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2Animal Therapy Magazine | WINTER 2016Animal Therapy Magazine is one of a kind. The publication’s sole aim is to inform professionals and owners of current and pioneering treatments and techniques. Featuring interviews with top professionals in the eld, real life case studies and up-to-date news and reviews, Animal Therapy Magazine is a must have for anyone involved with animals; whether that is in a professional capacity, pet owner or both. • Quarterly publication• Circulated nationwide• Online version• Targeted audience and distribution• Course and CPD information• Editorials written by highly regarded industry professionals• Case studies• Professional proles• Interviews• Product reviewsM A G A Z I N ESUMMER 2015Animal erapyLEARN, GROW AND BE…INSPIREDNETWORKSocial events schedule with wonderful friendship and networking opportunities for youand your colleaguesENJOYA fun festival atmosphere – bespoke outdoor CPD marquees, fresh air, great food and live entertainment99% of last year’s delegates would recommend VET Festival to a colleague10% discount for readers ofAnimal Therapy MagazineEnter code VFATM10 when bookingFEATURING LIVE MUSIC ON BOTH NIGHTSDelegates can attend ANY of the 5 educational streams across the 2 days Greatest choice of lecture subjects including: Orthopaedics Clinical & Surgical, Neurology Clinical & Surgical, Oncology Medical & Surgical, Soft Tissue & Reconstructive Surgery, Minimally Invasive Diagnostics & Surgery, Feline Medicine & Surgery, Emergency & Critical Care, Anaesthesia, Pain Management, Radiology & Advanced Imaging, Nutrition, Rehabilitation, Business Management & MotivationDYNAMIC Ground breaking lectures to stretch your learning and ideas, chosen to be of practical relevance to yourdaily lifeLEARNListen to over 20 globally renowned professionals driving innovation across the industry 95% of last year’s delegates intend to return in 2016 and bring their teamA CELEBRATION OF VETERINARY LEARNINGwww.vetfestival.co.uk#VETfestivalFULL PROGRAMME NOW RELEASED ONLINE10%DISCOUNTFOR READERS OFANIMAL THERAPYMAGAZINE

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3Animal Therapy Magazine | WINTER 2016GET IN TOUCH: Hannah Ashton – Editorhannah@animaltherapymedia.co.uk Georgia Keegan – Editorgeorgia@animaltherapymedia.co.uk Beth Lorraine - Sales Manager info@animaltherapymedia.co.ukwww.animaltherapymedia.co.ukSUBSCRIBE NOW FOR YOUR HARD COPY! You can now subscribe to receive a hard copy of our magazine. Our subscribers willget priority posting upon release of eachissue. Annual subscription is just £12 for the 4 issuesIndividual issues are £3.50 each To subscribe go to the website and follow the linksWhile 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.CONTENTS5 EDUCATION FEATURE 18 ermology Uncovered 22 Saddle Fitting 24 Osteopathy for Exotics 28 e Whole Horse 30 Kissing Spine32 Moyave Vet erapy 34 Hamstrings in the Agility Dog 38 Back on Track 40 Feeding for Optimum Health 42 Sherry ScottM A G A Z I N EAnimalerapyWelcome! to the third edition of the Animal erapy Magazine. We have so much to look forward to in 2016, attending many conferences and events, and we look forward to sharing more great articles with you all. We will be media partners to the Vet Festival in June, which we are really excited about and we will also be attending e Gillian Higgins Conference, e Animal Rehab Expo, BETA, Crus and many more. It’s going to be a great year! We also welcome Beth Lorraine to the team as our Sales Manager. She has a wealth of experience and will be a great edition to the team. 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. So, if you have a story to tell or information to share please get in touch . . .ISSUE 3 - WINTER 2016Issued Quarterly

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6Animal Therapy Magazine | WINTER 2016What is Equine Touch?e Equine Touch is a non-diagnostic, non-invasive Equine Bodywork system which is an holistic so tissue address, eecting mostly connective tissue - muscles and tendons, joint capsules and ligaments using a very specic move. e tissue is mobilized by using this move, over precise points of the horse’s body. ese could be acupuncture points, trigger points or around sites of common injuries. Firstly a special body balancing technique is applied to the whole body. What is applied to one side is repeated on the other, utilizing the “blue print” eect. Additional, work is done on any areas of concern uncovered during the balance ese areas are chosen according to tissue response and the horse’s reaction to our touch. By addressing the meridian pathways, together with muscles and fascia, e Equine Touch crosses the line between physical bodywork and an energy modality. It can have the eect of inducing deep relaxation, releasing hypertonic and traumatized muscles, improving muscle tone, encouraging recovery from injury and muscle atrophy, reducing the pain spiral and assisting in detoxication and lymphatic drainage by increasing circulation. e horse’s awareness is changed and it is encouraged to rebalance not only physically, but emotionally for deep relaxation also encourages the autonomic nervous system to drop toward repair and renewal. Energy blockages and unwanted structures appear to dissolve as the ow of Ki is stimulated through the meridians. is allows the equine to tap into its own innate healing ability and to allow it to work to its maximum potential.What is Canine Touch?e Canine Touch (CT) was developed, researched and choreographed by MVDr. Ivana Ruddock as a result of being inuenced by the human and equine bodywork principles pioneered by her late husband Jock Ruddock.Over the last 10 years or so the CT became a modality in its own right, with specic procedures and moves. ere are three special CT moves to help accommodate the dierences in dog’s skin, in comparison, for example with horses. Individual procedures are designed to cover areas that are oen the common sites of injuries – once again vastly dierent from human or equine issues (e.g. cruciate ligament injuries or hip dysplasia).e CT Dynamic Balancing addresses the whole body; by relaxing so tissue and stimulating the proprioceptors it helps the body to re-align and re-balance itself, improving spatial awareness.Additional addresses of the individual Areas of Concern procedures may resolve compensation issues or assist in the healing and regeneration aer tissue injury.Moves over specic points as well as stimulation of the nerve receptors in the skin induce general relaxation, which maximizes the healing processes in the body.e Equine Touch Foundation Inc. (ETF) is the governing body for all aspects of the Equine Touch modalities worldwide. e modalities include not only Equine Touch (ET) but Vibromuscular Harmonisation Technique (VHT) (work on humans) and Canine Touch (CT). e ETF goal is to bring the CT technique to large numbers of dog owners, as we believe that they are the most important key in the wellbeing of their dogs. CT classes are easy to follow and understand. ey can be attended by dog owners (better still, dog lovers) with no previous knowledge required other than a passion to help and support their pet.EDUCATION

