Canine Physiotherapy

Dogs can suffer from a wide variety of conditions and whether it is your working athlete or friendly companion, canine physiotherapy can help.
Our aim is to help optimise your dog’s mobility whilst assisting in pain management. 

Our Canine Physiotherapy services are provided at our Veterinary Rehabilitation Centre at 70 Quakerfield,
Bannockburn, FK7 8HZ in Stirling.
To book an appointment or discuss your dog’s needs, please get in touch.  

Small Animal Hydrotherapy

  • JF-Vet Physio are excited to announce the addition of our new small animal hydrotherapy service.  
  • Hydrotherapy has become an important element of animal rehabilitation and can now be incorporated into your animal’s rehabilitation plan where appropriate by use of a water treadmill.  
  • To find out more about this service, please do get in touch using out ‘Contacts’ page.  

When can Canine Physiotherapy help your Dog:

Arthritic Management / The Older Dog
Arthritis is a condition that affects a vast number of dogs, particularly those in their senior years. Canine physiotherapy is an essential part of arthritic management as it can help relieve those aches and pains to help improve or maintain your dog’s mobility and quality of life.

Surgery – Before & After
Canine physiotherapy is an important aspect of care both before and after surgery. It can help ensure your dog maintains as much function and comfort before surgery as well as optimise their recovery and return to fitness after surgery. We work closely alongside your veterinary surgeon to ensure appropriate care is implemented at the right time.

Injury recovery
Whether it be an injury to your dog’s skin, muscle, tendon, ligament, bone or joints, canine physiotherapy can help optimise your dog’s recovery and return to fitness.

Canine Athletes
Canine physiotherapy is an essential element to include in any competition or working dog’s programme to help optimise their athletic potential. It can also help with early detection of problems and allow us to adopt a pro-active approach to addressing these.

Orthopaedic or Neurological Conditions
Common orthopaedic conditions can include Crucial Ligament Disease, Hip or Elbow Dysplasia or Patella Luxation.
Common neurological conditions can include Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD), Wobblers syndrome or Degenerative Myelopathy.
If your dog is diagnosed with an orthopaedic or neurological condition your vet may elect to carry out surgery. However, the decision may also be made to adopt a conservative (non-surgical) approach depending on what is in the best interest of the individual dog. Canine physiotherapy can assist in your dog’s care for both surgical and conservative management approaches to these conditions. To find out how we can assist your dog’s specific needs, please get in touch.

FAQs

We will initially obtain the dog’s history and information from the owner before assessing the dog both at stance and moving.  The movement assessment usually consists of the dog being walked and trotted up in a straight line and asked to turn in both directions.  We may also ask for certain postural movements to be carried out, for example, sit to stand.  A full hands-on assessment of the dog is then carried out and any problem areas identified.  Following this, a physiotherapy treatment will be carried out.  After the treatment, a home exercise plan will be tailored to your dog’s requirements where additional recommendations or a future plan may also be discussed.  Detailed notes of each visit are kept by JF – Vet Physio and will be communicated to your referring vet where required.

  • Dog’s should arrive for their appointment clean and dry and on lead.
  • A competent owner/handler should be on hand to assist with the gait analysis – this is where the dog will be walked / trotted up.
  • Dog’s should not be actively exercised up to 2 hours before or after an appointment. 
  • Dog’s should not be fed up to 2 hours before or after an appointment.  If your dog has any specific dietary requirements or a set feeding timescale, please let us know at time of booking so this can be accommodated.
  • Please bring any treats or toys that your dog is motivated towards or focuses on as this may be beneficial during the session. 

Many pet insurance providers now offer cover towards physiotherapy treatment.  Each insurance company is different and so it is important to check your own individual policy.  Physiotherapy treatment can often be referred to as ‘alternative’ or ‘complimentary’ treatment within insurance policy wording.  Insurance cover for physiotherapy treatment will require veterinary referral. 

The regularity of canine physiotherapy treatment depends greatly on the intensity and type of work being undertaken and any previous injury, illness or disease the dog has had. Some cases may need weekly or twice weekly visits until the injury has healed; Some dog’s require regular visits varying between every 2 to 6 weeks; Competition animals may need monthly visits…
The best way to find out what your dog would require is to get in touch and discuss your dog as an individual.

In short, yes.  JF – Vet Physio pride’s itself in working in close collaboration with referring vet practices and therefore whether your physiotherapy treatment is for competition, maintenance or remedial care, veterinary consent is required.   

We ask that you contact us as soon as possible if you find yourself in need of changing or cancelling and appointment.  Cancellations made with less than 48 business hours notice will be charged for the appointment in full.  The only exception to this will be at the discretion of JF – Vet Physio.    

Our Business Hours are annotated in our ‘Contacts‘ website tab

Payment can be made by cash or bank transfer. 

Initial appointments are asked to be paid in advance with follow up appointments being due on the day of the appointment.