Physiotherapy and rehabilitation

A dog recovering from knee surgery, one that's had a bad fall, or one with an orthopaedic or neurological condition needs to get its function back and stay mobile, with less pain. That's what veterinary physiotherapy works on. It's built on a medical assessment and a plan made for your dog. A set of exercises pulled off the internet and used the same way on every dog isn't physio.

The assessment can cover gait, posture, range of motion, muscle mass, how much weight the dog puts on each leg, pain and how well it manages everyday activities. Goals might be walking comfortably again, climbing stairs under control, stopping muscle loss or easing back into sport.

The plan can mix active exercises, mobilisations and manual techniques with equipment or changes around the house. At home you might be told to put down non-slip mats and ramps, cut back on stairs and keep walks short, plus do specific exercises. Stick to the number of reps you've been given. More isn't better, and a dog that does double can end up worse.

Keep an eye on pain and tiredness. Watch for compensation too, meaning the dog shifting its weight onto other legs to ease the pain. If it moves worse after the exercises, refuses to do them or shows new signs, the plan gets reviewed. Rehab is a team effort: the vet, the rehab specialist, you and, where it applies, the trainer or sports coach.

Physio is most useful for dogs after surgery or injury, dogs with mobility conditions, and older dogs that are losing mobility, when the vet recommends it.

Exercises found online or copied from another dog can be wrong for yours, even if the diagnosis looks similar.

It all starts with a referral or a diagnosis from the vet. The specialist then looks at how the dog walks, where it hurts and how far its joints can move.

Next comes a plan with goals and carefully dosed exercises. The home programme is adjusted at every review.

Watch the dog, not just the exercise sheet. If it refuses a movement, leans on its other legs, is sore to the touch or is wiped out after a session, tell the specialist.

Bring the medical records and imaging, meaning X-rays or other scans, plus the list of medication. Set up a non-slip surface at home. Keep a log of how the dog responds to the exercises.

Look for someone trained in veterinary rehabilitation who gives you goals you can measure and stays in touch with your vet. The space and equipment are clean, and the dog is handled calmly, with breaks.

Training helps you get the dog's cooperation and movements it does willingly. Choosing the exercises is the rehab specialist's call, though, not the trainer's.

This is medical or specialist rehabilitation work. The plan only changes after a review by someone qualified. The risks to talk about are making the injury worse, falls, exercises done wrong and pushing progress too fast.