1Animal Therapy Magazine | ISSUE 14ISSUE 14M A G A Z I N EAnimalerapyISSUE 14M A G A Z I N EAnimalerapyDistrict Veterinary NursingWe nd out moreEquestrian TrainingLevi Hunt talks square pegs and round holes!FireworksHow to help your pet keep calmPhysiotherapyFrom Surgery to Championship AgilityOsteopathy Within Europe
2Animal Therapy Magazine | ISSUE 14This unit is ideal for animal therapy where the unit can be powered by battery whilst in its carry bag, and be protected from the elements. Call for latest offersAnimal Therapy Productstrimbio offers a vast range of products all at very competitive prices Mobile Ultrasound with Battery & Carry BagLaser & Light Therapy From £295.00+vatWe also offer a range of Reconditioned Devices including Ultrasound, Laser, Doppler and more for Veterinary use, please visit our website for more details. 01403 597597 www.trimbio.co.uk sales@trimbio.co.uk New Digital H-WaveBio - Mag (Magnetic Therapy)Vetkin-Tape® Kinesiology Tape Vetkin-Tape® is a tape that sticks well and gives maximum results for animals as it is 20% larger than human tapes, comes in 3 sizes and starts at £6.25+vat per roll.Plus much more…..This unit is ideal for animal therapy where the unit can be powered by battery whilst in its carry bag, and be protected from the elements. Call for latest offersAnimal Therapy Productstrimbio offers a vast range of products all at very competitive prices Mobile Ultrasound with Battery & Carry BagLaser & Light Therapy From £295.00+vatWe also offer a range of Reconditioned Devices including Ultrasound, Laser, Doppler and more for Veterinary use, please visit our website for more details. 01403 597597 www.trimbio.co.uk sales@trimbio.co.uk New Digital H-WaveBio - Mag (Magnetic Therapy)Vetkin-Tape® Kinesiology Tape Vetkin-Tape® is a tape that sticks well and gives maximum results for animals as it is 20% larger than human tapes, comes in 3 sizes and starts at £6.25+vat per roll.Plus much more…..
3Animal Therapy Magazine | ISSUE 14GET IN TOUCH: Hannah Ashton – Editorhannah@animaltherapymedia.co.uk Georgia Keegan – Editorgeorgia@animaltherapymedia.co.uk Beth Lorraine - Sales Manager info@animaltherapymedia.co.uk Donna Boddie - Sales Manager donna@animaltherapymedia.co.ukLevi's Blog _________6Noel Fitzpatrick _____8Fireworks - Keep Calm ________ 10The Horseback Vet _12Kate Mallatratt: The nose that knows ___________16Joint Supplements _21Tony Nevin: Animal Osteopathy within Europe ___________23SPATEX 2019 _____26Alan Gardner:From Surgery to Championship Agility ___________28Carla Finzel: District Veterinary Nurse ___ 34Pressure Vests _____38WEBCON 2018 ____41Greek Odyssey ____45Louise Robson: From Racehorse to Dressage Horse ____ 46Sherry's Blog ______50M A G A Z I N EAnimalerapyWelcome! Welcome to issue 14. As the nights draw in, the weather gets colder and the desire to get out and about is less appealing, we hope our magazine keeps you informed and motivated to keep your animals t, healthy and happy.Whilst our online readership is booming, don't forget, you can get a hard copy sent out to you so you can read with a hot cuppa and nger through the pages. If you're like us, we love the feel of a hard copy. Visit our website and use the 'Magazine Subscription' tab to access the options. www.animaltherapymedia.co.uk/magazine-subscriptionAs always, our writers have excelled themselves. When we launched the magazine over 3 years ago, we had a few people question whether we would have enough content to keep our readers engaged. To date, we have never struggled with articles and bringing new stories, topics and products to the forefront, and we sincerely hope you, our readers, agree.With the January blues oen setting in aer the festivities, we have taken the decision to move the release of issue 15 to February. is will give everyone the chance to warm up for a brilliant 2019. We will inform you closer to the time of a conrmed release date.It feels a little early, but, we wish all our readers, writers and advertisers and very Happy Christmas and a Merry New Year and as ever, we hope you enjoy this issue.from all at Team Animal erapy MediaISSUE 14Issued QuarterlyCONTENTSwww.animaltherapymedia.co.ukWhile every eort has been made to ensure that information is correct at the time of going to print, Animal Therapy Media Ltd cannot be held responsible for the outcome of any action or decision based on the information contained in this publication/website. The publishers or authors do not give any warranty for the completeness or accuracy for this publication’s content, explanation or opinion. No part of this publication and/or website may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form without prior written permission of Animal Therapy Media Ltd and/or the authors of the articles within. Permission is only deemed valid if approval is in writing.Front cover photo: Tony NevinThis unit is ideal for animal therapy where the unit can be powered by battery whilst in its carry bag, and be protected from the elements. Call for latest offersAnimal Therapy Productstrimbio offers a vast range of products all at very competitive prices Mobile Ultrasound with Battery & Carry BagLaser & Light Therapy From £295.00+vatWe also offer a range of Reconditioned Devices including Ultrasound, Laser, Doppler and more for Veterinary use, please visit our website for more details. 01403 597597 www.trimbio.co.uk sales@trimbio.co.uk New Digital H-WaveBio - Mag (Magnetic Therapy)Vetkin-Tape® Kinesiology Tape Vetkin-Tape® is a tape that sticks well and gives maximum results for animals as it is 20% larger than human tapes, comes in 3 sizes and starts at £6.25+vat per roll.Plus much more…..This unit is ideal for animal therapy where the unit can be powered by battery whilst in its carry bag, and be protected from the elements. Call for latest offersAnimal Therapy Productstrimbio offers a vast range of products all at very competitive prices Mobile Ultrasound with Battery & Carry BagLaser & Light Therapy From £295.00+vatWe also offer a range of Reconditioned Devices including Ultrasound, Laser, Doppler and more for Veterinary use, please visit our website for more details. 01403 597597 www.trimbio.co.uk sales@trimbio.co.uk New Digital H-WaveBio - Mag (Magnetic Therapy)Vetkin-Tape® Kinesiology Tape Vetkin-Tape® is a tape that sticks well and gives maximum results for animals as it is 20% larger than human tapes, comes in 3 sizes and starts at £6.25+vat per roll.Plus much more…..
4Animal Therapy Magazine | ISSUE 14Leucillin is a Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) based antiseptic solution and is one on the highestperforming formulations of stable Hypochlorous, it is skin pH neutral at 5.5 - 6.0 pH.Leucillin achieves a class leading 99.99999% (Log7) or maximum measurable reduction in bacteria.HOCl is actually a natural occurring chemical, produced in the mammalian body byLeukocytes or Neutrophils to fight infection caused by invading microorganisms orpathogens (bacterial, viral and fungal.)Leucillin is a fast, effective, versatile and safe, results driven alternative to other causticantiseptics. Hypochlorous is the future of topical antiseptic care, without any of theconstraints of other toxic and potentially harmful alternatives.fast acting HOCl formula kills germs that can cause infectionsoothing & calming itchy skin, sore paws effective allergy skincareminor cuts, grazes & post surgical sitesweepy eyes & irritated ears dry, flakey or smelly skin skinfold cleansing for brachycephalic breedscleans & freshens the coat of smelly skin sufferers100% safe on all skin typesfor all mammals, birds & reptileswww.leucillin.co.ukAnimal SkincarePowerful, Results Driven Topical Antiseptic fast, effective,versatile and safeCall us today to find out more about Leucillin Animal Skincare, order direct or from one of our Veterinary WholesalersFP_Oct18:Layout 1 10/10/2018 13:00 Page 1
5Animal Therapy Magazine | ISSUE 14LEUCILLIN were delighted to act as sponsors for the RVC Animal Care Trusts First Aid Courses run this autumn and to have the opportunity to meet and present Leucillin to pet owners at events held on September 22nd at the RVC Queen Mother Hospital for Animals and November 17th, RVC Beaumont Sainsbury Animal Hospital, providing every attendee with a bottle to take home. Many animal owners would like to know more about how to help their pet if it suddenly became sick or injured. e RVC’s charity, the Animal Care Trust (ACT) has been running rst aid events for owners for a number of years. With input from the RVC’s experienced team of nurses and clinicians, the events provide practical advice on what to do in crisis situations to give pets the best possible chance of recovery from injury or sudden illness.e events provide a learning environment that is fun and interactive covering a wide range of emergency situations with a chance to speak to a team of experts to seek advice. By popular demand, RVC pet rst aid kits are available to purchase at these events.‘Getting in contact with your veterinary practice is key when you’re faced with an emergency involving your pet, but this rst aid event will help you understand what to do before professional help is available. I’m looking forward to helping you feel more condent should the worst happen. ’Karen Humm, Senior Lecturer in Emergency and Critical Care, who spoke at the First Aid event on Sept 22nd.‘We are extremely grateful to Leucillin for supporting these events which help us to provide an essential service for pet owners and at the same time raise vital funds for the specialist care provided by the RVC’s hospitals. We have been overwhelmed by the response to our rst aid events this autumn and more events are planned to accommodate more enthusiastic pet owners. Please contact us if you would like to hear more about supporting the ACT.’ Jenny Collins, ACT Corporate and Trusts Fundraiser.Leucillin is the best insurance for all those just-in-case scenarios, it is an eective, reliable rst aid, sanitizing and management tool. An incredibly versatile and easy to use solution, Leucillin’s gentle formula can also be used as an everyday cleanser for ears, eyes and skin folds. It eectively calms the symptoms of allergy suerers, eradicating infection caused by itching and scratching.Leucillin works by cleverly mimicking the body’s own defence mechanisms, replicating the naturally occurring chemical in the mammalian body, produced by the white blood cells to ght infection caused by invading germs. Leucillin has a proven unbeatable ecacy of 99.99999%, whilst being totally safe. Leucillin kills pathogens that can cause infection and impede healing, providing pet owners with a user-friendly solution that is safe for all members of the family to use and care for their pet. Starting at only £4.99 for Leucillin’s handy 50ml dropper which ts neatly into any handbag or jacket pocket, any animal owner needn’t leave home without this essential rst aid tool.Further information about the RVC First Aid events and all fundraising initiatives can be found on our website www.rvc.ac.uk/actFurther information:www.facebook.com/rvcacte: info@leucillin.co.ukt: 0345 548 9800w: www.leucillin.co.ukfb: www.facebook.com/leucillininst: Leucillin_skincareRVC First Aid CoursesLeucillin Animal Skincare Sponsor e RVC Animal Care Trust’s First Aid Courses for Dog and Cat Owners.
6Animal Therapy Magazine | ISSUE 14WOULD you ask your grandfather to run the London Marathon at Mo Farah speed? Would you expect a tortoise to keep up with a cheetah, or rhino to complete an agility course? I suspect not!Over the years I have been presented with so many dierent shapes and sizes of horse (and riders) and I have learnt to appreciate what the animals capability is from a conformational and athletic point of view. Ignoring this will cause issues in later life.Horses can’t say ‘ouch’, ‘I can’t bend that way’ or ‘I’m going as fast as I can, so we must be prepared to listen to them and understand. You, yes, you are the trainer of your horse, not just the scary person in the middle of the arena making you red faced and are ultimately responsible for their welfare (and vet bills)! Whatever level or discipline you ride at, please, rst and foremost, learn to read your horses’ body language and facial expression to see if they can cope with the work you are asking of them.Most sports and even leisure riding requires a good amount of tness and strength. It is so easy to loose empathy and ‘kick on’ with a horse who is breathing heavy with a thick winter coat and a stomach that resembles a pregnant hippo. We have a duty to make sure our horses are at the correct tness level for the job we require. If you can’t run round the outside of a school, why should they?We then have to think about other factors, conformation being a huge one. I see all too often a rider with a horse that is built to pull a 30 tonne Guinness wagon asking them to become an agile show jumper, or a horse built for steep hill terrain asking them to move like a long limbed purpose built dressage horse.Ambition is a wonderful thing and I don’t want to quash anyone dreams, but be realistic. Horses can turn their hoof to almost any sport but WITHIN REASON. Being aware of the horses capable limits will give you harmony until that limit, try and push them over and you may feel the wheels fall o and you loose the quality you had before.Experienced trainers will always guide you to a realistic goal and an honest trainer will tell you if your ambitions are fair or above and beyond the horse.An analogy I use (I use too many on a daily basis) is: You wouldn’t buy a transit van and expect it to win the Monaco Grand Prix. In return, you also wouldn’t buy a Maclaren F1 car to do a tip run!Happy training everyone.Levi’s BlogSquare pegs and round holes!Levi Hunt - Grand Prix International Rider for Great Britain, British Dressage Young Professional of the year 2016, Regional British Dressage Team Trainer, UKCC3 CoachLEVI HUNT
7Animal Therapy Magazine | ISSUE 14Animal wound protection Does your pet hate the ‘cone of shame’? Try the DogEase bamboo medical pet suit alternativeDogEase is a wearable suit and leg sleeve made from super-soft bamboo fabric and is an alternative to the hard plastic buster collar.DogEase creates a fabric barrier to help stop pets from licking or biting stitches. The bamboo fabric has many natural properties as follows:• Breathable• Has 4-way stretch• Anti-bacterial• Anti-fungal• Hypoallergenic• Thermal qualitiesDogEase is open at the back to reduce the need for removal when toileting which helps to not agitate the wound. You simply cut a hole out for the boys underneath; the bamboo material does not fray. The suits and leg sleeves have no heavy, noisy or ddly fasteners and the snug t helps to keep animals calm. DogEase can help with skin issues and the suits have been used on dogs, cats and rabbits. The suits come in 6 sizes XS-XXL and the leg sleeves, which are on release in December 2018, come in 4 sizes XS, S, M/L, XL/XXL.DogEase has been designed to oer our pets comfort after surgery.lisa@dogeaseuk.com www.dogeaseuk.comNo FasteningsSuper Soft Bamboo FabricWashableShort-legSuitLongSleeve
8Animal Therapy Magazine | ISSUE 147-8 June 2019 | Loseley Park, SurreyVETERINARY EDUCATION TOMORROWThe ONLY outdoor CPD event – breaking the mould of veterinary educationBook now: www.vetfestival.co.ukINSPIRING CPDLEADING BRANDS REFRESHINGLY DIFFERENTLIVE MUSICWORLD-CLASS SPEAKERSWELLBEING15% OFFbook before 31st Jan 2019Professor Noel Fitzpatrick Keynote Lecture at ACVS 2018MANAGING Director of Fitzpatrick Referrals, Professor Noel Fitzpatrick (MVB DUniv CertVR DSAS(Orth) DrS(hon) ACVSMR ECVSMR MRCVS) attended the American College of Veterinary Surgeons Surgery Summit (ACVS) in October to present the Keynote Lecture for the rst time in his 25 year career. Noel’s keynote presentation “Revolution or Evolution? Ethics & Engineering of Bionic Biology” distils his 25 years of experience and innovation in musculo-neuro-skeletal pathology, outlining our choices going forwards in the eld of neuro-orthopaedic surgery with regard to rehabilitation, regenerative medicine, medical management, and surgical intervention using an integrated balanced approach for both the patient and the client. Noel also focussed on the importance of ethics, evidence, and ecacy as they pertain to rehabilitation, regenerative medicine modalities, surgical or medical intervention for diseases of the axial and appendicular skeleton as well as the decision making process to operate, rehabilitate, or both with reference to etiopathogenesis and prognostication for various interventions, with the aim of providing functional pain-free quality of life.The lecture marks a rst for Noel, who said: “For over twenty years I have been attending ACVS, as a delegate and as a speaker, and I recognise the signicance of this moment for myself personally and professionally. I shall be taking a tour from basic to advanced neuro-orthopaedic techniques in the context of the IDEAL framework – idea, development, exploration, assessment and long-term study as indicated for innovation in similar aspects of human surgery. This subject is very close to my heart, as I believe veterinary medicine needs to constantly revaluate our modes of thinking towards ethics and engineering as we head toward the future of bionic biology. “When I lectured in America in the 90s it was the very rst time I had used a laptop, having only had access to slide carousels to that point. American audiences accepted me into their community since then and I’m deeply grateful. This lecture is the biggest event of my career to date and I am hugely honoured to be asked to share my perspective on the vitally important issues of ethics and engineering as we try to inspire the next generation of veterinary professionals.“I believe that we are at a crossroads in veterinary medicine. For the very rst time in over 200 years of divergence of human and animal medicine, veterinary medical techniques can be the same as those available for humans, if we so-choose. Furthermore, modern diagnostic tests allow us to interrogate the skeleton and metabolic functions to the extent that I feel we must begin to question why human medicine needs to sacrice animal lives as the dened end-point for most drug and implant experimental studies. I believe that the time has come for meaningful dialogue between regulatory bodies and the vet and human medical professions regarding whether an ethically and morally robust framework can be constructed for deployment of new drugs and implants in clinical patients, both animal and human, more rapidly and in a more safety-conscious fashion than ever before. I believe societal support for animal testing is dwindling and that both the human and veterinary medical professions are increasingly recognising that guidelines for co-operation on a common platform of One Medicine warrants exploration. “Human medical techniques and implants are advancing quickly and they usually use an animal experimental model on which to test ecacy and safety. We have a clear choice whether we allow denitive and rapid progress in companion animals or we block that progress because we consider operating with advanced new generation implants on a canine patient less ethical than operating on an experimental dog. Of course we have a fundamental responsibility for the families of these animals practically, legally, morally, ethically and nancially. Techniques will progress anyway and as a profession we can lead or follow, the choice is ours. We need to decide whether we as a profession wish to withhold choice of certain implants for companion animals, whilst human medicine progresses, having already tested similar techniques on experimental animals. “I will reect on the ethics of deployment of commercially available and patient specic custom implants. There is considerable debate at the highest levels of our profession whether clinical veterinary practice is pushing too far, and meanwhile I wonder if we are critically examining outcomes of new devices which are ubiquitously embraced and implanted in both specialist and non-specialist practice, and whether we are examining value for money and discussing all of the options all of the time for clients.” For more information about Professor Noel Fitzpatrick and Fitzpatrick Referrals, please visit: www.noeltzpatrick.vet and www.tzpatrickreferrals.co.ukNOEL FITZPATRICK LISTENING TO THE ANIMALSIn this inspiring, uplifting and heart-warming memoir, world-renowned veterinary surgeon Professor Noel Fitzpatrick explores his journey to becoming The Supervet.As heart-warming and life-arming as the TV show with which he made his name, Listening to the Animals is a story of love, hope and compassion, and about rejoicing in the bond between humans and animals that make us the very best we can be.Available online and in book shops.
