Issue 2 : simplebooklet.com

3Animal Therapy Magazine | AUTUMN 2015GET IN TOUCH: Hannah Ashton – Editorhannah@animaltherapymedia.co.uk Georgia Keegan – Editorgeorgia@animaltherapymedia.co.uk Steven Sweet – Productionsteven@animaltherapymedia.co.uk www.animaltherapymedia.co.ukWhile every eort has been made to ensure that information is correct at the time of going to print, Animal erapy Media Ltd cannot be held responsible for the outcome of any action or decision based on the information contained in this publication/website. e 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 erapy Media Ltd and/or the authors of the articles within. Permission is only deemed valid if approval is in writing.Front cover image: Rose Lewis, Daydream Equine Artwww.daydreamequineart.co.ukCONTENTS 5 A Team Event8 Joe Carby12 Photizo - product review14 Louise Swindlehurst16 Equine Hydrotherapy18 FMBs22 Canine Cruciate Ligament26 erapy for the Mind29 McTimoney - A day in the life30 Mary Bromiley32 Animal Osteopathy36 Polymyopathy40 Sky44 Leading the way47 Why should I be a positive trainer?50 In the beginning - Sherry ScottM A G A Z I N EAnimalerapyWelcome! to the second edition of the Animal erapy Magazine. We have been overwhelmed with the response from issue one and hope you enjoy issue two just as much. Animal erapy Magazine has been created by passionate professionals working in the eld of animal therapy. New products and techniques are being discovered every day and as such this publication is the ideal place for education, product launches, reviews, success stories, case studies, testimonials and much more. Anyone working within the industry will know that therapists learn something new with every case. For this reason we encourage professionals from every eld to get in touch to share their experiences, discuss techniques and promote products they believe in. is publication will provide a platform to educate owners and professionals, enabling them to achieve the best possible results for their animals. So, if you have a story to tell or information to share please get in touch......ISSUE 2 - AUTUMN 2015Issued Quarterly

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5Animal Therapy Magazine | AUTUMN 2015LIFE’S BETTER when we work together. Collaborations of colleagues working together for a common goal always result in better outcomes than dissident, self-serving individuals who refuse to communicate. ere is nothing so impressive, exciting to witness or upliing to be part of as a well-trained, cohesive team. Equally the opposite can be true!ere are many of us working in animal health and, with such a wide knowledge base, it is impossible for one individual to ‘know it all’. It is more important than ever before that we draw in expertise when it is needed and share information freely. Vets, physios, farriers, dental technicians, chiropractors, osteopaths, saddlers, massage therapists, nutritionists etc should all work together, with the owner, towards the very best outcome for the horse or pony.A Team Eventby Dr Christopher Tufnell MRCVSWhy do we, veterinary surgeons, want to coordinate all this? (The boring legal bit)A vet’s role is dened by the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 and we are all regulated under this Act. This is an excerpt from the RCVS website:Section 19 of the Act provides, subject to a number of exceptions, that only registered members of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons may practise veterinary surgery. ‘Veterinary surgery’ is dened within the Act as follows:‘“veterinary surgery” means the art and science of veterinary surgery and medicine and, without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, shall be taken to include —a. the diagnosis of diseases in, and injuries to, animals including tests performed on animals for diagnostic purposes;b. the giving of advice based upon such diagnosis;c. the medical or surgical treatment of animals; andd. the performance of surgical operations on animals.’The Veterinary Surgery (Exemptions) Order 1962 allows for the treatment of animals by physiotherapy, provided that the animal has rst been seen by a veterinary surgeon who has diagnosed the condition and decided that it should be treated by physiotherapy under his/her direction.‘Physiotherapy’ is interpreted as including all kinds of manipulative therapy. It therefore includes osteopathy and chiropractic but would not, for example, include acupuncture or aromatherapy.This eective monopoly on diagnosis, advice giving and treatment is part of a ‘social contract’ that we, as professionals, have whereby in exchange we undertake very rigorous training, agree to be strictly regulated and promise to behave professionally, putting the welfare of the animal above all other considerations. For these reasons, as well as it being in the animal’s best interests that there is one knowledgeable individual bringing everything together, frequently insurance companies will only pay out if a vet has sanctioned each and every intervention.BEST PRACTICEMy experience is that the sooner we get together over a case the better. Sadly, and usually because veterinary care is costly, I frequently nd that a horse has been seen by several other people before my rst assessment. More worryingly the horse may never have been seen trotted up or on the lunge. I gain a huge amount from involving a physiotherapist in my initial assessment of so many lameness or poor performance issues. Subtle areas of pain or reduced ranges of movement are oen picked up that I might otherwise have missed. Additionally an early treatment can separate the wood from the trees, alleviating the secondary pain and discomfort leaving the primary problem exposed. Aer the initial examinations I always prefer that the second assessment is a joint visit. e ability for us to quiz the owner, examine the horse and get our heads together far outweighs the benets of phone messages or written reports. It avoids contradictions which always leave the owner confused and disenchanted and results in a clear way ahead.In many cases advanced diagnostics will be required. Frequently this will lead to a course of treatment that always includes physical therapy of one kind or other. is might just be controlled exercise but a trick is being missed if physiotherapy and, most importantly, on going stretches and exercises aren’t involved. Joint re-assessments oen help in deciding on an increase in work or, usually to the owner’s relief, whether turn-out is safe!ere are so many conditions that benet from this approach. Almost all lamenesses will result in stiness, discomfort and pain in other areas that can be relieved by physiotherapy. continued overleaf

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6Animal Therapy Magazine | AUTUMN 2015Dr Chris Tufnell MRCVS owns Coach House Vets, a three vet team caring for horses and ponies of all sorts in West Berkshire, Hampshire, Oxfordshire and Wiltshire. He is also Vice President of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. He enjoys looking after horse and ponies of all types from pampered pet to top competition horses and champions communication.is is particularly important when the lameness is ‘on the mend’ and we want the horse to use itself properly. Many cases of ‘kissing spines’ (over-riding dorsal spinous processes), however dramatic the xrays appear, ONLY require pain relief and physiotherapy to return them to full work. Ongoing guidance on how to work the horse from a physio is invaluable in keeping these horses sound. ose that do require some sort of surgery ALWAYS benet from follow up physiotherapy during the rehabilitation period.Sacroiliac joint disease is another condition that frequently benets from physiotherapy and clear guidance for the owner on how to work the horse as it recovers. However it should be remembered that some conditions do just need rest with gentle movement to allow them to fully resolve and some sacroiliac cases certainly fall into this bracket.ere are so many opportunities for the future that are currently missed. Too many veteran horses and ponies with arthritis are expected to ‘battle on’ without the benet of regular physiotherapy. Almost all wounds, particularly those involving joints, benet from physiotherapy to return the animal to a full range of movement.As in so many areas of life communication is the key. Scrawled written reports are frequently all that is available and are really not good enough. Emails are very helpful and allow us to keep on le each others ndings and thoughts. However face to face or phone conversations are hugely superior and move passive communication into true, active collaboration. At the centre of all this is the owner and it is incumbent on us all to communicate frequently and clearly with the owner using language that they can understand. It is only when an owner fully understands what is going on with their animal that they will be fully committed to the ongoing treatment plan.Our all-encompassing focus must be on the very best outcome for the animal and working together is the only way that we can truly achieve this.

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7Animal Therapy Magazine | AUTUMN 2015Sally Evans Human and Equine Sports Massage erapistFully qualied and insuredFriendly and professional servicee main benets of massage are:• Increased performance and exibility• Enhances muscles tone• Relieves muscle spasm and tension• Improves circulation• Prevents injury• Improved recovery time• Relieves muscle soreness• Enhances proprioception• Promotes general well being• Can also help with behavioural issues when riddenMassage also benecial for• Horses suering respiratory problems• Arthritis• Laminitis• Joint conditions07535 990057Humanandequinemassagetherapy@yahoo.co.ukwww.humanandequinemassage.weebly.comAreas covered - Worcester, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and once a month the North West and Merseyside.www.thameswoodvets.co.ukA unique clinic combining a team of independent professionals and our own senior surgeons and nurses working together in a practical way to help reduce pain and rehabilitate family pets and working dogs.The ARK oers:• Physiotherapy• Acupuncture• Hydrotherapy• K-LaserAll of which (apart from Hydrotherapy) is carried out within our three practices.The ARK enables us to extend the level of care given to our pets beyond that provided by most veterinary practices by: • Having a holistic approach to treatment of arthritis, pain management, rehabilitation and sports injuries • Enabling us in some cases to reduce the level of medication prescribed • Facilitate pet owners to have a better understanding of their pet’s needs and be able to participate in the practical management of their pet’s quality of life.Welcome to the ARKTelephone: 01793 526780 62-64 Purton Road, Swindon SN2 2LZ1A Oppenheimer, Greenbridge Road, Swindon SN3 3LH39B Station Road, Royal Wootton Bassett Swindon SN4 7EDAnimal PhysiotherapyIs this the career for you?No need to be human physiotherapist rst!We now oer Equine and Canine Massage courses and Super CPDs to compliment and develop your work with animalse College is the longest established animal physiotherapy college in the UK and trains students from around the world.www.tcap.co.uk | call: 01844290545Visit our website and choose from the various courses and CPDs available to help you start a new career or add to your current knowledge of animals.We are working for excellence in animal therapy through our registered 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 and is committed to providing a professional and proactive association. It is a high profile organisation that boasts a large number of international members. To register as a therapist, or for more information, please contact www.iaat.org.uk(email address to follow) 01844 290545

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9Animal Therapy Magazine | AUTUMN 2015I WAS ALWAYS T OLD that failing to prepare is preparing to fail. is is too true when getting a horse t for its desired discipline. By understanding how horses move, which muscles are essential for the job you want them to do (dierent disciplines require dierent muscular engagement) and that their cardiovascular strength is sucient, we can prevent injury, illness and poor performance and keep our four legged friends happy and willing to work. It isn’t actually that hard, we just have to be willing to put in the hours!I generally try to break the process down into 4 stages.Stage 1 – PreparationStage 2 – Conditioning (Long, slow, distance work)Stage 3 – Fittening (Strength work)Stage 4 – e Competing (Fast work) STAGE 1  PREPARATION It is essential that before bringing a horse back into work you make sure that it is physically able. A summer out in the eld gives no end of opportuni-ties for horse to pull themselves about and it isn’t until we get on board that we realise the existence of these issues. So, rst things rst, I always suggest getting the horse fully checked over by a qualied, registered and insured therapist.Over the summer months, or aer any amount of time o, horses will change shape, so make sure your saddle truly ts before the horse is expected to carry a rider. In an era of ever increas-ing knowledge surrounding the equine world, it should be unacceptable to see horses wearing badly tting saddles. If we expect horses to carry us for long days competing or hunting and get us across testing terrain, the very least we can do is to ensure that our equine friends our comfortable and able.Other checks include teeth and of course feet. Aer all no foot, no horse! STAGE 2  CONDITIONINGI start with walking in hand, long reigning or lunging, without a rider, for approximately 15-20 minutes over 7 days increasing to 30 minutes. Working without a rider on board is a valuable form of exercise as, when done correctly with an Equi Ami, Pasoa or something similar. is will encourage the horse to bring the hind legs under, li its abdominals and back and carry its front end upwards and forwards, giving ample opportunity for muscles to strengthen. At this stage I would only really be looking at walking, adding in a bit of trot work. en comes the ridden work. Here we aim to strengthen the connective tissues, get all the systems working and last but certainly by no means least, reduce any unnecessary body fat. A progressive exercise plan will strength-en the connective tissues (Tendons, ligaments, hoof horn, bone and skin), increase the elasticity in tendons, liga-ments and muscles and improve joint and limb range of movement (ROM). All together, these will minimise the risk of stress, damage or re-injury. Any time o whether it is box rest or eld turn out will weaken all the tissues. Should a horse be brought back into work too quickly, the chance of injury or lameness is greatly increased.Increase the elasticity in tendons, ligaments and muscles. As the horse increases his work load it’s joint and limb range of movement (ROM) will also increaseAs the horse gets stronger from the outside, they are also getting stronger on the inside. e neuro muscular system is a vital part to a horse’s proprioception (the ability to judge movement and position of the limbs). Having good proprioception is a must for any safe competitor!As previously mentioned, horses don’t only loose muscle when out of work, but the tendons, ligaments and bone also weaken, therefore it is essential you allow these structures to strengthen over time to prevent injury. Aer a long period of box rest, we suggest you allow one month per gait, for example, the rst month you remain in walk increasing the time each week. e next month you introduce trot work and the third month the canter. is can be adapted should the horse have a remaining level of tness but personally I wouldn’t go much below two weeks per gait.Physiotherapy is also an important part of any horses’ conditioning and main-tenance program. A good physiothera-pist that sees your horse regularly will be able to solve most muscular issues before they become a chronic problem. e dierent treatments a Physiother-apist can provide will keep your horse in top condition which is essential to build muscle. ey should also give you some exercises to continue with between treatments that will further develop suppleness and strength.Strength and tness for performanceby Joe Carby Dip A Phys MIAATcontinued overleaf9Animal Therapy Magazine | AUTUMN 2015PROFESSIONAL PROFILE