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7Animal Therapy Magazine | WINTER 2016Equine Touch Practitioner RouteEntry RequirementsA desire to improve the well-being of your horse.Anyone interested or involved in the care of equines can attend the coursesNo prior knowledge of anatomy & physiology or human complementary work requiredThe CourseLevel 1 – 3 day course with home study elementsLevel 2 – 3 day course with home study elementsLevel 3 Practical – 2 day course with home study elementsLevel 3 Theory – 3 day courseFinal Practical Assessment – 1 day followed by nal home study elementsEach Level is completed by attending a practical training course and single review days; practical assessment is required at each level and students must collect practical case assessments. Home study includes questions about the ET technique, anatomy and physiology and other relevant elements of inuence which students are required to research and present in a nal portfolio. This portfolio must be submitted within 12 months of taking the nal practical assessment.Post Graduate SupportAttending Level 4 within 12 months of qualifying is a Post Graduate training requirementUK and Ireland qualied Practitioners must:• be members of IETA, the Professional Association for all ETF Modalities• hold appropriate valid professional liability insurance at all times, proof of which must be supplied to IETA UK and Ireland for Practitioner Status to be granted and maintained• attend the required OPD/CPD for quality assurance. • accept that it their sole responsibility to ensure they always work within the legal/regulatory requirements of their country of practice. Career Progression Once qualied Equine Touch Practitioners are bound by the terms and conditions set out in the ETF Trademark Licence Agreement and accept that strict adherence to the ETF Code of Ethics must be at the core of their practice.• Some Equine Touch Practitioners have additional qualications such as McTimoney, Physiotherapy and saddle tting; a number have training and experience in other holistic therapies which do compliment Equine Touch - homeopathy, aromatherapy and reiki to name but a few.• Many are in full time employment and carry out their practitioner work evenings and weekends.Do practitioners work under Veterinary Referral? YesContact DetailsEquine Touch Admin - UK and Ireland General Enquiries:Email:ukcentre@theequinetouch.com Mobile: 07443119928IETA Membership Enquiries: 106 Ballyregan Road, Craigantlet, Holywood BT18 9RP Mobile 07443119928 Email:ietaukandIreland@gmail.comUpcoming Course dates:All current dates can be found: http://uk.theequinetouch.com/schedulesCanine Touch Practitioner RouteEntry RequirementsAny dog owner looking for practical skills to help their dogsThe desire to improve the well-being of their dogsThe CourseModule 1 - 2 day course with home study elementsModule 2 – 2 day course with home study elementsTheory Module – 1 day course with home study elementsFinal Practical Assessment with lectures – 1 day followed by nal home study elementsOnly time stipulation for completing comes after the nal practical assessment when the student is expected to complete and submit nal portfolio within 12 months of taking Final Practical Assessment.The course is completed with practical training: course and single review days; practical assessment at each level and the collecting of practical case assessments. Home study includes questions about the CT technique, anatomy and physiology and other relevant elements of inuence which students are required to research and present in a nal portfolioCareer ProgressionWe have dog trainers, and people working in rehabilitation who are currently using Canine Touch with dogs in their care with great resultsDo practitioners work under veterinary referral? YesContact detailsSee Equine Touch Practitioner RouteUpcoming Course dates:All course dates can be found at - http://thecaninetouch.netThe courses can also be done by owners who wish to help their own animals but do not wish to qualify for professional practice. Many level 1 students undertake the course purely to be able to support their own animal and the IETA family is very welcoming and supportive.

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8Animal Therapy Magazine | WINTER 2016The College of Animal Physiotherapy is based at Tyringham Hall, near Aylesbury, the home of Sherry Scott MBE, President and founder of the International Association of Animal Therapists (IAAT), and Fred Lawrence who works alongside her. We are an accredited learning provider with the Open and Distance Learning Quality Council (ODLQC) – The quality watchdog for open and distance learning in the UK.At The College of Animal Physiotherapy we have been training animal/veterinary physiotherapists for over 25 years. Our president Sherry Scott was one of the rst animal physiotherapists and has been instrumental in its development for over 35 years. Our wealth of knowledge and experience is unsurpassed by others and our College is the most established training route for individuals with animal related skills.Entry Requirements:• An animal/equine science degree/or similar• A veterinary nursing qualication/or similar• A high level of demonstrable knowledge and experienceThe CourseThe College of Animal Physiotherapy oers a exible Diploma in Animal Physiotherapy. The course is delivered partly by distance learning and partly by hands on practical training. We train individuals from the UK and all over the world and the course is designed to be tted around employment.Distance learning and practical placementsStudents will need to complete and pass 3 units and a research project (10 modules in total)Complete 4 to 5 weeks practical trainingAttend 3 therapy related lectures/CPDsWe encourage you to do as much practical training as possible alongside the diploma and will send you some forms on registration, to keep a record of this.Three days of practical time is allocated for experience within a Veterinary Practice or practicesStudents will be required to complete and pass a nal exam both theory and practicalThe modules are as follows:• Anatomy and Physiology• Communication• Physiotherapy equipment• Orthopedics• Neurology and Pain control• Physiotherapy techniques• Injuries, wounds and pharmacology• Gait and exercise Prescription• Related Professions• Research projectThis course is designed to be exible so that students can continue with employment. However, days o work are usually necessary and students in full time employment should be prepared to use up annual leave to complete their practical training.Post graduate supportOn successful completion of the course graduates will be invited to join the International Association of Animal Therapists (IAAT)Graduates also have access to a wide network of professionals who are at hand to help and advise with cases and starting your businessA variety of CPD days are available, often with discounts for IAAT membersCareer ProgressionMany graduates of our College now run successful animal physiotherapy and rehabilitation practices, or work in house at a veterinary practice. Often they work on a self-employed basis and we are proud that many of them are associated with well-known top level competitors and trainersDo practitioners require veterinary referral prior to treatment?Yes – it is a legal requirement Do insurance companies recognise and cover the treatments?Yes, all good insurance companies allow their clients to claim back for physiotherapyApplicationEnrolment is ongoing and starting the course is based around your needs. An interview will be required. For foreign students or individuals having to travel a long way, a telephone interview can be arranged, otherwise the interview will be held at our facility in Buckinghamshire. Please go to www.tcap.co.uk to apply online. Please attach a current C.VDiploma in Animal PhysiotherapyEDUCATIONContact DetailsPostal Address - Tyringham Hall, Cuddington, Aylesbury, Bucks HP18 0APTelephone - 01844 290545 Web - www.tcap.co.uk Email - admin@tcap.co.uk

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9Animal Therapy Magazine | WINTER 2016Find  Local Canine Massage Guild Member !•InjuryRehabilitation•OrthopaedicConditionSupporte.g.Arthritis/HD•SignsOfAgeing/SeniorDogs•PerformanceConditioningforSportingDogsFor results you can see and Animal 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 To register as a therapist, or for moreinformation, please contactwww.iaat.org.ukinfo@iaat.org.uk 01844 290545Are you a masseur, Chiropractor, Vet or a Physiotherapist?I am Sara Vuoristo, a soon graduating Product Designer from Finland. I´m doing an internship in Salzburg from Dec till May at Synowaytion GmbH (Austria). I am looking into nd connections to support me in my thesis product process. I will make a tool for horse professionals. Its purpose is to get height which will allow safe and ergonomic posture when you are applying techniques or need to get a better view to the highest spots on the horse.I am looking for people who work actively on the related elds and can commit the next 1-6 months to be my research source and prototype tester.Thank you for attention and feel free to share this message!Sara Helinä Vuoristo+358 504 919 358Sarahelinavuoristo (skype)sarahelinavuoristo@outlook.comDegree Program in Design, Karelia UASAre you a Masseur, Vet, Chiropractor or a Physiotherapist? I am Sara Vuoristo, a future Product Designer from Finland. I’m doing an internship in Salzburg from December till May at Synowaytion GmbH (Austria) and need your help. My aim is to make a tool for horse professionals which will make life safer as well as achieve a more ergonomic posture when you need to apply techniques or get a better view to the highest spots on the horse. I am looking for someone who works actively in the field and can commit the time to help me with the research as well as test the prototype. If you are able to help me, please get in touch via the contact details below! Sara H Vuoristo +358 504 919 358 sarahelinavuoristo (skype) sarahelinavuoristo@outlook.com Degree Program in Design Karelia University of Applied Sciences Are you a Masseur, Vet, Chiropractor or a Physiotherapist? I am Sara Vuoristo, a future Product Designer from Finland. I’m doing an internship in Salzburg from December till May at Synowaytion GmbH (Austria) and need your help. My aim is to make a tool for horse professionals which will make life safer as well as achieve a more ergonomic posture when you need to apply techniques or get a better view to the highest spots on the horse. I am looking for someone who works actively in the field and can commit the time to help me with the research as well as test the prototype. If you are able to help me, please get in touch via the contact details below! Sara H Vuoristo +358 504 919 358 sarahelinavuoristo (skype) sarahelinavuoristo@outlook.com Degree Program in Design Karelia University of Applied Sciences