9Animal Therapy Magazine | ISSUE 147-8 June 2019 | Loseley Park, SurreyVETERINARY EDUCATION TOMORROWThe ONLY outdoor CPD event – breaking the mould of veterinary educationBook now: www.vetfestival.co.ukINSPIRING CPDLEADING BRANDS REFRESHINGLY DIFFERENTLIVE MUSICWORLD-CLASS SPEAKERSWELLBEING15% OFFbook before 31st Jan 2019
10Animal Therapy Magazine | ISSUE 14WHEN reworks are let o sporadically, stress and anxiety can become common amongst cats and dogs. This can continue from October to the New Year and can be an agonising time for pets, as well as their owners. For a pet aected by loud noises, the reworks season can be a terrifying time. Common signs that your cat or dog may be stressed include:• Increased vocalisation• Shaking• Aggression• Isolation• Hiding under furniture• Reduced appetite• Ears pinned back• Panting• Tail lowered or tuckedSTRESS AND ANXIETYTop tips to keep pets calm during reworks As a pet owner it’s never nice to see your four-legged friend anxious or stressed. There are, however some positive things that can be done to help keep your pets calm before and during the loud bangs, which include:Provide a den This can be an enclosed ‘safe place’ for your pet to hide. Cover the top and all sides of a crate, table or cupboard near the centre of the home, or where they have previously hidden. Make it comfortable. You can even add a jumper or t-shirt of yours that will smell familiar to them. Let them come and go as they please.Stay calm During the reworks stay calm yourself and don’t react to any reworks that go o, as your pet will react to your stress. Try not to worry and don’t get angry with your pet or over fuss them, just reassure them gently and be as normal and routine as possible.Keep pets indoors To prevent extra stress and anxiety for pets, keep them indoors during the reworks. For cats who like to go outdoors, make sure you place plenty of litter trays around the house, especially by the usual exit points. In multiple cat homes, make sure you have one for each cat. Make sure your dog has had an opportunity to go to the toilet outside well before it gets dark and then keep them inside.Take your dog for walks in the day Burn extra energy by taking your dog on longer walks during the day. Avoid walking them at night when reworks are being set o, try morning or afternoon walks.Mask the sound of reworks Try and mask the sound of reworks by putting the TV on or playing some music, especially if animals are left home alone. You could also mue the sound of the reworks by closing any open windows and the curtains.Distractions Provide your dog or cat with plenty of toys to distract them from the loud noises. Ignore the reworks yourself and play with them, but don’t force them to.Stick to your routine Maintain your routine and try to keep all other routines as normal as possible, such as feeding times. This will help to reduce any stress for your pet.Prepare in advance Prepare for next year with advice from your vet or a behaviourist. Consider using nutracalm, which is specically formulated by vets to naturally calm anxious pets and to help reduce unwanted or unruly behaviour.If you are worried about your pet during this time, speak to your vet who is best placed to oer advice with regards to your pet’s health needs.
11Animal Therapy Magazine | ISSUE 14www.nutravet.co.ukFind your local stockist atSupport British manufacturingnutracalm is specially formulated to aid stressed and anxious pets fast, without any sedative effect.✓ Helps reduce stress & anxiety✓ Calms behaviour✓ Fast acting (within 2 hours)✓ High strength✓ For dogs, cats & horses✓ Easy administrationnutracalm is available exclusively from veterinary practices where you can purchase over the counter without a prescription, even if your pet is not registered at the practice.Ask your vet for more information or find your local authorised stockist at www.nutravet.co.ukDon’t let the fireworks cause stress & anxietyCalm pets within two hoursfor dogs, cats & horses
12Animal Therapy Magazine | ISSUE 14e Horseback VetEquine CareROB JACKSON BVetMed, MRCVS qualied from the Royal Veterinary College, London in 1996 with a nal year elective project in the pharmacology of equine acute laminitis. Whilst a student he competed for both the University of London Riding team and the Polo team, was a member of the Royal Veterinary College Riding Team for a record ve consecutive wins at the Association of Veterinary Students annual Riding competition, and competed overseas with the International Association of Student Riders. His rst veterinary role was in a mixed practice in Surrey where he set up a new equine intensive care facility and learned the rudiments of equine physical manipulation. After 18 months he moved to the equine department of a large practice in Somerset and was a founder member of the South West Equine Medicine Discussion Group. He later trained in equine arthroscopic joint surgery and fracture repair and became both the chief surgeon at his own practice, and a British Equestrian Team vet attending multiple international championships including the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky, 2010. Over the years he has competed in eventing, dressage, show jumping and showing; he has also jousted at several castles, holds the British Driving Society stage 4 professional coachman qualication and is an associate lecturer in Equine Sports Medicine for the University of Chichester. He is Equine Veterinary Advisor to the National Trust. Since 2015 Rob has been a director of The Horseback Vet, an international equine skeletal mobilisation service, geared towards promoting freedom of skeletal movement.12 Animal Therapy Magazine | ISSUE 14
13Animal Therapy Magazine | ISSUE 14 13HORSES are horses. Barring breed discrepancies (and, in the grand scheme of things, all of those are pretty minor – even the Arabian ones), all of our horses and ponies have exactly the same basic structure and functions. eir skeletons are all virtually identical, with the same muscles and tendons exerting movement forces on the same joints, which in turn are stabilised by exactly the same ligaments. e blood supplies feeding all the living tissues are all essentially the same in every animal as, basically, are all the nerves. e uses we put our horses to are, of course, very varied; as too are the situations in which we keep them; and their level of tness is one of the greatest – and yet tragically least recognised – variable of all.And so to the movement of healthy, uninjured horses: breed (and breeding), size, conformation, skeletal maturity, training, foot balance, shoeing, saddle and tack/harness, the level of physical therapy support, nutrition, rider’s weight/balance/skill level, weight and balance of carriage/cart/implement being drawn, etc, etc, etc all come to the fore and can produce huge variations in the way horses move. If you add ill-health or injuries into this mix then movement can be massively impacted – or, sometimes, very subtly.As vets we are taught to recognise, diagnose and treat illnesses and injuries. Some of these are very straightforward, whilst others are complicated, multi-factorial, and dicult to diagnose and/or successfully address. In between these two extremes is a whole spectrum of pathologies that can cause any given horse, any given problem in any given situation.But let us leave pathology to one side for the moment and concentrate instead on the movement of the healthy, non-injured horse. Picture an adult horse with established form in whichever discipline you choose; the horse is as t as it ever has been, it is ridden by the same (reasonably skilled, competent and balanced) rider of unremarkable body weight. e yard is managed well, with sensible nutrition choices and enjoys a good support team in terms of foot care, physical therapy, saddle-tting, dentistry, veterinary care, etc. e combination has regular good-quality training and the horse is worked on a variety of surfaces and even does little bits of cross-training exercise, outside of whatever its discipline would usually be concentrating upon. Essentially, we’re talking about a really pretty good situation.And yet the horse has started doing something abnormal. Perhaps it has developed a one-sidedness that has not been experienced before; perhaps jumping is causing problems in a way that hasn’t previously been seen. All of the obvious things have been checked out: there’s no detectable lameness or anything else that suggests pathology. Saddle, girth, bit, teeth, feet, nutrition, etc all check-out ne. ere may not even be anything of particular note regarding musculoskeletal palpation. Blood samples may have been taken and revealed no signicant ndings. Basically nothing has changed and everything we check appears to be ne. Perhaps it’s in the horse’s head? Certainly possible – it is, aer all, a horse...Having sensibly looked into all the most common likelihoods we do need to consider how the horse is actually moving. As mentioned, there’s no detectable lameness. Nothing that would prompt nerve-blocking. Conventional imaging, if performed, has yielded no signicant ndings. But is the horse moving freely?Horses share a lot in common with cats when it comes to their normal free movement. is isn’t crazy talk; to some extent a lot of free-moving dogs share some things in common with cats, too, but horses perhaps do so more. ere some genuine anatomical reasons why this is the case.If you watch the way their bodies move in walk horses and cats have a remarkably similar serpentine movement through their backs. Sure, it’s easier to see in a race-t, clipped thoroughbred but that same sway of the horse’s hips as the hind limbs move produces a very similar snaking motion, transferred forward through lateral bending of the thorax and ending with a (very) mobile neck balancing the movement of all the limbs and torso. e fact that it is easier to see in the sleek racehorse does not mean it is not happening in any other free-moving horse or pony (or ass or donkey). You might just have to look more closely.In trot and canter (and galloping) this movement changes dramatically, due obviously to what the limbs are doing but also, critically, the way the movement of the horse’s body shis in order to produce each gait. is is the scenario of the free-moving horse: the body and limbs working together to produce the appropriate movement for each gait, direction change, stretch, jump or whatever it might be attempting to do.So what happens when this synergy is disturbed?Horses, as everyone knows, evolved as grazing herbivores and reasonably low down in the food chain. An individual’s survival depended on being able to continue grazing (which, by denition, involves constantly moving to nd food) and on being able to run away from predators. It is unsurprising then that they’re generally pretty good at keeping moving even when things aren’t going well in terms of illness or injury. e great majority of today’s equines are masters of compensation – if something isn’t working as it should do, then they quickly nd a way of moving dierently in order not to rely on the bit that isn’t working. is is easy to see in the lame horse, that will shi its weight o the sore limb in order to keep grazing and be able to attempt to get away from danger. It might not look good – and, indeed, it may really not be good but it could allow the horse to basically keep going. Every vet, farrier, physical therapist, etc will have seen the compensatory issues which can arise from these “coping” behaviours. Horses with pathology aecting their spines, or horses with pain from a poorly tting continued overleaf
14Animal Therapy Magazine | ISSUE 14saddle, etc have to similarly adapt their movement to one degree or another in order to “keep moving”. ose adaptations may involve a change in back movement, but may also involve changes in limb movement.ere are also far more subtle reasons why horses might stop using their backs in the way they were intended to. It stands to reason that free moving backs are a product of a large collection of free-moving spinal joints; anything that aects even one of those joints has to be accounted for by the rest of the horse. Now obviously an inamed, osteo-arthritic joint would fall resoundingly into this category, as would a number of other articular or peri-articular pathologies – and we would always want to rule those out at the earliest opportunity. However, horses, like people, can suer from transient non-pathological disturbances to free-joint movement that can require just the same adaptive changes in the rest of the horse’s movement. However you choose to describe the joint that, without any imageable lesion or any other pathological process, has temporarily ceased to move freely, it still has to be adapted to by the rest of the horse’s functional anatomy in order that the horse can attempt to “keep moving”.What is apparent is that, by degrees, horses with areas of dysfunctional spine become, by degrees, more and more leg-movers.e horse world is becoming increasingly aware that “leg movers” are not able to perform to their maximal ability. Horses need to be able to use their bodies and limbs synergistically in order to deliver the full free-moving action that they are supposed to achieve. us the desired opposite of a “leg mover” is not a “body mover” (that would imply that, by degrees, the legs didn’t work properly and the horse was having to use its body to compensate: a reasonable denition of lameness!). Instead, we want to convert “leg-movers” to more cat-like free-movers.In the absence of pathology, strengthening the rest of the horse’s musculoskeletal system, whilst supporting the so tissues that take the lion’s share of the compensatory loading makes a lot of sense and is the mainstay of re-training horses towards better movement (and hopefully fewer secondary problems). Our techniques for doing this are becoming more rened, and frequently more and more successful. All those that are successful will be based (knowingly or not) on maximising the horse’s ability to approach free-movement.Currently our movement analysis techniques are enjoying rapid advances in terms of both techniques and scientic interpretation and oer exciting glimpses of how we might be able to more eectively recognise both earlier onset pathology and also the non-pathological - yet nonetheless dysfunctional - equine musculoskeletal system.e goal? Ultimately it has to be the quicker, objective recognition of deciencies of free-movement. e quicker we can recognise, and do something about these, the quicker the horse can be returned to comfortable and eective normal movement, with the minimum of time for the horse to try to compensate. You can easily argue the welfare basis in terms of minimising discomfort. But it is also likely to lead to a reduction in secondary, compensatory pathologies from degrees of chronic over-loading. Now that’s where the promotion of free-movement oers the potential for major equine welfare benet.
