Treatment..

What is going to happen when I visit the animal physiotherapist with my pet?

Your pet will visit the animal physiotherapist after being diagnosed by a veterinarian or when you believe that physiotherapy is useful. I will welcome you and your pet in my practice for the first consultation. Of course it is also possible to examine your pet (mainly horses) at your home.

During this first consultation your pet is being examined. All the motor functions of the body will be checked and all arising problems. Attention is also paid to previous problems and the general health of your pet. Therefore the information given by your veterinarian is very important. Subsequently the treatment possibilities will be discussed with you and a treatment schedule will be arranged. At the end of the entire treatment session the results and the course of the therapy will be reported back to the animal doctor so that he/she will be kept informed about his/her patient at all times.

What kind of treatment possibilities does a physiotherapist have:

The animal physiotherapist has a large number of treatment possibilities:
Kinesotherapy / remedial therapy: this is the most important pillar of the physiotherapy. It influences the animal’s possibility of movement which can be stimulated where necessary by physiotherapy itself, water or equipment. The aim of remedial therapy can be: relaxation, pain relieving, limbering of the joints, coordination improvement, posture correction, muscle strengthening, improvement of the vital functions, the stamina.

Massage therapy: this helps against pain and tone with a special goal for example: stimulating (mainly in sports). Sedating(= relaxing), pain relieving, dehydrating, to remove an oedema, widening of the blood vessels or improving the blood circulation. Connective tissue, lymph drainage.

Physical therapy: In physiotechniques technical aids and equipments are used in the pet’s treatment in order to influence the circulation, improve the wound and heal any fractures. This includes treatments heat/cold, light therapy, hydrotherapy, mechanotherapy and electrotherapy i.e. through ultrasound, laser, tension or magnetic fields.

Applied physiotherapy: for example manipulations, traction etc.
A treatment can consist of applying one of the above-mentioned forms of therapy but usually it will consist of combinations of for example remedial therapy and massage therapy or remedial therapy and a form of physiothechniques.

In order to get optimal results it is important that you participate in lessening your pet’s complaints. Instructions will be given to you on how to massage your pet, exercises for your pet, stretch exercises.!