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10Animal Therapy Magazine | AUTUMN 2015STAGE 3  FITNESSIt is important to maintain what you have already achieved. I advise to continue with regular lunging sessions and the exercises prescribed by the physiotherapist. is stage is discipline and breed specic. Horses of dierent genetic make-up react to exercise in dierent ways. For instance a racehorse’s muscles work anaerobically and work best at high speeds for short periods of time. Whereas an endurance horse like the Arab has muscle bres that work aerobically for longer periods of time at a constant pace. Understanding how dierent breeds and disciplines have dierent training requirements is the key to this stage of training.It is essential we understand which muscles need to be strong and well developed for the job the horse needs to do. For example, a race horse needs to travel fast, at and slightly on the forehand in order to get from A – B as quick as possible. Strong hamstrings, triceps and brachiocephalic muscles are a must. In a dressage horse, we want them to be able to sit and tuck through its haunches powering the horse upwards and forwards in a more collected manner. Here we want strong gluteals, quadriceps, back muscles and trapezius. By understanding which muscles are essential we can then measure the horses strength and ability to do the expected job. Once the conditioning work has been completed, you can now begin the harder, faster work, increasing gradually.However….Don’t forget to give your horse days o! Have you ever felt the burn aer a session in the gym, and then the aching aer? Well, horses feel this too and days o gives them chance to rest mentally and physically. Sore, aching muscles will not develop, where as conditioned resting muscles will. We always suggest you incorporate at least 2 days o into your routine.STAGE 4  THE COMPETING FAST WORKAmongst hacking and schooling, hill work and using gallops, with a good surface, is really benecial to increase your horses tness. If your discipline involves jumping, then incorporating this one or two times a week is of course essential. Cross country schooling will benet both horse and rider, being able to keep your horse straight and accurate to a fence can make all the dierence.Interval training can be a great tool. By taking your base pulse and respiratory rates before, during, and straight aer work, and then regularly checking the pulse and respiratory rate to see how long it takes to recover. e quicker it recovers the tter the horse. is method can be quite subjective, but establishing and improving the rate of recovery to increased levels of exercise is a useful measure of tness.A Horses base pulse rate = 36 - 42 Beats per MinuteA Horses base respiratory rate = 8 – 12 Breaths per MinuteTHE KEY TO ANY FITNESS PROGRAM IS A PROGRESSIVE WORKLOAD.When a certain speed or distance has been completed without exhaustion or undue tiredness it can be taken that the horse is ready to be pushed further. You should only move onto the next stage of the programme when you are condent that your horse is ready to do so. It is better to increase the length of time taken rather than risk injury.If a solid tness programme is followed, your horse will have undergone many changes to their tness, shape, work load and how they actually use their muscles. At this point it is benecial to have a last all round health check before they get out hunting or competing. e importance and role of Physiotherapy in your programmeWhen bringing any horse back into work whether it be a hack or an elite competition horse there are a number of professionals you should have as part of your team. Your vet, Physiotherapist, Farrier, Dentist, Trainer and Saddler. e skills of these professionals should be employed to ensure your horse’s health at all stages of their training. A physiotherapist can use many dierent modalities to ensure that your horse is performing at its optimal level. ey will observe gait, palpate to identify any problems, feel for heat and swelling. ey will assess response to the therapy note any areas of soreness. Your Physiotherapist will take into account, condition, conformation and muscle development to identify any areas of weakness. Here they are able to oer advice on remedial exercises to strengthen any problem areas and reduce the risk of reoccurring injuries. SUGGESTED TIMETABLE EVENT SPECIFIC. Type of Work Work Length of programme Riding Club Hacking, low level dressage 6-8 weeks and cross country events Hunter Cub hunting September 8-10 weeks Full hunting November Dressage Any Dressage competition 8 weeks + dependant on level of movements required Show jumping Any Show jumping 8 weeks + dependant on competition level of movements required Endurance Long distance hacking, 10-12 weeks Endurance competitions Novice Eventer Novice Dressage/SJ/XC 10-12 weeks 3 Day Eventer Dressage/SJ/XC gallop work 12-18 weeksPROFESSIONAL PROFILE10Animal Therapy Magazine | AUTUMN 2015

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14Animal Therapy Magazine | AUTUMN 2015The Vice Chairperson of the Canine Massage Guild talks to us about how she changed her career to work full time as a Canine Massage TherapistIT was on my rst day in my newjob in the Prison Service when Isaw a dog handler exercising hisSpringer Spaniel, that I realisedI wanted a career which involveddogs. 3 years later, aer doing myground work as a Prison Ocer, mydream came true and I got the job asDrug Search Dog Handler.As a Drug Search Dog Handler I wasrequired to work 2 types of searchdog, a passive and an activedog. Mylo, a black lab, was my passivedog, this meant he was trained andlicensed with me to search people,both sta and visitors entering theprison and also prisoners held withinthe prison. Snoopy, a springer spanielwas my active dog which means hewas licenced with me to search areasand vehicles. In our regular duties we searched all areas or items within the prison including cells, classrooms, parcels or vehicles entering the prison.I later decided to become a Patrol DogHandler, this meant transferring to amaximum security prison. Patrol dogs and handlers have a very demanding job both physically and mentally and I noticed that quite oen dogs would struggle in their duties, due to what at rst glance oen looked like training or behaviour issue but then transpired to be a physical issue. It was this that led me to my career as a Canine Massage erapist. Why would a dog who once charged across any oor or surface to search for or attack a criminal (in a training scenario) suddenly become afraid of a shiny oor? ese dogs would behappy to attack on any other surfaceand had attacked on shiny oors beforebut suddenly they became afraid. eir whole body language changed asthey walked on these types of oors.Instead of charging down the centreof the corridor they would be tightagainst the wall or the handlers leg.Claws out desperately trying to gripthe oor. Dogs which reacted like thiscould no longer work as it wouldnot be fair to them, and they could putthe safety of the handler and prison atrisk.When is a Training Issue actually a Physical Problem?It’s now all too obvious what the issuewas. ese dogs had clearly, at somepoint, sustained a common slippinginjury on these oors that had ledto muscular strains, inhibiting theirphysical ability due to pain. is is aninjury I see all too oen in practice asmany dog owners opt to have laminateor tiled ooring so its not just limitedto working dogs.Why train patrol dogs on shiny oors? Well prisoners have a lot of time on their hands and one of the jobs they can do to have extra time out of their cell is to become a cleaner. In modern prisons (since the age of Health andSafety at Work) prisons have non slipvinyl ooring, but in older prisons theyhave shiny vinyl ooring. Prisoners LOVE to walk around all day withelectric bung machines polishing such oors!! To ensure patrol dogs areLouise Swindlehurst From Prison Dog Handler to life as a Canine Massage erapistPROFESSIONAL PROFILE

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15Animal Therapy Magazine | AUTUMN 2015suited to their work they have to trainin a variety of situations to make surethey are, quite literally, up to anythingprisoners may throw at them. Sotraining on shiny ooring is essentialto their job.Whilst trying to nd the answers towhy a dog became scared, I discoveredthe Canine Massage erapy Centre.Aer completing a one dayworkshop with them I decided thatwas the direction I wanted to take mycanine career. It made perfect senseto me as, like many dog handlers, Inow suer the physical eects of DogHandler Work with shoulder and backproblems. Massage is the therapythat gives me the most relief above allothers. So it made perfect sense for meto apply the same therapy to dogs.Massage TrainingAer successfully completing the in-depth, externally accredited, 2 yearerapeutic Canine Massage Diploma I set up my business. A year later I took the leap and resigned from the Prison Service. I now work full time in my busy practice in Tardebigge, Worcestershire. I also run clinic days in Banbury and the North West of England.I am now lucky enough to be an Assistant Tutor for the Canine Massage erapy Centre both on the practitioner programme and the one day workshops. I absolutely love this part of my work as it means I get to share my knowledge and enthusiasm for the subject with others.I am always striving to further my knowledge so each year I complete many hours of Continuing Professional Development which includes keeping both my Canine and Human Massage skills up to date. My passion for massage led me to qualify in many human massage qualications too which complements my work immensely as I am now an Advanced Clinical (human) Massage erapist.Massage and anatomy fascinate me, the body is an incredible thing, both ours and dogs alike. Using remedial massage to enhance the body’s own natural healing process to rehabilitate so tissue and support orthopaedic and neurological issues is amazing. Massage can not only dramaticallyimprove the mobility, posture, gait andperformance of a dog but is a valuabletool in the management of chronicpain and is particularly suitable fordogs who have an NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inammatory drug) intolerance.Aiding the Rehabilitation of Muscular Injury and Pain ManagementMuscular injuries can be debilitating for a dog and they can be very dicult for a vet to pin point and diagnose. Oen I see dogs which have had x raysand MRI scans but neither have shown an obvious cause of the dogs’ issue.e most common muscular injuryis a strain or a tear to the musclewhich a fully trained masseuse willbe able to locate and assess. Other common issues include Trigger Points both active and secondary as well as Myofascial pain which inhibits the bodies mobility, ability and strength. All 3 of these conditions are also seenin my human work and are readilyaccepted in the human world as causesof pain however, in dogs it seems theseconditions oen fall by the way sidewhen it comes to their assessment. For example in humans we use Trigger Point erapy to pertain the location of the Trigger Point which may be mimicking the symptoms or other issues; for example a Trigger Point in the Levator Scapula of a human will lead to pain and numbness in the ngers and hand; this is what is called referred pain. Do dogs suer from it to? Yes they do! A skilled canine massage therapist is able to locate Trigger Points which cause patterns of pain referral, ischemia and visible signs such as skin twitching or early signs of fatigue or lameness. Aer the release of a Trigger Point a dog will have vastly improved comfort levels, improved range of motion and many owners report a return to normal exercise, gait and posture.Being a professional dog handler prior to being a canine massage therapist enhanced my skills no end. It gave me a working knowledge of dogs which I could not have gained anywhere else. I use Canine Massage to help with a variety of conditions including all so tissue injuries and issues such as: Strains, Trigger points, Myofascial Pain, Hypertonicity, Tightness and Sprains. I also see many dogs for Pain Management to help with orthopaedic conditions such as: Arthritis, Hip Dysplasia, Luxating Patella, Spondylosis and Post Surgery CareI specialise in working with aggressiveand dicult dogs with theseconditions, due to my background.is led me to be invited to speak atVictoria Stilwells Dog Bite Preventionand Behaviour Conference in Junethis year which was a great honour. To stand amongst other professionalsin the dog world and speak to anaudience of trainers, behaviourists,vets and dog handlers on the subjectof how to recognise muscular andsub clinical signs of pain in dogs. My job working in canine massage is aresults driven therapy to improve thelives and mobility of dogs. It is satisfying, rewarding and overall it is great to be able to give something back to help owners and dogs. I wouldn’t change it for the world.Worcestershire Canine Massageinfo@keepdogsmoving.co.ukwww.KeepDogsMoving.co.ukwww.K9-MassageGuild.co.uk

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17Animal Therapy Magazine | AUTUMN 2015So, how does it work?A moving belt and submerging the horses’ lower limbs in water, encourages a greater degree of exion through the knees, elbows, hocks and sties than would be achieved with normal exercise. In turn, greater movement through the lower limbs will create greater movement through the upper body and encourage suppleness and muscle development. We must not forget that there are joints throughout the body, all capable of moving eciently, but also capable of restricting mobility. Each joint has its own unique function and ability and this we need to encourage. Aer all, if you don’t use it, you lose it!Various studies have measured the inuence of water depth on the horses back’s exion and rotation. Whilst the biomechanical eects are still relatively unclear, research has indicated that there is a positive increase in back movement and joint exion aer a course on the aqua treadmill. Speaking to Becky Rowland, MRCVS, she recalls countless success stories treating Sacroiliac, stie and hock disorders, and watching the horses in action, we can see why! “ere is nowhere to hide so any condition the horse is carrying is magnied when working in the Aqua treadmill”. Not only are the degrees of exion highlighted but they can determine how ‘straight’ the horse is working and whether they are happy to push forward from their hind limbs. Horses are very clever animals and can easily encourage us to ride them in a way that prevents them engaging a sti or sore joint. Subtly leaning slightly more into one rein or pushing us o a particular diagonal can help them avoid working evenly. By removing the rider and the tack and putting them on the treadmill can really emphasise uneven working. A course of aqua therapy has been seen to eradicate this compensatory behaviour and riders have seen a dramatic dierence when they return to full work.Back PainBack pain is widely documented to be a common cause of a drop in performance and changes in behaviour. To understand why back pain occurs, we rst need to understand the back!e horses ‘back’ is made up of 18 thoracic vertebra and 6 lumbar vertebra. ese lie suspended between the front and back legs. e spinal cord and vertebra are protected by large protruding spinous (upwards) and transverse (sideways) processes.It is held up by the strong nuchal and supraspinous ligament, and what should be a strong muscular system. When we introduce a rider, we eectively sit on the weakest part of the horse and as such, it is our responsibility to give them strength, suppleness and keep them pain free.To increase muscles surrounding the back we must rst improve core strength, encourage straight, long and purposeful strides and an active pelvic motion, to name but a few. ere are many valuable strengthening exercises that, in an ideal world, the owner would carry out from day one, however, this is not always possible. When pain occurs it is down to your veterinary surgeon to identify the cause and provide a treatment plan. At a time they feel appropriate, other modalities can be implemented to work alongside veterinary treatment.Using an underwater treadmill as part of the rehabilitation programme for a horse with back pain has shown positive results.As water provides a natural resistance against movement, the horse has to work that bit harder to keep momentum. e rhythm aqua therapy dictates has been seen to:• Increase stride length• Improve core strength• Strengthen muscles and ligaments surrounding the stie• Improve suppleness through the back and top line• Increased joint exion• Improve balance continued overleaf