15Animal Therapy Magazine | ISSUE 1401672 620260 info@honeysrealdogfood.com www.honeysrealdogfood.comIf, in the course of your work, you come across any canine or feline patient where you feel diet could have a role to play in achieving optimum health, please remember Honey’s. Our Health Team (which includes vets, vet nurses, and nutritionists) is happy to provide information, advice and recipes to anyone – there is no need to be a customer. We don’t like to boast – well, actually, we do – but we probably have more expertise in-house on natural, raw, species appropriate diets than any other organisation in the UK. Obviously, we will be delighted to supply food but we will never pressure anyone to buy from us. We believe that the health and welfare of the patient comes rst. We are concerned, too, about the health and welfare of all animals. This is why we insist on using only certied organic, wild and free range meat. All our ingredients are fresh and British, by the way. We are happy to supply free sample boxes – including our prescription range – to any animal therapist. Please just introduce yourself when you contact us. We will also be happy to send you any of our books, free of charge. Finally, thank you for your support. We greatly appreciate your recommendations.Free books and reports from Honey’sHoney’s Natural Feeding Handbook for DogsAn invaluable, plain-English guide to canine health and nutrition (with a chapter on feeding cats, too).The Lucky Dog Weight Loss PlanThe quick, easy, natural way to help a dog lose weight (without feeling hungry).Raw ProofOut soon! Pre-order your copy now. The results of our independent research into raw, natural, species appropriate diets for dogs.Good MoneyThis book tells our story and explains how to launch and grow a successful ethical business.an im print of Head of Zeuswww.r eada nima .comHave you ever wondered why so many dogs seem to be suffering from weight iss ues? This excel lent lit tle book provides the answer: modern d og f ood. The author explains the effect p roce ssed dog foo d ha s on a d og's body and how, by switching to a biolog ical ly a ppropriate d iet, the weight will, lite rall y, drop off. The die t it self couldn't be simpler. You can get all th e ingredients from a butcher or supermarket and it is e asy and quick to prepare. Best of all, it wor ks. Vicky Marshall is an autho r an d co -fou nder of Honey’s Real Dog Food – a fami ly b usiness based in rural Wi ltsh ire that combines animal welfare w ith ethicall y pr oduc ed B riti sh ingredients to provide a nutritionall y ba lanc ed diet for dogs.VICKY MARSHALLYOURDOG WIL LLOVE TH ISDIET!THE LUCKY DOG WEIGHTLOSSPLANTHE LUCKY DOG WEIGHT LOSS PLAN VICKY MARSHALL£9.99also availab le in eboo knon-ficti on • petsISBN: 97817866974489781786697448THE QUICK, EASY, NATURAL WAY FOR DOGS TO LOSE WEIGHTCOMPLETE WITH MEAL PLANS AND RECIPESWHY YOU NEVER SEE A FAT WOLF
16Animal Therapy Magazine | ISSUE 14“We might notice if our coee’s been sweetened with a teaspoon of sugar; a dog can detect a teaspoon of sugar in a million gallons of water: two Olympic-sized pools full.”Alexandra Horowitz: The Inside of a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell and KnowDogs have the most amazing sense of smell. In e Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat, neurologist Dr. Oliver Sacks writes of a medical student who took recreational drugs and dreamt he was a dog. e student woke with dog-like senses including a heightened sense of smell and could identify patients by scent, smell their emotions and pinpoint places by odour. Inanimate objects took on emotions and he describes “the happy smell of water...the brave smell of a stone”. is medical student oers us a window into our dog’s world, where scent is colourful, meaningful, evokes strong emotions and relays vital information for survival. In fact a dog’s sense of e nose that knowsA dog’s breath-taking world of scentby Kate Mallatratt A Dip CBM, PPG, Canine BehaviouristA dog’s nose is his primary sense. © Bounders Dog Photographysmell is so acute that it is thought he can pinpoint individual odours. Chicken broth, for example, would smell of meat and carrots and onions and stock: each ingredient having its own specic identity.As humans relying heavily on sight it is hard to imagine scent inuencing every activity, so let’s examine how a dog’s olfactory system diers from ours and why they can perform remarkable feats using smell.The mechanics of olfactionAbout one eighth of a dog’s brain is dedicated to scent. e olfactory bulb, where information about odours is processed, is about the size of a plum in dogs, whereas in humans it is the size of a raisin. Dogs can detect odour molecules 10,000 to 100,000 times lower can we can. e olfactory epithelium contains neurons and supporting cells, and a dog has between 220 million and 2 billion olfactory neurons while we have a mere 12 to 14 million. Pigment in the olfactory areas plays a part in a dog’s scenting skills too: dogs with richer brown pigment have superior scenting ability to albino dogs who lack skin and hair pigment.e greasy smears le on the windows by your dog’s cold wet nose are due to the secretion of a thin layer of mucus covering the nose. is moisture helps to trap scent molecules more eciently, and dog may lick a dry nose to aid scenting. Dogs wiggle their nose when scenting, opening and closing the side slits. ey have sweat glands on their nose and these, combined with the respiratory turbinates (bony scrolls) within the nasal chambers that warm or cool air passing through, help maintain body temperature.Sning causes air to be taken into the nostrils and over the bony subethmoidal shelf as it travels to the scent receptors. Scent molecules dissolve and stick to protein receptor cells in the olfactory epithelium that are sensitive to particular chemicals, and this determines their ability to detect certain scents. Each neuron expresses one type of receptor, and neurons sharing identical receptors send their messages to the same part of the brain. Scent molecules travel to the olfactory bulb, to the primary olfactory cortex and to the thalamus, which transmits them to the orbitofrontal cortex for processing. Signals also travel to the amygdala, hippocampus and other areas of the brain processing emotion. It is thought that scent memory lasts for life and so, for example, when my Golden Retriever met her daughter for the rst time in ve years there was instant recognition and none of the usual sning rituals that unfamiliar dogs display.Canine Care
17Animal Therapy Magazine | ISSUE 14ideal for dogs on restricted exerciseexcellent for crate trainingcalming for anxious dogsgreat distraction from unwanted behaviourfabulous for puppy developmentstimulating for dogs with sensory impairmentperfect mental stimulation for golden oldies useful for extending reward timesrecommended by canine professionals fully washable and can be tumble driedwww.pickpocketforagers.comwww.pickpocketforagers.comWhy does my dog need aPick Pocket?EMAIL kate@PickPocketforagers.comTEL07875 951632A MUST HAVE! The PickPocket is a superb interactive feeder providing mental stimulation, especially important for dogs on restricted exercise for medical reasons. Highly recommended!Brigie Barton, chair & education oicerInternational Canine Behaviourists | www.icb.globalMy 9 month old border collie Thessie loves her PickPocket. It occupies and mentally stimulates her, and is helping to improve her nosework skills ready for competition. As a behaviourist I strongly recommend this product to all dog owners.David Svennelid, canine behaviourist & trainer Swedish Dog Academy | www.swedishdogacademy.comMy dogs love the PickPocket! They are perfect to keep noses busy, and as a veterinary nurse I can see their value for dogs on crate rest, restricted exercise or recovering from ortho-paedic surgery. With a PickPocket your dog can ‘exercise’ with his nose!NIKKI CADDICK, Registered Veterinary NurseTrained to Pawfection | www.trainedtopawfection.co.ukThe puppies in my class LOVED exploring the PickPocket – one had his evening meal in it! In my grooming salon, the PickPocket made Angel’s first puppy visit very enjoyable, and she happily foraged in the pockets while being combed.Karen Backhouse, APDT trainer & groomerGuiding Paws Training | www.guidingpaws.co.ukGift setsAre you looking for that extra special gift for your ‘bestie’? Look no further than our pawsome gift set - PickPocket and matching bandana.ideal for dogs on restricted exerciseexcellent for crate trainingcalming for anxious dogsgreat distraction from unwanted behaviourfabulous for puppy developmentstimulating for dogs with sensory impairmentperfect mental stimulation for golden oldies useful for extending reward timesrecommended by canine professionals fully washable and can be tumble driedwww.pickpocketforagers.comwww.pickpocketforagers.comWhy does my dog need aPick Pocket?EMAIL kate@PickPocketforagers.comTEL07875 951632A MUST HAVE! The PickPocket is a superb interactive feeder providing mental stimulation, especially important for dogs on restricted exercise for medical reasons. Highly recommended!Brigie Barton, chair & education oicerInternational Canine Behaviourists | www.icb.globalMy 9 month old border collie Thessie loves her PickPocket. It occupies and mentally stimulates her, and is helping to improve her nosework skills ready for competition. As a behaviourist I strongly recommend this product to all dog owners.David Svennelid, canine behaviourist & trainer Swedish Dog Academy | www.swedishdogacademy.comMy dogs love the PickPocket! They are perfect to keep noses busy, and as a veterinary nurse I can see their value for dogs on crate rest, restricted exercise or recovering from ortho-paedic surgery. With a PickPocket your dog can ‘exercise’ with his nose!NIKKI CADDICK, Registered Veterinary NurseTrained to Pawfection | www.trainedtopawfection.co.ukThe puppies in my class LOVED exploring the PickPocket – one had his evening meal in it! In my grooming salon, the PickPocket made Angel’s first puppy visit very enjoyable, and she happily foraged in the pockets while being combed.Karen Backhouse, APDT trainer & groomerGuiding Paws Training | www.guidingpaws.co.ukGift setsAre you looking for that extra special gift for your ‘bestie’? Look no further than our pawsome gift set - PickPocket and matching bandana. Tel: 07875 951632 kate@PickPocketforagers.com www.PickPocketforagers.com Fabric food foragers for your best friendFind us on FBSee our latest fabrics, watch videos of happy customers and read our training tipscontinued overleaf‘Licking’ scentAlong with most reptiles, amphibians and mammals, dogs have evolved a second olfactory system called the vomeronasal (or Jacobson’s) organ, and you may be familiar with this when you see your dog licking the air or mouth-smacking. is action is called the ehmen response and allows scent particles to be captured by the tongue, opening tiny ducts in the roof of the mouth (behind the front teeth) to allow species-specic chemicals such as sex pheromones to access the vomeronasal organ. (Non-pheromone scents such as food are recognised by the olfactory epithelium.) Search dogs are seen to lick as scent article as if to get extra information. e vomeronasal organ has its own nerves leading to the part of the brain devoted to interpreting its specic signals, and even allows dogs to smell under water. anks to the ability to draw in scent through the two tiny holes in the roof of their mouths without inhaling, dogs are able to locate scent through their open mouth when diving in water.As we have learned, a dog’s nose is his most important sense and we can even inuence his mood and wellbeing with scent however not all scents are mood-enhancing.Chemical odoursWe frequently ll our home with aromas that can negatively impact our dogs. Air fresheners, aerosol sprays and scented candles are examples of indoor pollutants that may disturb their ability to discriminate scents. Synthetic perfumes can contain toxic chemicals linked to hormone disruption, and some chemically scented ea or herbal collars are thought to adversely aect a dog’s ability to smell. Limit your dog’s exposure to strongly perfumed washing powders and conditioners when laundering dog bedding or dog coats by moving to natural chemical-free products.Moving away from toxic scents there are many others, both man-made and natural, that can positively inuence your dog’s mood.Calming scentsOdours that have a soothing eect are useful for behaviour modication. For instance one product on the market diuses comforting man-made pheromones and another uses natural oils that enhance the production of the calming neurotransmitter GABA. Some essential oils are considered toxic however others can positively aect mood and a study in the Applied Animal Behaviour Science Journal (2005) found that both lavender and chamomile reduced barking and movement in shelter dogs compared to those breathing fresh air, while peppermint and rosemary increased activity and noise1.Aside from scents that calm, nose work activities can play a crucial part in wellbeing.ForagingForaging behaviour res the seeking circuit, a reward system in the brain that drives dogs to search for food. Foraging can be a welcome distraction
18Animal Therapy Magazine | ISSUE 14Using dogs to nd missing people in the UK dates back to the battle elds of WW1 when dogs carrying rst aid kits located injured soldiers by airborne scent. In 1965 Scottish mountaineer Hamish MacInnes founded the Search and Rescue Dog Association (SARDA) based on the Swiss concept of using dogs to nd people buried in avalanches. Dogs are now used by many more organisations than SARDA, for example Lowland Recue. In Britain search dogs are used to detect deceased people both on land (cadaver dogs) and under water (drowned victim dogs) and people who are, thankfully, alive (air scent dogs). Trailing dogs can follow the path of a person several hours after their passage (scent specic trailing dogs). Search & Rescue training uses positive reinforcement and the dogs search for a person who carries their reward, usually a toy. They need a good level of obedience and to show no interest in livestock or wildlife when working at distance. Early learning pairs human scent with the reward, and a helper plays with the dog and then hides up wind whilst the dog watches, restrained by the handler. On release the dog will follow the cone of scent coming from the helper and on nding him that all-important game ensues. Soon the dogs understand the concept and search by scent alone, for them nding a missing person is just a big game of hide and seek that culminates in tremendous fun.As training advances the dogs learn to return to the handler and give a clear indication that they have found someone, and then lead the handler to the missing person, or in the case of disaster recovery dogs, stand and bark at the location of the scent. Training involves generalising their learning to new environments and developing search stamina. Dogs train twice-weekly and it typically takes two to three years to qualify. For a SARDA assessment, a dog searches four dierent 20 hectare areas over two days, each search taking approximately 90 minutes and they must locate the ‘missing’ bodies.Golden Retriever Rufus nds his ‘missing’ person aer a 10 minute training search in the Brecon Beacons and is rewarded with his favourite toy: a uy tuggy on a bungee. © Kathy DonaldsonWorking Golden Retriever trainee Search & Rescue Dog Rufus, owned by Kathy Donaldson. © Ian Roberts PhotographyCASE STUDYSearch & Rescue DogsBy Kathy Donaldson, trainee handlerEach branch of scent-work involves specialised training with a rigorous certication process before the dog is qualied for a real search because, in many instances, the information the dog provides can mean life or death for the missing person. Today there are around 150 volunteer search and rescue dogs covering the UK. Originally German Shepherds were the most popular breed, gradually being replaced by Border Collies and increasingly working Labradors and Springers. Golden Retrievers are rare, however along with my young Working Golden Retriever (WGR) Rufus, we are a trainee SARDA air scent team learning to detect live missing people. There are two other trainee WGR teams and, coincidentally, the dogs all have the same sire.Rufus is a typical WGR: boisterous and playful, but with a sensitive side. At the end of a busy day his idea of bliss is to cuddle on your lap, although at 27kg it’s a bit of a tight squeeze! He has a huge desire to please and a great appetite for work, and I’m hoping that these traits will lead us to become a successful team.OLFACTION18 Animal Therapy Magazine | ISSUE 14
19Animal Therapy Magazine | ISSUE 14from unwanted behaviour such as humping or barking, or useful for calming a puppy’s ‘mad ve minutes’. Foraging is stimulating for dogs with sensory impairment such as deafness or blindness, and nding treats hidden in a snue mat is a handy distraction while grooming. Hunting tit-bits thrown on the ground outdoors can defuse potentially challenging situations such as meeting a horse or a jogger when on a walk. (Tip: when asking your dog to nd dropped treats, tap your foot on the ground near the treats rather than point with your hand, which brings your dog’s focus downwards.) Foraging can also provide gentle weight-bearing exercise and mental stimulation for dogs who are on restricted exercise due to medical needs.Another group who can benet greatly from nose work are senior dogs.Scenting for seniorsAs their eye sight starts to fail, hearing becomes impaired and cognitive function declines, smell is the one sense that appears to remain the strongest and therefore increasingly important. Just as we might complete e Times crossword daily to keep our mental faculties sharp, introducing regular scent work for senior dogs not only helps cognitive function but can provide gentle exercise. A few highly scented tit-bits folded into a blanket or tossed in the garden for foraging, or kibble dinner served in a snue mat, can enrich their day immensely. When my 17 year old Springer lost interest in eating from his slow feeder bowl and Kong, he cherished scent games.Working dogsWith about 30% more genes devoted to olfaction than humans possess and around 40% more of the brain devoted to odours than a human’s, our dog’s powerful sense of smell has been harnessed to help people in many walks of life. Detection dogs in particular carry a heavy responsibility in saving lives: they can track criminals, nd missing persons and cadavers, detect diseases and alert owners to life-threatening medical conditions, search for drugs and indicate landmines. Some dogs are trained to nd luxury food and the Lagotto Romagnolo is specically bred to hunt ripe trues, a rare type of fungi growing underground on tree roots. Enriching lives Scent games, competition tracking and feeders involving seeking are all ways in which we can enrich our dogs’ world through scent, but perhaps one of the easiest and best ways is to allow him to sni on walks for as long as it takes to ‘read the paper’. And as we wait patiently we can only wonder at how the scent makes him feel, imagine what information he is gleaning and second-guess how the ‘braveness’ of grass covered in morning dew might smell, or the ‘happiness’ of a new shoot emerging aer a long, hard winter.RESOURCESBarth, F G et al (2003). Sensors and Sensing in Biology and Engineering. Springer-Verlag, Wien, Austria.Beaver, B V (1999). Canine Behaviour: a guide for veterinarians. W B Saunders Company, USA.Becker, K DVM (2017). Favorite Household Products you should Pitch in the Trash Today. Available from https://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2017/12/10/chemical-air-scenting-products.aspx Farrer-Brown, G Dr (2017). The Dog’s Nose. Available from https://www.medicaldetectiondogs.org.uk/the-dogs-nose-2/Gazit, I & Terkel J (19 November 2002). Explosives detection by snier dogs following strenuous physical activity. PhD dissertation, Department of Zoology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Israel. Available from http://www.appliedanimalbehaviour.com/article/S0168-1591(02)00274-5/abstractHepper, P G & Wells, D L (28 November 2005). Perinatal Olfactory Learning in the Domestic Dog. Oxford Journals, Life Sciences & Medicine, Chemical Senses, Volume 31 Issue 3. Available from http://chemse.oxfordjournals.org/content/31/3/207.full. Horowitz, A (2009 2nd edition). The Inside of a Dog – What Dogs See, Smell and Know. Simon & Schuster UK Ltd, London, UK. P72.Laurence, K (2012). Intelligent Dog Training e-Course. Course Notes. Canine On-Line Learning And Resources, Learning About Dogs Ltd, UKMcConnell, P B PhD (2007). For the Love of a Dog. Ballantine Books, Random House Publishing Group, USA.Miklósi Á, (2009). Dog Behaviour, Evolution, and Cognition. Oxford University Press, Oxford, England, UK.Reber S R, Allen R & Reber E S (2009 4th edition). Penguin Dictionary of Psychology. Penguin Group, London, England.Sacks, O (1985). The Man Who Mistook His Wife For A Hat. MacMillan Publishers, London, UK.Syrotuck, W G (200). Scent and the Scenting Dog. Barkleigh Productions, Pennsylvania, USA.Zug, G R (2 May 2008). Jacobson’s Organ. Encyclopaedia Britannica, Chicago, Illinois, USA. REFERENCES1. Graham, Wells, & Hepper (2005). The inuence of olfactory stimulation on the behavior of dogs housed in a rescue shelter. Applied Animal Behavior Science, 91(1-2), 143-153. Miniature Daschund puppy Herbie enjoys scent enrichment games with a Snue Mat and PickPocket search mat (food is hidden in the pockets), and relaxes aer foraging. © Shelley Morton
