Have you ever wondered how you go about choosing a physio for your dog? What should you look for? Who is even qualified? And, ultimately, how much choice are you actually allowed? Well, look no further: our blogger Robyn has been investigating!
Table of contents
What is physiotherapy?
The National Association of Veterinary Physiotherapists (NAVP) States that:
Veterinary physiotherapy is a science based profession, which takes an holistic approach to each patient by providing functional assessment following veterinary referral. Physiotherapy for animals can be used alongside veterinary care to help in the treatment or long-term management of many musculoskeletal or neurological injuries and conditions. It can assist rehabilitation of the animal, with the aims of reducing pain, improving movement, and restoring normal muscle control and function. Physiotherapy can also be used for performance development of the animal athlete, helping to try to minimise the risk of injury whilst maximising the performance of competitive or working animals.
Benefits of physiotherapy
Physiotherapy involves a thorough clinical assessment to correct any dysfunction that could potentially limit optimal function and performance; involving the musculoskeletal, neurological, and cardiorespiratory systems and/or biomechanical problems.
Experience in human physiotherapy develops skills which are largely transferable to animal physiotherapy. Following assessment, a treatment plan is determined. this will consist of evidence-based interventions including manual therapy, electrotherapy, exercise therapy, education and advice to facilitate optimal rehabilitation. All of which should (in fact, in law, must) be done in collaboration with the patients’ veterinary team.
On the legal side, do they work alongside veterinary surgeons?
First things first. If your pet has a medical issue that you want to ‘treat’ via physiotherapy, that must first come via a referral from a veterinary surgeon. I would be concerned if there were physios working outside this remit – let’s explain why.
The law is laid down in the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 and Veterinary Surgery (Exemptions) Order 2015.
This lays down exactly who may diagnose and treat animals. The act of examination with the aim of giving a diagnosis of an ailment or disease is an act of veterinary surgery and may only be performed by a qualified and registered veterinary surgeon. Once the diagnosis has been made, the veterinary surgeon may then pass the treatment to a suitably qualified person. In this case we are referring to a veterinary physiotherapist.
This is why it is important that if you decide to use a veterinary physiotherapist, it should only be after referral from a veterinary surgeon, unless for general fitness purposes rather than treatment. By treatment, we mean physiotherapy targeted at an already diagnosed condition, with the purpose of alleviating or improving that condition.
That being said…
…a veterinary physiotherapist may perform a general massage on an animal with the owner’s permission for reasons of an approach to improve the animal’s general fitness, flexibility and movement, as this is not targeting a specific disease. This is common in agility dogs, athletic dogs or even working dogs where the owners want to keep them in tip top shape.
If an animal is presented with an injury or condition that might need attention from a veterinary surgeon, then the animal should be referred for such attention as it needs. Even in cases of doubt, expert veterinary attention should be sought. Only a veterinary surgeon can diagnose a disease or condition in an animal and prescribe the necessary treatment.
Where could I look?
To find a physiotherapist, you could start looking at the Institute of Registered Veterinary & Animal Physiotherapists. Their veterinary physiotherapy members use the post nominals MIRVAP (VP) (letters after their name). However, as they have a diverse membership who hold multiple qualifications, they have the respective bracketed post nominals to clarify their status.
The IRVAP membership includes; veterinary surgeons, veterinary physiotherapists, animal musculoskeletal practitioners, veterinary nurses, canine hydrotherapists, animal massage therapists and Touch practitioners who also hold animal therapy qualifications.
You might also look on the NAVP website, all of which will be distinguishable under their qualifications. The different veterinary physiotherapy qualifications within the membership are:
- MSc – Master’s degree
- M – Integrated Master’s degree (BSc degree with completion of an additional final Master’s level year)
- PgDip – Post-Graduate diploma
- BSc – Undergraduate Bachelor’s degree.
Additionally, you can look on the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Animal Therapy (ACPAT) website. In the UK, a three-year undergraduate degree is required to qualify as a chartered physiotherapist; followed by a minimum of two years of Master’s level post-graduate training to become a veterinary physiotherapist and category A member of the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Animal Therapy (ACPAT).
Further reading:
Discussion