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20Animal Therapy Magazine | AUTUMN 2015Whether your horse has a specic injury, or you are just looking to maintain healthy joints and hooves, why not treat your horse to a session in Quob Stables’ Equine Hydrotherapy Spa?The spa speeds injury recovery by dramatically lowering the leg temperature and so reducing inammation. It can be used to treat:- Enhances performance - Helps joints perform at their best - Tendon and ligament swelling or injury- Laminitis- Bone damage i.e. sore shins- Joint conditions- Fractures and splints- Foot abscess- Lacerations and infections of lower limbs- Post-operative complications- Healing of wounds- Increasing hoof growth- Ideal for post eventing / hunting- Maintenance for competition horses- After riding on hard groundFor more details contact Quob Stables on 02380 694657email: enquiries@quobstables.com or visit www.quobstables.comWith fantastic results, Quob Stables in Hampshire’s Hydrotherapy Spa can be hired by external clients as well as internal. The hydrotherapy spa uses chilled cold salt water at 2oC which reduces limb temperature far beyond traditional icing techniques, providing drug free pain relief and reducing inammation. Salt water promotes further healing and aeration during the spa session massages the horse’s legs, stimulating blood ow and cleansing open wounds.The spa itself is designed like a small, static horse trailer- it is easy to enter and exit with non- slip mats. Horses are walked in and the water is gradually lls around them. The vast majority of horses nd the cold water soothing and the experience pleasurable.TESTIMONIAL:Miriam Goddard regularly uses the Equine Hydrotherapy Spa with her showjumper, My Molly Malone (Molly). “Molly is 19 years old now and I have had her for 10 years. She is a Grade A show jumper and has won may classes both on the national and International circuit. She has been 4th in the Hickstead Speed Derby and has won classes on the county show circuit at venues such as Royal Bath and West and Royal Windsor.I decided to use the spa as a treat for Molly. Because she is getting older, I wanted to make sure her legs get all the support and help they need to jump the big fences.Molly loves the spa, aer the rst time getting used to it, she has been very relaxed ever since. Now when I bring her, she walks straight in and stands relaxed and still throughout the whole session.I will denitelycontinueto use the spa for Molly as she really enjoys it and it helps her joints out so much. Her jump aer she has been in the spa is very free over a fence and feels like she has more to give.Becauseit has worked so well with Molly, I am now looking at taking my string of young horses to the Spa to help them have a long career like Molly!”Spa livery is also available and can be tailored to your horse’s needs alongside use of Quob Stables’ excellent facilities including an onsite solarium, horse walker, cross country course, fully interactive dressage simulator and indoor and outdoor schools. Equine Hydrotherapy Spa

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21Animal Therapy Magazine | AUTUMN 2015 Hawksmoor Hydrotherapy Training Centre ~ Watling Street ~ Nuneaton ~ Warwickshire ~ CV10 0TQ www.hawksmoorhydrotherapy.com ~ training@hawksmoorhydrotherapy.com Hawksmoor Hydrotherapy Training Centre was established by Sue Hawkins in 2000 and were the sole authors of the first ever qualification in small animal hydrotherapy. Hawksmoor co-authored the re-developed Level 3 Certificate in Hydrotherapy for Small Animals and the new Level 3 Diploma in Hydrotherapy for Small Animals. Hawksmoor are renowned for their individual mentoring service to each learner for as long as they require optimising their learning potential. We believe it is vital to provide continual support to our learners working in the hydrotherapy industry, as it is a continually evolving field of animal therapy. Hawksmoor’s training team has a diverse range of skills consisting of Veterinary Surgeons, Veterinary Nurses, Physiotherapists and Canine Hydrotherapists. This enables learners to access a variety of skills and develop not only their own knowledge and understanding but also their own clinical reasoning skills. Every member of the Hawksmoor team are friendly and approachable allowing you to ask questions to gain the understanding you require to become a competent, professional Hydrotherapist. We therefore offer the highest standard of training for: • Level 3 Certificate in Hydrotherapy for Small Animals • Level 3 Diploma in Hydrotherapy for Small Animals Hawksmoor Hydrotherapy Training Centre ~ Watling Street ~ Nuneaton ~ Warwickshire ~ CV10 0TQ www.hawksmoorhydrotherapy.com ~ training@hawksmoorhydrotherapy.com Hawksmoor Hydrotherapy Training Centre was established by Sue Hawkins in 2000 and were the sole authors of the first ever qualification in small animal hydrotherapy. Hawksmoor co-authored the re-developed Level 3 Certificate in Hydrotherapy for Small Animals and the new Level 3 Diploma in Hydrotherapy for Small Animals. Hawksmoor are renowned for their individual mentoring service to each learner for as long as they require optimising their learning potential. We believe it is vital to provide continual support to our learners working in the hydrotherapy industry, as it is a continually evolving field of animal therapy. Hawksmoor’s training team has a diverse range of skills consisting of Veterinary Surgeons, Veterinary Nurses, Physiotherapists and Canine Hydrotherapists. This enables learners to access a variety of skills and develop not only their own knowledge and understanding but also their own clinical reasoning skills. Every member of the Hawksmoor team are friendly and approachable allowing you to ask questions to gain the understanding you require to become a competent, professional Hydrotherapist. We therefore offer the highest standard of training for: • Level 3 Certificate in Hydrotherapy for Small Animals • Level 3 Diploma in Hydrotherapy for Small Animals Hawksmoor Hydrotherapy Training Centre, Watling Street, Nuneaton, Warwickshire, CV10 0TQ www.hawksmoorhydrotherapy.com training@hawksmoorhydrotherapy.com Hawksmoor Hydrotherapy Training Centre ~ Watling Street ~ Nuneaton ~ Warwickshire ~ CV10 0TQ www.hawksmoorhydrotherapy.com ~ training@hawksmoorhydrotherapy.com Hawksmoor Hydrotherapy Training Centre was established by Sue Hawkins in 2000 and were the sole authors of the first ever qualification in small animal hydrotherapy. Hawksmoor co-authored the re-developed Level 3 Certificate in Hydrotherapy for Small Animals and the new Level 3 Diploma in Hydrotherapy for Small Animals. Hawksmoor are renowned for their individual mentoring service to each learner for as long as they require optimising their learning potential. We believe it is vital to provide continual support to our learners working in the hydrotherapy industry, as it is a continually evolving field of animal therapy. Hawksmoor’s training team has a diverse range of skills consisting of Veterinary Surgeons, Veterinary Nurses, Physiotherapists and Canine Hydrotherapists. This enables learners to access a variety of skills and develop not only their own knowledge and understanding but also their own clinical reasoning skills. Every member of the Hawksmoor team are friendly and approachable allowing you to ask questions to gain the understanding you require to become a competent, professional Hydrotherapist. We therefore offer the highest standard of training for: • Level 3 Certificate in Hydrotherapy for Small Animals • Level 3 Diploma in Hydrotherapy for Small Animals Hawksmoor Hydrotherapy Training Centre ~ Watling Street ~ Nuneaton ~ Warwickshire ~ CV10 0TQ www.hawksmoorhydrotherapy.com ~ training@hawksmoorhydrotherapy.com Hawksmoor Hydrotherapy Training Centre was established by Sue Hawkins in 2000 and were the sole authors of the first ever qualification in small animal hydrotherapy. Hawksmoor co-authored the re-developed Level 3 Certificate in Hydrotherapy for Small Animals and the new Level 3 Diploma in Hydrotherapy for Small Animals. Hawksmoor are renowned for their individual mentoring service to each learner for as long as they require optimising their learning potential. We believe it is vital to provide continual support to our learners working in the hydrotherapy industry, as it is a continually evolving field of animal therapy. Hawksmoor’s training team has a diverse range of skills consisting of Veterinary Surgeons, Veterinary Nurses, Physiotherapists and Canine Hydrotherapists. This enables learners to access a variety of skills and develop not only their own knowledge and understanding but also their own clinical reasoning skills. Every member of the Hawksmoor team are friendly and approachable allowing you to ask questions to gain the understanding you require to become a competent, professional Hydrotherapist. We therefore offer the highest standard of training for: • Level 3 Certificate in Hydrotherapy for Small Animals • Level 3 Diploma in Hydrotherapy for Small Animals Hawksmoor Hydrotherapy Training Centre ~ Watling Street ~ Nuneaton ~ Warwickshire ~ CV10 0TQ www.hawksmoorhydrotherapy.com ~ training@hawksmoorhydrotherapy.com Hawksmoor Hydrotherapy Training Centre was established by Sue Hawkins in 2000 and were the sole authors of the first ever qualification in small animal hydrotherapy. Hawksmoor co-authored the re-developed Level 3 Certificate in Hydrotherapy for Small Animals and the new Level 3 Diploma in Hydrotherapy for Small Animals. Hawksmoor are renowned for their individual mentoring service to each learner for as long as they require optimising their learning potential. We believe it is vital to provide continual support to our learners working in the hydrotherapy industry, as it is a continually evolving field of animal therapy. Hawksmoor’s training team has a diverse range of skills consisting of Veterinary Surgeons, Veterinary Nurses, Physiotherapists and Canine Hydrotherapists. This enables learners to access a variety of skills and develop not only their own knowledge and understanding but also their own clinical reasoning skills. Every member of the Hawksmoor team are friendly and approachable allowing you to ask questions to gain the understanding you require to become a competent, professional Hydrotherapist. We therefore offer the highest standard of training for: • Level 3 Certificate in Hydrotherapy for Small Animals • Level 3 Diploma in Hydrotherapy for Small Animals Hawksmoor Hydrotherapy Training Centre ~ Watling Street ~ Nuneaton ~ Warwickshire ~ CV10 0TQ www.hawksmoorhydrotherapy.com ~ training@hawksmoorhydrotherapy.com Hawksmoor Hydrotherapy Training Centre was established by Sue Hawkins in 2000 and were the sole authors of the first ever qualification in small animal hydrotherapy. Hawksmoor co-authored the re-developed Level 3 Certificate in Hydrotherapy for Small Animals and the new Level 3 Diploma in Hydrotherapy for Small Animals. Hawksmoor are renowned for their individual mentoring service to each learner for as long as they require optimising their learning potential. We believe it is vital to provide continual support to our learners working in the hydrotherapy industry, as it is a continually evolving field of animal therapy. Hawksmoor’s training team has a diverse range of skills consisting of Veterinary Surgeons, Veterinary Nurses, Physiotherapists and Canine Hydrotherapists. This enables learners to access a variety of skills and develop not only their own knowledge and understanding but also their own clinical reasoning skills. Every member of the Hawksmoor team are friendly and approachable allowing you to ask questions to gain the understanding you require to become a competent, professional Hydrotherapist. We therefore offer the highest standard of training for: • Level 3 Certificate in Hydrotherapy for Small Animals • Level 3 Diploma in Hydrotherapy for Small Animals Hawksmoor Hydrotherapy Training Centre was established by Sue Hawkins in 2000, and Sue was the sole author of the rst ever qualication in small animal hydrotherapy.Hawksmoor co-authored the re-developed Level 3 Certicate in Hydrotherapy for Small Animals and the new Level 3 Diploma in Hydrotherapy for Small Animals. Hawksmoor are renowned for their individual mentoring service to each learner for as long as they require optimising their learning potential. We believe it is vital to provide continual support to our learners working in the hydrotherapy industry, as it is a continually evolving eld of animal therapy. Hawksmoor’s training team has a diverse range of skills consisting of Veterinary Surgeons, Veterinary Nurses, Physiotherapists and Canine Hydrotherapists. This enables learners to access a variety of skills and develop not only their own knowledge and understanding but also their own clinical reasoning skills. Every member of the Hawksmoor team are friendly and approachable allowing you to ask questions to gain the understanding you require to become a competent, professional Hydrotherapist. We therefore oer the highest standard of training for: • Level 3 Certicate in Hydrotherapy for Small Animals • Level 3 Diploma in Hydrotherapy for Small AnimalsMATRIX The All Natural Supplements for Horses Helps Support * Inflammation * Focus * Muscle Build * Healthy Gut * Immune System * Stress *Joints * Hooves * Teeth * Energy * Liver & Kidney Function * Used by many top riders, vets and owners. www.mushroommatrix.co.uk T: 07703 201277 E: iain@mushroommatrix.co.uk TheAllNaturalSolutionforDogsMRMRecovery–Helpsupportaches,pains&InflammationHealthyPet–Helpsupportahealthyoverallwellbeing.Skin&Coat–Helpitchyskin&giveaglossyhealthycoat.Joint–Helpsupportjoints&mobilityZen–Helpbalancebehaviour&Anxiety.CERTIFIED100%ORGANICWHOLEFOODSUPLEMENTS