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10Animal Therapy Magazine | WINTER 2016Entry requirementsA human massage qualication Age 21 at commencement of course5 passes (A-C) at GSCE including English (or demonstrable equivalent)Many applicants have an animal care background such as veterinary nurse, physiotherapist or hydrotherapist. Students with no previous animal care qualications may apply but must be able to demonstrate knowledge and commitment in other ways eg other courses or hobbies.Submission of a Pre Interview Self EvaluationSubmission of a piece of written work then qualies the applicant for a telephone interview. Acceptance on the course relies upon a successful telephone interview.Access to Practical Weekends relies upon the completion of 9 Modules before classroom entry is grantedThe course - 2 years Part Time StudyThe course consists of;11 Core Canine Anatomy and Physiology modules to completed via distance learning and classroom lectures 120 hours of practical on site and o site training Guided study days and assessed externship all in all totalling 800 Hours of study.The techniques taught on the course include:• Myofascial Release • Remedial Sports Massage • Deep Tissue Massage• Swedish MassageAdvanced Palpation TechniquesWhat makes the course so unique is the Lenton Method, a set of 7 Massage Protocols combined with body mapping and a structured palpation routine that the therapist will use during each session. By using the method therapists are usually able to attain signicant results in 1-3 sessions with a dog. Post graduation supportGraduates become members of the Professional Association the Canine Massage Guild, who, as leaders in their eld promote high quality standards within the animal therapy industry. They oer unrivalled exclusive Continuing Professional Development to ensure that therapist’s skills are kept up to date. In addition, members have access to a valuable network of professionals via online forums.The association represents, protects and advises members at industry level to ensure the standards and prole of Canine Massage remain a high. The Canine Massage Guild are part of the Massage & Soft Tissue Group (MAST) that is feeding into the Review of Minor Procedures Regime governed by the RCVS, DEFRA and LANTRA. This is in place for the protection and welfare of the general public and their dogs by providing a group who are answerable, responsible and professional with a guaranteed set of minimum training requirements who do not endorse short courses.Careers progressionGraduates typically establish their own private practiceDo practitioners work under veterinary referral?Practitioners only work with Veterinary Consent to comply with the Exemptions Order 1962 and the Veterinary Act 1966. Do insurance companies recognise and cover the treatments ?The therapy is recognised by most insurance companies and clients are advised to check with their own insurance company. www.K9-Massage.co.ukwww.K9-MassageGuild.co.uk0844 809 4495info@k9-massage.co.ukClinical Canine Massage Practitioner Programme EDUCATIONEDUCATION

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12Animal Therapy Magazine | WINTER 2016EDUCATIONWe accredit and support courses with 3 providersBSc Veterinary PhysiotherapyPgDip / MSc Veterinary Physiotherapy Entry requirement For the BSc – Three A levels, two of which need to be sciencesFor PgD – an appropriate rst degree in an animal/science (2:1), plus animal handling experience. Length of courseBSc – 3 year or 4 year (includes a year out on placement) full time – depends on the education provider.PgD/MSc – 2 year part time PgD, followed by 1 year completing their Masters. Course formatBSc – Full time - classroom and practical + placements.PgD – Two year part time (one weekend per month) classroom and practical + placements.Brief summary of course contentSame content for both BSc and PgD but delivered at the relevant levels (level 5/6 at BSc and level 6/7 for PgD/MSc) and all a mixture of theory and practical delivery.• Academic and Professional Skills• Comparative and Functional Anatomy• Biomechanics and gait evaluation• Pathophysiology of injury and disease• Orthopeadic and neurology• Physiotherpy techniques• Electrotherapy• Remedial and Proprioceptive Exercise • Professional Practice for Veterinary Physiotherapists• Allied professions – dentistry, farriery, behaviour, nutritionAssignments for all modulesTheory delivery supported by practical clinics and practical teaching weekends + placements.Practical exams – animal handling, physiotherapy techniques, nal exam which is a complete assessment and treatment programme.Theory exams – anatomy (written and spot test), professional practice, neurology and orthopaedics, physiotherapy techniques. Post graduation supportConstant email and phone support whenever required.They become graduate members and have to do 4 real cases over the year which their mentors can help and advise them on. At the end of their rst year as members the graduates present one of their case histories on power point to their colleagues and mentors for discussion.Once their rst year as graduate members is completed they become Full members of the association.CPD provided by the Association including AGM lectures and Conference. Careers available after graduation and any other qualications that would compliment the courseAmbulatory and self employed.In house at veterinary practices and hospitals.Retained by competition yards/racing yards.Rehabilitation centres and hydrotherapy units.Research.Many graduates will go on to do a human massage course. Do practitioners work under veterinary referralYes. Do insurance companies recognise and cover the treatments?Yes. Is the qualication recognised by para-professionals?Yes.

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14Animal Therapy Magazine | WINTER 2016Veterinary physiotherapy, as an industry, has developed hugely over the last 20 years. The musculoskeletal therapist is becoming an increasingly important member of the multidisciplinary team, with the wider veterinary industry recognising the signicance of rehabilitation, physiotherapeutic intervention and input in the promotion and maintenance of animal patient health and wellbeing.With more and more varied trainingroutes into animal rehabilitationbeing established, transparency ofqualication and maintenance ofa high level of therapy standards isbecoming increasingly critical for theowner, client and referring veterinariancollectively.IRVAP, the Institute of Registered Veterinary and Animal Physiotherapists, is a self-regulating professional association promoting evidence based clinical practice with a membership spanning a huge range of musculoskeletal practitioners. Established almost 10 years ago, IRVAP’s diverse membership has grown consistently and includes veterinary physiotherapists, veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses, chiropractors, osteopaths, hydrotherapists, TTouch practitioners and other specialist animal practitioners. Many IRVAP members belong to other, similar self-regulated associations to reect their own scope of practice. is cross pollination of memberships and diversity of skills and experience is something IRVAP actively promotes and supports. Due to its membership structure, IRVAP is in the unique position of being able to draw together many dierent aspects of animal rehabilitation and therapy. It positions itself as an all inclusive association with the overarching aim of raising and maintaining standards of animal care and uniting therapists for the on-going health of the industry.IRVAP is committed to:Promoting the development of eective and safe practice in all aspects of animal therapy and healthcare, aligning the underpinning scientic knowledge to current clinical practiceSupporting the professional development and mentorship of members working in this sectorOrganising an inclusive system of professional training and development for practice, with all members completing a mandatory annual CPD requirement; evidenced prior to renewal of their membershipPromoting research collaborations and scientic based approaches in all aspects of animal therapy and healthcare across the eld of professionals working in this sectorFacilitating eective communication and support of professional, clinical, business and educational matters between members.Members adhere to the Veterinary Surgeons Act (1966), abide by their scope of practice, annually rearm their code of conduct and meet exacting CPD requirements.To gain membership of this organisation, every prospective member undergoes an online accreditation process recognised by insurance companies. In order to embrace such a broad spectrum of practitioners, IRVAP has dierent categories of membership. Every full IRVAP member is a musculoskeletal practitioner who has successfully completed a university accredited post-grad (level 6) qualication, holds professional indemnity insurance and are animal specialists delivering best practice. e level of Associate membership is open to all other practitioners and those with an interest in animal therapy. A heavily discounted Student membership is open to any future practitioner currently studying. e qualication backgrounds of our full members are varied, reecting the diverse routes of entry into the profession. We count amongst our full members; graduates from Harper Adams University, the Canine and Equine Physiotherapy Training (CEPT) Advanced Certicate, oered by Middlesex University and Chartered Physiotherapists with a post-graduate award in veterinary physiotherapy. All these courses have in common a practical and theoretical element. Several oer a 3rd year research project to MSc, and are all university accredited to level 6.All member categories are entitled to the member benets. ese include: Representation at local, regional and national level – including member website access and prolesEDUCATION