20Animal Therapy Magazine | ISSUE 14What is VitalChew?GREAT TASTE ∙ HIGH EFFECTEASY TO GIVE ∙ ACCURATE DOSAGEHEALTH FOR YOUR DOG- MADE EASY!• Customised omega-3 supplement for your dog• Extra minerals and vitamins in the same daily dosage• Easy to give and highly effective• Available in 4 variants; Puppy, Joints & Mobility, Skin & Coat, Senior The product is developed by vets and contains scientifically proven ingredients. The tablets are soft in texture and packed in blisters which retains the freshness and ensures the correct dosage. What makes VitalChew a game changer?For the making of VitalChew a special technology called the ConCordix®technology is used. This technology makes it possible to mix oil and water based ingredients into one gel tablet. It is now possible to mix vitamins, minerals and other active ingredients which give the product an increased effect. The level of the active fatty acids EPA and DHA is up to 30% higher than in traditional fish oil products. No other brands have such targeted combination of EPA, DHA vitamins and minerals. Is the quality always the same in omega-3?No and far from. A standard omega-3 product contains in total 30% of the active fatty acids EPA and DHA. VitalChew contains refined and fractioned fish oil which gives a much higher content of the active substances, up to 30 times more. NO OXIDATION ∙ NO SMELL20421_Vital_Chew_Ad_UK.indd 1 03/10/18 18:57by Kathryn Cowley BVSc MRCVS, Canine Arthritis Management
21Animal Therapy Magazine | ISSUE 14IT is inevitable in your line of work that you will be asked questions about joint supplements. Nutraceuticals are a multi-million pound business and there are thousands of dogs in the UK being given them to try and prevent or treat arthritis. Owners will often see them as a safe and natural cure all and unfortunately the marketing for many of these products reinforces this misconception.There have been many studies carried out looking into the ecacy of joint supplements but results are often inconclusive and comparison between studies reveals contradictory ndings. One of the big problems we have is that most of the studies currently available are not always of great quality – most don’t involve a large enough population of dogs and are not carried out over a long period of time. It is also important to bear in mind that regulation of the nutraceutical market is managed by the food standards agency, who are mostly concerned with food safety, composition and labelling rather than proven ecacy, meaning manufacturers do not have to prove any clinical benets of their product. Knowing where to start with recommendations for supplements, with so many available, can be dicult. We should aim to educate clients and direct them to the products that are most likely to bring about benets for their pet so their eorts and nances are not being wasted.While there is little scientic evidence that supplements as a whole have clinically meaningful eects in dogs, the individual components of the supplements have quite good evidence behind them when tested in vitro (ie experimentally in a lab) and there is certainly a host of anecdotal support for their use. One of the most popular supplements currently in use is sh oils, and for potentially good reasons. The three supplement components with the most evidence of benecial eect are omega 3 oils, Avocado-Soybean Unsaponiables (ASU) and Undenatured Type II collagen (UC-II). Of these, omega 3 is the one with the most basis for its use and this is found in high levels in cold water marine sh oils. Both omega 3 and omega 6 essential fatty acids cannot be made by the body and must be acquired through the diet. It has been shown that the omega 3 fatty acids Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), sourced primarily from cold water marine sh, are well absorbed through dietary supplementation. It is important to note that some supplements will oer omega 3 in the form of plant based alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), which is often from axseed, canola, walnut or soybean oil. ALA is not as bioavailable as marine sources of omega 3. ALA is the precursor to both DHA and EPA, but the process of converting one to the other is highly inecient in dogs. Therefore, provision of DHA and EPA directly is much preferred.Omega-3 fatty acids produce anti-inammatory, antiarrhythmic, and antithrombotic properties whereas omega-6 fatty acids are proinammatory and prothrombotic. These two dietary components compete for the same enzymatic pathway to reach these endpoints. By increasing the level of omega 3 in the diet through supplementation, less harmful inammatory mediators will be produced as a preference. Through increasing serum levels of EPA and DHA there is evidence of reduced incidence of many chronic diseases including not only arthritis but also cardiovascular disease, inammatory bowel disease (IBD) and cell proliferation in cancer.Cod liver oil capsules are cheap and widely available, and so are a tempting source of omega 3 for owners to use. Getting an appropriate dose though is dicult, especially when we consider that they also contain vitamin A, which is toxic if given in too high a level. A dog specic supplement containing whole-sh marine sourced omega 3 oil is very much preferred. ASU (Avocado-Soybean Unsaponiables) is another component of supplements with evidence behind its use. This is a plant extract comprised of one-third avocado oil and two-thirds soybean oil. ASU has been used eectively in the treatment of osteoarthritis in humans for a number of years, showing a reduction in both joint stiness and pain. New studies are emerging that show benets for our canine arthritis patients too, including early on in the disease process. It works via both anticatabolic and anabolic eects on joint cartilage by aecting a number of key mediators of structural joint changes in osteoarthritis. ASU also increases chondroprotective factors within synovial uid.Undenatured Type II collagen (UC-II) is collagen extracted from chicken sternum cartilage. It has been found to have an immunomodulatory eect by suppressing the T-cell mediated inammation within joints. This helps to slow down joint cartilage damage. UC-II has been shown to help dogs with moderately severe arthritis. Some canine supplements, such as Kruuse Vitalchews Joint and Mobility Support contain both marine sourced omega 3 and UC-II.Another common component, but one with perhaps less evidence for its use, is Glucosamine. It has been shown to positively aect chondrocyte function in vitro. Similar ndings have also been seen with chondroitin. There is also evidence that glucosamine can reduce inammation, which would be great news in an arthritic joint, but we don’t know if these products actually reach the joint in a usable form and in high enough levels to have a clinical eect. As already discussed, there are a host of supplement options available to choose from. Each company gives its own claims. Denitely beware of any claims to cure or totally prevent arthritis. In the book Multimodal Management of Canine Arthritis (Fox, 2016) the author outlines the ACCLAIM criteria for choosing a nutraceutical as follows:A – a company name that you recognise, an established rm that provides veterinary educational materials.C – clinical experience, i.e. companies that invest in clinical trials, and who publish data for respected journals.C – content, all ingredients should be clearly indicated on the labelL – label claims, i.e. if they sound too good to be true, they probably are. Reference to clinical trials is better than simple testimonials. Any label suggesting they treat arthritis, cure arthritis or prevent arthritis are likely to be suspect.A – administration, the dose recommendation should be accurate and easy to calculateI – a lot identication number to indicate some form of surveillance is possible to test product qualityM – manufacturer information and ideally a link to website.As with all parts of arthritis management, nutraceuticals are by no means the whole picture. We need to focus on a multimodal continued overleafThe issue of joint supplementsby Kathryn Cowley BVSc MRCVS, Canine Arthritis Management
22Animal Therapy Magazine | ISSUE 14Our members are highly skilled in providing physiotherapy care for animals. We work as part of the multi-disciplinary team which is involved with the care and welfare of animals. Members are graduates of university validated BSc and PgD/MSc courses that are accredited and supported by the NAVP.NAVP members must full certain requirements including CPD, they must carry Professional Liability Insurance and practice in line with the Associations regulations and standards of practice. FOR FURTHER DETAILS CONTACT: EMAIL info@navp.co.uk W EBSITE www.navp.co.ukPromoting Excellence in Veterinary PhysiotherapyBERKELEY DOG BEDSStylish, Practical and Built to Lastwww.berkeleydogbeds.co.ukTel. 01264 861143REFERENCES: Omega-3 Fatty Acids, M. B. Covington, American Family Physician Volume 70, Number 1, July 1, 2004.Osteoarthritis Cartilage, Knott et al, 2011 September; 19(9): 1150–1157Investigation and management of canine osteoarthritis, R. Pettitt et al, In Practice, Vol 37, Nov 2015Fox, S.M., 2006. Multimodal Management for Canine Osteoarthritis In: Multimodal Management of Canine Osteoarthritis. 2nd Ed. New York: CRC Press.Deparle, L.A., Gupta, R.C., et al., 2005. Ecacy and safety of glycosylated undenatured type‐II collagen (UC‐II) in therapy of arthritic dogs. Journal of Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics 28(4), pp. 385-390.Gupta, R.C., Canerdy, T.D., et al., 2011. Comparative therapeutic ecacy and safety of type‐II collagen (uc‐II), glucosamine and chondroitin in arthritic dogs: pain evaluation by ground force plate. Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition 96(5), pp. 770-777.Au, R.Y., Al-Talib, T.K., et al., 2007. Avocado soybean unsaponiables (ASU) suppress TNF-α, IL-1β, COX-2, iNOS gene expression, and prostaglandin E2and nitric oxide production in articular chondrocytes and monocyte/macrophages. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage 15(11), pp. 1249-1255.Boileau, C., Martel-Pelletier, J., et al., 2009. Protective eects of total fraction of avocado/soybean unsaponiables on the structural changes in experimental dog osteoarthritis: inhibition of nitric oxide synthase and matrix metalloproteinase-13. Arthritis Research and Therapy 11(R41).approach and educate clients to this end. The core aspects of weight control, exercise management, environmental adaptation and analgesics cannot be overlooked. Close monitoring is vital, with changes made to the management programme as needed. www.caninearthritis.co.uk
23Animal Therapy Magazine | ISSUE 14Having le a very cold and wet UK at an unhealthy hour of the day I arrived at Fiumincini Airport in Rome where, along with two other UK osteopaths, I boarded my friends taxi van for the very “Italian” drive to the hotel. is usually involves Flo, my driver spending more time chatting, waving her arms around, and rolling a cigarette whilst simultaneously reading a text and checking the sat nav. erefore it was no surprise that our other two colleagues were a little quiet in the back! e journey from the airport to the hotel took about an hour, but it was worth every minute.Set on a beautiful hill top the Hotel Castrum Boccea was originally a medieval fort built to protect Rome itself from attack. What better place to host the congress, which was only the second international one to be held covering research and clinical applications of osteopathy, applied to animal patients.ere were delegates and speakers from Belgium, Finland Germany, e Netherlands, Spain, Poland, UK, and the host nation of Italy. Subjects covered on the rst day ranged from studies looking at increased joint range of motion as a result of fascial release treatment from Poland; measuring changes to the topline of the horse pre and post osteopathic treatment by Julia Brooks from the UK; the treatment approach to wildlife and exotics, including a case study on a gorilla treatment program by myself, applying osteopathy to the avian model from Italy, treatment of the dog again from a UK perspective, and a nal plenary session looking at education standards and how RAMP (Register of Animal Manipulation Practitioners) was set up in the UK.e evening began with a “Happy Hour” for the speakers where we sat around a massive circle of tables on one of the forts hidden terraces, and set about agreeing an international Animal Osteopathy within EuropeBeCam2.0 Congress, Rome by Tony Nevin, BSc (Hons) Ost, DO, Zoo Ost LimitedTONY NEVINcontinued overleaf23Animal Therapy Magazine | ISSUE 13WITHIN the pages of this magazine I have written extensively about the state of animal osteopathy as seen through our eyes in the UK, and from my own teaching perspective on the world’s stage. In this article I am going to give an outline into the state of play throughout Europe and Scandinavia via the incredible congress that took place at the very end of September this year.
24Animal Therapy Magazine | ISSUE 14TONY NEVINstandard for animal osteopathy education and continuing professional development. Sadly the RAMP representatives le the meeting early without giving their input.e rest of the international team carried on and within a short space of time there was an overall consensus that we could all start to work from.en the real festivities began and friendship bonds were further strengthened. It is incredible to think that even a few years ago this would never have happened with such genuine enthusiasm!e second day was mostly given over to practical based workshops looking at treating the canine, equine, avian, and exotic patients.No guesses for the one I ran, although I ended up combining it with the avian one, as we were sharing some of the same models! In fact ours, and the Vluggen Institute’s equine one were so over subscribed that some of the organisers appeared and tried to lure delegates away to one of the others that was less well attended.For the workshops, the hotel had opened up various areas of the grounds and conference rooms for our use. is saw horses happily grazing on the terrace lawns high above the surrounding countryside, and dogs being kept in the shade of another section, whilst Matteus (my superb Italian IFOA colleague) and I had a superb location where we could lecture, demonstrate, and guide examination and treatment of various reptiles, including a very angry boa constrictor, several tortoise, numerous chickens, a gorgeous European Eagle Owl, and some indigenous wildlife that my good friend Francesco and I caught in the hotel grounds (and safely released again aerwards). e day raced by with Matteus and I guiding our group through safe examination and treatment techniques for our types of patient. Across from our area we could see the horses being put through their paces by Julia Brookes and Janek Vluggen.24 Animal Therapy Magazine | ISSUE 13
25Animal Therapy Magazine | ISSUE 14Matteus and I felt we had the best spot as we also had a throne at our disposal, which of course ended up being made good use of!I did have to keep pinching myself as the whole setting was more like a James Bond lm set, and made for a most convivial atmosphere.Eventually it was time to wrap up each of the workshops and then we were invited to reconvene in the plenary hall, which I should add looked like it was once a banquet hall, complete with authentic xtures and ttings.Once seated again, and with the requisite headphones for translation, our hosts rounded o the congress by getting each of us that had helped dra the consensus on animal osteopathic education to read, amend, and then once in agreement sign the single document listing our names and organisations that we represented.Tony Nevin, BSc (Hons) Ost, DO is Clinical Director on the MSc Animal Osteopathy programme, run through the McTimoney College of Chiropractic, Oxon. He also lectures nationally and internationally; runs unique wildlife workshops; and is a prolic writer, presenter and broadcaster. His radio show “The Missing Link” on Corinium Radio is the only one of it’s kind and is rapidly gaining a loyal listenership. You can catch his earlier shows, and specialist podcasts by following his Mixcloud page titled Tony Nevin.For more than 6 years he chaired the Society of Osteopaths in Animal Practice (SOAP) before it rebranded and became the Association of Animal Osteopaths (AAO).For more information contact Tony at +44 7831 759339. www.zooost.com www.horseost.co.uk www.coriniumradio.co.uk www.mixcloud.com/tonynevin So it was that I found myself as the opening signatory, on behalf of Zoo Ost Ltd., of this ground breaking manuscript which has set aside dierences in each organisation, in order to preserve the core values of osteopathic medicine, and not allow us to be lost into some blend of musculoskeletal (MSK) therapists. is is not to denigrate any other profession. On the contrary, we are all of the rm belief that we ALL have core values, and we all have skill sets that need preserving. In the same way that there are so many dierent species of animals and birds that we treat, so there is a need for all of our dierent professions. For too long in the UK we have allowed ourselves, and our professions to be manipulated by others. What we do is incredible. What we still have to discover and achieve will also be incredible. I don’t think we should sell ourselves short. Not for any egotistical reason, but for the benet of our patients and future generations of practitioners.25Animal Therapy Magazine | ISSUE 13
26Animal Therapy Magazine | ISSUE 14An important diary date for all animal hydrotherapists is Tuesday 29th to Thursday 31st January when the UK’s only dedicated annual pool and spa Exhibition, SPATEX 2019, takes place at Coventry’s Ricoh Arena. To date, SPATEX has been well known for being the UK’s ONLY dedicated annual wet leisure exhibition, however, over the last two years, SPATEX has been quietly edging into the Animal and Veterinary Hydrotherapy eld, growing in strength each year. 2018 showed an impressive 8.5 per cent rise in visitor numbers and with the addition of two animal focused seminars, 2019 looks like being the year in which SPATEX establishes itself as a must attend exhibition for all qualied hydrotherapists, students and other interested therapists and professionals. Why attend SPATEX 2019? qSource new products: With a huge number of companies specialising in water treatments, cleanliness, pipes, hoses, lters, heaters, climate controls, pumps, liners, none slip ooring, many safety products and bundles of accessories, it’s pretty much a one-stop shop for all your needs. Such is the vibrancy and fast pace of the industry, each SPATEX brings something new. For example, more than ever before, the world’s leading manufacturers have put the launch of energy saving products top of their agendas for 2019 so expect a massive urry of activity in this area. Nothing stands still and each Show has its own character. Please go to www.spatex.co.uk for the impressive list of exhibitors. qMake new contacts: SPATEX plays a vital role in breathing new life into the wet leisure and hydrotherapy industry, bringing people together. Where else in the UK can you meet over a thousand representatives of the industry under one roof in one day? Answer – ONLY SPATEX!qDedicated FREE hydrotherapy seminars: Water chemistry and balancing can be complex so SPATEX has organized a dedicated seminar on water testing and how to maintain good water quality in animal hydrotherapy pools on Tuesday 29th January between 12.15 and 12.45 in the Ricoh Arena’s Ericsson Exhibition Hall (arena 2). Led by Howard Gosling FISPE, the renowned expert on water chemistry and former Chairman of the Pool Water Treatment Advisory Group (PWTAG), the special presentation will focus on the Standards for non-human use pools. This will be followed by a question and answer session. The seminar is free to attend and all are welcome. Howard says: “All forms of hydrotherapy including canine and equine are growing in popularity and demand for training courses has doubled in the last year. This free seminar is not to be missed!”And there’s more! Following on from this at 1-2pm in arena 2 Dr Alison Wills, Senior Lecturer at Hartpury University will give a seminar based on her research into canine hydrotherapy and how it is benecial for rehabilitating from a range of conditions and for tness/training. Alison’s current research interests focus around applied canine biomechanics with recent research examining the benets of hydrotherapy for dogs with elbow dysplasia and how dogs move on a water treadmill. qExpand your skill set: And, if that isn’t enough, by attending the plethora of other lectures by industry professionals you can also clock up your CPD hours purely for the cost of your petrol. Led by esteemed experts from Industry bodies such as the Institute of Swimming Pool Engineers (ISPE), the wide variety of topics include guidance on the latest methods of water treatment and testing, commercial pool operation, covers, heating and ventilation, health and safety etc. If you have a specic query on a pool or its operation, then there are plenty of experts on hand to give free impartial advice. For the extensive double workshop and seminar programme please visit www.spatex.co.ukqConvenient to get to: The Ricoh Arena is easy to get to - just 500 yards o the M6 and within two hours commuting time of 75 per cent of the population, it oers 2,000 free on-site car parking spaces. It’s really a no brainer.Visitor registration is Free: www.spatex.co.ukSPATEX 2019, Tuesday 29th to Thursday 31st January, Ericsson Exhibition Hall, Ricoh Arena, Coventry. For further information please contact Michele or Helen Tel: +44 (0) 1264 358558SPATEX 2019Where good hydrotherapy begins SPATEX exhibitor, Riptide Pools, sells the very popular DoggySwim range of purpose built dedicated canine hydrotherapy pools. With a variety of sizes, and adjustable counter-current jet congurations, they deliver the perfect water ow for dogs of all sizes to exercise in.