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22Animal Therapy Magazine | AUTUMN 2015Cruciate Ligament Injury Treatment and Rehabilitationby Sarah Pound RVN Dip. Vet Physio, MBVNATHE CANINE STIFLE JOINT is a complex articulation between the femur and the tiba. If we relate it to the human body, it is eectively our knee! It involves the femoro-tibial, femoro-patella and femoro-bular joints, each of which perform a specic purpose. e stie is a hinge joint, meaning it can only open and close in one direction. It can’t rotate or turn within the joint, it can only ex and extend. If you have ever twisted your knee, you will appreciate it is not supposed to move in that direction!A healthy stie joint allows a full range of motion, with no indication of pain or restriction on extension or exion. Between each bone within the joint is a cavity which is lled with synovial uid. is provides lubrication to the bones and nutrition to the articular cartilage.Unsurprisingly, the joint cannot be supported purely by the bones, cartilage, uid and surrounding skin. is is where the vital ligaments. menisci and surrounding musculature come into play. If you have ever had a dog with any kind of stie injury, the words cruciate and menisci are probably engrained in your memory!e extra capsular collateral ligaments prevent the tibia and femur from sliding. e cruciate ligaments are vital stabilisers. e menisci absorb shock as well as increase range of movement.Canine cruciate ligamentse cruciate ligaments sit in the centre of the stie joint, providing essential stabilisation. When in a standing position the ligaments cross over one another to form a cross. e cruciate ligaments work together preventing the tibia from being displaced. Injury to the cranial cruciate ligament (CCL)e CCL is commonly injured by twisting or rotation of the stie joint, which puts excessive force on the CCL. e ligament can then either rupture or partially rupture, both of which are very painful! ere can be many contributing factors to a CCL injury such as obesity, degeneration of the ligament, trauma or an association with another mobility problem such as patellar luxation or hip dysplasia.Canine Care22Animal Therapy Magazine | AUTUMN 2015

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23Animal Therapy Magazine | AUTUMN 2015Whilst CCL injuries can occur in any breed of any age, they are most common in young dogs, under 4 years and within the medium to large breeds category (typically over 15kg in bodyweight).CCL tears are more commonly reported aer a dog has accidently been dropped, slipped on ooring, turned suddenly, had a leg trapped and pulled by the dog or from a road trac accident. Degenerative CCL injuries are common in dogs which are over 5 years, over-weight and may have shown intermittent lameness for weeks or months. e ligament bres weaken with age and gradually tear. A partially torn CCL will eventually tear completely, oen requiring surgical stabilisation. It is also important to remember that in a case of a degenerative CCL tear the problem is usually bilateral. It is probable that the opposite leg will be aected too.Symptoms of an injury to the CCL Joint Eusion – uid swelling can oen be palpated and the joint is oen visibly enlarged in the para-patellar region.Discomfort on orthopaedic examination – resentment of exion/extension and diagnostic testing (Cranial drawer / Tibial compression)Lameness – this may be partial or total non-weight bearing Instability of stie joint – the vet will perform a cranial drawer test.Sitting abnormally - A dog with a CCL injury will not sit squarely, it is more likely to sit tilted (thought of as a puppy sit) with the injured leg extended as this is more comfortable. When asked to rise from sit, the dog will use the uninjured limb to push their bodyweight up. Lying on one side only – A dog will be very reluctant to lie on the aected legDiagnostic testsWhen a vet examines a dog with a suspected CCL rupture the cranial drawer test and the tibial compression test are useful to gain a denitive diagnosis. Radiographs can be useful as they will show any abnormalities to the joint and rule out other causes of lameness, (osteo-arthritis, fractures, bone tumours) but as liga-ments are radiolucent this is not a denitive way of concluding that a tear is present.Treatment methods used for CCL injuriesConservative treatmentIn cases where the CCL tear is only partial, it is oen most sensible to treat the injury conservatively. Non-steroidal anti-inammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are usually prescribed by the Vet to reduce inammation and provide pain relief along with rest to allow the structures in the joint to settle and to avoid further injury. Conservative cases should be kept on lead only exercise for 2-3 months (strict) and joint supplements will help to maintain joint cartilage and ecient healing. Physiotherapy and Strengthening exercises can also play a vital part in the rehabilitation.If you have ever had a dog with any kind of stie injury, the words cruciate and menisci are probably engrained in your memory!continued overleaf23Animal Therapy Magazine | AUTUMN 2015

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24Animal Therapy Magazine | AUTUMN 2015Surgical RepairA tear to the ligament will become debilitating if le untreated.ere are a variety of surgical methods for treating a CCL injury. Traditionally the lateral suture technique has been commonly used to replace the damaged cruciate ligament. is operation is very eective and relatively cheap to perform in comparison with more modern surgery. e technique involves removing the damaged ligament and implanting a nylon suture through the tibial crest and anchoring it around the lateral fabellae to replace the CCL. Over the 12 weeks following the operation, the suture acts in place of a cruciate ligament while scar tissue forms and the surrounding muscles recover to support the joint. e nylon suture will eventually break down and the scar tissue and muscle mass will hold the joint stable. is technique has a few disadvantages, sometimes the nylon will break before the knee has fully recovered and secondary osteoarthritis is common in dogs following this surgery.CRUCIATE LIGAMENT INJURY24Animal Therapy Magazine | AUTUMN 2015Recent surgical techniques for CCL ruptures modify the geometry of the stie, instead of repairing or replacing the damaged ligament itself. TPLO (Tibial plateau levelling osteotomy) and TTA (Tibial tuberosity advancement) neutralise the force which the stie is subjected to in a weight bearing leg. e TPLO and TTA are two very new and biomechanically similar surgical techniques. Both procedures create stability within the stie by altering the angle of the knee and using implants to hold the knee in place while the joint heals in its new position. RehabilitationPost operatively dogs usually start to weight bear within 24 hours, and it is oen noticed that dogs will do too much too soon. Restricted exercise is essential and owners need to be strict to allow the joint time to recover. Aer about 4 weeks, exercise can be increased to regular moderate lead walks but no o lead running at all. By implementing a structured rehabilitation programme, recovery should progress smoothly.Physiotherapy can commence 2 weeks post operation. It must be remembered, that whilst only one hind limb has undergone surgery, the rest of the body has compensated and as such needs to be treated as well. Lameness in one leg will mean over use of the opposing leg. Lameness will also mean muscle wastage and a change in gait. Condence, gait re-education and strengthening exercises are vital to aid a full recovery.Speed of recovery is inuenced by many factors; younger dogs will have higher energy levels and accelerated healing capabilities, while older dogs may have less muscle mass and tness resulting in decreased joint mobility. Obese dogs tend to suer from decreased mobility and poorer healing capability and a diet plan should be implemented within their rehabilitation.

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27Animal Therapy Magazine | AUTUMN 2015the release command or simply by adding more pots.For dogs’ that are a little more mobile, hide some healthy treats like dried venison around the perimeter of your living area. Place treats behind table legs, in corners, on top of cushions on the oor, under the table etc. Ask your dog to ‘seek’ for the food, and activate his natural hunting instincts. He’ll feel very pleased with himself on completing the task, and likely want to do it again. is is also a good exercise for any dog on rainy days when outdoor walks can be limited. Plus it’s a fairly quiet game, that’s ideal for dogs on a restricted exercise prescription. One of my favourite’s is the simple ‘plant-pot’ test. It’s a great game that teaches scent work and target training in one. All you need is three plastic pots and a little bit of time to engage your dog. Food and meal times can be optimised to crack boredom. When Molly, my Miniature Bull Terrier was very poorly and refused to eat, years of training paid dividends. ankfully she would ‘work’ for her food on short walks around the ‘block’. I got her to eat by rewarding her repertoire of tricks with organic chicken. Her passion for interactive toys like the KONG and e Wobbler helped keep up her appetite and her natural terrier-like her ‘prey-drive’.e sky’s your limit when preparing a KONG. e hollow centre can be stued with delicious, low fat, and hard to extract foods like grated carrot, squished chicken, banana, or chopped apple. Adding a tempting topping like smidge of so cheese or peanut butter will drive them wild and ignite their hard-wired prey instinct.It’s important to stu the KONG with tasty interesting food, perhaps not his everyday kibble, to keep his interest. e higher value the food, the more likely the dog will be to want to earn it. Adding small slither of cheese to a KONG might make him more interested! Freezing the KONG for 10 minutes before serving makes the game more dicult, and works as a soothing cooler on a hot day.Feeding your dog a marrowbone is a long lasting, exhausting game for your dog. It will take him ages to peel o the layers of tissue before reaching the marrow. He doesn’t have to move around to wear himself out, and he’ll fall into a deep satised sleep having worked for his tasty snack. Investing in an interactive board-game for your dog will help pass the time, and teach your dog lots of control and precision. Perfect for all ages, breeds and ability, Nina Ottosson makes a wide range of puzzles that get a dog’s nose, paws and mouth working. Training your dog to gure out and perfect a ‘brain game’ is a bit like playing ‘Lego’ with your child.It’s easier to cope with exercise restriction if your dog already knows basic commands like sit, down, stay and settle. In my experience trained dogs are happy dogs, and make for happier owners in the long run. Dogs love having fun and working things out. By turning your dog’s world into a game that’s based on teamwork and boundaries you’ve hit the jackpot.Working around your dog’s injury, in lieu of taking your dog out for a walk, use the time for some proactive ‘trick’ training indoors. ere’s plenty of quite sedentary tricks to teach like asking your dog to stick its tongue out on command.continued overleaf

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28Animal Therapy Magazine | AUTUMN 2015Clicker training comes into its own here. Just click as your dog licks his lips for a treat. Add the cue ‘tongue’ with a lure of a treat. Gradually your dog will learn to oer this behaviour on a command: “Stick out your tongue’! If you don’t have a clicker, just say a ‘yes’ or ‘good’ when your dog gets it right, or even shows willing in the right direction. Clicker training is all about shaping behaviours over time. Positively reinforcing a dog, as he gets things right, it’s a perfect tool to occupy a ‘restricted’ dog and stretch him mentally whilst having fun. Give a paw is easy to teach from a sit position tightly clasp a treat in your hand. Encourage him to sni the treat, lick your hand, but don’t release the treat until he oers his paw and taps your hand. Bingo! Click and reward. TRAININGAdd the command ‘paw’ or ‘tap’. Step by step you can shape the paw into a high ve, even a wave goodbye! Play dead is an impressive trick that’s trained from a down position. Simply lure the dog to lie at on his side. Gradually build the length of time. Add a hand signal and a command like ‘bang’.Once you’ve got a few tricks under your belt, entertaining your dog will become easier. e tricks become tools to also help you manage any unwanted behaviours that might develop like paw licking or barking. Change your dog’s mind-set quickly, and positively, by engaging him in some tricks that will take his mind o chewing his feet. Take control of any unwanted barking that might develop out of frustration. Employ a bit of ‘reverse psychology’ and turn a negative behaviour into a positive one that’s a fun game too. Never shout “be quiet” to a barking dog. You’re simply joining in the dog’s ‘barking’ moment, and this will encourage him to bark more. By replicating the stimulus that made him bark, ie the doorbell, ask your dog to bark to a verbal cue like ‘speak’. As he barks use the clicker to reinforce the ‘woof’. You’ll quickly teach him to ‘bark’ on command. Once you’ve got him barking when you want him to, not vice versa, the reverse psychology has worked. For the slightly more mobile patients, and those with a ‘retrieve’ in place, why not have a go at training picking up and retrieving useful objects around the house, like the TV remote control or your house-keys? Once you’ve got ‘pick-up’ and ‘drop’ commands in place, why waste a training opportunity when you’re working from home?Sitting at your desk ask your dog to ‘pick up’ scrounged up balls of paperwork’ and drop them into your wastepaper bin. Tapping into your dog’s natural abilities like holding objects in its mouth, to using his paws to nd rewards, training is an extremely rewarding experience. It’s a tool to help modify behaviour and get the best out of your dog. Shy and anxious dogs can have their condence boosted through training. e more assured or single-minded of dogs can be balanced with boundaries. It’s easier to live with a dog that you can take anywhere, share experiences including life’s up’s and down’s. Training is great for the owner too! A phase of ‘crate-rest’ might prove to be just what you and your dog need, who knew?