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15Animal Therapy Magazine | WINTER 2016Presence at key industry events and active social media campaignsExtensive learning and professional resources including journal access Excellent group insurance scheme Approved, subsidised CPD courses and framework Annual Conference with high prole, industry relevant speakers, trade stands and networking opportunities Networking and mentorship scheme Research support and collaboration All members share a common goal of continuing their career development by obtaining further qualications and developing their clinical practice in order to oer the best service to their animal patients and owner clients. Following the huge success of the 2015 IRVAP conference, the second Annual IRVAP Conference will be held on 20th March 2016 entitled “An Integrated, Holistic Approach”. We are delighted to present a range of specialist speakers from dierent IRVAP Annual Conference: ‘An Integrated, Holistic Approach’Location: Hinckley Island Hotel, Watling St, Hinckley LE10 3JATalks to include:Small Animal Pain Pathophysiology and Appropriate Interventions.Remedial Farriery and Appropriate InterventionsSmall Animal NeurologyGroundwork for the Equine Rehabilitation ClientRegenerative Medicine - Use and clinical science in veterinary medicine and surgical rehabilitationwww.IRVAP.org.ukFor the full line up, please visit www.irvap.org.ukTickets: £90 Early Bird members and £120 non-member Early Bird.After February 1st 2016, prices will be £105 for members and £135 for non-members.20th March 2016aspects of the wider veterinary industry presenting topics relevant to the animal therapist. Ian Self:BSc, BVSc, PGCert Vet Ed, FHEA, CertVA, DipECVAA, MRCVSSmall Animal Pain Pathophysiology and Appropriate Interventions. Jon Nunn: AWCFRemedial Farriery and Appropriate Interventions Annette Wessmann: DrMedVet DipECVN PGCertAcPrac FHEA MRCVS.European Specialist in Veterinary NeurologySmall Animal Neurology Gaby Kerfoot:BSc(Hons), FIRVAPGroundwork for the Equine Rehabilitation Client Steven Barabas: BSc, BVMS, MRCVS, Director of VBS Direct Ltd.Regenerative Medicine - Use and clinical science in veterinary medicine and surgical rehabilitation We hope to welcome to this conference a range of practitioners, to share ideas and experiences in order to develop further connections across the Industry. With our inclusive membership approach we hope the future for IRVAP and its members continues to look bright and we look forward to welcoming a greater strength and depth of animal therapists as our industry continues to grow and ourish. For more information and details on how to join please see www.irvap.org.uk

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16Animal Therapy Magazine | WINTER 2016.com.comJustoDevelopment.comEntry RequirementsSuccessful applicants must have a previous degree or equivalent in animal science or nursing and/or be able to demonstrate a high level of experience in the animal industry.The CourseJusto Development are the rst provider to oer veterinary physiotherapy in two separate training courses, namely Equine Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation or Canine and Feline Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation. There is an option of completing the two together over two years but those who only wish to study either small or large animals now have the option to do so. The courses are set at level 6 and are externally accredited by LANTRA awards. The courses are held at Berkshire College of Agriculture and consist of residential weekends and home study, practical placements and log book hours. This course would suit those who are employed full time in the animal industry and are unable to take time out to study at university, yet want to study a high level fully accredited course. There is a strong emphasis on evidence based practice and hands on practical training and students have plenty of opportunity to develop and carry out treatment and rehabilitation plans throughout their training. Places on these courses are limited and the courses both commence every year in May.Post Graduation SupportOn completion of our courses, graduates are welcomed to join ‘The Association for the Scientic Study in Veterinary and Animal Physiotherapy (ASSVAP)’ and are oered continued support and guidance in their new career. ASSVAP strongly supports the provision of Continued Professional Development which is essential for all practitioners in order to oer evidence based practice. ASSVAP oers a network of support that consists of members around the globe, including vets, chiropractors, osteopaths, and other musculoskeletal practitioners as well as veterinary physiotherapists. Career ProgressionSome graduates will go on to work as a freelance therapist, particularly those working on horses. Others will work within a veterinary practice oering onsite physiotherapy and many will set up a separate physiotherapy unit. Do practitioners work under veterinary referral?All practitioners work under veterinary referral.Do insurance companies cover the therapy?Yes, in most cases insurance companies cover physiotherapy on animals providing they have veterinary referral. Owners are advised to check their policy details prior to any treatment.Canine, Feline and Equine Physiotherapy and RehabilitationJusto DevelopmentJusto Development oer CPD for practitioners in the animal therapy industry. A series of online courses are available so if you are a practitioner looking for CPD please keep and eye on the website or follow Justo on Facebook.Contact detailsTelephone: 07876 715 959Email: katie@justodevelopment.com Web: www.justodevelopment.com Our next courses are:23rd March - Ultrasound in Veterinary Physiotherapy13th April - An introduction to equine physiotherapy and rehabilitation14th April - An introduction to canine and feline physiotherapy and rehabilitation18th June - Tissue Repair with Prof. Tim WatsonThe Association for the Scientic Study in Veterinary and Animal Physiotherapy (ASSVAP)Promoting the scientic approach to animal therapyAre you an animal therapist wanting to nd an association to support your interest in evidence based practice? Enquire today about joining ASSVAP, the leading association representing all animal therapists. Membership benets include: Free CPD and savings on courses, access to the latest research via the membership website, mentoring and advice.For more information visit www.assvap.comEDUCATION

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18Animal Therapy Magazine | WINTER 2016OVER the past 10 years ther-mography has become a popu-lar imaging option that is easily accessible to animal owners without the need for a veterinary refer-ral but thermography has fast become a problem for many veterinary practices as the technology is unregulated and therefore dicult to control. Oen ther-mal screening services are carried out by non-veterinary practitioners, with no veterinary interpretation and in less than perfect screening environments but clients are still proactively sourcing “thermographers” to investigate lame-ness oen before calling their veterinary surgeon. How many animal owners really understand what this technolo-gy is detecting and more importantly its limitations before outsourcing this service? e biggest misconception is that thermography is a standalone service that will provide a diagnosis whilst avoiding expensive vet bills…but in reality thermography is not a standalone diagnostic test, it will not provide a diagnosis and even though it may help with vet bills it will not make them disappear. To use this technology correctly you need to understand both the benets and limitations and how it needs to be used in clinical evaluation to contribute to lameness investigation and treatment monitoring. Physiological imaging is a powerful tool when used correctly in specialist areas of medicine or as an adjunctive imaging modality.Technology & Service Introduction:ermology measures the autonomic nervous system and detects physiological (functional) abnormalities and can graphically record inammatory and neurological processes, all helpful information when data is collected and interpreted accurately. “Hot spots” are irrelevant to a point, the interpretation of this technology it is all about pattern (pathology) recognition, temperature dierential and comparative studies coupled with extensive veterinary experience.Many aspects have to come together to achieve accurate and reliable results and just like all other diagnostic tests results should be interpreted and reported on by trained veterinary surgeons. ermography is a test of physiology, so without an in depth knowledge of the autonomic system the correct analysis can be dicult; you wouldn’t expect your animals x-rays or MRI scans to be reported on by anyone other than your vet and we believe ermography is no dierent. e technology used for testing should be of the highest clinical specicity designed only for physiological imaging and data collection should be done by experienced technicians under veterinary referral. If clients do not want to investigate results further or work with their vets then this will become your biggest limitation, thermography cannot see structure (anatomy) so without the use of additional diagnostics we potentially won’t be able to correlate ndings and conrm a diagnosis. is is why we provide our service through veterinary practices so our patients get the very best from the service. Stress testing should be carried out as standard to achieve optimum results. One of the benets of imaging physiology is that things change and dysfunction can be well highlighted when the body is put under physiological stress so testing animals without exercise is limited but unfortunately commonly seen in the industry. We normally image patients at rest and then work them up for up to 15 minutes to trigger reactions, very oen primary pathology will be better highlighted and we can understand how or if exercise improved the condition or exacerbated it. Benets:ere are many benets to using ermology to assist diagnosis, monitor treatment and rehabilitation. As the technology identies inammatory and neurological processes one of its main clinical benets is when it is used to non-invasively locate the potential source of lameness. Animals can be imaged in a short space of time without the need for sedation. Numerous injuries, diseases and conditions can be identied and monitored. It is a well-known fact that pain isn’t always a result of a structural problem, pain can also just be physiological and thermography is unique it is capability to provide a visual map of these reactions. Many vets use our service to monitor their treatment and rehab plan along with assessing lameness. Back Pain & Poor PerformanceJust like in human medicine back pain and spinal conditions are also common in equine & canine patients, in our medical clinic patients will complain of back discomfort even though they are visiting us for a primary lower limb condition. Everything is so connected that we may experience secondary issues that can oen be just as painful as the primary concern, for vets and professionals working out which one came rst and needs treatment can be dicult therefore diagnostic imaging may need to be performed. When it comes to animals we may notice performance issues or a change ermology Uncoverede benets and limitations of physiological imaging and how this technology is aecting the veterinary industryby Sophie Gent MD SyncermologySYNCTHERMOLOGYcontinued overleaf

