnosed lameness, you should seek veterinary help.

Manual Therapies

Improved function, mobility and quality of movement

This includes;

Pain management
Increase joint range of movement
Improves mobility and flexibility
Reduces limping and stiffness
Improved performance
Rehabilitates muscular injury
Support of orthopaedic conditions
Increases circulation and lymphatic drainage
Promotes well-being and relaxation
Enhanced quality of life for a happier and healthier dog

Electrotherapy

PEMF – Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy

Used to stimulate the natural healing process
To increase and decrease circulation
Muscle tone improvement
Aid in the reduction of swelling and oedema, fractures repair, pain relief, rehabilitation of tendon and ligament injuries, post-surgery recovery and to help maintain healthy soft tissues

Phototherapy

Photizo – Used to treat skin conditions and musculoskeletal injuries, post-op on any areas treated surgically
Blue light therapy – Provides an antibacterial effect

Kinesiology Taping

Kinesiology tape activates the nervous and circulatory system to initiate healing and is used to assist in the treatment of injured muscles. It can be applied in a number of ways to assist with:

Improving posture and movement
Reduction of pain and swelling
Promoting proprioception
Increasing circulation
Biomechanical dysfunction

Taping applications typically last 2-3 days.

Stretching

Stretching your dogs muscles will improve performance and decrease the occurrence of injuries.

A stretching routine will;

Increase your dogs suppleness and elasticity, reducing the risk of pulled muscles or tendons
Increased joint range of movement
Improved stride length, gait pattern and proprioception
Improve circulation
Relieve pain, reduce inflammation and muscle spasms

Therapeutic exercises

Are key to your animals progress through a physiotherapy programme. Specific targeted exercises can help to:

Improve muscle condition and tone
Optimise tissue healing
Address compensatory and gait abnormalities
Relieve pain
Increase proprioception, coordination and balance
Increase strength

Exercises could include passive range of movement, weight shifting, figure of 8’s, Cavaletti poles, weaving, sit to stands, inclines and declines, circles and stairs.

Aftercare

After the initial consultation, you will receive:

A rehabilitation programme tailored to your animals needs, to be used during and in-between physiotherapy appointments
Aftercare advice and guidance
Guidance on safely carrying out simple massage techniques
Information pack

Photizo machine hire – assisting with recovery and maintenance in between physiotherapy appointments:

£20 per week (+ £50 deposit per week which will be returned at the end of hire, if returned in the same condition)
A photizo will aid in natural pain relief and will speed up the natural healing process

How it works

At CARE we are fully qualified, insured and IAAT accredited. This ensures all treatments are carried out under veterinary referral and veterinary surgeons are informed of all aspects of your animal’s physiotherapy programme.

To arrange physiotherapy for your pet, we will either need to contact your veterinarian direct once you have completed a contact form or your veterinarian is able to to complete a referral form through the link at the top of this website. Once we have received the referral, we can arrange the initial appointment.



Initial physiotherapy
consultation £45 and will last approximately 1 hour



Follow up appointments will be £40 and last approximately 45 minutes

Our terms

Cash payments accepted only and full payment required before or on the day of treatment.
Covered by insurance. However, full payment will still be required on the day of treatment and I will provide you with a receipt after each session and then an invoice at the end of treatment, which you can then provide to your insurance company.
If you live outside of a 10 mile radius of Plymouth, there will be 40p per mile fuel charge.
Cancellation policy. If you are unable to keep your appointment 48 hours’ notice is required, if not, a 50% of fee will be charged.
Covid-19, keeping everyone safe. For all appointments can a maximum of two people be present, masks are optional and social distancing maintained where possible.

Working and Sporting dogs

Training and competitions carry a level of risk for the dog. Dogs run and play freely daily but flyball and agility are much more intense exercise placing greater stress on the body and increasing the risk of a potential muscular injury. Common injuries seen are repetitive stress injuries and not the result of an acute event.

Complete a form

Some symptoms of possible injury include:

Slowing down over contacts
Difficulties with weave entries and staying in the weaves
Changes in posture when jumping
Stutter stepping
Tucking hind limbs up over jumps
Knocking down poles
Unsteady on contact equipment
Lack of focus and drive
Lame or limping after performance
Stiffness after exercise/ limping
Not weight bearing correctly on all four limbs

Complete a form

Maintenance treatments

No injury or condition required.

Available every 3/6 months to keep your dog in optimum condition, to maintain a heathy body therefore, reducing the chance of injury throughout the sporting or working season.