What to Expect at your First appointment

During your pet's initial physiotherapy session, we dedicate approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes to ensure a comprehensive assessment and personalized treatment plan. Here's what to expect:

1. Full History: We begin by gathering a complete history to understand your pet's background and condition thoroughly. This allows us to tailor our approach accordingly and ensure the best possible care.
2. Acclimation Period: This time also serves to help your pet become familiar with our therapist and environment, promoting relaxation. We observe your pet's movements at rest to gain insight into their baseline behaviour.
3. Gait Assessment: Dog owners will be asked to walk and trot their dog to assess their gait and identify areas for improvement. We may take videos and photographs for future comparison.
4. Physical Assessment: We conduct a comprehensive physical examination, including palpation of joints and soft tissues, testing joint range of motion, and performing neurological or orthopedic evaluations as needed.
5. Treatment: Based on our assessment, we proceed with tailored treatment, which may include massage, joint range of motion, stretching, laser therapy, and hot/cold therapy. Depending on your pet's capabilities, we may also prescribe exercises. We'll demonstrate techniques that you can continue at home until the follow-up session.
6. Customized Treatment Plan: Following the session, we develop a personalized treatment plan specific to your pet's needs, ensuring continuity of care and optimal outcomes.

We prioritize your pet's well-being and aim to create a comfortable and effective treatment experience. Throughout the session, your involvement may be required to handle and comfort your pet, as well as provide food or treats as needed. If assistance is required, please inform us beforehand so arrangements can be made.

 After their treatment, it's common for many animals to exhibit signs of stiffness, soreness, or lethargy. This is a normal response as their bodies adjust to the therapy. To facilitate this process and ensure positive outcomes, it's advisable to engage in lighter exercise with your pet for the next few days following their session. This gentle approach allows their body to adapt to the treatment and sets the stage for beneficial changes. 

Follow-up sessions are crucial for ongoing care, and the timing between treatments varies based on the patient's needs and condition. Typically, these sessions last for about 1 hour to allow for reassessment and treatment adjustments.

During follow-up sessions, we employ a range of techniques tailored to your pet's requirements. These may include massage, stretching, passive range of motion exercises, laser therapy, and specific exercises.

As with initial sessions, your involvement may be necessary to handle, comfort, and provide treats for your pet. If assistance is needed, please inform us beforehand so arrangements can be made for someone to assist with the treatment exercises. Your pet's comfort and well-being are our top priorities throughout the session.

Massage sessions are 30 minutes long and include a clinical history review, musculoskeletal assessment and then massage treatment targeting areas where your pet may be feeling tense and uncomfortable. Massage can be beneficial for all ages of patients but our older patients seem to particularly enjoy a therapeutic massage. 

Laser therapy sessions include a clinical history review, musculoskeletal assessment, and laser treatment targeting areas where your pet may feel tense or have discomfort and pain. 

Laser helps combat destructive inflammation which can be found in patients with a variety of orthopaedic conditions, such as elbow/hip dysplasia and arthritis, or post-surgery. Laser uses infrared light to change the way cells react, by applying laser over the affected area the cells are stimulated to heal themselves. Laser also reduces inflammation and pain drastically, increases blood flow to the affected tissues, heals damaged cells, and decreases nerve cell potentials so neurons are less susceptible to firing and registering pain. Recent studies have also shown that class 4 laser therapy can extend the lifespan of dogs with degenerative myelopathy.

Sessions lasting up to 30 minutes are £35

Sessions lasting up to 40 minutes are £45

At Mobilise Veterinary Physiotherapy, we are able to offer red light therapy hire using a Photizo Vetcare device. This safe, easy-to-use device can be used to treat: 

• Musculoskeletal problems such as arthritis, tendonitis, overuse injuries, and muscle spasms
• Skin conditions: wounds, lacerations, abscesses, skin allergies, eczema, etc.
• Post-op: any area treated surgically, including skin grafts
• Corneal ulcers, viral-related conditions and sinusitis

And the best bit - it can be used at home, by you to supplement your tailored physiotherapy program!

Find out more at: https://www.photizo.net/uk/photizo-vetcare/

Or contact us for more information:  07543 743728