We have a range of treatments on offer to help with many mobility and health issues. With many options available, we are bound to have something to fit your dogs needs.
Whilst these treatments can be stand alone, we often will create a “treatment cluster” combining more than one treatment for best results.
The first appointment is longer to allow for a full work up and planning the most effective treatments for the best results. The treatment plan is flexible and will change as your dog progresses. Usually our appointment times are around 30-45 minutes.
Our cancellation policy can be found here
Therapy options: (click below for more information)
Swim Therapy
Laser Therapy
Osteopathy
Neuro Myofascial Release (A NMR)
Thermal Imaging
Kinesiology
Massage
Reiki
Swim Therapy
Swimming is a well known low impact therapy exercise. Swimming in the heated pool is easy on the joints, and the dogs love it! Our purpose built indoor pool allows rehabilitation in a fun environment
Some of the benefits of swimming in our heated pool are:
- recovery from illness or surgery in a controlled environment
- exercise with hip, leg and muscle problems
- assists with trying to lose weight for dogs with joint problems
- helps increase the strength of the tendons and ligaments e.g. arthritic dogs
- aerobic conditioning – swimming is great cross training – improve fitness and stamina
- muscle building
- gentle exercise for older dogs
- warm and controlled environment to teach puppies to swim with confidence
- great fun and relaxing too
Why is the hydrotherapy different to a river or a lake?
Hydrotherapy is not the same as swimming in a lake or a river, and here’s why – Hydrotherapy is controlled aquatic exercise, it allows for increases and improvement in functional movement. For therapy purposes it is crucial to swim in the correct temperature especially if a dog is suffering from arthritis or has any joint problems, swimming in cold water can actually be counter-productive as it reduces blood circulation and cold muscles are more likely to stiffen up and cramp and could do further damage. It is essential to monitor how much exercise your dog is doing and that they are doing the correct movement so as not to exasperate any existing problems. This is impossible to do without the correct training for observing the movement patterns.
It is also important to consider that in open water there is often an undercurrent which your dog could get into trouble with, especially if they are already tired. There is also a risk of pollution and water born disease that could put your dog in danger, in the hydro pool the water is tested regularly and kept warm to ensure that your dog is safe at all times.
Normal appointments are in 30 minute blocks which is plenty of time to arrive, swim and towel dry.
Laser Therapy
Whether your pet needs rehabilitation from trauma or injury, healing from wounds or surgery, or simply aging, this revolutionary approach will greatly improve your pet’s comfort and quality of life.
Laser Phototherapy is 100% safe and affordable. It helps your pet’s own body to stimulate an immune response to heal itself and improvements can be seen in 3/5 treatments.
What conditions can be treated using laser therapy?
- Ulcerations and open wounds
- Muscle, ligament and tendon injuries
- Sprains and strains
- Post-surgical and soft tissue trauma
- Back pain
- Neuromuscular disease
- Acute and Chronic Ear Infections
- Hot Spots
- Arthritis
- Lick Granulomas
- Degenerative Disc Disease
- Degenerative Joint Disease
- Hip Dysplasia
We also offer laser acupuncture – the benefit of acupuncture without the needles!
More information on laser:
Clinical studies and trials of laser therapy technology indicate the following beneficial effects of laser light therapy on tissues and cells:
- Accelerated Tissue Repair and Cell Growth.Photons of light from lasers penetrate deeply into tissue and accelerate cellular reproduction and growth. The laser light increases the energy available to the cell so that the cell can take on nutrients faster and get rid of waste products. As a result of exposure to laser light, the cells of tendons, ligaments and muscles are repaired faster.
- Faster Wound Healing.Laser light stimulates fibroblast development [fibroblasts are the building blocks of collagen, which is predominant in wound healing] in damaged tissue. Collagen is the essential protein required to replace old tissue or to repair tissue injuries. As a result, laser therapy is effective on open wounds and burns.
- Reduced Fibrous Tissue Formation.Laser therapy reduces the formation of scar tissue following tissue damage from cuts, scratches, burns or surgery.
- Anti-Inflammation.Laser light therapy has an anti-edemic effect as it causes vasodilation, but also because it activates the lymphatic drainage system [drains swollen areas]. As a result, there is a reduction in swelling caused by bruising or inflammation.
- Anti-Pain [Analgesic].Laser therapy has a high beneficial effect on nerve cells which block pain transmitted by these cells to the brain and which decreases nerve sensitivity. Also, due to less inflammation, there is less edema and less pain. Another pain blocking mechanism involves the production of high levels of pain killing chemicals such as endorphins from the brain.
- Improved Vascular Activity.Laser light will significantly increase the formation of new capillaries in damaged tissue that speeds up the healing process, closes wounds quickly and reduces scar tissue. Additional benefits include acceleration of angiogenesis, which causes temporary vasodilatation, an increase in the diameter of blood vessels.
- Increased Metabolic Activity.Laser therapy creates higher outputs of specific enzymes, greater oxygen and food particle loads for blood cells.
- Improved Nerve Function.Slow recovery of nerve functions in damaged tissue can result in numbness and impaired limbs. Laser light will speed up the process of nerve cell reconnection and increase the amplitude of action potentials to optimize muscle action.
Immunoregulation. Laser light has a direct effect on immunity status by stimulation of immunoglobulins and lymphocytes. Laser therapy is absorbed by chromophones that react to laser light. The enzyme flavomononucleotide is activated and starts the production of ATP [adenosine-tri-phosphate], which is the major carrier of cell energy and the energy source for all chemical reactions in the cells
Osteopathy
Using specialized techniques, we can remove tension and restrictions and encouraging healing in the Musculo-skeletal system, thereby allowing the body to restore normal function.