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29Animal Therapy Magazine | AUTUMN 2015McTimoney Animal Association 6th July 2015 What is McTimoneyTreatment? McTimoney Animal Practitioners use gentle light chiropractic techniques to rebalance the skeletal system and restore normal functionality to the animal receiving treatment. Where there are no underlying pathologies, treatment will enable the animal to regain maximal flexibility, even movement and symmetrical loading on all limbs. Where underlying pathologies affect the mobility of the animal, the McTimoney treatment will reduce discomfort and improve movement in areas where there are compensatory loading patterns. Due to the gentle application of the adjustments made, animals readily accept the treatment and may yawn, doze and exhibit other clear signs of relaxation throughout treatment. McTimoney treatment can be given as a stand-alone treatment or used alongside other therapies, and all practitioners are trained to the highest level at the McTimoney College. Case Study: McDuff the cocker spaniel. Owner Catherine describes his symptoms, ‘A few days after having his haircut, he started shaking and shivering. We thought this was due to the cold weather. He then was reluctant to walk any great distance and his tail was between his legs. This was a symptom displayed when he had a bad bout of pancreatitis although he was not constipated.’ “We took him to the vet who thoroughly examined him and took blood tests. He had been sliding on the wooden flooring and toppled when turning corners suddenly. He was also dragging his right back leg. He was given an injection and anti inflammatories. We returned to the vet the following week and his blood results were clear. His tail was, at times, rigid then gave an occasional twitch. He had another injection and a further prescription of anti inflammatories. He was on bed rest with short trips to the garden for the toilet. After a further visit to the vet, unfortunately not the one he had previously seen, he was still uncomfortable and could only walk short distances despite being prescribed more pills. This was very distressing as we then had a dog who could only lie in his bed for most of the day, had no energy and was reluctant to go out. He had become very aggressive if there was another dog in the vicinity which was most upsetting and totally out of character. We knew this could not continue!’ Catherine took McDuff to see a McTimoney Animal Practitioner, who identified a key area in the mid spine where there was a distinct area of skeletal imbalance and associated soft A day in the life of . . . Nikki RoutledgeMcTimoney Animal Practitioner“Every day is dierent when working as a McTimoney Animal Practitioner… Every case and client has a dierent history, symptoms and goals but that is what makes the job so interesting… So after mucking out my own horses and dropping my child o with her friends for the day, I set o in the autumnal mist to nd my rst client …Case One today was a follow up treatment for a horse rescued from a yard where he was worked inconsistently and allowed to get very overweight. During his rst treatment earlier this year, the horse was extremely sensitive to touch with a lot of pelvic and spinal imbalance. McTimoney treatment aims to rebalance the skeletal system and allow normal functioning of the body systems to resume, and after a follow up treatment, this particular horse had been able to progress in his schooling and start basic jumping over the summer. His new owner had managed to reduce his weight signicantly by the time of his second treatment back in June, but the September ush of grass meant a few too many extra pounds had crept on and suddenly schooling work had become too much again. Palpation revealed a rotated pelvis and spinal curve to the left then right meaning that even if he tried to, this horse could not move in a straight line comfortably. As soon as the adjustments were applied, the horse stopped tossing his head and stamping his feet and stood like a statue apart from some yawning and deep sighs….. sometimes it is so obvious that the horse is feeling a massive release of tension! Advice was given regarding the necessity to reduce his weight again, and how to build up exercise again.Cases two and three were owned by the same person, and while one horse was younger and starting his eventing career, the other was close to 20yo and kept in steady maintenance work …… (except when this particular horse decides that semi-retirement is dull and takes her rider for an impromptu gallop across the countryside!) Both horses had a similar pattern of spinal imbalance and the saddles had not been checked or retted for over a year, so aftercare advice was specic about the necessity to get both saddle checked. Case four was a 9yo poodle dog who had suddenly ‘become old’. Although the vets had seen this dog several times and were of the opinion that the likely cause of his hind end weakness and resultant muscle wastage was arthritic changes, this dog had a huge imbalance in the atlas position, reected throughout the rest of the neck as well, with compensatory tension in the neck muscles and shoulders too. As soon as the atlas was adjusted, the dog stood straighter and with greater strength….. it was a marked alteration immediately. Treatment was kept gentle, light and minimal while we review how this particular dog responds to his rst treatment over the next week or so, and he will be seen again within the next fortnight.Case ve was a puppy who had run into a wall a week ago and has occasional steps of lameness. No lameness was seen on presentation and very gentle treatment was applied, followed by advice to maintain rest for a suitable period of time, and that review by the vet might be appropriate if lameness is seen again”. Veterinary permission is sought for every case and reports provided upon request. McTimoney treatment is a highly eective and proven technique, particularly where there is no specic diagnosis possible or where conventional treatment has failed to make an improvement. It is also a very eective performance enhancing treatment enabling competition animals to achieve their best when under pressure. For more information on your local practitioner go to www.McTimoney-animal.org.uk

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30Animal Therapy Magazine | AUTUMN 2015I DISCOVERED the benets of equine massage when working as a Physiotherapist in Malaysia in 1960. Racing and Polo were part of colonial life and having been brought up on a pony rather than in a pram, horses had always featured, so I lost no time in acquiring several when discovering I could buy lame horses cheaply for there were no turn out or rest facilities available.e method of grooming was to throw water over the horse and then scrape with a sliver of coconut. Grooming kits dispatched from the UK were rapidly purloined by the syce (grooms), the brushes, very useful for sweeping, combs ideal for their wife’s hair! Furious I demanded they groom by hand, demonstrating using a body brush; to my amazement the horses loved it and far more importantly in many, their lameness resolved. e rst transposition of physiotherapy from human to horse!Anatomical study and dissection with local vets seemed sensible then, following in my father’s footsteps, qualied as both doctor and vet, I had an extended patient list, humans and horses, eventually embracing all animals when I had studied their anatomy. Massage had been taught when I was a student at St omas’s but at the time electro therapy was becoming popular with faradism for muscle stimulation, short wave diathermy for deep heat and ultra violet light for wounds. No therapeutic ultra sound or LLL, neither had been conceived! I decided I needed more information and help. Malaysia was a country where massage and acupuncture were the main components of Chinese Medicine, these had been successful for several thousand years, why not grasp a unique opportunity to learn? Sessions with a Buddhist Monk gave me an insight into Acupuncture, improved sensitivity of both eye and nger and exposed to me the holistic approach, not a universal western concept, all have been invaluable. Aer a year I decided not to pursue the discipline as my tutor was in his eighth year of learning with two more to go before being considered safe to work unsupervised. I simply did not have the time and I have never used any therapy without in depth study. Massage lessons were revealing, for even though supposedly qualied as a masseur, I was both clumsy and ineective to begin with, but the fascination, as my hands began to read the underlying state of tissue, opened new doors. e autonomic nervous system is poorly under stood in the West but ties in with the philosophy underlying the Chinese way of thinking. e concepts of the Five Elements, Ten Stems, Yang and Yin link neatly, following diagnosis to appropriate Acu stimulation, massage and selected exercise. As every therapist knows, circulation is a vital life ingredient. If we consider re as body heat and water as the circulatory system, it is reasonable to consider water (circulation) assisting, amongst many other functions, to control heat (re). e veterinary profession is quite reasonably wary of therapeutic claims proered without double blind trials. is is the only method of proof acceptable to both medical and veterinary professions. While working with a group of vets in North America there was considerable scorn when I suggested good massage could improve circulatory ow. Ecient eeurage increases tissue temperature, I have proved this using thermal imaging. Proof was required to convince and educate the vets so I set about this; a horse in stocks, myself, a thermal scanner and operator were shut into a temperature controlled room, we waited for 30 minutes to make certain all occupants including the scanner had stabilised in a temperature of 37:0°C. (human body heat)e near and o sides of the horse’s neck were scanned and the temperature recorded. I then massaged the near side of the neck using deep Swedish eeurage for 5 minutes. Both near and o sides of the neck were rescanned, massage had raised the tissue temperature by 3:0°C in the massaged tissues near side and interestingly by 1:0°C in the o side neck tissues. When subsequently presenting these ndings, and reminding those present that any rise in normal tissue temperature over 2° stimulates the thermal regulating mechanism resulting in an increase of circulatory ow to the area, and the fact that no healing can occur without ecient circulation, convinced the sceptics that I might be talking rationally and was also oering factual evidence. Subsequent trials in the USA by vets have aorded the same results.In order to prove appropriate Physiotherapy was viable for injured animals I built Downs House in 1980, the rst purpose built rehabilitation unit to oer therapy for injured animals and humans. Why Massage? by Mary Bromiley MBEFellow Chartered Society of Physiotherapists. HPc Reg. Veterinary Physiotherapist. ACPAT Cat A.Equine Care

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31Animal Therapy Magazine | AUTUMN 2015Despite success, the concept of animal physiotherapy was not accepted by e Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons until 1984, so, we were operating illegally, however, no case was seen without prior veterinary or medical agreement!We appreciated very early on that the horse does not react to therapy in an identical manner to the human for it is a prey species. At birth the brain and nervous system of the prey are hard wired, and due to survival instincts the species reacts dierently to therapy. Equine muscles respond, in my experience, remarkably quickly following injury, not so in the dog, a predator, helpless at birth, as are cats and humans. ere is no doubt that predators respond dierently to prey. Using biopsy David Snow MRCVS (Australia), when working at the Equine Research Station in Newmarket, demonstrated unidentied, diering cells, in equine Mary set up her rst specialist rehabilitation centre for horses 1984. She has always been fascinated by the ability of the equine athlete for years and pioneered the transference of physiotherapeutic methods from humans to the equine athlete.Mary works with her daughters Penny (horses) Rabbit (humans). Beside oering treatment and rehabilitation they teach, sharing knowledge and information gained, this includes the importance, following injury, of linking massage to stretching and specic exercises for all species, both human and animal. Mary’s latest book ‘A Way of Life Healing Animals’ describes the ups and downs, both frustrating and amusing, of her life from childhood to eventual success in animal physiotherapy.With tales of Mary’s early life, her visits abroad, success in animal physiotherapy, her work with local trainers Martin and David Pipe and Phillip Hobbs and her interesting life on Exmoor - learning from the neighbours how to do things the ‘Exmoor Way’ - you will nd this an interesting, at times quite amusing and hopefully useful read.Price £10 plus £3.00 p&p from www.downshouseequine.co.uk/Also available on Amazon in book form or for your KindlePlease email: thedownsequine@btconnect.com for further details.WIN a copy of Mary’s BookMary has donated a copy of her book A Way of Life Healing Animalswhich you can win by answering correctly the following question:What is the name of Mary Bromiley’s purpose built rehabilitation unit and in what year was it built?Email your answer and contact details to info@animaltherapymedia.co.uk where the winner will be picked at random!muscles way back in the mid 80s, a nding so revolutionary it has been, to a large extent, ignored.is feature, that prey and predator dier, is too oen either not appreciated, understood, or ignored leading, in many instances, to disappointing results following therapy. Machines come and go, in the main, purloined directly from human units with equi conveniently attached to the name! ere are no double blind trials reported and remarkably little proered or acceptable research. Unfortunately oen the physiological eects claimed are suspect, hence scepticism from the veterinary profession, a band of highly qualied individuals who have undertaken 7 years of in-depth, intensive study, including behaviour resulting from external inuences at cellular level. Massage has lasted for several thousand years, the basics remaining the same although techniques, as the wheel has been reinvented, have oen been given diering titles. Ecient circulation is vital in all living beings. When massage enhances circulatory ow through tissue secondary to an increase in tissue temperature, (proven), a cascade of useful events follow. When circulatory ow is stimulated the removal of toxins reduces chemically induced muscle spasm, this in turn leads to improved muscle activity necessitating delivery of nutrients, oxygen and if required, healing elements are transported by arterial blood. Activity not only reduces the extent of internal scarring and ensures correct tissue alignment but also enhances venous return. What more do you want for your client? Remember all therapy is a team eort, but also remember whatever therapy is oered all will benet if massage is included.