27Animal Therapy Magazine | ISSUE 14FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO REGISTER FOR FREE VISIT:WWW.SPATEX.CO.UK OR CALL +44 1264 358558F R E EAnimal Hydrotherapy SeminarsT U E 29 JA N UA RY 2 0 19SPATEX2019 A4 ANIMAL HYDROTHERAPY.qxp_Layout 1 05/10/2018 12:01 Page 1
28Animal Therapy Magazine | ISSUE 14From Surgery to Championship AgilityA case study of bicipital tenosynovitis and rehabilitationby Alan Gardner, PgD A. Phys, MDip, DipMgmt, IAAT. Canine Care“One of the most frequent shoulder conditions seen in Agility dogs is bicipital tenosynovitis which involves the biceps brachii muscle and its tendon which crosses the shoulder joint1”. IntroductionBeing a canine physiotherapist and conditioning practitioner, I understand the impact that canine sports such as Agility place on the dog. at means targeted conditioning programs, regular physical check-ups and paying attention to factors such as pre-competition warm-ups and cool downs. Unfortunately, that doesn’t prevent my dogs succumbing to sports injuries. Fortunately, it does facilitate the early diagnosis, intervention and subsequent rehabilitation the canine athlete. Additionally, ‘being in good shape2’ before an injury can also help with a full recovery.is case study is about my own dog ‘Jaidi’ a seven-year-old Border Collie. Jaidi successfully competes at the highest level (Championship grade) and this story is about the cross functional team work which has restored him back to a full and successful Agility career. Our story starts in December 2017…Weekly ‘MOT’ and understanding that “somethings not right”My dogs receive a weekly MOT and stretch session to both check on the physical wellbeing and to maintain their exibility3. During one session in early December 2017, I noticed that during (right) shoulder exion (with elbow bent) there was a lot of resistance. is stretch engages many muscles of the shoulder joint including the biceps brachii, deltoids, trapezius, rhomboids and Supraspinatus4.Subsequent checks by myself conrmed this (resistance) and so it was o to our veterinary for a professional diagnosis. X-rays and palpation under sedation conrmed calcication of the biceps brachii The shoulder joint is an intricate network of muscles designed to withstand large forces, provide extraordinary mobility and maintain forelimb stability and control. continued overleafFigure 1 Jaidi back to jumping full height
29Animal Therapy Magazine | ISSUE 14Veterinary Specification Supplementsin CEREAL-GRAIN-FREE SUPER PREMIUM DOG FOODS01845 565630 or (062) 85401 www.vetspec.com“VetSpec Joint Mobility is part of Bertie’s feeding plan, and helps him stay fit and active and in peak condition to compete in his Agility competitions.” Jackie GardnerIdeal for:- • Dogs with poor mobility • Dogs in hard physical work • Following skeletal injury • Recovery from limb and pelvic operationsJaccira Bertie Boy, known as Bertie at home is a championship agility dog owned by Jackie Gardner.for dogs
30Animal Therapy Magazine | ISSUE 14Table 1 – Physiotherapy aims post operationtendon, of which surgery was probably the best option to improve the ROM and probably relive any chronic pain in the joint. I think this demonstrates the importance of regular check-ups on performance dogs and early professional diagnosis by your veterinary. In this case it has probably prevented, or at least delayed the early onset of osteoarthritis.Interestingly Jaidi showed no obvious signs of pain at this time (i.e. no o-loading from limb, limping etc) and was still jumping very well. I did record his gait analysis score on the Gait4Dog5 (tfurlife6) at my consulting rooms at Hawksmoor hydrotherapy. e results also showed no obvious lameness, with the noticeable factor being that the right fore limb was some 6% less in both pressure (i.e. limb loading) and stance distance (distance body travels while limb is placed on the treadmill).Surgery – Arthroscopye arthroscopy is designed to clean out the calcication of the biceps tendon and investigate any other potential shoulder ligament damage. e arthroscopy also revealed a partial tear in the medial glenohumeral ligament. e surgeon did explain that the prognosis for a full recovery for this procedure is very good, but I knew there would be months of rehabilitation ahead to restore Jaidi back to full competitive Agility. Figure 2 shows X-rays of both right (tendon calcication) and le shoulders.Rehabilitatione aims of physiotherapy post-operation are laid out in Table 1. Our initial objectives at the acute post-procedure stage were to reduce pain / swelling, aid joint mobility and encourage controlled limb usage. As well as the electrophysical agents and cryotherapy, throughout the rehabilitation we used treadmill walking, discussed later in the article. e full program that we follow can be summarized in the rehabilitation pyramid (see gure 3) and the relevant modalities used at each stage (see Table 2).Stage AimPromote healing Minimize scar tissue after and retrain musclesRegain mobility Progress treatment to help prevent re-injury or delay recovery timeOptimise recovery Aid recovery in a more optimal way than if left to its own devicesActive rehabilitation Take an active role in the dogs’ recovery and oer mental stimulationFigure 2 – X-rays of the right and le shoulder jointFigure 3 – Rehabilitation Pyramid7Table 2 – Treatment phasesALAN GARDNERPhase Treatment typesAcute Cryotherapy, PEMF, LASERImprovements PROM, StretchingRestoration StrengtheningNormal Movement Increased walking and treadmill programsReturn Re-Introduction to normal life activitiesThe biceps brachii provides elbow exion and shoulder extension, movements extensively used for running and jumping agility hurdles
31Animal Therapy Magazine | ISSUE 14Week 1• PROM (Passive Range of Motion)• Cryotherapy (i.e. ice packs)• PEMF8 (Pulsed Magnetic Field Therapy)PROM involves moving the limb in a controlled and pain free manner, using grade 1 movements9, so within his early natural range of movement during the acute stage. This technique helps alleviate pain as well as mobilization of the soft tissue, facilitating improved recovery10.Cryotherapy and PEMF were employed to restrict blood ow to the area and therefore help in reducing swelling and pain. PEMF oers much deeper penetration into the muscle joints, whereas ice works at a relatively supercial level (so is more targeted at the surface operational wound). Typically, these were applied after PROM.Week 2Our goals for week 2 included improving ROM and encouraging better use of the aected front limb, so our modalities for that week were:• PROM• LASER (LLLT)• Active forelimb targetingThe reason for using LASER during this stage were to stimulate the cells and tissue leading to an increase of antibodies, specic enzymes, ATP formation and aid lymph drainage. Collectively these optimise the healing process11.By increasing the PROM movements, we were able to go to mid-range of Jaidi’s natural range on movements, therefore further mobilizing the soft tissue.Finally, we introduced Paw Pods placing them to his right side and encouraging Jaidi to nd the pod with his right forelimb, therefore stimulating his proprioception and building foundation for the next strengthening phases12. This phased approach is demonstrated in Figure 4.Figure 5 – Shoulder adductionmassage pre-stretching to improve blood ow by vasodilation thus increasing circulation, oxygenation and removing toxins.Stretching is an important modality and aids rehabilitation14 by:• Further improving ROM• Reduce tightness in tendons• Improving exibility by increasing the number of sarcomeres and giving sensory feedbackWe also carried on with the Paw pod proprioception and introduced a phase 2 (balance) activity. This involved using a 4" x 2" plank which means that Jaidi must stand with his paws adducted, inducing isometric contractions in the shoulder stabilizers15. This is demonstrated in Figure 5, you can see the closeness of his front paws, which induces the desired muscular contractions.Weeks 4+At this stage we had our post operation follow up with the surgeon. He conrmed that Jaidi now had good ROM, but still advised to avoid any high-speed twisting of limb and potentially damaging the repair. Taking this into account, we continued with lead and treadmill walking and advanced our therapeutic sessions16 to phase 3 exercises which included:• Balance (e.g. all 4 legs up on inatables)• Joint exion (high cavalettis)These avoided placing any rotational forces on the limb. Additionally, we continued with stretching, now extending to all limbs and spine, not just the right fore.Figure 4 Phasing for strengthening programsStart of exercise programFoundation and gait workBalance workExtensor targeted strengtheningActive ROMcontinued overleafFigure 3 Jaidi using the Paw Pods for proprioception workWeek 3Our goals for week 3 were to further develop his independent limb use, so our modalities for this week included:• Stretching• Massage• PEMF13• Inducing isometric muscle contractionsAs we moved from ROM manipulations to stretching of the limb, I incorporated PEMF and
32Animal Therapy Magazine | ISSUE 14Land based TreadmillA land-based treadmill encourages controlled even limb use and helps with ROM due to the slightly longer stride length17. Combined this meant we could carry out very controlledwalking, with a systematic increase in time / speed and complement our PROM sessions. We started at 0.4 kph for 2 mins, then 0.5 mins rest with a further 0.4 kph for 2 mins. Each day I added 0.1 kph to the speed. We continued in this way until day 15, when we dispensed with the rest phases. On day 19 we introduced some incline and decline work reaching Jaidi’s normal treadmillwalking speed (3.2 kph) aer 6 weeks. is progression can be seen in gure 8. Aer this stage we worked up to pre-operation ‘full’ sessions which included:• 30 minutes walking with various change in speed and incline / decline• Trotting sessions which increases the weight bearing per limb18Return to AgilityWhen Jaidi had reached his pre-operation treadmill protocols, we began to allow phased free running during normal walks. Again, when he had reached ‘normal’ free running sessions we re-introduced our Agility sessions. Initially we started with simple lines of low height jumps. Each week we would progress this to include turns, higher jumps before eventually allowing him to negotiate obstacles which put a lot of twisting and concussive stress on the forelimbs (i.e. weaves, see-saw and A-frame).Jaidi started back in full competition in June 2018, some 6 months aer the operation. e time o meant that it took some weeks to re-discover that ‘match tness and sharpness’. I ampleased to say that there has been no pain or lameness and that Jaidi is again competition successfully at the highest level in Kennel Club Championship Agility shows.SummaryA frequent shoulder condition for Agility dogs is bicipital tenosynovitis. A land-based treadmill encourages controlled even limb use and helps with ROM, both crucial factors in rehabilitation programsProcedures such an arthroscopy, designed to clean out the calcication of the biceps tendon, has a good prognosis for a full recovery. Post-surgery physiotherapy to supplement this and oer the best chance for a return to competitive Agility is also recommended.is article gave a practitioner’s real-life experience of rehabilitating and returning a dog to competition at the highest level in the UK. e protocol involved the initial use on electrophysical and thermal agents complemented with manual manipulations to help restore tissue integrity and relieve pain. ese modalities were then further developed to optimise the healing process and lay the foundation for proprioception and muscle strengthening exercises. roughout the whole rehabilitation program, a land-based treadmill was used to initially encourage limb work, improve cardio vascular properties, supplement muscle strengthening and provide feedback for the direction of the program. ConclusionJaidi made a complete and full recovery to competitive Agility. Physiotherapy played a key part in this with initially identifying the issue before it became painful and debilitating and then aer surgery to design, implement and execute a holistic rehabilitation program.ALAN GARDNER Meters0500100015002000Days013253850Figure 8 - Progression of treadmill walkingFigure 6 - High cavaletti poles encourage active exionFigure 7 - Balance on bones shiing weight from side to side
33Animal Therapy Magazine | ISSUE 14REFERENCES1 http://www.akcchf.org/assets/les/canine-athlete/Biceps-injury.pdf2 https://health.usnews.com/wellness/articles/2017-04-27/why-do-some-people-heal-faster-from-injuries3 Marcellin-Little, D. Levine, D. (2014) Principles and Application of Range of Motion and Stretching in Companion Animals, Veterinary Clinics of North America Small Animal Practice 10/2014; DOI:10.1016/j.cvsm.2014.09.0044 Foster, S. Foster, A. (2009) The healthy way to stretch your dog, Dogwise publishing Wenatchee, Washington5 https://www.gait4dog.com/6 https://www.tfurlife.com/gait4dog7 Rehabilitation pyramid (from Hertel, Deneger: A rehabilitation paradigm for restoring neuromuscular control following injury. Athl Ther Today, 3:12–16; 1998)8 Vasoconstriction setting9 Gross Saunders, D. Walker, J.R. Levine, D. (2005) Joint mobilization, Vet Clin Small Anim 35 (2005) 1287–1316, VETERINARY CLINICS, SMALL ANIMAL PRACTICE10 Millis, D.L, Levine, D. & Taylor, R. (2004) Canine Rehabilitation and Physical Therapy, Saunders, Missouri USA11 Fernandes de Jesus, J. Spadacci-Morena, D. Rabelo, N. Pinldi, C. Fukuda, T. Plapler, H (2014) Low-Level Laser Therapy on Tissue Repair of Partially Injured Achilles Tendon in Rats, Photomedicine and Laser Surgery Volume 32, Number 6, 2014 Pp. 1–6 DOI: 10.1089/pho.2013.369412 http://animaltherapymedia.co.uk/restoration-of-strength-and-balance/13 Vasodilation setting14 Kaeding, C.Best, T. (2009) Tendinosis: Pathophysiology and Nonoperative Treatment, Sports Health, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, Medicine Center, 2050 Kenny Road, Suite 3100, Columbus, OH 43221 DOI: 10.1177/194173810933777815 www.Daisypeel.com online classroom Psos and shoulders (2016)16 Gardner (2018) Rehabilitation and strengthening, Animal Therapy Magazine Spring 2018, http://animaltherapymedia.co.uk/restoration-of-strength-and-balance/17 Kinematics of selected therapeutic exercises in dogs, university of Tennessee (2012)18 The weight bearing per limb (at a walk its around 100 - 110% body weight per limb, rising to 200% at a trot, as only 2 limbs contact ground at any one time at this gait.Alan Gardner PgD A. Phys, MDip, DipMgmt, IAAT. Alan is an animal physiotherapist and practices at Hawksmoor, Nuneaton. He specializes in rehabilitation of performance dogs and improving gait post-surgery. At the Hawksmoor practice, there is a Gait4DOG gait analysis treadmill which is exceptionally good for evaluating imbalances in pressure distribution of the canine limbs. This evaluation can quickly demonstrate compensatory patterns. Alan also competes at Championship Agility level with his Border Collies and is sponsored by Vet Spec.“I am delighted that Vet Spec supported my dogs for over 10 years now. As an animal physiotherapist I know how important joint supplements are. They improve the normal structure and function of the joint by providing natural pain relief, reducing the eect of degenerative and inammatory enzymes and stimulation of synovial uid and collagen productionVet Spec Joint Mobility is recommended for both our younger, hardworking agility dogs and to support the older dogs in retirement. Joint Mobility contains the correct balance of glucosamine, chondroitin and MSM. It is added to the dogs’ normal food at mealtimes”.www.smartpawsphysio.comalan@smartpawsphysio.comFor his rehabilitation programs, Alan uses Canine Exercise Solutions to design his client Home Exercise Programs (HEPs). This is an essential clinical tool for physio and other therapists. The online program is used to create home exercises programs and informative advice for their clients. Advantages include HD videos of each exercise which are accessible on any kind of device. New exercises can be created on demand.For more information contact Karen Goyette - info@canineexercise.com
34Animal Therapy Magazine | ISSUE 14District Veterinary Nurse, Carla Finzel met Ruth Milner, MD of Danetre Health Products, Photizo’s UK’s distributor at the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists Annual Seminar earlier this year.CARLA was fascinated to learn more about Photizo Vetcare as she’d read several articles about the power of the Vetcare’s red light therapy. Plus several colleagues had mentioned Photizo as promoting natural healing across a host of musculoskeletal conditions, wound management and skin conditions. Working as a District Veterinary Nurse Carla was very interested in Photizo’s ability to reduce pain and inammation, but also its pocket size and its ease of use appealed. District Veterinary Nurse Carla Finzel working with Photizo by Anna Webb on behalf of PhotizoBroadcaster, Author, Trainer has studied natural nutrition and therapies with the College of Integrated Veterinary erapies (CIVT)PHOTIZOCarla explained: “I wanted to learn more about Photizo’s Vetcare as a tool to oer relief to many of my geriatric patients. By keeping pets mobile, it’s a way of keeping them well, which in turn keeps their owners well too! As some of my pet parents are elderly, they understand how debilitating arthritic pain and immobility can be. With Photizo I’m able to make a positive dierence, which in time can reduce a pet’s dosage of NSAIDs.”In 2015 Carla made the brave step to quit her comfortable Vet Nurse role in a referral practice to pioneer a new role as a District Veterinary Nurse.As a trailblazer, Carla is working under formal referral from vets, and is driven by her passion to help change and expand the services of veterinary nursing nationally. Taking her role out of vet practice into the home environment Carla is fullling a much-needed bridge between vet practices, the community and social care in line with the Equality Act 2010.Carla hopes that District Veterinary Nurses can remove barriers to vet care treatment caused by physical, intellectual, communication, learning, sensory or mental health disability.Providing support at home also allows vet practices to full their responsibilities to their customers - both pet and human. Indeed the feedback from many Vet surgeons and practices is to support a new nationally accredited role for District Vet Nurses.For many elderly human customers learning to give insulin to a diabetic patient is not easy. Or for someone suering from dementia might nd it hard to regularly administer medication. Even administering ear and eye medication can be dicult for someone with arthritic hands, let alone changing a dressing. Pets thrive in their home environment where the bond is strongest with their owner. For treatments like blood pressure monitoring the home environment makes for more accurate readings as animals are calmer and not stressed. When Carla met Millie, a 15 year old long haired Tabby cat, she was very poorly indeed. Her work began aer a vet referral to Millie’s owner who was terminally ill with cancer and in a Hospice.34 Animal Therapy Magazine | ISSUE 14Teddy the English Pointer has his blood pressure monitored
