Companion Animals

Companion Dog Advanced Physiotherapy Welfare

Veterinary physiotherapy improves welfare outcomes for dogs with musculoskeletal conditions through targeted rehabilitation.

Key Facts

Physiotherapy reduces pain and improves function after orthopaedic surgery in dogs
Therapeutic exercise, hydrotherapy, and manual therapy form the physiotherapy toolkit
Qualified veterinary physiotherapists have specific training in canine rehabilitation
Post-surgical physiotherapy reduces complication rates and improves long-term outcomes

Welfare Considerations

Dogs with orthopaedic conditions not receiving physiotherapy have inferior pain and function outcomes compared to those receiving comprehensive rehabilitation. Access to qualified physiotherapy improves welfare significantly. Referring dogs for specialist rehabilitation after orthopaedic surgery should be standard welfare practice.

What You Can Do

Request physiotherapy referral after your dog's orthopaedic surgery
Seek a veterinary physiotherapy qualification when choosing a rehabilitation practitioner
Maintain home physiotherapy exercise programmes between clinical sessions