About Physiotherapy

Just like humans, dogs can suffer from mobility issues, joint pain, and injuries. Whether they're recovering from surgery, managing arthritis, or simply slowing down with age, physiotherapy plays a crucial roles in keeping them active, comfortable, and happy! 

Veterinary physiotherapy utilises non-invasive techniques to assess and treat musculoskeletal conditions in animals.

At Hill's Canine Rehabilitation, our expert physiotherapists work closely with your dog to improve strength, flexibility, and mobility through tailored treatment plans.

Treatment consists of a combination of manual techniques (e.g. massage therapy, stretching, passive range of motion), electrotherapies (e.g. Class 4 laser therapy, Pulse Mag, TENS), and remedial exercises. Physiotherapy is also especially effective when combined with hydrotherapy. We strongly believe that lasting results are seen when exercises are undertaken between treatments so a tailored programme of simple exercises will be prescribed to you.

When is Physiotherapy Needed?

Sometimes, owners are unsure if physiotherapy will benefit their dog.

It is true that some dogs are not well-suited to this form of treatment, and it is definitely not a one-size fits all magic cure. It takes time to see results, as with any form of therapy.

However, due to its versatility, we can use physiotherapy for many different conditions.

What Happens in a Physiotherapy session?

Our physiotherapists feel that better results are gained with your dog feeling relaxed and comfortable and will work hard to build a bond with your dog during treatment. At Hill's, we work according to your dog's pace, allocating time to establish a baseline in the initial assessment and then treating in follow-up sessions.

Initial Assessment Session

Your session will include:

• Patient History
• Home Set-up
• Current and Previous Exercise
• Goals from Physiotherapy
• Observations (Static)
• Gait (Dynamic)
• Palpation
• Range of Motion 
• Correspondence with Vet and Multi-disciplinary Team (e.g. Chiropractor, Osteopath, Behaviourists)

Please note that a dog presenting with a new lameness will be referred back to the vet.

Follow-Up Treatment Sessions

Your session will include:

• Brief re-assessment (to note any differences between each session)
• Manual techniques - massage, stretching, passive range of motion
• Electrotherapies - Class 4 Laser, Pulse Mag, TENS
• Thermo/Cryotherapy
• Remedial exercises - poles, weaves, sit-to-stands, weight-shifting ect.

Each session is tailored to the individual case and modalities will only be used if deemed appropriate by our physiotherapists.