35Animal Therapy Magazine | ISSUE 14continued overleafpromotes circulation to aected areas, helping to naturally reduce inammation and pain eciently whilst boosting collagen production in joints and cellular regeneration. Carla added: “What’s more I have learnt that the systemic eects of Photizo’s near infrared light helps boosts the immune system over time, which I have seen in Millie as now at 17 years of age, she is doing so well.”What’s great about the Photizo Vetcare is that, unlike true laser light devices which can pose a risk to the eyes (with laser goggles being mandatory), the new generation of LED diodes used in Photizo’s design, there’s no risk to the eyes, and no need to wear goggles. For Carla her role as a District Veterinary Nurse is all about the bond between the owners and their pets. With her help veterinary nursing is made accessible to all. Carla enthuses: “e rewards can be amazing like Monty the diabetic cat who I was able to stabilize in a week. With home diabetic district veterinary nurse clinics he achieved remission in 10 weeks no longer needing insulin injections twice a day”.Equally satisfying is the case of Teddy the English Pointer who would nd his blood pressure monitoring at the vets impossibly stressful. is made reading his blood pressure inaccurate. With Carla’s help Teddy remains professionally monitored and stable. StreetVet were one of the lucky organisations to benet from its ‘Photizo to the Rescue’ campaign, where winning charities are gied a Photizo. Carla is an active StreetVet volunteer, working at the core of community initiatives like StreetVet, founded by vets Jade Statt and Sam Joseph and Our Special Friends, founded by vet Belinda Bin Johnston, which go beyond the connes of veterinary practice to protect the animal-human bond. Being a district veterinary nurse is about ensuring veterinary care is accessible to all. Carla emphasises: “e animal and the human are intrinsically connected and so when you are treating the animal you are actually ensuring the wellbeing of the owner as well. If there’s one thing from personal experience it’s developing the ability to empathise and communicate accordingly to the human. is is ‘one health: one welfare’ where the human wellbeing, animal welfare and our environment are interrelated.”In her work with StreetVet Carla has recently been deploying Photizo on street dogs living rough with their Carla promised Millie’s owner that she would continue Millie’s care, no matter what might happen. Only weeks later Millie’s owner sadly passed away.Despite Millie being turned away from several rescues due to her age and ill health, a kind man named James took Millie into his life.He had just lost his beloved Flat Coated Retriever, named Hobson. Millie would provide him with the company and comfort he needed without attempting to replace Hobson’s memory.Carla was delighted to integrate Photizo Vetcare into Millie’s regular healthcare routine. Many senior felines suer with severe osteoarthritis. Millie benetted from Photizo’s evidence based, pre-programmed, 30 second timed doses of red and near Infrared LED light.Carla enthused: “I was so impressed at how quickly Photizo made a dierence to Millie’s movement and overall energy levels. I used it regularly, almost daily, and Millie changed from being almost totally sedentary, to now being able to run around in short bursts, and she’s playful again”. Working at a cellular level Photizo’s unique dose of Phototherapy delivering an eective amount of energy creates biostimulatory eects that will help to accelerate the normal healing process. is level of energy 35Animal Therapy Magazine | ISSUE 14Millie the tabby cat with guardian James – she has benetted from Photizo
36Animal Therapy Magazine | ISSUE 14owners in Brighton. Carla has treated some cut wounds and used Photizo to promote speedier healing.Carla commented: “anks to Ruth Milner at Photizo I discovered that the treatment of infected wounds is fast and eective with Photizo Vetcare as it works at a cellular level helping to increase the blood and lymph diameter, which promotes the removal of debris, whilst promoting the inow of oxygen and nutrients, helping damaged cells to repair and function at optimum levels”. Ruth Milner, MD of Danetre Health Products, Photizo’s UK Distributor commented: “We’re delighted that Photizo is helping Carla and her patients. We are rmly of the view that the role of District Veterinary Nurses is much needed, and we’re supporting her campaign for recognition nationally. Practitioners going out into the community provide an invaluable service to vulnerable pet owners and a home care non-invasive tool like Photizo is ideal to help Practitioners provide a viable treatment option. is is especially important in situations where healing may be compromised or when alternatives for pain management have to be considered. Photizo is the result of years of research and the development of a highly eective and aordable home-use phototherapy tool was born from the ‘new generation’ of LEDs. Following the work of Prof. Harry Whelan and his group at NASA Space Medicine Laboratory, oering clinicians and researchers a useful phototherapy source there is now a good body of evidence and reviews from published authors concluding that, provided an LED phototherapy system has the correct wavelength for the target cells, delivers an appropriate power density and an adequate energy density, then it will be at least partly, if not signicantly, eective. Since its UK launch in 2013 the Vetcare has demystied the use of red light / Phototherapy therapy as a unique pocket sized, non-invasive hand-held device and for many, it is an aordable option. It’s popularity is not only in its ease of use, but in its ability to cover a much larger surface area with its non-coherent beam than a traditional ‘coherent’ laser beam. Making it much simpler and safer to use by Physiotherapists, Vets, Vet Nurses, health care professionals and by pet owners, Photizo can easily be integrated into post-operative rehabilitation at home. It also makes Photizo handy to use in-between professional treatment sessions for maximum benet”.e launch of e District Veterinary Nurse Development Group earlier thisyear (comprising a group of volunteer Vets, Vet Nurses, Human Nurses andprofessionals outside of the veterinary community), is helping realise theaccreditation of District Vet Nursing at a national level as extended membersof a veterinary outreach team.https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/carla-nzelDistrict Veterinary Nurse role in UK an accessible & aordable outreach veterinary care for patient welfare & human wellbeingdistrictvetnurseDVNcampaign@gmail.comwww.streetvet.co.ukwww.ourspecialfriends.orgPHOTIZO36 Animal Therapy Magazine | ISSUE 14Above: Monty the cat whose diabetes is now cured aer 10 weeks of treatment by Carla. Below: e launch of the District Veterinary Nurse Development Group has the support of Vet practices nationally.
37Animal Therapy Magazine | ISSUE 14Faster, natural healing and pain reliefA non-invasive treatment tool for numerous acute & chronic conditionsIdeal for pet owners to use at home for• Wounds• Musculoskeletal injuries• Swelling/inammation• Arthritis or joint dysplasia pain• Bruising plus many moreExclusive discounts for animal practitionersInterested in becoming a Photizo Reseller? Call us nowon 01327 310909 Order now online at:www.danetrehealthproducts.com• Highly effective• Simple to use • RechargeableDanetre Health Products LimitedBroad March, Long March Industrial Estate, Daventry, Northamptonshire NN11 4HE 01327 310909 info@danetrehealthproducts.com PhotizoUk PhotizoUk
38Animal Therapy Magazine | ISSUE 14What is a pressure vest?Pressure vests or wraps have been commercially available for nearly two decades and are designed to reduce or eliminate stress and anxiety in dogs. Pressure vests can be used for all types of fear and anxiety, including dogs that may become fearful or anxious when they require crate rest and are separated from their owners. Examples of where pressure vests have been scientically tested to reduce stress and anxiety in dogs include fear of thunderstorms (Cottam et al., 2013), reworks (Pekkin et al., 2016) and separation anxiety or generalised anxiety disorder (King et al., 2014). ere are several similar designs available on the commercial market, but predominantly a pressure vest looks and ts like a dog coat, tting snuggly around the dog’s torso (See Figure 1).How does a pressure vest work?e underlying biological mechanism of how pressure vests remove stress and anxiety in dogs is still unknown (Pekkin et al., 2016), although it has been suggested that peripheral oxytocin may be involved when contact with the skin is made (Bello et al., 2008). Most pressure vests work using maintained but gentle pressure to the dogs torso (similar to ‘swaddling’ an infant human) whilst still allowing a normal range of movement. Dogs Under PressureAre pressure vests benecial at reducing signs of stress and anxiety in dogs?PRESSURE VESTSby Sienna Taylor, Animal Welfare Research and Knowledge Exchange Arena, Hartpury UniversityFigure 1: Dog wearing a undershirt(R) pressure vest. Photo courtesy of Susan Holt.
39Animal Therapy Magazine | ISSUE 14Research: Evidence base for the use of pressure vestsIn the last decade, several peer reviewed research articles have been published that tested how eective pressure vests were in reducing stress and anxiety in dogs. e results of these studies have shown varying levels of success, although all of the studies suggest that further research is required that explores the ecacy of pressure vests in reducing stress and anxiety in dogs. Some owners of noise phobic dogs reported the use of a pressure wrap to be successful in helping reduce their dogs phobia of thunderstorms (Cottam et al., 2013), whilst some dogs with separation anxiety had a reduced heart rate and reduced behaviour that was associated with looking for their owner when wearing a vest (King et al., 2014). However, one study reported there were no clear therapeutic eects found in noise phobic dogs that wore a pressure vest (Pekkin et al., 2016).Cottam and others in 2013 investigated the ecacy of a pressure wrap using owner reported anxiety scores and compared these scores pre and post use of the wrap in 18 thunderstorm phobic dogs. e commercially available Anxiety Wrap(R) was tested with dogs acting as their own control. Dogs were exposed to two real thunderstorms before the use of the Anxiety Wrap(R) treatment, which acted as a baseline. e same dogs were then exposed to ve subsequent real thunderstorms when wearing the Anxiety Wrap(R). Owners were asked to report the behaviour of their dog using a questionnaire during each thunderstorm which assessed whether anxiety behaviours occurred and the severity of these behaviours such as duration, intensity and frequency of behaviour which was used to generate the anxiety scores. Questions also asked about the severity of the thunderstorm and also the type of interactions the owner had with their dog during the thunderstorm. Owners were also asked to complete a questionnaire aer having used the wrap on ve occasions to assess their own opinion on the eectiveness of the wrap. None of the dogs were receiving fear reducing medication. e results of Cottam et al., (2013) showed that anxiety signicantly reduced in dogs aer the h use of the anxiety wrap with the mean anxiety score 47% lower than the mean anxiety score before the use of the wrap. When comparing the second baseline thunderstorm versus the h treatment thunderstorm, shaking and pacing behaviour in the dogs reduced by 33% during the h thunderstorm. Most owners agreed that the wrap was largely eective in treating their dogs for thunderstorm phobia, with 89% of owners stating that they felt that the wrap was partly eective. Eighty percent of owners also reported that they would continue to use the wrap aer the study. While drawing conclusions about the eects of the wrap are limited due to the small sample size and highly subjective owner reported assessment of clinical signs, no side eects were reported by the owners and the authors concluded that the Anxiety Wrap (R) was a safe and eective treatment for dogs with thunderstorm phobia. It is important to note however, that the study was supported nancially by the manufacturers of the wrap which may have introduced an element of bias. Owners were also not blinded to the treatment so there may have been a risk of placebo eect or bias. As such, the authors proposed that future research should focus on using a double blind, placebo controlled study to assess the therapeutic value of the Anxiety Wrap(R).King and colleagues in 2014 tested the eects of the undershirt(R) on heart rate and behaviour in 90 dogs that were diagnosed with either separation anxiety or generalised anxiety disorder. e experiment consisted of dogs randomly being placed in to three groups; one group was tted with a undershirt(R) as per the manufacturers’ guidelines, the second group wore a loosely tted undershirt(R) and there was a group that received no treatment. Heart rate was measured at baseline (pre-kennel/isolation) and also the average heart rate of the dog when in the kennel for 15 minutes. Behaviour was also video recorded and included pacing, panting, yawning, tongue-icking, drooling, elimination, barking, stress whining, howling, licking, door orientation, and calmness. Dogs that wore the undershirt(R) according to manufacturer’s guidelines showed a signicant decrease in heart rate compared to the other two groups. Fiy three percent of dogs that wore the correctly tted undershirt(R) also spent less time orientating towards the door compared to 67% of dogs that wore the shirt loosely and 90% of control dogs. ere was also a trend in the reduction of some behaviours indicative of stress such as reduced tongue icking and yawning behaviour. However, it is dicult to draw conclusions on behaviour data as data was skewed, the history of wearing a coat was not reported and dogs were not habituated to the undershirt(R) at the beginning of the experiment. It is also important to consider that tting the vest was reliant on the owners and the level of pressure exerted was not standardised between dogs and may have varied according to how owners tted the vest. Whilst the authors suggested that further research was required on the eects of the undershirt(R) and the behavioural signs of anxiety, they did suggest that the shirt could be used as an adjunct treatment to reduce heart rate in dogs diagnosed with anxiety disorders alongside the use of behaviour modication and anxiety reducing medication. More recently, Pekkin and others in 2016 investigated two dierent types of pressure vest (light and deep pressure) on dog behaviour, urine oxytocin and saliva cortisol levels. Twenty eight dogs who reacted fearfully when exposed to reworks continued overleaf
40Animal Therapy Magazine | ISSUE 14PRESSURE VESTS60-100% of the time were tested under three semi-randomised conditions; without a vest, a Lymed AnimalTM vest producing light pressure and a Lymed AnimalTM vest which produced deep pressure. Dogs’ behaviour, including activity levels, body and tail postures, vocalisations and time spent near the owner was recorded for 2 minutes prior, during and aer playing a commercially available rework CD aimed to desensitise noise phobic dogs. Saliva samples for cortisol analysis were collected twice, at two points; before and aer exposure to the rework CD and urine samples for oxytocin analysis were collected prior to tting the deep pressure vest and also aer wearing the deep pressure vest for 30 minutes. e amount of time dogs spent lying down when the rework CD was played was reduced when wearing the deep pressure vest. When the CD was played, total lying down time when wearing either vest was positively correlated with saliva cortisol indicating that increased time spent lying down was a sign that exposure to the rework CD increased stress in the dogs. When wearing either vest, dogs were found to spend more time near their owner when the CD was played. Urine oxytocin measures also positively correlated with time spent near owner when wearing the deep pressure vest during the recovery period (aer the CD was played) indicating that oxytocin may be related to the dog seeking owner support and comfort during stressful periods. Owners were also surveyed twice aer taking the deep pressure vest home aer the study and asked whether they found it helped their dog. Similar to the ndings from Cottam et al., (2013), most owners reported mainly positive eects, with only a minority reporting a neutral opinion indicating that most owners found the vest benecial in helping their dog. e authors concluded that whilst wearing a vest might facilitate dogs to seek comfort from their owners, they stated that they did not nd a clear therapeutic eect of using pressure ADDITIONAL READING:Bello, D., Redlich, C.A., Stowe, M.H., Sparer, J., Woskie, S.R., Streicher, R.P., Hosgood, H.D. and Liu, Y. (2008) ‘Skin exposure to aliphatic polyisocyanates in the auto body repair and renishing industry: II. A quantitative assessment’. Annals of Occupational Hygiene, 52(2), pp. 117-124.Cottam, N., Dodman, N.H. and Ha, J.C. (2013) ‘The eectiveness of the Anxiety Wrap in the treatment of canine thunderstorm phobia: An open-label trial’. Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research, 8(3), pp. 154-161.King, C., Bungton, L., Smith, T.J. and Grandin, T. (2014) ‘The eect of a pressure wrap (ThunderShirt®) on heart rate and behavior in canines diagnosed with anxiety disorder’. Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research, 9(5), pp. 215-221.Pekkin, A.M., Hänninen, L., Tiira, K., Koskela, A., Pöytäkangas, M., Lohi, H. and Valros, A. (2016) ‘The eect of a pressure vest on the behaviour, salivary cortisol and urine oxytocin of noise phobic dogs in a controlled test’. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 185, pp. 86-94.vests in noise phobic dogs. It is worth noting that the dogs were only tested during a very short exposure time to reworks, which may not simulate a real and prolonged exposure to a typical rework display. Similarly to Cottam et al., (2013) the study was also nancially supported by the manufacturer. Practical ApplicationConsidering these studies together, there is some limited evidence that pressure vests may have small but benecial eects in reducing stress and anxiety for noise phobic dogs and dogs with separation anxiety. Pressure vests are drug free, easy to t and versatile as they can be used for all types of fear and anxiety. For example, dogs that do not cope well with time spent away from their owner and require crate rest or restricted room rest, may particularly benet from wearing a vest alongside behaviour modication and anxiety reducing medication to help make the recovery process less stressful. In the studies where owners were asked to rate the eects of a pressure vest, owners perceived the vests to be benecial in helping their dogs anxiety. Although owner assessment is subjective, if owners perceive there to be benets of their dog wearing a vest then they may also feel more reassured and less anxious which may indirectly benet the dog. It is important to note that a dog’s stress and anxiety may not be fully alleviated or prevented by using a vest, and pressure vests may have no benecial eect at all. Dogs should be acclimatised to wearing the vest during normal everyday situations so that they do not associate the vest only being used in unpleasant situations. Whilst a vest may help manage anxiety in some cases, it is important that the source of the anxiety is also dealt with for the best prognosis. It is also worth noting that some of the studies discussed used subjective owner assessments which are prone to bias and the placebo eect and this should be considered when drawing conclusions on the eectiveness of pressure vests for dogs with anxiety. Sienna Taylor,Animal Welfare Research and Knowledge Exchange Arena,Hartpury University, Hartpury, Glos, GL19 3BESienna.Taylor@hartpury.ac.ukere is also a need for further research which is fully controlled and blinded to ascertain the therapeutic eect of pressure vests. If an owner is worried that their dog is showing signs of stress or anxiety, then they should always consult a qualied Behaviourist to seek advice on how they can help their dog.