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33Animal Therapy Magazine | AUTUMN 2015whether it be a joint, muscle, or section of connective tissue. It’s how our brains are wired to think and problem solve, one problem at a time. Yet injury rarely limits itself to one thing, and even if it does the central nervous system very quickly makes thousands of minor adaptations to allow an individual to survive. Without these adaptations natural selection would have wiped out many more species.We as professionals know that this process happens very quickly, and oen leaves our patients with only subtle changes evident throughout their body, but oen there will be an area, or joint, where the eye is drawn. It may well be part of the overall compensation pattern that the patient’s central nervous system has initiated.However, it is one thing for us to have an idea as to what is going on with a patient, but we cannot really expect our clients to have the same level of knowledge. Many a client will have done their research via that well known search engine and will assume that all on the web is gospel. So how can we help to enlighten them to the wonders of integrated movement patterns?In truth, and aer 27 years, I’m not sure!Most owners want their charges “xed” quickly. ey don’t always budget for the crash course in bio-mechanics that we are so well versed in. e various methods I have employed include using various analogies. When that fails I will then enquire whether they have ever suered from any back or joint related problems, and if so seek to draw from them the other related issues they may have experienced. Ultimately where we score best is in showing them visually what happens, and what is happening with their own animal.Nature loves patterns. Patterns are all around us, and patterns are in every form of movement. When an animal moves it will have a particular rhythm that accompanies its own pattern. ese components to movement are created by an individual’s own way of integrating propulsion as best they can. Under normal, healthy conditions this will be smooth, symmetrical, and have a certain rhythm that anyone can tell is OK.Where there has been any trauma, or sustained activity, and individual’s movement pattern and rhythm will be altered. It is usually at this point that an owner, or trainee professional will allow their gaze to be drawn to a particular point on the animal. Many owners will put their observations across repeatedly in the hope that you will comply by agreeing with them, and then all you need to do aer that is treat that one joint and all will be well with the world again.If you are lucky enough to see a patient within an hour of injuring itself then this may well be possible. Beyond this point the central nervous system will start to initiate the compensatory continued overleafRearing in trot

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34Animal Therapy Magazine | AUTUMN 2015mechanism that will aim to alleviate the problem as best as it is able to.By watching a patient, such as a horse, put through controlled movements in walk, trot, turning le and right in a tight circle, and then reined back it is possible to show an owner or trainer how the individual is coping with each task. If money allows then the use of high denition infrared thermal imaging used under clinical conditions can be a useful tool in demonstrating what is going on. Tight areas show up cooler due to the reduced blood ow through these muscles, and over worked areas will appear warmer. As osteopaths we are most concerned with restoring normal function to these cooler areas, and thus take the strain o the over worked parts of the body. Most owners though, will think that the overworked area is where we should be paying most attention, as this is where it is sore.It is only when we can show that an individual needs to be able to move as an entire organism that we can hope to help them understand the complexities of using manual therapy practices to restore true integrated movement patterns.Very oen the most complex movement patterns are a result of multiple adjustments to the compensatory mechanism of the patient as it tries to adapt and cope with an unresolved problem.e normal laws of physics apply to all living structures, just as they do with any man made ones. Any area of altered tension is going to have an eect to the rest of the individual. In most cases these eects manifest as subtle changes in the resting state of muscles, sensitivity to touch or pressure over certain joints, as well as an inability to stand square, or stand still without shiing weight from one limb to another. As manual professionals we are trained to note all of these subtle forms of communication. However, these skills take us a while to develop, and it isn’t fair to expect owners and trainers to see things as clearly as we do. What we need is to encourage owners and trainers to spend time observing the subtle communication that our animals are using on a daily basis, and if oered the chance, to attend any demonstration days where we can show them exactly what to look for.Next time Tony will cover two case studies of an Asian elephant, and a Western Lowland Gorilla to demonstrate some of the more unusual aspects of osteopathic medicine.Tony Nevin is a UK based osteopath with over 27 years’ experience treating people and animals. He has pioneered the successful application of osteopathic treatment to many species of animals and birds, including most species of mega fauna such as elephant, rhinoceros, and girae. Most of his work is equine and rider based, although small animal work makes up a good percentage too. He is clinical director on the only established MSc course in Animal Osteopathy, and also runs regular workshops and seminars providing continual professional development (CPD) training for osteopaths, physiotherapists, and chiropractors.ANIMAL OSTEOPATHYTail swishing whilst turning short

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36Animal Therapy Magazine | AUTUMN 2015What is it?Idiopathic inammatory polymyopathy (VIP) is inammatory muscle disease that can aect Vizsla dogs. VIP aects multiple muscles but the muscles most severely aected are those used for chewing (masticatory*) and swallowing (pharyngeal-oesophageal*) muscles. What are the signs?e most common presenting signs are wastage of the masticatory muscles so that the head is thinner and the skull bones become prominent (Fig. 2) together with diculty swallowing (ocial term for this is dysphagia*) (Video 1), diculty in getting food into the mouth or lapping water (Video 2), drooling saliva (Fig. 1) and regurgitating* food and water. Due to the head muscle wastage, the eyes may appear sunken (termed enophthalmos*) (Fig. 3). Some dogs may show generalised muscle wastage and weight loss; this is may be seen with generalised weakness and reduced exercise tolerance*.Occasionally some dogs may be presented with pain on opening the jaw; however pain is not a common feature of the disease.What age does the disease appear?e disease can aect any age of Vizsla however it is more common in young adult dogs (in a recent study the average age of aected dogs was 2.4 years old).What is the cause?ere is much that we still have to learn about this disease but we know that that it is an immune-mediated disease i.e. the dog’s inner defence mechanism attacks its own muscle as if it were an infection. ere is evidence that aected dogs may have an inherited predisposition but there are likely to be environmental or other triggers which are undetermined. Immune-mediated diseases are thought to develop through a complex combination of genetic and environmental factors and have been associated with molecules that control the immune system’s recognition of self and non-self (this is called the major histocompatibility complex in humans and the dog leucocyte antigen in canines). Further genetic studies are required (see below on “How you can help”).Can other diseases be present at the same time?Yes, some dogs may be aected by other inammatory diseases such as gastrointestinal (e.g. inammatory bowel disease), skin (e.g. atopic dermatitis), eye (e.g. dry eye or keratoconjunctivitis sicca), joint (e.g. immune-mediated polyarthritis) and other neurological disorders (e.g. idiopathic epilepsy and steroid-responsive meningitis arteritis). How can it be diagnosed?Conrmation of VIP can be challenging as there is not a specic diagnostic test other than muscle biopsy. However even then for various reasons not all the dogs with the disease have had the characteristic inammatory changes on a biopsy (see below on section of “How you can help” the researchers investigating this disease develop a denitive diagnostic test). Your veterinary surgeon will run routine blood tests such as haematology and biochemistry prole (including electrolytes and the muscle enzyme creatine kinase*), thyroid gland function and tests for protozoal parasites called Toxoplasma Gondi and Neospora caninum) in order to rule out other diseases that may cause similar clinical signs. If the blood tests reveal very high muscle enzymes (a creatine kinase above 1000 IU/L) then this conrms muscle damage although in some cases of VIPCK can be within the normal range. e muscle enzyme creatine kinase (CK) can be used to monitor responsiveness to treatment (please see below in the section ‘Can it be treated?’).It is also important to rule out similar neurological conditions such as masticatory muscle myositis* (2M antibody titre) and myasthenia gravis* (antibodies against 2M bres for acetylcholine receptor antibody titre). X-ray pictures of the chest (thoracic radiographs*) are useful to look for problems with the oesophagus (tube that takes food from the mouth to the stomach) and lungs. Dogs with VIP can get a dilated accid oesophagus (megaoesophagus*) and their poor swallowing ability can mean that saliva and food can go into their lungs resulting in an aspiration pneumonia* which may be life threatening. In Idiopathic inammatory polymyopathy in the Hungarian Vizslaby A. Tauro DVM GPCert (Neuro) MRCVS Canine Care36Animal Therapy Magazine | AUTUMN 2015

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37Animal Therapy Magazine | AUTUMN 2015some instances when investigating swallowing problems the dog is given a food contain a special paste that shows up on x-ray pictures (barium study*) and a moving x-ray picture called uoroscopy* may be obtained. If your dog is referred to a veterinary neurologist then then they may recommend a test called electromyography* (EMG) which is used to identify and detect abnormal muscles. e type of electrical activity (under anaesthesia) that the muscle has can tell the neurologist if the muscle is diseased. is test is also used to identify which muscles would be suitable for biopsy. Muscle biopsy* is recommended to attempt to obtain a denitive diagnosis – examination under the microscope reveals changes consistent with inammation with no evidence of infection. However because not all muscles may be involved then in some cases this test can be normal or equivocal. If EMG is not performed or is normal then muscle biopsies can be taken from obviously aected muscles (unless completely wasted) or the most accessible sites such as masticatory muscles (i.e. big muscles of the head used for chewing) and limbs (i.e. cranial tibialis - a muscle on the side of the leg below the knee). Can it be treated?Yes, the cornerstone of the treatment is dampening down the abnormal inammation by the use of immune-suppressive doses of corticosteroids (for example prednisolone) usually in combination with other immunosuppressive treatments (for example azathioprine or leunomide). However control of the disease may be challenging and relapses are possible.Close monitoring is required and the drugs are slowly withdrawn on the basis of clinical signs and the concentration of serum CK, if this test had shown abnormal result prior treatment. Sometimes a low dose of prednisolone, azathioprine or leunomide may be continued for many years. In the acute stage of the disease it is important to provide supportive treatment including intravenous uid treatment (drip) to correct dehydration and drugs to protect the oesophagus and encourage gastrointestinal motility (e.g. gastroprotectants* and prokinetics*). If the dog is not able to keep down food and/ or is at high risk of aspirating food then they may need to have a temporary feeding tube placed into their stomach (PEG tube*).To reduce the risk of aspiration pneumonia and to aid swallowing, dogs should be fed in a vertical position (for example in a Bailey Chair see www.caninemegaesophagus.org/support.htm or with their head higher than their stomach (for example on the stairs). is is so that gravity can assist the passage of food from the mouth to the stomach. ey should receive 4-8 small meals daily. Some foods are easier to swallow than others and our experience is that individually feeding small walnut-size balls of rm, but slippery-textured commercial food with a high protein and fat content is the most useful. is should be coupled with coupage* aer feeding in order to encourage belching and help to prevent aspiration. In some cases an anti-gulping bowl (Dogit® Go Slow Anti-Gulping Dog Bowl) is useful especially in dogs with increased hunger due to high dosage of corticosteroids. For further reading on management of megaoesophagus we recommend the internet site www.caninemegaesophagus.org/ What is the prognosis?e prognosis remains guarded and the recurrence of clinical signs and aspiration pneumonia are common reasons for euthanasia. Nevertheless early diagnosis improves the chance of successful treatment. How you can helpWe are looking for DNA — Please refer to the downloadable DNA collection pack for Vizsla Polymyopathy: www.vizslamyositis.blogspot.co.uk/p/dna-collection.html Fig 1 Drooling saliva in VIP. Fig 2 Masticatory muscle atrophy in VIP.Figure 3 - Hungarian Vizsla dog before and aer VIP.continued overleaf37Animal Therapy Magazine | AUTUMN 2015

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38Animal Therapy Magazine | AUTUMN 2015References and further information:Clinical features of idiopathic inammatory polymyopathy in the Hungarian Vizsla: www.biomedcentral.com/1746-6148/11/97Canine megaoesophagus: www.caninemegaesophagus.org/index.htm Video 1 – Swallowing diculties: www.biomedcentral.com/content/supplementary/s12917-015-0408-7-s1.zip Video 2 – Drinking diculties: www.biomedcentral.com/content/supplementary/s12917-015-0408-7-s2.zipFitzpatrick ReferralsHalfway Lane, Eashing, Godalming, Surrey GU7 2QQ, UKDNA collection for Vizsla Polymyopathy CAN YOU HELP!A breed-specic polymyopathy (generalized inammatory myopathy) has been recognised in Hungarian Vizsla dog (Foale et al, BSAVA 2008; Haley et al, ACVIM 2009; Tauro et al, BMC Vet Res. 2015). The most common presenting signs are eating, drinking and swallowing diculty (pharyngeal dysphagia) with loss of the muscles on the head (masticatory muscle atrophy). Other common signs include regurgitation, drooling saliva and diculty and/or pain on opening the jaw. The creatine kinase is elevated to values greater than 1000 U/L - at least in the early stages of the disease. Thoracic radiographs may reveal a megaoesophagus (dilated, usually air lled, oesophagus). Fluoroscopy may detect oesophageal motility disorders. Electromyography can be normal or may reveal spontaneous activity suggestive of polymyopathy (prolonged insertional activity and spontaneous activity including pseudomyotonia). The tongue and pharynx are the most useful muscles for electrophysiological evaluation. MRI may reveal hyperintensity within muscle groups. Histopathologic examination of muscle biopsy may reveal multifocal areas of lymphohistiocytic and plasmacytic myositis with brosis however active inammation may not be appreciated if end stage muscle or limited areas are biopsied. For more information see www.vizslamyositis.blogspot.com/ Table 1. Clinical signs of idiopathic inammatory polymyopathy in the Vizsla (from: Tauro A. et al. (2015) Clinical features of idiopathic inammatory polymyopathy in the Hungarian Vizsla. BMC Vet Res. Apr 21; 11:97)CLINICAL SIGNS IN VIPMOST COMMON LESS COMMONDicult swallowing (dysphagia) Other muscle atrophyDrinking/Eating diculty Exercise intoleranceDrooling saliva (pseudoptyalism) WeaknessMasticatory muscle atrophy Dicult in opening the jaw (trismus)Regurgitation Lameness Pain in opening the jaw (masticatory myalgia)38Animal Therapy Magazine | AUTUMN 2015We are looking for DNA fromAny breed with a histopathological diagnosis of polymyopathy Vizsla with at least one of the following in addition to dysphagia (eating, drinking and swallowing diculty with or without excessive salivation)• Creatine kinase > 1000U/L• Exercise intolerance • Megaoesophagus identied on thoracic radiographs • Oesophageal motility problem detected by uoroscopy• MRI changes consistent with polymyopathy • Electrophysiological changes consistent with muscle disease Vizslas with siblings diagnosed with polymyopathy Vizslas with ospring diagnosed with polymyopathy For more information and to download DNA collection pack www.vizslamyositis.blogspot.co.uk/p/dna-collection.html

