Cats and dogs benefit from physiotherapy at Oak Tree Vets

Pets suffering from arthritis,
recovering from surgery, or which are suffering mobility problems or
neurological conditions, can now benefit from physiotherapy sessions at Oak
Tree Vets in Queensferry Road.

After six years working in the NHS as a human physiotherapist, Rachel Graham has added a post-graduate diploma in veterinary physiotherapy to her qualifications.

She spends every Friday at Oak
Tree, helping in the rehabilitation and general wellbeing of cats, dogs and
even rabbits that can benefit from physiotherapy.

Oak Tree also has a hydrotherapy
pool alongside an underwater treadmill, where dogs can have controlled exercise
in warm water that helps with rehabilitation and a range of other conditions.

Rachel said: “Physiotherapy has
been around for a long time, but it is now becoming increasingly popular to
treat pets. What we can do for humans, we can also do for pets. We treat a wide
variety of cases, whether it is arthritis in elderly cats and dogs, or patients
undergoing rehabilitation following surgery or an injury.

“As well as dogs, cats can
benefit from physiotherapy – even cows, sheep and rabbits.

“I assess the patient and then
devise a treatment plan, which can also include hydrotherapy and laser therapy.
There’s a range of strengthening and stretching exercises we incorporate into
the programme and we also use poles, cones and balance cushions.

“We teach owners how to help
their pets at home and advise on lifestyle management.”

The practice also takes referral
cases from other Scottish veterinary practices, who take advantage of their
physiotherapy service and hydrotherapy facilities.

Rachel worked as a human
physiotherapist for six years after graduating from Robert Gordon University in
Aberdeen. She then completed a post graduate diploma in veterinary
physiotherapy at Hartpury University in Gloucestershire earlier this summer. She
is a member of the Association of Chartered
Physiotherapists in Animal Therapy (ACPAT).

Rachel
added: “Experience working in the human field allows us to have developed a
wide range of specialist skills that are transferable to animals and therefore
provide detailed assessment and individually tailored treatment plans to each
animals condition at every stage.”