41Animal Therapy Magazine | ISSUE 14Veterinary Rehabilitation Virtual ConferenceDon’t miss this online veterinary rehabilitation conference on Neurological Rehabilitation. Saturday,17 November 2018WEBCON 2018Go to sales.onlinepethealth-webcon.com andREGISTER NOW!Cost: $397 Sponsored by: Join us for 10 hours of Continuing EducationNOV17WEBCON 2018 magazine ad(final).indd 1 2018/10/03 08:13Vets and veterinary rehabilitation therapists are tapping into a growing move towards online conferences rather than physical, in-person conferences for the many benets these confer. Dr Megan Kelly, a Cape Town veterinary rehabilitation therapist, has organized a number of online conferences and is enthusiastic about this “conference of the future”. “Webcon2017, the rst online event I organized, received an overwhelmingly positive response. It opened my eyes to the amazing range of expertise that you can bring together for an online event – at a fraction of the cost of a physical conference. “We had experts in their elds from all over the world delivering world-class presentations on topics relating to the canine athlete. This year, our theme is ‘the neurological dog’. We’re expecting a similar lineup of experts in their elds, all geared to the continuing education of vets and canine rehabilitation therapists.”Continuing professional education is a basic requirement in the expanding eld of veterinary science and animal rehabilitation, where research is Canine neurological conditions in the spotlight at Webcon2018Online conferencing is already the norm for many professions, and looks set to increase in popularity among animal health practitioners, too. Webcon2017 hosted 300 participants from 29 countries. Webcon2018, scheduled for 17 November 2018, has incorporated the suggestions of all, and is likely to be bigger, better and even more interactive than last year’s event. Exhibitors for Webcon2018 include: Assisi Animal Health, Go HERO, Sharc software, Equine-libirum Physiotherapy College, Greyfriars Hydrotherapy and Rehabilitation Centre, Eddie’s Wheels, Onlinepethealth webinar, Onlinepethealth Hydrowebinar, Pulsevet, Aquatreadand STAAR (Symposium on Therapeutic advances in Animal Rehabilitation).revealing new knowledge and insights every year. We cannot get by on yesterday’s knowledge. We can read the journals, search the online articles, talk to our fellow professionals – but nothing boosts knowledge and condence quite like an intensive conference experience, where we learn from and interact with colleagues from all over the world. With online conferences there is no loss of work time while we travel and spend days away from home. We get to maintain our practices, remain at home with our families and avoid the costs. All it takes is a little organization on the home and work fronts. For those who cannot watch presentations live, they’re all available for thirty days after the event. Interaction with fellow participants is facilitated through a community networking chat page, so you get all the buzz with none of the logistics.One of the great advantages of the online format is the quality and range of speakers the format attracts; since the experts don’t have to leave their homes, costs are kept low and conference organizers can draw in the very best – the practicing veterinarians and veterinary rehabilitation therapists with specialized knowledge in a variety of elds. Some comments from participants at the recent Hydrocon2018 – geared specically to canine hydrotherapists: “I enjoyed that I was able to access this from the other side of the world. Fantastic!”“The best part was being able to communicate with all the other attendees. I did not expect that.”
42Animal Therapy Magazine | ISSUE 14Traditionally, bonre night in November has been recognised as a stressful time for pets. But pet owners should remember that reworks are now common from Halloween in October right through to Chinese New Year in February. Occasions such as Diwali, Christmas and New Year’s Eve all add to the stress. In addition to reworks, other triggers for stress include parties, lots of house visitors, loud music, changes to routine, even Christmas decorations and excited children with new toys!Advice for all pet owners during party season:• Give your pet somewhere to hide that they can access at all times. Eg. Under furniture• Walk your dog during daylight and keep pets indoors after dark when reworks are likely to go o.• Close windows and curtains at nightfall and play music to help mask the sound of reworks.• Comfort your pet if it helps them relax, or leave them alone to hide unless you think they may harm themselves.• Never punish your pets when they are scared.• Make sure your pet can’t escape if they are startled by sudden noise. For Dogs:• Close all window and create a play area where they can’t see ashing lights.• Before rework start, settle your dog in the play area with some toys.• When reworks start, ignore them yourself. See if your dog wants to play, but don’t force them.• If your frightened dog has a companion that isn’t scared of reworks, keep them together.Party SeasonFor Cats:• Keep you can indoors and remember to secure the cat ap.• Microchip your cat in case it does escape when frightened.• Make sure your cat has a safe place to hide.• If your cat is hiding, don’t try and tempt them out as this will make them more stressed.Small Animals and Birds• For pets living outside, cover part of the pen, cage or aviary with blankets to create a sound-proof area, but make sure your pet is still able to look out.• Provide plenty of extra bedding to give your pet something to burrow in.If your pet shows extreme signs of stress, always consult your vet for advice.About Pet RemedyFor most of us pets are an extension of our family. Just like us, individual pets react dierently to the stresses of everyday life. Pet Remedy is a solution to this problem. A unique and patented formula of low concentration Valerian absolute oil with small inclusions of Vetiver, Basil & Clary Sage essential oils.HistoryDeveloped and made in the U.K. as a result of a cat called Tigger with behavioural issues!Pet Remedy was developed with help from a team of vets, veterinary nurses, psychiatrist, and drawing from our own knowledge and experience of aromatherapy and essential oils.Pet Remedy proved so eective with Tigger, that a further three years of development and trials at two RSPCA rescue centres and several veterinary practices, led to a product launch in 2010.Patents were nally granted in 2016 for the formula and method of delivery.How Pet Remedy Workse Valerian absolute and other essential oils used in the Pet Remedy formula comprise highly volatile oils, with tiny molecular structures (less than 500 atomic mass units), which makes them very concentrated, aromatic, and easily able to cross the brain-blood barrier.Pet Remedy works with the pet’s own natural calming mechanisms by mimicking GABA (gamma amino butyric acid), which is a natural calming agent present in all mammals, birds, and reptiles.So when a pet becomes stressed or anxious Pet Remedy helps trick fried-up nerve cells into thinking they are getting a message from the brain to calm. is is why it starts to help instantly. Explained by Dr. Flo Watt MRCPsych (Consultant Psychiatrist)Many valerian preparations are too potent and can sedate rather than calm. Pet Remedy is low concentration and is therefore very gentle in its eect on the metabolism.Valerian Absolute OilValerian absolute oil is obtained by cold extraction from the roots and rhizomes of the plant, Valeriana Ocinalis, and has been used for centuries as an eective and safe calming agent.Known compounds detected in valerian that may contribute to its method of action are:Sesquiterpenes: (contained in the volatile oil): isovaleric acid, valerenic acid, valerenal, and valerenol.We source our absolute oil from Europe where our valerian plants are grown organically using only manure as fertiliser.PET REMEDY
43Animal Therapy Magazine | ISSUE 14PARTY SEASONBE PREPARED!Fast ActingAvailable from your vet, leading pet shops, and www.petremedy.co.ukpet remedy✔✔✔✔Helps all petsEasy to useFast actingClinically provenAbout the Pet Remedy Formula• Natural• Clinically proven• Easy to use• Starts to help instantly• Very gentle in its eect• Helps calm pet without sedating• Mimics our pets’ own natural calming mechanisms• Helps stressed pet become more aware of surroundings, and more attentive and receptive, which in turn helps condence building and training.• Helps all pets in the home, veterinary clinic, or rescue centre, but will only have an eect on a pet that is stressed; as nerve cells are only ever excited or calm; so an already calm pet cannot be even more calm.• The Valerian blend has a warm earthy, herbal, aroma, enhanced by small inclusions of Vetiver, Sweet Basil and Clary Sage.• The eect will last from 2 to 6 hours depending on the individual pet.Stress can be triggered by:• Fireworks• New pet in home• New home• Changes in home• Loud noises• Travel / Visit to Vets• Loss of companion• Change in routine• Alone at home• SeparationSigns of stress include:• Behaviour change• Spraying/soiling• Over grooming• Lack of interaction• Pacing• Loss of appetite• Chewing• Aggression• Scratching• YawningWhat to expect from Pet RemedyYou will oen see a change in demeanour of a stressed pet within a few minutes as the de-stress & calming properties take eect.Remember, Pet Remedy is only a support mechanism that helps to calm excited nerves. is still leaves the matter of learnt and reactive behaviour to deal with.Oen they will still react or behave in the same way as when stressed or anxious even if their nerve cells are calmed. For instance if the doorbell goes, a dog may still react by barking.An advantage with trainable animals such as dogs and horses, is that in helping calm, Pet Remedy helps them become more aware of surroundings and more receptive and attentive to you. is in turn means you can work on developing condence and behaviour modication.Available as a plug diuser, calming spray, wipe or battery atomiser, Pet Remedy is easy to use, fast acting, and suitable for all pets.Pet remedy is available from your vet and all leading pet shops or from www.petremedy.co.uk
44Animal Therapy Magazine | ISSUE 14Support good circulationMaintain mobilityEase muscle tension, aid warm-up and warm-downto help prevent injuryrecoverperformprepareLearn more at www.backontrack.comemail georgia.keegan@backontrack.com for information®Back on Track’s own unique Welltex fabric works by reflecting the body’s infrared heat due to the infused ceramic particles in the textile, helping to support circulation and ease muscle tension. Stockists needed - Call now on 07766 463099 or ATM-Autumn2018_190x134_BOT23 October 2018 17:06:37Dates for your DiaryAnimal Therapy Magazine is one of a kind. The publication’s sole aim is to inform professionals and owners of current and pioneering treatments and techniques. Featuring interviews with top professionals in the eld, real life case studies and up-to-date news and reviews, Animal Therapy Magazine is a must have for anyone involved with animals; whether that is in a professional capacity, pet owner or both. • Quarterly publication• Circulated nationwide• Online version• Targeted audience and distribution• Course and CPD information• Editorials written by highly regarded industry professionals• Case studies• Professional proles• Product reviews• Interviews Don't forget to keep a close eye on our website for press releases, articles and hot off the press industry informationAnimalerapySUBSCRIBE NOW FOR YOUR HARD COPY! You can now subscribe to receive a hard copy of our magazine. Our subscribers willget priority posting upon release of eachissue. Annual subscription is just £14 for the 4 issues, individual issues are £4 each To subscribe go to the website www.animaltherapymedia.co.ukand follow the links
45Animal Therapy Magazine | ISSUE 14BACK in May one of my vets, had returned from a volunteer trip helping the Friends of the Strays of Greece. Sheena has been helping them for many years and her own dogs are Greek rescue. While some people “frown upon” rehoming dogs from abroad when we have so many dogs in rescue centres, listening to her experience made me think. Stray animals are a worldwide issue but every animal deserve’s a chance. What could I do? Adopt a dog, sponsor a dog, share posts of animals looking for a home, or give some time and use my expertise. Sheena told me all about the trip, the trials and tribulations. After her story she wasn’t sure anyone nurse or other would want to go back to help her. Without a thought I said I’d go. 45 mins later after a physio consult and a little time to think I sought her out and conrmed I really did mean it and I had even checked in with my other half so it was a go!I have done a couple volunteer projects, at 23 I went to Guatemala to do animal enrichment in a zoo, in Australia I helped at Bat Aid. Here in the UK I have done pro bono work for the Celica cross greyhound rescue, and the practices I have worked for have always done work for RSPCA or Cats protection or Dog Trust, my own dog of 13 years was a dog’s trust foster fail, but I’d always been a little scared to do a “veterinary project”. I have been in the veterinary industry for 21 years and I’ve always worked in top class veterinary hospitals and referral practice as an RVN and now as a veterinary physio, with fantastic support from colleagues, the best of equipment and a safe working environment. Projects abroad can be a dierent feat altogether. The week before we left Sheena and I had a conversation where she explained what I should expect, and I’m pleased she did as words alone can not prepare you. I found it an assault on all senses from the noise, smells, sights. On arrival we were picked up by the shelter volunteers and started the project that afternoon. We only had four and a half days to do as much as we could. Sheena mentioned she cycles from the hotel to the shelter and back every day and was I in. I thought in for a penny, so yeah why not. The cycle ride turned out to be 19 Kms each way, it took me 1 hour. I’m not a keen cyclist and it had been 2 years since I’d been on a bike, but it allowed some well needed alone time to clear the brain and thrash out some worries or concerns. We would get up at 7.20am and leave the hotel by 8/8.15. cycle to the centre and work through to 5.30/6. Lunch was on the run and I say a big thank you to Sheena for feeding me as I do get “hangry”. Then cycle home, shower, eat, sleep REPEAT.In four and a half days: • We spayed 33 bitches • Castrated 2 dogs and 1 had an umbilical hernia repair • Sedated 3 dogs to deal with signicant ear damage/disease • Treated 25 + dogs with sores, wounds or medical/ health issues and rechecked them as needed.As you can imagine it’s not like operating in the UK. Its very much “back to basics”. There is a degree of disorder. I was afraid to do a veterinary project for three reasons, going back to basics and not coping I can be very hard on myself, the fear of being bitten, and losing an animal under GA. I am happy to say that I coped well with the “back to basics” – there is an added degree of stress and worry but as all our patients survived their surgery I had conquered two of the fears. The dog bite was not quite as bad as my imagination and a complete accident. We had very limited medications, after surgery if an animal was uncomfortable we would give an extra oral pain medication. To save ngers we would hide the medication in food and feed from a bowl. While feeding one dog her tablet, a little dog who was recovering from GA and looked asleep, smelt the food and snapped at the smell which turned out to be my nger. It’s funny how being in a dicult situation can show how well you can cope. Before the trip everyone including myself thought there would be tears. I quickly realised crying wouldn’t help me and it would make the whole experience more dicult. So, I breathed A LOT. At times I was scared, stressed and worried BUT I did it, and look back with a sense of achievement and the knowledge that we made a small dierence to what is a worldwide problem. I encourage people to step outside their comfort zone and do something “dierent”. Not everyone can be a person who works in a shelter or neuter animal’s but we can all make a dierence, from liking a page on social media and sharing, adopting an animal or if that is not possible sponsor one. I could not do what I did for those four and a half days all the time as my body would not keep up and the emotional strain would be too much, but I can and will do things to help where I can. There are some special people out there in a increasing dicult situation doing incredible things in tough situations. Greek Odyssey: A whirlwind trip to Greece to treat and neuter dogsby Donna Boddie RVN, Dip A Phys
46Animal Therapy Magazine | ISSUE 14THE most ‘common’ training issues I come across whilst teaching variety of OTTB’s and their riders are;1. Contact issues2. Suppleness issues3. (both of the above..)4. e medium trotIt is dicult, if you are a competitive rider with an OTTB (O-the-Track oroughbred) as the medium trot, or showing some strides of, is required from Novice upwards. If you have an OTTB who naturally extends in balance and swing, you have a very rare OTTB and one who many a rider will be jealous of. Even my most naturally amboyant OTTB; Mission Impossible, struggles with medium trot as his hind leg moment is so great that he cant quite work out how to lengthen his frame and ‘reach’ forward whilst in balance. For him, and many that understand the concept, the hind leg goes wider than that of the front legs when asked to go forward. is is a balancing issue as the horse has to become wider at the base, but from a judging point of view, shows that the horse isn't lengthening the frame. the horse is losing balance and pushing with too much engine, which will result in your OTTB becoming onto the forehand. Much to the frustration of many of my clients. I tell them all the same; until your OTTB is at medium level and above they always struggle with the medium trot as your horse has to begin to understand the concept of collection. I would also like to mention that in most tests the medium trot is of one, maybe two movements (three if you're at regional/national level) out of a possible 25-30. e medium trot is not the be all and end all, and I would rather ride for a ‘6’ and maybe a cheeky ‘6.5’ than over push and get a 3/4 for cantering. loss of balance, running or contact issues resulting in the former. ere are a few exercises that can help your OTTB whilst they are developing and progressing through the levelsWe keep on returning back to the same training ‘block’ of; how do we make the hind leg quicker and more underneath our OTTB, to encourage the wither and shoulder to come up, to allow the frame to push, li, reach and extend. Looking at Image A we can see that when our OTTB generates more power from behind the result is for the croup to become higher, the wither lower and the hind leg doesn't step through, but more upwards. is what I would call’ default’ and be aware that when the OTTB’s body is challenged to a degree, this is what will happen in various forms. What we as re trainers must always remember, is that to allow the hind leg to come through, and encourage the hind leg to step under the body more naturally, we have to move the shoulders to a slightly dierent path than that of the hind leg to create space underneath their bodies.In the younger OTTB I would spiral the horse in on a 20 centre circle in the trot towards a 10 metre circle. As I leg yielded out of the circle I would as for a longer stride length at the same time. My inside leg would be applied on and o in rhythm with the trot, along with a halt halt, so your OTTB would understand that the rhythm stays the same whilst the stride length increases, with them so through their necks and jaw, which allows the swings and step from behind. You will nd in your OTTB that when you ask them to do this exercise that they will either try and run and come above the bridle, or they will try and reach down and lower their neck to help balance themselves better. If your OTTB takes the rein higher, then I would re establish my working trot, stop leg yielding and then proceed again once they had settled back into a rhythm they were comfortable with. If your OTTB draws the neck forward and slightly downwards, for now, I wold allow them to do so and then over time, try and increase the angle of the From RaceHorse to Dressage HorseLouise Robson, a sought after specialist in the eld tells us more about what is involved in the retraining of a racehorse and the success she has enjoyed.THOROUGHBRED DRESSAGEe dreaded medium trot ...