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39Animal Therapy Magazine | AUTUMN 2015*Glossary of terms that your vet may use Aspiration pneumonia: inammation of your lungs and bronchial tubes following inhalation of foreign matter such as food. Atopic dermatitis: repeated inamed and itchy skin frequently associated with other allergic disorders. Barium study: a test that involves lling the oesophagus, stomach, and small intestines with a barium solution in preparation for an x- ‐ray to dene the anatomy of the upper digestive tract. Coupage: percussion of the thorax to aid in the removal of secretions. Creatine kinase: test performed to assess damage to tissue in the brain, muscle tissue, or heart.; when tissue is damaged, creatine kinase leaks from tissue into the blood. Electromyography: electrical recording of muscle activity that aids in the diagnosis of neuromuscular disease. Enophthalmos: sinking of the eyeball into the orbital cavity. Fluoroscopy: a real- ‐time moving x- ‐ray images. Gastroprotectant: drug that protect the lining of the stomach. Idiopathic epilepsy: recurrent seizures where no structural cerebral pathology is suspected. A genetic component may be involved. Immune- ‐mediated polyarthritis: immune- ‐mediated inammatory process that aects two or more joints. Inammatory bowel disease: immune- ‐mediated chronic inammatory disease of the stomach, small and large intestine. Keratoconjunctivitis sicca: immune- ‐mediated diseases that damage the tear producing glands can result in “dry eye”Masticatory muscles: muscles around the face that are important for mastication. Megaoesophagus: muscles of the oesophagus lose their tone and motility, and are no longer able propel food into the stomach. Muscle biopsy: removal of a small piece of muscle tissue for examination under general anaesthesia. Myasthenia gravis: immune- ‐mediate disease that causes muscle weakness interrupting the communication between nerve and muscle. Oesophagus: the part of the alimentary canal which connects the throat to the stomach. PEG tube placement: endoscopic procedure in which a specic type of feeding tube is passed into a patient’s stomach through the abdominal wall. Pharyngeal- ‐oesophageal muscles: muscles for swallowing and carrying food and liquids to the stomach. Prokinetics: drugs which enhance gastrointestinal motility. Reduce exercise tolerance: inability or decreased ability to perform physical exercise at the expected level. Regurgitation: return of partly digested food from the stomach to the mouth. Steroid- ‐responsive meningitis arteritis: immune- ‐mediated condition where inammation occurs in the blood vessels in the lining of the nervous system. Thoracic radiograph: a procedure used to evaluate organs and structures within the chest via a form of radiation that can penetrate the body and produce an image. 39Animal Therapy Magazine | AUTUMN 2015

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41Animal Therapy Magazine | AUTUMN 2015CASE STUDYSky’s back problems – a case study of the non-surgical treatment of an intervertebral disc protrusion and subsequent veterinary rehabilitationSKY, a little white, 13 year old, female neutered, Jack Russell Terrier Cross, has had serious orthopaedic problems in the past, causing her to eventually have chronic osteo-arthritis in her elbows. When she was less than 1 year old, she suered from developmental bilateral short radius syndrome, a rare form of Elbow Dysplasia. At the time, she had multiple surgeries on both her elbows at the time, followed by physiotherapy and hydrotherapy. Despite this, Sky has enjoyed a long, happy and very active life with her owner, Pete van Dongen, Senior Director at Pennard Vets, Sevenoaks. She even did agility from the age of 2 until she was 7 years old, including going to Germany as part of the British Team for the Open European Agility Championships! She was retired aer that, as she starting to show some signs of arthritis, especially in her le fore leg.She was always maintained t and healthy, was kept on a good diet, with joint supplements, and went onto long standing none steroidal anti-inammatory medication at the age of 8, and she has had no big issues at all, until recently. Sky had started to show signs of back pain, witnessed by her slightly arched back, a short stride with her rear legs, sometimes a reluctance to jump on or o things, like the sofa, and showing signs of irritation when having her back stroked. Sky’s owner Pete holds the British CertVR qualication (Certicate in Veterinary Radiology) and the American CCRT qualication (Certied Canine Rehabilitation erapist), so it’s not surprising that he was already doing regular back massages on little Sky. However, she had recently started reacting to strokes in her mid-back region. During one of these massage sessions, Pete felt a clear click in her mid-spine, while performing some minor therapeutic spinal vertebral manipulations. As a result of this, Sky became quite frightened. X-rays were taken of her back. (Fig. 1 and 2) ese showed a clearly narrowed disc space between T13 (last thoracic vertebra) and L1 (rst lumbar vertebra), with some axial mal-alignment of the vertebrae. Even though, at this stage, Sky was not showing any neurological signs, it was clear that these radiographic changes were most likely caused by an intervertebral disc protrusion or extrusion (a ‘slipped disc’), possibly causing serious impingement of the spinal cord. In order to get a full picture of the extent of the injury Sky was referred for an MRI scan at Fitzpatrick Referrals, an orthopaedic and neurological referral practice, famous from the ‘SuperVet’ TV programmes. e MRI showed denite dorsal displacement of the T13-L1 intervertebral disc, causing a slight impingement of the spinal cord, but only centrally, with still some leeway for the spinal cord to ‘escape’, facilitated by some remaining fat around the spinal cord. (Fig. 3 and 4) is was the reason Sky was not showing any neurological problems at this moment in time. However, it was possible that things might change in the future. e malalignment was also clearly visible on the scan. Aer a discussion with Noel Fitzpatrick, aka as the ‘SuperVet’, it was decided that Sky 213continued overleaf

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42Animal Therapy Magazine | AUTUMN 2015didn’t need decompressive surgery right now. Instead, Sky was going to be treated conservatively, using various techniques. However, the same MRI scan also revealed a mass in the head of the spleen, an incidental nding at the time. is meant it had to be dealt with quickly, to avoid any possible future problem if this was to grow and possibly to turn out being malignant.e entire spleen was removed (g 5) and sent to the laboratory for histological examination. It turned out that the mass was a benign tumour, which could have undergone CASE STUDYmalignant transformation. Lucky it was found on the MRI then! Sky got over this major abdominal surgery quite quickly, giving Pete a short time to conjure up a strategy regarding Sky’s upcoming conservative treatment for the displaced intervertebral disc, without causing any possible deterioration, and to rehabilitate her aer her recent setback. A plan was made to do regular complimentary treatments.Pete decided that, for the best results, he had to work on Sky’s strength, her endurance, her balance and proprioception, and her exibility, whilst, at the same time, making sure that she was entirely comfortable. Sky’s programme was to include medication, LASER treatment, hydrotherapy, manual therapies and home exercises to get the best out of her.e LASER treatment given consisted of once-a-week sessions on her mid-back. is type of treatment works through its photochemical bio-eect and alleviates pain, partially through endorphin production, stimulates tissue through enhanced perfusion and energy production, decreases inammation and even causes nerve cell regeneration, amongst some other eects. Sky’s laser treatments only lasted less than 3 minutes at a time and she took it all in her stride. (Fig 6 and 7) ere was always an obvious improvement in the days following her laser treatments.Hydrotherapy consisted of weekly sessions of walking and trotting in the underwater treadmill (Fig 8), with the use of various water levels, to enhance either increased range of movement in her joints with lesser buoyancy at the low water levels, or enhanced strength building with higher buoyancy with the higher water levels. Both would also help her general tness and endurance as well as her balance and coordination. Sky also had another form of hydrotherapy, where she would be placed on top of a small ‘surf board’, on top of a low level of water, to further help her maintain a good level of balance, stability and core strength (Fig 9). 4567

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43Animal Therapy Magazine | AUTUMN 2015Pete van Dongen is a Clinical Director at Pennard Vets and a senior vet with 25 years of experience. He holds a Certicate in Veterinary Radiology. aHe is also a Certied Canine Rehabilitation Therapist and has a long experience in agility, as competitor, judge and instructor: Pete was Crufts Agility winner in 2001 and he was the British Team Vet for the Agility World Championships 9 times. Pete is particularly interested in surgery, radiology and rehabilitation. He lives in Borough Green, is married and has one cat, Rocky, and one dog, Sky. His main interests outside of work is travel and he has visited all 7 continents. He does frequent charity treks and is a regular triathlete.Sky’s manual therapies consisted mainly of daily massage sessions conducted by Pete, using techniques such as petrissage, eeurage, longitudinal and circling movements, all of these on the para-spinal muscles (Fig 10). Sky really enjoyed this and came running for her daily massage sessions. Pete limited any spinal vertebral manipulations as these were less well tolerated and caused audible clicks due to the spondylolisthesis Sky had. She did not enjoy this much at all!Finally, Pete devised a ‘home exercise programme’ for Sky, which consisted of various simple exercises which could be performed at home, for a few minutes at a time. Some of these exercises were specically targeted towards increasing strength, endurance, balance and coordination, core stability, proprioception and exibility. ese exercises included: three-legged stance, rocking, sit-to-stand, beg, wave, back-up, hill walking, cavaletti walking, wobble cushion exercises (Fig 11), cookie stretches and more. Sky had nearly daily sessions, with dierent exercises on dierent days, to prevent boredom both for Sky and her owners. e only exercises Pete stopped were the le and right side-bending cookie stretches, as these resulted in a very clear and loud click in Sky’s spine.Over the next few weeks, Sky underwent all of the above treatments and soon became the same old bouncy little dog she had ever been, despite the worry, mainly for her owners of course, of the protruded intervertebral disc. Sky gained muscle bulk, her stability improved, her core strength increased and her stamina was boosted and through all of this the chance of further deterioration in her condition was diminished as much as possible. is case study shows that with the right knowledge and expertise, conservative management of intervertebral disc protrusions can be successful, in the right hands, and that we can maintain and even enhance the quality of life and tness and health of even older dogs beyond what has been possible in the past. 108 911

