What does a typical canine physio session involve?
Firstly, we are so happy you have made it to our canine physio website.
Welcome!
We are human physiotherapists with a special interest and additional training in canine rehab through the animal rehab division of the Canadian physiotherapy association.
You might be thinking…what does a canine physio session involve?
Prior to your dog’s first appointment we require a referral from your veterinarian. Your veterinarian can complete the referral form on our website, or they can send us an email directly.
At your dog’s first session we would start with a subjective history taking. We would ask you questions about your dog to learn more about your concerns and what you would like us to address.
We would then complete an objective assessment of your dog. This may involve assessing your dog’s spinal and limb range of motion, strength, coordination, palpating your dog and observing their functional movement patterns (e.g., sit, stand, walk, run).
Once the above assessment is complete, we would then describe our findings to you and create an individualized, evidence-based rehab program to meet your dog’s current needs.
Canine rehab plans may include:
Exercise therapy to optimize your dog’s strength and mobility
The use of manual therapy techniques like those in human physio (e.g., massage therapy, assisted range of motion, joint mobilizations, taping) to help relieve pain and improve range of motion
The use of therapeutic modalities such as laser therapy or electrical stimulation to support their recovery
Education so you feel prepared to support your dog throughout their rehab
Most importantly, we encourage owners to be active participants throughout their dog’s rehab program.
At the end of each session, we love to give you and your dog a few exercises to work on until your follow up appointment – the number of exercises will vary from owner to owner as we want to ensure you are able to incorporate your dog’s rehab outside of the clinic into your daily routine without feeling overwhelmed.
If you have any questions, please feel free to send us an email info@thedogphysios.com
We look forward to working with you and your best friend!