47Animal Therapy Magazine | ISSUE 14Aleg yield to stop them becoming too low. You can see this in Image B, where the poll has lowered and the neck has lengthend to help Mission impossible’s balance. however, as mentioned at the beginning of the article you can see how the hind leg has had to step wider than that or the foreleg as he has over powered himself from behind and has no where for the hind leg to go and he hasn't fully released from the shoulder forward as the wither has gone down (‘default’ mode).For us as riders, it is easier for us to have a better feel and create the connection in our OTTB on a curved line as opposed to a straight one. On a straight line our OTTB’s ‘default’ kicks back in, they become disconnected and it all becomes quite fragile. e exercise above is a good starting foundation; however, in no British dressage test is medium trot performed on a circle (canter yes, but not the trot) so how can we develop the medium trot onto a straight diagonal line. Using the foundation of the 20 metre circle leg yield, I would ask your OTTB to leg yield away from the fence towards the middle of the arena for a few strides. the leg yield has helped get the handle stepping under and working in a supporting role under the horses body with the shoulders on a slightly dierent line. I would then turn the shoulders onto the diagonal line, half halt and ask for a few steps forward. When I feel my OTTB loosing their balance, or they start to run, I would nish the diagonal line in a leg yield. is will also help teach your OTTB to start and nish the medium trot with the hind leg underneath and supporting their body rather than pushing up/out behind and dropping down in the wither and shoulder. As seen in the previous article, pole work can help begin to compress and extend the frame of your OTTB. With the poles slightly raised and closer together you can start to teach your OTTB about collection and the continued overleafAB
48Animal Therapy Magazine | ISSUE 14hind leg coming under and lowering, to then push up and through as opposed to ‘default’ of up and onto the forehand as can be seen in Image C.One of the issues with having an OTTB is being able to create and sustain the connection between front end and back end. In a warmblood, usually, when you apply the leg, with a half halt, the shoulders and wither li, with a so and supporting hind leg coming under. If your warmblood looses their balance, cadence and step, you ask with a bit more leg and another half halt or two to help engage. With an OTTB, the more leg you use/apply the more the over step and push of the hind leg, the croup becomes higher and with the use of the leg comes more speed, and the half halt then can create a tense and backwards neck, which the back then becomes tight and lowers, rather than liing. e use of poles, especially on a curve, will help us a riders start to train the body and mindset of our THOROUGHBRED DRESSAGEOTTB to allow the half halt and use of the leg in accordance to what their body is doing. I have found that by teaching the beginnings of the Piae and Passage have helped greatly with the quality of the trot work and the li and push of the medium trot. When asking Quadrille for medium trot his wither goes down, his bottom goes up and his neck becomes brittle and a bit too straight. e passage has helped teach him to step under and li and has actually helped conrm the half halt with the use of the leg. e teachings of the piae and passage are the highest forms of collection, which will test your OTTB’s brain and more importantly their conformation. It is very important to do things slowly and thinking about ‘playing’ with the idea, opposed to asking too much too soon and risking possible injury. It might be that your OTTB is no where near the stages of passage, but it is important that you can start to compress and extend their frame and encourage their joints to become soer and understand about lowering. I have found that the most encouraging way to do this is by riding a square and using the turns to encourage the compression whilst turning the shoulder. In the young OTTB I would use the squares to teach about turning the outside shoulder, which would then develop on to teaching them about shoulder in. In the later stages of training I start to use this exercise to, again, move the shoulders, but encourage greater li and compression of the frame. In the younger horse you can use this exercise to ride should run on one side of your square, a slight 45 degree turn from the outside shoulder, onto a diagonal line and ask for a fe strides forwards. e slight turn out of the diagonal line moves the shoulders onto a dierent line than that of the hind leg, and the shoulder in/fore position already has the hind leg stepping through underneath. C
49Animal Therapy Magazine | ISSUE 14e same applies with the leg yield exercise, go forward and come back in the shoulder fore position to teach them that the hind leg stays under and supporting. In Image D you can see how the rst stride into the medium trot is with the shoulder and wither up, the hind leg is stepping forward and the neck is so and forward. e medium trot can be maintained across the diagonal with the thought of ‘building the trot in an uphill frame’ through the use of mini half halts and gentle press and release of the leg to think ‘working trot in a passage frame.’ the turn onto the diagonal line is key, as I need the hind leg with me and the shoulder up. is is where the ‘square work’ has helped teach Quad to lower the hind leg and become quicker on the turns as opposed to him dropping the hind leg slightly away from in on the turn, falling onto the shoulder and the rst stride starting o low, rather than higher in front. is can be seen in Image E.For me, as a rider, as soon as Quadrille’s shoulders go down and the wither drops, we are back to Image A scenario and he will run and become shorter in the stride. If we compare this to Image E where I haven't secured the shoulder and li on the turn to the diagonal, how we have start the medium trot a little bit low in front and the neck appears tight and the croup is already higher than that of the wither. In this circumstance, there is very little I can do to adjust the frame and quality of trot in a half halt/a stride. I believe that as Quadrille’s training continues that I will be able to, but for now, I would ride that medium trot in a conservative way and go for a ‘6’ as opposed to interfering with the balance that he is in and upsetting him for the following movements. Without sounding too negative, the reality is that oroughbreds are not built to have a medium/extended trot for a 9/10. We can teach them to li, extend and push; however, it is probably one of the most challenging movements as it not just about the movement of the medium trot, but also being able to ride the movements before, aer and the transition to the best of your horses ability at that point in their training without them feeling pressured. It takes time, patience and lots of thinking outside of the box!Majestic photographySpidge photography DE
50Animal Therapy Magazine | ISSUE 14Sherry’s Blogby Sherry Scott MBECanine Arthritis ManagementA TALK at the IAAT AGM given by Hannah Capon MA Vet MB MRCVS, Director at Canine Arthritis Management, brought home to the Animal erapists present the great need for help with our canine patients who suer the pain and disability that seems to come with the old age of most breeds.Early signs of discomfort help us start treatment faster to improve quality of life and a home visit also helps to bring to light many possible contributing factors.Hannah spoke to our delegates about the setting up of CAM (Canine Arthritis Management). Key to this is a free online resource (www.caninearthritis.co.uk). She has some upcoming CPD events and you can contact her at hannah@caninearthritis.co.uk.At the College we encourage our students to persuade their vets to hold Arthritic Physio Clinics teaching that the environment the dogs are kept in can make a huge dierence. Some areas to be aware of are:• Slippery oors• Hairy feet that need to be trimmed• Steps/stairs• Jumping out of cars and o beds• Chasing balls• Over-exercising (exercise should be in small doses but often)• Weight is a very big factorWe are very lucky our treatments make a great improvement so vets are very happy to refer their patients because medication alone is not enough.e CAM shop (www.camonlineshop.com) sells a number of aids and the yellow bandana is a visual reminder that the wearer suers with arthritis and enables the public to be more considerate.Hannah is very passionate about educating animal therapy professionals and owners, as changing a few small things can make a huge dierence to the reduction of pain and increase in wellbeing of the canine patient. ere is a range of resources available on the CAM website to promote education on this very common problem.50 Animal Therapy Magazine | ISSUE 14ese eye catching bandanas are designed to not only look great, but to tell the world your dog has arthritis and you're managing it well. ey also shout "be careful around me, I'm not as strong on these legs as I used to be". ey also tell people to "give me a wide berth as I don't like being bumped into".
51Animal Therapy Magazine | ISSUE 14The College of Animal Physiotherapyis the longest-established animal physiotherapy college in the UK and trains students from around the worldAnimal PhysiotherapyIs this the career for you?There’s no need to be a human physiotherapist rst! Visit our website to see how we can help you develop your skills or start a new career.Our Equine and Canine Massage courses will complement and develop your work with animals.01844 290545 admin@tcap.co.uk www.tcap.co.uk Magnetopulse II Pulsed Electro-Magnetic Field machine Blue and red light phototherapy plus six different magnetic field frequencies enabling a wide range of therapy treatments for joints, bones, ligaments and muscles Package includes: Magnetopulse II unit, phototherapy head, leg applicator and charger. RRP: £900 +VAT Promotional price: £700 +VAT Dual outputs allow two applicators to be used together. Other accessories are available. We also stock Electrovet and Long and Shortwave Ultrasound machines. Please contact us for a price list, training opportunities and CPD. The College of Animal Physiotherapy admin@tcap.co.uk | www.tcap.co.uk | 01844 290545 magnetopulse IIPulsed Electro-Magnetic Field machineBlue and red light phototherapy plus six different magnetic eld frequencies enabling a wide range of therapy treatments for joints, bones, ligaments and muscles.Dual outputs allow two applicators to be used together. Other accessories are available.Package includes:Magnetopulse II unit, phototherapy head, leg applicator and charger.RRP: £900 +VATPromotional price: £750 +VATMagnetopulse II Pulsed Electro-Magnetic Field machine Blue and red light phototherapy plus six different magnetic field frequencies enabling a wide range of therapy treatments for joints, bones, ligaments and muscles Package includes: Magnetopulse II unit, phototherapy head, leg applicator and charger. RRP: £900 +VAT Promotional price: £700 +VAT Dual outputs allow two applicators to be used together. Other accessories are available. We also stock Electrovet and Long and Shortwave Ultrasound machines. Please contact us for a price list, training opportunities and CPD. The College of Animal Physiotherapy admin@tcap.co.uk | www.tcap.co.uk | 01844 290545 We also stock Electrovet and Long and Shortwave Ultrasound machines.Please contact us for a price list, training opportunities and CPD.01844 290545admin@tcap.co.ukwww.tcap.co.ukWe are working for excellence in animaltherapy through ourregistered animal therapistsIAAT exists to provide vets, owners and insurance companies with a register of trained professionals in a number of disciplines: Physiotherapy Osteopathy Animal Manipulation Massage HydrotherapyIAAT is run by its members, for its members andis committed to providing a professional andproactive association. It is a high profile organisation that boasts a large number of international members.To find a fully qualified and insured therapist please use our postcode search on our website: www.iaat.org.ukTo register as a therapist, or for more information, please contact: info@iaat.org.uk or 01844 290545We are working for excellence in animaltherapy through ourregistered animal therapistsIAAT exists to provide vets, owners and insurance companies with a register of trained professionals in a number of disciplines: Physiotherapy Osteopathy Animal Manipulation Massage HydrotherapyIAAT is run by its members, for its members andis committed to providing a professional andproactive association. It is a high profile organisation that boasts a large number of international members.To find a fully qualified and insured therapist please use our postcode search on our website: www.iaat.org.ukTo register as a therapist, or for more information, please contact: info@iaat.org.uk or 01844 290545
52Animal Therapy Magazine | ISSUE 14YEARS OF THE LONDON VET SHOW10VISIT LONDONVETSHOW.CO.UK OR CALL US ON 02476 719 687SECURE YOUR PASS FOR £495+VAT TO BOOK, VISIT WWW.LONDONVETSHOW.CO.UK/VT (BVA/BEVA MEMBERS RECEIVE DISCOUNTS)LONDONVETSHOWYou care for animals and the LONDON VET SHOW cares for you. And it has been for 10 years. It’s simply the one and only place where veterinary professionals get everything they need – from ideas and inspiration to the latest techniques and products. With more than 450 exhibitors, an in-depth conference programme and world-class CPD, it’s in a class all of its own. Platinum Sponsors:Gold Sponsors: Silver Sponsors:Organised by:Proud to host:Education Partners:Bookfor £495+VAT (BVA/BEVA members receive discounts)YEARS OF THE LONDON VET SHOW10VISIT LONDONVETSHOW.CO.UK OR CALL US ON 02476 719 687SECURE YOUR PASS FOR £495+VAT TO BOOK, VISIT WWW.LONDONVETSHOW.CO.UK/VT (BVA/BEVA MEMBERS RECEIVE DISCOUNTS)LONDONVETSHOWYou care for animals and the LONDON VET SHOW cares for you. And it has been for 10 years. It’s simply the one and only place where veterinary professionals get everything they need – from ideas and inspiration to the latest techniques and products. With more than 450 exhibitors, an in-depth conference programme and world-class CPD, it’s in a class all of its own. Platinum Sponsors:Gold Sponsors: Silver Sponsors:Organised by:Proud to host:Education Partners:Bookfor £495+VAT (BVA/BEVA members receive discounts)