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20Animal Therapy Magazine | WINTER 2016in behaviour before we start to see lameness, ruling out or conrming physiological responses is a good place to start before going on to more specic structural tests. Our service is used by many veterinary practices to identify spinal pathology and localise areas of autonomic dysfunction which correlate well with regions of pain. ermographic Reactions can sometimes appear to be subtle and not all problems produce “hot spots” if there is nerve activity or neurological reactions we could see a loss of temperature gradient which is just as important as heat. ese case studies have been selected to demonstrate the importance of follow up and further investigation.Working with your vets is crucial as the above nding could not have been conrmed without them. Company intro:Syncthermology have a clinical background and we initially worked with thermography in human medicine, our veterinary branch opened in 2008 and we now have a team of vets and technicians that provide a national service. e team are working with practices and practitioners to educate the industry with an aim to ensure that all animals are receiving the same clinical standards & protocols when thermography is utilised as part of a veterinary investigation. 2016 is an exciting year for Syncermology as we have gathered the support of some of the UK’s leading veterinary practices and we are starting to make a dierence to the industry. Our service oers clinical standard imaging, vet interp, stress testing and continued quality control as standard. You will nd our service in many veterinary practices throughout the UK and we run regular CPD for professionals. CASE STUDYHorses’ owner reported that over time he had lost his naturally large movement and found walking downhill particularly dicult. His back would also go into spasm on palpation. The treating vet reported a history of mild hind limb lameness. Thermography was selected to identify abnormality before further testing.Results:Dorsal views of the back reveal focal inammation of the mid-thoracic to thoracolumbar spinal region (T14, T15, T16)Investigation:The horse was referred for scintigraphy which found IRU in the summits of three spinous processes of the mid to caudal thoracic region (T14, T15 and T16 ), Radiographs were obtained of the mid to caudal thoracic spine, and they conrmed impingement, with bone remodelling consisting mostly of sclerosis, of the dorsal spinous processes of T14, T15 and T16.Horses owner reported that over time he had lost his naturally large movement and found walking downhill particularly difficult. His back would also go into spasm on palpation. The treating vet reported a history of mild hind limb lameness. Thermography was selected to identify abnormality before further testing. Results:Dorsal views of the back reveal focal inflammation of the mid-thoracic to thoraco-lumbar spinal region (T14, T15, T16)Investigation:The horse was referred for scintigraphy which found IRU in the summits of three spinous processes of the mid to caudal thoracic region (T14, T15 and T16 ), Radiographs were obtained of the mid to caudal thoracic spine, and they confirmed impingement, with bone remodelling consisting mostly of sclerosis, of the dorsal spinous processes of T14, T15 and T16.Conclusion:By using our service the primary condition was highlighted and other areas were ruled out. The patient was then sent for further investigation before a diagnosis was reached. Subtle reactions Patient was just not right, lacking in usual powerful and elevated movementInterp:Focal inflammation of the caudal thoracic spinal region is observed on dorsal views of the back. Investigation:X-rays of the spine identified 3 close interspinous processes T14-T17 correlating well with thermography. These were medicated with Methylprednisolone.Conclusion: As this horse was sent via referral subtle reactions were investigated. Horses owner reported that over time he had lost his naturally large movement and found walking downhill particularly difficult. His back would also go into spasm on palpation. The treating vet reported a history of mild hind limb lameness. Thermography was selected to identify abnormality before further testing. Results:Dorsal views of the back reveal focal inflammation of the mid-thoracic to thoraco-lumbar spinal region (T14, T15, T16)Investigation:The horse was referred for scintigraphy which found IRU in the summits of three spinous processes of the mid to caudal thoracic region (T14, T15 and T16 ), Radiographs were obtained of the mid to caudal thoracic spine, and they confirmed impingement, with bone remodelling consisting mostly of sclerosis, of the dorsal spinous processes of T14, T15 and T16.Conclusion:By using our service the primary condition was highlighted and other areas were ruled out. The patient was then sent for further investigation before a diagnosis was reached. Subtle reactions Patient was just not right, lacking in usual powerful and elevated movementInterp:Focal inflammation of the caudal thoracic spinal region is observed on dorsal views of the back. Investigation:X-rays of the spine identified 3 close interspinous processes T14-T17 correlating well with thermography. These were medicated with Methylprednisolone.Conclusion: As this horse was sent via referral subtle reactions were investigated. Horses owner reported that over time he had lost his naturally large movement and found walking downhill particularly difficult. His back would also go into spasm on palpation. The treating vet reported a history of mild hind limb lameness. Thermography was selected to identify abnormality before further testing. Results:Dorsal views of the back reveal focal inflammation of the mid-thoracic to thoraco-lumbar spinal region (T14, T15, T16)Investigation:The horse was referred for scintigraphy which found IRU in the summits of three spinous processes of the mid to caudal thoracic region (T14, T15 and T16 ), Radiographs were obtained of the mid to caudal thoracic spine, and they confirmed impingement, with bone remodelling consisting mostly of sclerosis, of the dorsal spinous processes of T14, T15 and T16.Conclusion:By using our service the primary condition was highlighted and other areas were ruled out. The patient was then sent for further investigation before a diagnosis was reached. Subtle reactions Patient was just not right, lacking in usual powerful and elevated movementInterp:Focal inflammation of the caudal thoracic spinal region is observed on dorsal views of the back. Investigation:X-rays of the spine identified 3 close interspinous processes T14-T17 correlating well with thermography. These were medicated with Methylprednisolone.Conclusion: As this horse was sent via referral subtle reactions were investigated. Horses owner reported that over time he had lost his naturally large movement and found walking downhill particularly difficult. His back would also go into spasm on palpation. The treating vet reported a history of mild hind limb lameness. Thermography was selected to identify abnormality before further testing. Results:Dorsal views of the back reveal focal inflammation of the mid-thoracic to thoraco-lumbar spinal region (T14, T15, T16)Investigation:The horse was referred for scintigraphy which found IRU in the summits of three spinous processes of the mid to caudal thoracic region (T14, T15 and T16 ), Radiographs were obtained of the mid to caudal thoracic spine, and they confirmed impingement, with bone remodelling consisting mostly of sclerosis, of the dorsal spinous processes of T14, T15 and T16.Conclusion:By using our service the primary condition was highlighted and other areas were ruled out. The patient was then sent for further investigation before a diagnosis was reached. Subtle reactions Patient was just not right, lacking in usual powerful and elevated movementInterp:Focal inflammation of the caudal thoracic spinal region is observed on dorsal views of the back. Investigation:X-rays of the spine identified 3 close interspinous processes T14-T17 correlating well with thermography. These were medicated with Methylprednisolone.Conclusion: As this horse was sent via referral subtle reactions were investigated. Conclusion:By using our service the primary condition was highlighted and other areas were ruled out. The patient was then sent for further investigation before a diagnosis was reached.Subtle reactionsPatient was just not right, lacking in usual powerful and elevated movementInterp:Focal inammation of the caudal thoracic spinal region is observed on dorsal views of the back.Investigation:X-rays of the spine identied 3 close interspinous processes T14-T17 correlating well with thermography. These were medicated with Methylprednisolone.Conclusion:As this horse was sent via referral subtle reactions were investigated.Alice Sheldon BVM&S BSc MSc CertEP CertES(orth) MRCVS – Towcester Equine Clinic“Traditionally the use of thermography in veterinary diagnosis has been limited due to wide range of variables that can aect scan results. The work being done by SyncThermology to enhance the validity of this imaging modality is likely to increase its acceptance as a useful diagnostic tool. Thermography has been used by our clients for a range of dierent conditions, most commonly back pain and poor performance. Interesting information is often received but interpretation of the results in light of a full clinical history and examination is essential. I look forward to future research projects that may further aid the integration of thermography into the veterinary world. SYNCTHERMOLOGY

