Golden retriever Jake has osteoarthritis. Damp and chilly days are particularly troublesome for him. On these kinds of days, he's not walking well and has little desire to move around. Today, however, he prances through the practice door wagging his tail happily. Jake had his first physio appointment after cruciate ligament surgery. The vet had referred Jake and his owner to physiotherapist Lea Volkmann. The cruciate ligament has now healed well, but Jake continues to go back for therapy.
The perfect balance
29 December 2023 — by Birka Kallenbach
What does a good collaboration between a veterinarian and an animal physiotherapist entail? And when is the right time to take your four-legged friend to physiotherapy?
Physiotherapist Lea Volkmann at work with golden retriever Jake
"We are now mainly doing manual therapy with Jake," says Volkmann. You can tell by the way he jumps straight onto the couch that he likes it. "We move each part of his body once, check for tension and misalignments, and correct them where necessary," explains the physiotherapist.
Jake was a classic case for physiotherapy. "It makes a lot of sense to do physiotherapy with your dog, especially after surgery," explains Jake's vet Jennifer Rohloff.
So, why is a simple check-up at the vet's not enough? "We have much less time than the physios who specialize in the area," says the vet. "Sure, I could also check how the dog is walking and do exercises with them, but then I would have to schedule in a lot more time and treat fewer patients a day. Scheduling in the practice is quite rigid, emergencies come in... Even though medical clarification is very important, physiotherapy is the perfect accompaniment after an operation." According to the vet, it is particularly important if there was pain before the operation, since the dog may have adopted a protective posture, which could result in putting less weight on the relevant leg, hip and so on after the operation. This can lead to malpositions, tension and a slower recovery.
So is physiotherapy only recommended after surgery?
No, says therapist Volkmann. "It may also be a good idea to take your dog to a physiotherapy practice as a preventative measure. There we look at the pet’s gait pattern among other things. We often hear ‘He's always walked like that.’ But even if a dog has always walked a bit strangely, it is worth consulting us. A lot can often be improved with targeted exercises and manual therapy." This also applies to specific breed predispositions, she adds.
This is why Hovawart Ketan, for example, is also a patient at the practice. Being a large breed, his hips and other joints are particularly susceptible. That's why he comes for hydrotherapy – on the underwater treadmill. Here, Lea Volkmann and her colleague Susann Schauerte monitor Ketan to make sure he is walking correctly. They make sure that he distributes his weight evenly, doesn’t "shuffle" and that he lifts his paws correctly. This strengthens the muscles and ensures that he walks more evenly and steadier in everyday life, thus preventing pain – also in the long term.
Finding the right practice
The challenge when looking for a suitable physiotherapy practice is determining whether they are experts since the job title is not officially regulated. "I think basic medical knowledge is very important," says vet Rohloff. "I've already had cases where a physiotherapist with medical background knowledge asked me to reconfirm what her colleague or another vet had said." According to Rohloff, that is another important point: cooperation between the vet and physiotherapist. "If we don't see ourselves as competitors, the treatment is more effective, that is, when we work together," she adds. The physiotherapist echoes this sentiment: "Cooperation with the veterinary practice is very important. I can refer to someone there who will take my expertise seriously and, if necessary, discuss further treatment with me.”
We asked the physiotherapist about other characteristics of serious and well-founded physiotherapy.
Volkmann’s answers:
- An extensive anamnesis consultation at the beginning. The patient is assessed and the gait pattern is examined. After operations, bringing X-rays to the appointment is a good idea.
- The patient should be thoroughly checked before subsequent appointments. For example, before entering the water, but also for other treatments.
- Knowledge of manual therapy is also important because aids such as lasers and the like are just that – aids. They should always be accompanied by manual therapy.
- Homework. This is an important part of physiotherapy because it involves the owner and ensures that the training program is carried out regularly.