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44Animal Therapy Magazine | AUTUMN 2015WHEN STUDYING AT Hartpury College in the UK, one of our lecturers, Jenni Douglas, was undertaking her PhD looking at the demands of Equestrian sport. She posed this question to us - “Riders: Athletes or passengers?” As she extensively disseminated the biological and physiological demands of the sport to us, my interest was piqued!So, what are the demands of the sport?Clearly there is a certain lack of physicality in the sport that enables men and women to compete on a level playing eld, that is not to say that it is not a demanding sport. Equestrian sports have a high neural demand; i.e. a high level of skill is required to compete with the elite as well as rapid proprioceptive processing. Furthermore, it has been suggested that dominant motor abilities equestrian athletes should exhibit include strength, reaction time, balance and endurance (Bompa and Ha, 2009). Despite this there is a general lack of cross training among the riding community. Most sports require cross training to enhance strength and stamina and prevent overuse injuries, but there is a general lack of development in this area amongst even the leading equestrian nations worldwide. Physiological demandsResearch has generally found equestrian sports to induce fairly high heart rates (Roberts et al., 2009) among riders (dressage 172±15bpm, show jumping 180±11bpm and eventing 184±11bpm) without the proportional rise in VO2max (maximal oxygen consumption). Given that maximal heart rate is roughly 220-age, it is clear to see that the HR’s induced by eventing and show jumping are close to those ranges and certainly in the 85% of the HRmax bracket that implies anaerobic exercise. Research however suggests that there is little anaerobic demand in equestrian sports. Psycho-emotional stress could be a contributing factor to high heart rates and is generally greater for the physically unt. Furthermore, the Valsalva manoeuvre (holding breath to increase intra-abdominal pressure to support the spine) could be another reason for high heart rates exhibited by equestrian athletes. is dissociation between heart rate and VO2max has similarly been observed in motocross (Konttinen, 2005) another travel sport with similar demands. Travel sports require athletes to stabilise the body unlike most other sports which largely require destabilisation of the body. Due to the high level of stabilisation required by equestrian athletes, riders rely largely on isometric contraction. Compared to dynamic exercise, isometric exercise leads to relatively low increases in oxygen uptake and heart rate, while simultaneously producing a prompt increase in mean arterial blood pressure. Biomechanical demandsIsometric strength exhibited by elite riders has been found to be particularly evident in increased isometric control of the trunk compared with novice riders, implying increased core strength compared with non-elite riders (Terada, 2000). Being in the seated position for extended periods of time leads to a plethora of problems including tightness in the hip exors (anterior chain) and weakness in posterior chain. Elite riders who spend many hours in the saddle also exhibit high thigh strength but low bone density particularly of the femur (Alfredsen et al., 1998) which can lead to a wealth of problems, particularly an increased chance of femoral fractures. Improving mobility, exibility, bone and muscle health are all areas of importance for riders seeking to improve performance.It is apparent that the demands of equestrian sports are complex and require an in-depth understanding of both horse and rider to attain the best possible results through training programmes.What do we do? Equestrian Performance was founded by Kylie Shepherd who together with her partner, strength coach Craig Leading the wayby Kylie Shepherd Pg Dip An Phys, BSc (Hons), MIAAT, MASSVAP and Craig Bonthrone MSc, BSc (Hons), FdSc, NSCAPROFESSIONAL PROFILE

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46Animal Therapy Magazine | AUTUMN 2015ReferencesAlfredeson. H., Hedburg, G., Bergstrom, E., Nordstrom, P., and Lorentzon, R. (1998) High thigh strength but not none mass in young horseback riding females. Calcied tissue international, 62, pp. 497-501Bompa, T and Ha, G (2009) Periodisation: theory and methodology of training. Human Kinetics, Champaigne, IL, USARoberts, M. Shearman, J and Marlin, D., (2009) A comparison of the metabolic cost of the three pahses of the one-day event in female collegiate riders. Comparative Exercise physiology, 6, pp. 129-135Terada, K. (2000) Comparison of head movement and EMG activity of muscles between advanced and novice horseback riders at dierent gaits. Journal of Equine Science, 11, pp. 83-90Bonthrone developed the rst Rider Performance program of its kind in Africa. Having always had an interest in exercise physiology and biomechanics, we oer tailor-made rider tness programs based on thorough rider performance assessments. Initially we encourage commencing with a ridden assessment using Dartsh analysis soware which we use in combination with gym based assessments of the rider to best determine areas of weakness from which we assemble complex programs. With Kylie’s background in Equine Physiotherapy, she oers assessments of the horse too, which oen lends valuable information regarding rider asymmetry and weight-bearing.For our more serious riders we oer intensive monitoring of performance to include collecting heart rate data at events, periodised training programmes and regular tness testing. We have found data, we have collected on heart rates to reect those gathered in literature with our national riders exhibiting heart rates as high as 200 beats per minute during the cross country phase.Regardless of the mechanisms, the human body needs to be prepared to deal with the elevated heart rates experienced during equestrian sports. Endurance training reduces psycho-emotional stress and increases psychological capacity and stress tolerance, leading to improved performance.Our programmes generally begin with mobility, then lead into endurance and strength training, but are all periodised to individual riders’ competition schedules and are tailored to their own needs.In conclusion, we believe the rider is indeed an athlete, one who has to be responsible for their own body while attempting to work together with a living animal with a mind of its own. Furthermore we have studied Sir Dave Brailsford’s concept of “the aggregation of marginal gains” that is small 1% gains in daily regimen being crucial to overall performance when working with elite athletes. We believe that rider performance is in fact essential to equestrianism and we strive to work with athletes to improve marginal gains.PROFESSIONAL PROFILE

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48Animal Therapy Magazine | AUTUMN 2015e wolves in the study were unrelated adults - wolves do not live in unrelated packs.  Wolves usually live in small packs of immediate family, mum, dad and this years pups (occasionally last years pups also are present.) ere is not generally an Alpha, such like your own home - Mum and Dad guiding the kids, with guidelines and boundaries, promoting manners and good behaviour.Aer a hunt all of the pack will be present and eat.  Food will be taken back if needed for those that couldn’t hunt, the young, old etc. e study was also undertaken in a very small enclosure during breeding season which obviously caused tension amongst pack members. If you would like to read the study please go to http://www.davemech.org/schenkel/So how do you train the POSITIVE way?Reward good behaviour and focus on the behaviour you desire rather than focusing on the negative. Your dog’s learning will take a leap forward, your stress and your dogs frustration will both signicantly decrease.We need to understand the basics of learning theory.Dogs will repeat what is rewarding to them and avoid what is not. However, read that again. Dogs will repeat what is rewarding to them - not what you perceive as a reward.  So this means for some dogs a piece of kibble may be awesome for others a tennis ball, others a cuddle - simple enough right?  Well no, because then you have to take the environment into account because a piece of kibble in the house may be great but in the park or the woods it may not pass muster when the lure of the most amazing reward offresh fox poo to roll in looms!So what do we do here?  We don’t let our dogs o the lead until a positive emotional response has been made and afeasible cue and reward system established. Something like ‘dogs name and come’ in an environment where the dog is under threshold and learns by high reward history.  In simple terms this means setting your dog up for success using a long line so your dog cant fail, use high value treats or a favourite toy (that must have at least a 30 second play ) and EVERYTIME your dog recalls reward.  Use the long line to ensure your dog recalls by gently guiding if your dog hesitates, use an exciting, happy, welcoming voice and a cue that is always the same.So basically you need to make a list of your dog’s favourite rewards - use the lower rewards for small distraction areas and the high value rewards for high distraction areas.  Proof each behaviour over and over and over again and then proof again - if you are not guaranteed to win a bet, especially with recall do not let your dog o lead! Do some more groundwork until the time is right!Do not be afraid to enlist the help of a qualied trainer - who has an understanding of learning theory and uses positive reward based methods. Victoria Stilwell Positive Dog Trainers VSPDT, CAPBT COAPE Association of Applied Pet Behaviourists & Trainers Association of Pet Dog Trainers APDT, Association of Pet Behaviour Councillors APBC are all established training organisations that use positive methods and where all trainers and behaviourists are qualied / assessed and have to hold insurance, this is most important.Teaching your dog to focus on you under all kinds of distractions and teaching your dog to settle no matter where you are, teaching your dog to drop / leave and a reliable recall are the most important foundations to teach.If you can master these you have a dog that is safe rst and foremost but also ready to learn more as you have their attention.

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49Animal Therapy Magazine | AUTUMN 2015What you will needYour dog on a lead to startClicker - a small plastic box with a metal tab that makes a click sound when pressed or a word such as ‘good’ or ‘bingo’ these are your markers - a signal to the dog that pinpoints the exact behaviour you want.Rewards ‘food treat’ - small, smelly and tasty quick to eatVerbal praise such as ‘yay’ or ‘good dog’Chose cue - this is the word you are using to name the behaviour eg ‘come’ it must be consistent for the behaviourAlways set your dog up for success, do not train in areas where distractions are too high for your dog to cope with or when you or your dog are not in the right mindset.  Rewards should be of high value and given often for repeated behaviours ensuring reward history is high.  This will result in training success and swift learning.Focus— Teaching your dog to focus on you and give you eye contact regardless on environmentFeed your dog 6 pieces of treat for free, click (clicker behind back) or mark just before the dog eats the treat and verbally reward.This time, allow the dog to sni the treat but do not let them eat it.Hold treat out to the side, shoulder height, arms lengthIgnore any behaviour you do not want - jumping up, barking etc, DO NOT verbally correct just wait.Watch your dog carefully they will at some point look at you in the eye at this point you click and verbally reward and give the treat. It does not matter that your dog is standing, lying or otherwise as long as the dog is calm and is looking at you (not the food or the clicker)!Repeat several times and when the behaviour is ‘learnt’ try it with the food in various positions.Then try with food behind your back and eventually on a shelf or a short distance away.Start adding the cue - Dog’s Name to gain attention ‘watch’ - on behaviour happening mark and reward with food or toy or fuss and verbal praiseGradually start adding distractions - noisy scrunched paper, balls, people etc. Start in the home, garden and then out on walks.LeaveHold a food treat out for your dog, do not allow your dog to get the treat no matter how persistent.Hold in at palm, every time they move toward - close palm. No verbal correction is neededRepeat 4 or 5 times in each hand.If your dog makes no attempt toward the food or backs away or turns away - mark this behaviour and reward with a better value treat from the other hand and always cue ‘take it’Repeat until rock solid and no move toward the food is made.Next graduate the food treat on to the oor, be ready to cover up with your hand should the dog move toward it.  The steps are exactly the same. If the dog moves to the food treat, cover up - no verbal required.  If the dog backs o or oers a head turn - mark and reward by oering a tasty treat from the other hand.As the behaviour is learnt add the verbal cue ‘leave it’You can then add distance - by throwing a toy or food treat as you oer ‘leave it’ cue.  Mark and reward or wait for a loose lead and mark.DropNever be in a rush to take things o your dog that they have bought to you (unless they are dangerous), be it in play, in gundog training or even items they have stolen. You will add value to the items making them less likely to want to give up. Try swapping the item for an item of higher value or engage your dog in an activity such as searching for something - get down and pretend to look for something with your back to them - scatter some food treats in the area. Scattering food will hopefully get your dogs attention and get their nose working, focusing in your chosen area, being rewarded for dropping the item and forgetting about it whilst you calmly and without fuss remove it.RecallStart by making a positive association with your dogs name.  Pop a handful of your dog’s dinner on your pocket (chosen treats if your dog is raw fed (it can be part of their daily diet).When the dog is close and not distracted say your dogs name and give them a tasty treat, do not ask for a behaviour, it is just name association.   You should start to see the dog turn to look at you as soon as you say their name regardless of what they are doing.Gradually increase the distance - say your dogs name - when the dog looks at you, throw them a treat.As the behaviour is learnt - say your dog’s name as they look at you show them a treat but throw the treat in the opposite direction to them - as they start making their way to run past you - use your chosen cue word ‘come’.  Repeat several times. The dog’s name and the cue word are only said once the dog has nished eating the treat and is looking at you ready for the next treat. The chase of the treat forms part of the reward for the previous action. Dog’s name and cue word = your recall, as they are running to you the reward is given in the form of a treat (or toy) being thrown so they have to run past you. After 2 repetitions each side oer your recall cue but on this occasion place a pile of treats in front of your feet. As your dog eats the treats pop their lead on and verbally reward. Remember a recall does not always have to mean the lead goes on and its end of fun! Try recalls for treats, cuddles and games.Keep all training sessions short - a couple of minutes several times a day! And always fun!  Video the sessions if you can that way you will pick up on your errors and track your progress.

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50Animal Therapy Magazine | AUTUMN 2015– PART II –An extract from her upcoming Biography.IN the early days of animal physiotherapy students trained on an apprenticeship basis working with small groups of practicing physiotherapists. Everyone shared their experiences and information with each other as everyone was learning. Machines were adapted from human physiotherapy machines, developed and adapted for animals. e rst of these was the Niagara Equissage. A now well established massage tool. Niagara and I took the human equipment and worked together to make it suitable for horses and dogs, the results were great.Ultrasound machines used on humans were also used on animals but in some cases worryingly by untrained people. e therapist tried very hard to educate the equine yards regarding ultrasound and how it should only be used by people who really understood it otherwise it could be dangerous. I asked the race horse trainers “would you give your wife’s diamonds to the stable lad to re-cut for her?” they would answer “No!” I would then explain that the horse is as valuable as the diamonds and can be broken by the ultrasound if not used correctly. To improve the safety of ultrasound I asked the human manufacturers of the ultrasounds to make a head with the crystal that turned o when it was not in contact with the animal. e therapy head needed to work dierently due to the hair on their skin. e manufacturer made one for me at great expense saying it would never catch on..... ey are now all made like this!I was also one of the rst to develop the Pulsed Magnetic Field machine (PMF) in animals nding good results. An eminent professor published a study on PMF saying he was not able to see the benets for humans ....but I really believed in these machines so kept going. It was a very memorable day when NASA called me asking advice on putting PMF into the space shuttle for the astronauts as due to their weightlessness and no earth magnetic eld they suer bone weakness. I explained that I had no previous experience in tting PMF into a space capsule but knew it would be benecial. PMF is a great asset to our animal physiotherapists today.In the beginning ...by Sherry Scott MBE

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