Our Services

Equine Consultation

Canine Consultation

Dobbins Veterinary Physiotherapy provides a professional mobile assessment and treatment service that caters to all canine disciplines. From family pet dogs to elite racing greyhounds, all dogs can benefit from routine physiotherapy. Much like humans, dogs often struggle with various conditions throughout their different stages in life. The main aims of veterinary physiotherapy is to reduce pain, re-educate gait, restore mobility, accelerate healing and improve performance to return dogs to their optimal function. 

Some puppies go through developmental issues such as panosteitis, hip and elbow dysplasia and dislocating patella before they are even fully grown. Additionally, puppies will often require support to aid coordination, muscle strengthening and balance whilst they are still developing. Older dogs will often develop conditions such as osteoarthritis, pain, stiffness and sometimes neurological deficits as they get older. Subsequently this reduces their capabilities and limits daily activities such as walking, stairs and lifting a leg to the toilet. 

Dobbins Veterinary Physiotherapy is equipped to handle all of these conditions in canine clients. Guy will provide informative guidance to you as an owner and communicate effectively with professional strategies to improve your dogs rehabilitation.  

Dogs are susceptible to injury at any stage in their life, it is not uncommon for dogs to injure themselves from slips, accidents and strains during daily exercise. As an owner it is important to monitor any changes in your dog so that they can be investigated correctly by a professional. Any undiagnosed or untreated injuries that are left without the appropriate rehabilitation could develop into more serious problems. In contrast, dogs also require post-surgery physiotherapy to reduce recovery time and enhance the healing process after an injury. 

Signs that indicate your dog may require physiotherapy:

• Lameness

• Abnormal posture 

• Stiffness (mornings and after exercise)

• Weight shifting 

• Inflammation 

• Pain

• Reduced function of hindlegs 

• Recent injury/ surgery 

• Shortened stride length 

• Sitting crooked or one sided 

• Reduced performance or willingness to exercise

• Reluctance to walk, go up stairs, get in the car or play with other dogs

• Sensitivity 

• Overweight 

• Weakness

Dobbins Veterinary Physiotherapy uses a variety of techniques to treat areas of pain, tension and injury. With each appointment a detailed remedial exercise plan is also prescribed to improve gait, muscle strength and posture.  All working dogs such as hunting, safety and flyball dogs would benefit from frequent physiotherapy to ensure they are pain free and working at their optimal function. Additionally, older dogs and puppies would also benefit from frequent management to aid development and/ or rehabilitation. 

As an owner, it is good practice to book routine physiotherapy sessions for your dog. Routine checks enable early detection of any problem areas, this allows your dog to remain pain free and performing to its optimum ability.

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Canine conditions that can benefit from physiotherapy:

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• Patella luxations

• Acute or chronic wounds 

• Cruciate ligament injuries

• Lameness 

• Gait abnormalities 

• Osteoarthritis 

• Wound healing 

• Weight loss programmes 

• Soft tissue injuries (muscles, tendons and ligaments)

• Post-surgical rehabilitation 

• Neurological conditions 

Even if your dog is not presenting any symptoms or clinical signs, it is good practice to book frequent physiotherapy sessions on a routine basis. Routine checks enable early detection of any problem areas, this allows your dog to remain pain free and performing to its optimum ability.