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22Animal Therapy Magazine | WINTER 2016THE purchase of a horse is exciting. It has it’s worries, challenges and pitfalls but having realised the dream the next most important purchase is the saddle, if indeed the new owner intends to ride and enjoy their horse for years whether that be competitively or happy hacking. A badly tting saddle or even one slightly out of balance has accumulative eects both on the riders posture and to the horses movement and ability. e organs of the horse are protected by the rib cage. ey are heavy and have a gravitational pull on the tummy and back. Add the saddle and weight of the rider and we begin to appreciate that the spine and its attaching ligaments and muscles need to be stable, supple and strong. It is oen unrealised or easily forgotten that, like humans, the skeleton matures with age. In the case of the vertebral column, where the rider sits, this is in fact the last bony structure to fully mature, with some of the larger, heavier types remaining vulnerable until the age of 8 years old. As such, protection of the spine is essential to allow natural movement and development. Another vital factor when tting a saddle is the shape of the spinal column, specically where the saddle sits. Equines have 18 thoracic vertebra and 6 lumbar vertebra. e shape of these vertebra determines where the saddle must sit, and due to the presence of transverse processes (bones coming out sideways) within the lumbar vertebra, placing a saddle and rider over these will result in discomfort and pain. is can make saddle tting tricky in short backed horses but it is an obstacle we have to get around! e young horse presents the saddler with huge responsibility. Whilst the education and strengthening of the top line muscles is down to the owner or trainer, a correctly tting saddle from day one is essential. e horse must be able to adjust and move in a balanced way at all paces, with and without the rider. To compromise this ability with a saddle that is not balanced makes no sense!. If the mature horse already has a weak top line this must be addressed and a rehabilitation and development programme planned, a check with the vet is sensible especially if discomfort or pain is evident. erapists also play an important role as they are very aware of the many issues occurring in the ridden horse as more and more is expected of them. ere are many reasons why back pain occurs. Lack of correct muscle strength, weight, either carrying too much or not having enough to protect the skeletal structures, incorrect riding, asymmetry of horse and/or rider, riding arena surfaces and of course the horse in the mud in his own eld! In the instance of degenerative disorders such as kissing spines and hock problems, or accidents, these belong rst to the vet as do the common problem of ulcers. Aer diagnosis and initial treatment, further work with a therapist is invaluable as are specic exercises. Time o from an injury, especially aer a period of box rest, will result in a change of shape and loss of muscle. For this reason it is essential that the saddle is checked and any adjustments made prior to ridden work is resumed. Imagine spending days and hours rehabbing a horse aer spinal surgery only to put an ill-tting saddle back on and undoing all the good work. Trainers are invaluable in the rehabilitation and exercise of horses as they can observe rider position, untoward movement of the saddle and any inability to perform certain tasks whether it be a simple transition from walk to trot or turning in a circle to the more complicated movements. Behaviour changes are also key in understanding the horses comfort and ability. A qualied back therapist also plays an important role as they can pinpoint areas of soreness, note Saddle tting by Sue Norton BHSAI,SMS QSF, MSFCSADDLE DOCTORS22 Animal Therapy Magazine | WINTER 2016

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23Animal Therapy Magazine | WINTER 2016muscular changes and identify the recurrence of certain issues. Adding routine checks is advisable so any issues can be ironed out before they become a real problem! So we address the asymmetry and soreness within the horse, but we must not forget the rider. It’s a chicken and egg situation. Does the horse make the rider crocked or does the rider make the horse crocked? We oen nd many asymmetric riders and inevitably the horse will have to hold their muscles in a way to support the uneven weight. e saddle in time will settle unevenly in the panel and shi on the horses back, possibly impinging on the spine. Once the horse is ready to be ridden, whether it be its rst ever saddle, aer time o or for the routine check the saddle should be assessed by a Qualied and registered tter. e Society of Master Saddlers hold the qualication and have done for over 25 years. It is the only one recognised by City and Guilds, stage 3. Members are expected to continue to update their knowledge and establish working relationships with blacksmiths and all qualied back practitioners. A complication for the saddle tter is the incredible variation in horse conformation. Breeding programmes have created a diversity of back shapes compared to 20-30 years ago. e British manufacturers have responded well to demand. ey have listened, researched and changed designs. We now have wider gullets, excellent panels and designs for the dierent disciplines. e general purpose saddle is now only a small part of the market. Commitment of having such a large quantity of saddles in stock to give a fair unbiased brand opinion certainly requires an occasional sale! e assurance to the customer is an ongoing service. e important rst check assesses how the wool in the panel has settled to the horses shape and compacted with the rider weight. It is inadvisable to miss this call and it is suggested this is carried out within 3 months of the rst tting. is can be carried out on site with the visit being chargeable but not the ock. Saddle checks should become part of the horse owners’ routine diary. Young horses up to 7-8 years old may need a six monthly check as do those reaching their mid-teens or those who regularly change shape as the seasons change. Horses who maintain a certain level of exercise may only require an annual check. As saddle tters broaden their skills it is now desirable for a tter to also be a qualied and skilled bench saddler! e tter with bench skills and product knowledge will be able to service many saddle brands and advise accordingly. Rarely will a saddle be condemned for safety or t reasons but if they do they mean it!C.H. Brown and Son are Master Saddlers with 3 qualied saddle tters, two of which are experienced bench Saddlers. It is a family business of 40 years. Kate is full time on the road with an extra day reserved for the workshop. Sue runs a second van part time as well as the diary and an eye on the retail shop. Mike, a past president of the Society of Master Saddlers (S.M.S), is our back up and oers a wealth of experience and knowledge. Sue is a lecturer and assessor for the S.M.S and Kate is an assessor for them. Website:www.saddledoctors.co.uk S.M.S. website:www.mastersaddlers.co.uk23Animal Therapy Magazine | WINTER 2016

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24Animal Therapy Magazine | WINTER 2016ANIMAL OSTEOPATHYOsteopathy for exoticsby Tony Nevin BSc (Hons) Ost, DO OsteopathTony continues his series on Osteopathy with two interesting case studies taken from Zoo Ost Ltd’s archives, giving an insight into some of the problems associated with this level of work, and the integrated working relationship with all those involved that is required for a successful outcome.CASE STUDY 1Asian Bull Elephant Signalmente patient was a 13 year old ai bull elephant, privately owned and employed by an elephant awareness and conservation foundation that uses “domesticated” elephants for ethical tourist encounters in Northern ailand.Historye patient had been involved in a ght with a mature bull “tusker”, which resulted in the patient receiving a penetrating wound, inicted by a single stab of a tusk to his le forelimb proximal to the main elbow joint. He was lied up and thrown backwards into the surrounding undergrowth. e wound itself became infected, and was treated by the attendant veterinary surgeon using antibiotic packing material into the wound, which was approximately 15cm deep. is was changed and the wound ushed on a daily basis by the foundation’s veterinary sta. e infection and trauma had also resulted in considerable oedema (swelling) to the forelimb, which prevented exion at the elbow, and carpus.1Presenting signse patient presented with a swollen le forelimb, some muscle loss around the shoulder musculature and had a slightly more roached back than is common in ai elephants (which are generally stocky with shorter limbs than their Indian cousins).2 When standing he avoided full weight bearing through the aected forelimb.On walking he abducted the le forelimb at the shoulder and swung the leg in an arc with the medial toes connecting with the ground rst, rather than the usual heal to toe straight limb ight gait.When asked he could lay down on his le side, but much preferred laying on his right side with the injured limb uppermost.Osteopathic treatmentA treatment programme was devised by the author that attempted to lower tension to the muscles around the shoulder, neck, and aected limb, and then stimulate lymphatic drainage from the le forelimb, before encouraging better freedom of movement for the associated joints and their so tissue structures.Initial treatment was performed three times daily and consisted of so tissue work and articulation throughout the patient’s body framework; before performing a pumping action through the Plantar aspect of the foot; nishing with rotational articulation of the entire le forelimb with the patient side lying.Each treatment was carried out in the open air, with soring temperatures and humidity.Foundation members, as well as a renowned international elephant researcher observed these early treatment sessions and were able to give feedback.Aer the rst ten minute session the patient stood up and was led away.