Osteopathy is effective for issues such as:
- Muscular problems such as stiffness, spasms or atrophy
- Gait problems such as short or uneven steps
- Aging problems such as arthritis
- Joint Pains and issues, Lameness, Limping
- Poor or reduced performance levels
- Circulatory Problems and digestive Problems
- Post-operative Issues: speeding up the recovery process and limiting compensatory strains
We provide two principal services for the physical care and conditioning of dogs:
Assessment, treatment & relief of existing pain.
- Planned programmes to maintain mobility and protect against muscle, joint and tendon injury
Exercise is good for dogs but it can cause stiffness and strains in muscles and joints which causes pain, injury and reduced performance. Even more so if we ask them to regularly train and compete in Agility, Flyball, Disc Dog, Working trial, Obedience or other physically demanding activities. And it’s not only sporting dogs that can be affected but any that do rigorous exercise or are affected by arthritis.
Preventative care and maintenance is one of the best health investments you can provide for your dog. Regular care of muscles, joints and tendons maintains flexibility and mobility which is the key to avoiding injury, speeding recovery and improving performance.
Neuro Myofascial Release (ANMR)
Fascia is a system of connective tissue that surrounds the body parts. It is part of every muscle, bone, nerve, artery and vein, as well as the internal organs such as heart, lungs, brain and spinal cord.
- Tight or restricted fascia can lead to a decrease in performance and an increase in the chance of further injury. The fascial system in animals is similar to our own
- When any type of soft tissue injury occurs, the surrounding fascia will lose its fluidity and become more rigid in that location.
- It can also stick to the underlying tissues through scar tissue (adhesions) reducing range of motion but also increasing the potential for muscle injury
Some conditions that can benefit from animal neuro myofascial release
- IVDD
- Hip Dysplasia
- Luxating Patellas
- Leg weakness
- Difficulty jumping/getting up
- Sore back and/or neck
- Arthritis
We have a number of ways to release the fascia depending on the location of the issue. Oftentimes this therapy contains a massage component as well.
Neuro-myofascial Release Technique is a body alignment technique for both small and large animals. Using a specialized tool, I am able to put motion into the soft tissues surrounding and adjacent to the vertebral column and other joints. This creates a combination of neurological input and soft tissue releases that allows the animal’s body to “reset” itself leading to an improvement in posture, range of motion and gait.
Thermal-Imaging
Thermal imaging uses a special camera that detects the infrared energy emitted by a body.
It is a non-invasive, objective means to measure the thermal profile of the dog. Seeing the
locations and magnitudes of thermal variations or abnormalities is easy with the colourful
visual images created in the software application, making it a powerful tool when used in diagnosis.
Kinesiology
Taping decreases pain, increases muscle strength, improves blood and lymph circulation and adds stability to joints. It can help with a variety of issues from joint instability or issues, pain, swelling along with more serious issues such as degenerative myelopathy due to its ability to help with perception or awareness of body position and movement.
This tape contains no medications and its effectiveness is dependent upon the application. When applied correctly, it decompresses the skin and interacts with the neurosensory receptors, which results in decreased pain, increased blood and lymph flow and dynamic support of the muscles and joints. Kinesiology tape is different than other athletic tapes on the market in that it stretches along it’s longitudinal axis, but not across its width which allows it to move with the body.
This is the only athletic tape that does not restrict range of motion in any way when it is applied. When kinesiology tape is applied to the skin (or in the case of animals to the hair), it mechanically decompresses the skin and the underlying tissues. When tape is applied to an animal, the tape lifts the hair, which in turn lifts the skin and accomplishes the same decompression seen in people. The decompression action promotes increased blood and lymph flow, which decreases inflammation and relieves pressure from free nerve endings. As the person or animal moves with the tape on, the tape stimulates nerves called mechanoreceptors with every movement.
The tape acts as a natural pain reliever because stimulation of mechanoreceptors inhibits nociceptors (the pain generators). The more mechanoreceptors that are stimulated, the less pain will be perceived. Movement with the tape on also stimulates nerves called proprioceptors, which contribute to the brain’s sense of where the body’s parts are in space and throughout movement. Often times, proprioceptive input is altered in people and animals due to past injuries and misalignments. The tape can help stimulate proper proprioception and in turn promote proper movement.
We use specially designed kinesiology tape designed for our canine and equine friends.
Massage
Whilst localised massage occurs in most of our other options, we also offer it as a sole treatment choice as well. Massage has many benefits such as increasing blood flow, releasing tight muscles and general muscle relaxation.
Your dog will experience the same benefits as you would get when receiving a massage.
Reiki
We offer reiki either in person or via distance. Using this therapy to help you dog on many levels – emotional, physical, mental and spiritual – we can have a profound effect on the overall wellbeing. This therapy is a gentle, non invasive option especially good for dogs who cannot or will not be handled as all the therapy can be done without coming into contact at all.
Reiki is a Japanese form of energy healing. The word Reiki literally translates to Universal life energy. Reiki was rediscovered in the mid 1800s by Dr Mikao Usui and it is his teachings still mainly used today. The reiki practitioner channels universal life energy through them and to their patient. Allowing the energy to go where it is needed most at that time.
We can also use and rebalance the chakra system of the dog to enable the flow of life energy (or Ki/Chi) throughout the body. When the chakras are blocked or not working fully, a lot of issues can be presented.
Jo holds the Reiki Master attunement.
