NEW SERVICES - PHYSIOTHERAPY FOR ANIMALS
We are now able to offer the services of Animal Physiotherapist Melanie Butler!
Physio 4 Animals is a service provided by Melanie Butler, Chartered Veterinary Physiotherapist,
working in the Derbyshire/ Nottinghamshire area. As a Chartered Physiotherapist she is regulated by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists (CSP), The Health Professional Council (HPC) and the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Animal Physiotherapy (ACPAT).
"I work with both large and small animals running clinics in several vets practices and Hydrotherapy centres as well as doing home visits to animals at their owners homes or in the case of equines where they are stabled. I work alongside the animal's veterinary care to help rehabilitate animals with a variety of Neurological, Orthopaedic and Degenerative conditions, as well as treating horses and dogs with competition or performance problems."
Each animal is assessed as an individual and all treatment plans are tailored to their needs dependent on their needs. You can find more information about whether physiotherapy may help your animal on this website, or feel free to phone Melanie for an informal chat about your animal.
There are a variety of problems that physiotherapy can help with in dogs. When seen each dog will go through a full assessment, which starts by collecting a history of what problems your dog has been having. This will be followed by an assessment of your dog’s gait, this may include assessing them at a variety of paces, on different surfaces. It may also be assessed how your dog carries out certain activities e.g. sit to stand, stairs, getting in and out of the car and getting up and down from a lying position. Palpation and mobilisation of their muscles, soft tissue and joints is used to identify problem areas. From this assessment your dog’s problems will be identified and then an individual treatment program will be planned accordingly. At all times the animals vet will be kept informed of the outcome of the assessment and the treatment plan.
- Lameness
- Degenerative joint conditions
- Elbow and Hip dysplasia
- Cruciate ligament
- OCD
- Fractures
- Recovery from surgery
- Paralyzed/ neurological conditions
- Muscle atrophy
- Mobility impairment/ Stiffness
- Management of the older dog to improve there quality of life
If your dog suffers from any of these symptoms physiotherapy may help
- Pain or discomfort
- Abnormal posture
- Unusual posture
- Unusual behaviour
- Lameness
- Difficulty jumping up or down
- Crying when getting up or lying down
- Reluctance to play or exercise
- Sensitivity to being touched or patted
- Uneven wear on nails
- Overweight
- Weak muscles
Owners Steve and Amanda Powell of Nottingham Canine Hydrotherapy Centre personally recommend Melanie’s services. She works with some of the most respected Orthopaedic surgeons in the UK and has a fantastic rapport with the animals that she treats. Melanie can work with dogs that are referred to us or to her at the Nottingham Canine Hydrotherapy Centre and the work can be land based, pool based or a combination of the two.
For initial appointment and information please contact Melanie directly, and you will normally require a veterinary referral in order for Melanie to treat your dog. Again this is so that she has a full medical record of the treatment of your dog so that she has full knowledge of the treatment that is required for your dog, both by Melanie and also for the physiotherapy that she can advise you to continue to complete at home in-between sessions with her.
If covered by Insurance, you may also find that you are able to claim for your Physiotherapy costs, but you will need to check your policy details.