Over the last few years there has been an increasing interest in the use of Veterinary Physiotherapy to help treat both large and small animals for a variety of physical problems. Veterinary Physiotherapists are usually trained as human physiotherapists first and go on to post- graduate education to become veterinary physiotherapists. The Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Animal Therapy (ACPAT) was set up in 1985, so certainly not a new profession! All animals undergoing physiotherapy treatment must have a referral from their Veterinary Surgeon, and veterinary physiotherapists undertake regular CPD and training to keep up their professional standards.
Penbode Pet Vets have introduced a new service providing physiotherapy for small animals at our Stratton (Bude) branch. Ros Boisseau is an experienced Chartered Physiotherapist, who works one day a week with us, as well as running her private human Musculo-skeletal practice. Ros set up and ran Hawksland Physiotherapy and Canine Hydrotherapy Centre at Wadebridge for many years. Sadly, her husband David became ill and the couple sold up and moved to Tresmeer, passing the Hydrotherapy business on to a Canine Hydrotherapist.
Recently Ros has started the Physiotherapy provision at Penbode Pet Vets, alongside providing our vet nurses with some CPD in physiotherapy techniques. This will help our nurses provide an improved service in our mobility and weight clinics.
Ros can help dogs and cats with a variety of problems, using therapeutic exercise, massage and joint mobilisations, and Laser therapy. She helps train owners in some basic massage techniques, and gives them specific exercises tailored for their animal, to give them tools to help their pets to a better state of health and fitness.
For more information, or if you feel that your dog or cat may benefit from physiotherapy, speak to your Veterinary Surgeon.