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25Animal Therapy Magazine | WINTER 2016He was immediately able to partially ex both the elbow and carpus as he walked. is was the rst time the limb had articulated through these joints since the injury occurred.Further treatment continued three times a day for 7 days and then reduced to twice daily for a further 7 days. His mahout (owner and handler) was shown simple techniques to continue the work whilst the veterinary sta continued treating the open wound as it healed.As the swelling to the limb reduced and exion improved he was encouraged to walk more to further improve his recovery.Summarye patient had received a traumatic injury to the le forelimb. He had also been physically lied o the ground and this had resulted in a very much altered way of moving and using of this limb. e patient was treated on site, and for a limited time, due to work commitments by the author. Treatment was continued by trainee veterinary students, on exchange from Australia, via Skype link with the author, as well as by the mahout himself.e foundation kept the author updated over the following few months.e mahout and patient le the foundation for 3 years before returning again. e author was able to re-examine and treat the patient who had an almost normal gait by this stage, and a healthy scar with little contraction evident.e patient recognized the author and was keen to greet him. Once allowed to he lay down on his side and waited to be treated, much to his mahout’s amusement.Osteopathic medicine can be extremely eective in treating trauma based musculoskeletal problems as long as there is a commitment to treat regularly and oen.Elephants respond well to regular short treatment sessions. ey will oen become restless if treatment takes too long, aer which little can be achieved. ey are also very easy to over treat.e patient benetted from a combined osteopathic and veterinary support approach, which tackled the infection as well as the mechanical issues and inammatory response. is was essential when one considers that treatment was undertaken in temperatures averaging 33°C and 95% humidity where infection can rapidly take over.e patient continued growing, and apart from an impressive battle scar, was le with only a very minor change to his gait when viewed critically. e author was able to re-assess him 3 years aer his initial treatment programme. Over a further ve day period he was observed, palpated, and then treated in an attempt to further improve the action of this limb. Slow motion video capture was used as an assessment tool, as well as measuring stride length, symmetry of movement, and ability to walk in a straight line. e footage was shown to one group of osteopaths, and one group of specialist elephant veterinary surgeons. e conclusion was that he improved further during this latter treatment programme.REFERENCES:1 Fowler. M., Mikota. S. (2006) Biology, Medicine, and Surgery of Elephants. Blackwell Publishing. Chapters 19, 20, 30.2 Miall. L., Greenwood. F. (1878 reprint) Anatomy of the Indian Elephant. MacMillan and Co., London.continued overleafTop: The images show my improvised lymphatic pump through the plantar aspect of the foot. Note the compliance of the patient.Centre: These are the initial treatment pictures at the start of his programmeLeft and Opposite: During the last visit with him almost full grown. The group shot is with specialist elephant vets based throughout South East Asia

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26Animal Therapy Magazine | WINTER 2016ANIMAL OSTEOPATHYCASE STUDY 2Male Western Lowland GorillaSignalmentA male Western Lowland Gorilla, born in captivity in the EU, aged 11 years at start of study. He was living with a bachelor group of other males made up of his immediate brothers at a UK collection.HistoryIt was reported that all of the gorillas had come from another collection, to allow for further breeding opportunities there. When he arrive at his present home he was seen to be guarding his right upper limb, and there was documentation that came with him that stated his older brother had caused some kind of injury to him during one of their many “play” sessions.He had been put onto a long term anti inammatory drug regime and the sta implemented a lameness scoring system which they were marking every morning when the gorillas moved out of their sleeping quarters. e scoring scale went from 1 to 5, with 1 being no lameness at all, and 5 being unable to use the limb at all.Just prior to osteopathic intervention, and whilst on daily medication he was scoring between 3-4 most days, and very occasionally a 5.Prior to the rst osteopathic treatment he was radiographed to ensure that there were no pathological issues and blood samples were also taken to look at cortisol levels.Presenting signsWhen observed discretely with the rest of his group, he presented by keeping his right upper limb exed and adducted across his chest with his hand resting on the ventral aspect of the le side of the chest and shoulder area. When moving about on all fours he would place his elbow joint in contact with the ground, rather than extending the limb itself. is he would alternate with not using the limb at all when moving about the gorilla house, or outdoor enclosure.His posture was hunched and his neck appeared shorter than those of his brothers.e author managed to use a medical grade thermal imaging camera to scan him whilst active, and despite the hair covering most of his body there was a reduced temperature reading around the right shoulder, upper chest, and throat areas.Osteopathic treatmentFor treatment it was necessary for the patient to be anaesthetized by administering ketamine via a rie dart, followed up by intubation and continued anaesthesia using isoourane. On the initial examination digital radiographs were taken to ensure that there were no bony pathologies or obvious luxation not previously detected and bloods were also taken. Radiographic results were almost instant, and showed no pathologies. is allowed the author to perform palpation and joint mobility assessment, which concluded that the right shoulder apparatus showed marked rigidity through the so tissues when compared with the le side. e neck musculature was so tight that it felt as though the whole structure was considerably shortened. e right upper arm measured a full 3cm less in circumference to that of the le. Restrictions followed through the supercial back musculature with apparent fascial drag pulling into the right upper limb structure.1Osteopathic treatment involved so tissue massage and stretching, followed by specic high velocity thrusts to some of the thoracic vertebral joints, cervical vertebrae, backed up with long lever stretching and tugs through all four limbs working with the fasciae. e thrusts used were vigorous and aimed at creating the most extreme of osteopathic mobilization. Finally the rst session ended with cervical traction and functional release work around the hyoid mechanism.Subsequent to this treatment sta noted that when he awoke he sat up and they could see that his neck was lengthened and his head carriage was much more in keeping with that of a young male gorilla.Further treatment has expanded on the initial improvements. He is now on a very low dose anti inammatory drug and regularly scores a 2 and sometimes a 1 on his lameness score.Osteopathic treatment has been reduced from every 2-3 months now to roughly once every 6 months. His improved status has resulted in a couple of setbacks though. As his condence has increased he has had occasion to overdo things, resulting in

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27Animal Therapy Magazine | WINTER 2016BIOGRAPHYTony graduated from the European School of Osteopathy in 1988, and took a later degree from the British College of Osteopathic Medicine, graduating in 2010.Within a year of initial graduation he was approached to treat some horses. Liaising with the vet he found that there was a much greater willingness from the vet to work with him compared to the state of play with doctors on the human side back in the late 1980s.Soon Tony expanded his animal work to cover small animal treatment, setting up the rst referral clinic within a vets practice in Gloucestershire, as well as attaching himself to a wildlife hospital, and then several zoo’s and safari parks where he expanded the boundaries of osteopathic medicine to include species hitherto thought to be untreatable with manual medicine.He helped found the Society of Osteopaths in Animal Practice, and was chair for 6 years steering it into the respected organisation that it now is.Along the way he has lectured internationally, is clinical director on the only established MSc in Animal Osteopathy, has had scientic papers published, and is currently working on a comprehensive textbook on animal and bird osteopathy. To date his list of patient species exceeds 300 dierent kinds, many of these he has pioneered the successful treatment of.Contact detailstonynevin@blueyonder.co.ukwww.zooost.comwww.horseost.co.ukTel: + (0)1242 221153Mob: + (0)7831 759339minor injuries. ese have responded quickly to further osteopathic treatment, and now his core strength appears to be more robust.Summaryis patient has responded extremely well to osteopathic treatment thus far. He is going to need further monitoring and sessions, but due to need for anaesthesia these are kept to a minimum. e techniques employed have been weighed against the need to achieve as much as is safely possible within a short treatment session.is is the rst known documented osteopathic treatment of a gorilla, and as with most high value animals in a collection there were many health and safety issues that had to be addressed before the treatment programme commenced.Working with apes can mess with the osteopaths mind, as they are so similar to the human model, yet have many dierences to their physical anatomy. eir weight is considerable for their size, which also poses mechanical problems during treatment. e chronic nature of this patient’s problem meant that there was a lot of change in so tissue quality, and joint range of motion. is was coupled with the need to anaesthetize him for each treatment, which took place in the relatively cramped gorilla sleeping quarters. is was the safest place to dart him, and also for him to wake up again.By introducing osteopathy into his overall care it has been possible to drastically reduce his dependency on medication. It has also been noted by sta and the author that the patient has become much more sociable, both within his group and towards sta and the author. He is still under observation, and it is intended to continue treatment to a point where he no longer requires anti inammatory medication. Time will tell if this is possible.REFERENCES:1 Diogo. R. et al. (2011) Photographic and Descriptive Musculoskeletal Atlas of Gorilla. CRC Press.Opposite: IRTI scan of ventral upper body, throat and face. Right side very slightly cooler, signifying reduced sub cutaneous blood ow which is seen with reduced SNS output – tighter resting state of supercial musculature.Below: These are all treatment shots with patient knocked out on KetamineIn the next edition Tony will be looking at the eects of both pain and lack of core stability in the canine patient, and the role osteopathy can play.

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29Animal Therapy Magazine | WINTER 2016diagnosis. What we have seen over the years is that a toe rst landing is usually accompanied by deep exor tendon, impart ligament and navicular bursa damage whereas a heel rst landing is almost always the sign of a healthy palmar hoof.It will come as no surprise to any of you that problems in the hoof are never isolated or self-contained and in any animal, especially a four-legged one, inability to use one leg will aect the rest of the body. ere are inevitable knock-on eects when a horse is unable to load its feet comfortably and correctly. ese aren’t sudden, catastrophic injuries but small, niggling discomforts which step by step, day by day, can accumulate and increase. Some of the most common problem areas:• e musclessurroundingthe shouldersare almost inevitably sore when horses are lame in front. It may seem obvious, but this can lead to horses being “sharp” when saddled or mounted. e problem will usually be worse on one side than the other, which will be particularly apparent to equine therapists.• Horses can suer from restricted neck exion as they brace to take weight o the worst leg. ey will be one-sided on turns. Again the problem will usually be obvious to a bodyworker.• Lumbar and sacro-iliac problems are common because most horses are lamer on one front leg than the other. Inevitably, front limb problems aect hind limbs and restricted movement, for example in the le front will lead to a shorter stride on the right hind. Over time, an unequal thrust in the hind limbs will lead to discomfort as one hind leg pushes harder than the other, resulting in a twist in this area.• If front limbs aren’t loading correctly there are oen knock-on problems behind - the most common are hock spavins or hind suspensory problems.• Hooves with a medio-lateral imbalance can strain check ligaments, particularly in faster work or on uneven ground.What I tend to see in the horses here is that as the front limbs become stronger and sounder the related problems also improve. Where body issues are secondary to the front limb problem, if you haven’t sorted out the forelimb rst, the other issues will keep recurring, no matter how many times a vet or bodyworker attempts to “x” them. Heel rst landingToe rst landingRockley Farmwww.rockleyfarm.co.uk“What we have seen over the years is that a toe rst landing is usually accompanied by deep exor tendon, impart ligament and navicular bursa damage whereas a heel rst landing is almost always the sign of a healthy palmar hoof.”

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30Animal Therapy Magazine | WINTER 2016OVERVIEWKissing Spine is a common cause of back pain in equines. It has the potential to cause a signicant degree of pain, which can result in various signs and symptoms; bucking, rearing, bolting, reduced ridden performance such as refusing, rushing, tension or lameness. Horses may also exhibit behavioural change during grooming, tacking up and mounting.Kissing spine is also known as Dorsal Spinous Process Impingement or Basstrup’s disease. It is most commonly found between T10-18. Kissing Spine is a common radiographic nding but does not always cause clinical symptoms. In one study over a seven year period, a cohort of 4407 horses, presenting with lameness of performance issues were evaluated, 7% were found to suer from back pain on clinical examination. 70 horses that had never had any history or sign of back pain were also radiographed. Of the group with back pain 68% had some radiographic ndings of kissing spine and the non-back pain group had radiographic ndings of kissing spines in 39% of the horses.(1) When they are symptomatic they are the second most common back pain diagnosis in horses, with short backed horses being more commonly eected.(2)e lesion is usually located between T10-18 and may rarely occur in L1-6. Abnormal X-Ray ndings are easily assessed on ndings on the dorsal area of the spinous process and severity can be graded from 1-4. Chiropractic Co-Management of Equine Kissing Spineby Faye Morris B.Sc. (Hons) CHIRO MMCAI, MIVCABelow is a case study about the co-management of kissing spine incorporating Conventional Veterinary medicine and Veterinary Chiropractic.“A” a 4 year old Irish Sports Horse gelding presented with a radiographic diagnosis of Kissing Spine. His rider reported a number of ridden issues, the horse was very hard to relax under saddle and had particular issues with the left canter, he would hang on the inside rein, raise his head, hollow his back and rush. If the rider asked for a reduction in pace and an increase in collection the horse had the tendency to perform a 4 beat canter. When asked to jump the horse would rush his fences and not bascule correctly.“A” had received an injection between the spinous processes 12 weeks prior to Chiropractic treatment and his rider reported that all the aftercare advice had been followed.Visual observation of the horse revealed underdeveloped trapezius and a high wither. On palpation Longissimus dorsi was hypertonic and horse yielded to light pressure. Abdominal reex and hip exion reex was poor. (6)“A” initially received 3 treatments with an interval of 14 days between treatment. Direct adjusting around the aected vertebrae was avoided, instead concentrating on areas of restricted movement elsewhere in the spine. Which in his case was marked restriction in the lumbosacral junction and reduced extension of left sacroiliac joint and restricted left lateral exion in the lower cervical spine.Aftercare advice involved the use of heat, hip exion reex and abdominal reexes to stretch the hypertonic extensor muscles. The training regime was discussed with long and round work, trot poles and hill work suggested as exercises to further enhance the treatment. The horse was already being fed o the oor and had daily turn out.After three treatments there was an improvement in appearance of the “topline” with a reduction in hypertonicity of the Longissimus dorsi and horse was no longer yielding to rm palpation of the paraspinals. “A’s” rider was happy with the improvements in her horse, his canter was improved and his tension was reduced.Over the last 12 months “A” has successfully competed in aliated dressage competitions at Novice level and 1* eventing. His symptoms have returned on a number of occasions but his symptoms quickly improve with Chiropractic adjusting and continued strengthening exercises performed by his rider.CASE STUDYEquine Care

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31Animal Therapy Magazine | WINTER 2016Grade 1 - Visible narrowing of the interspinous spaceGrade 2 - Desensication of the marginsGrade 3 – Bone lysis adjacent to the marginsGrade 4 – Severe remodellingAssessment of how symptomatic a lesion is can be aided by injection of a local anaesthetic into the interspinous space.(3)ere are numerous treatment options available; conservative care; manual therapies, shockwave therapy and lasers, medications such as Corticosteroids, Sarpen and Tildren, and surgical approaches such as surgical ostectomy and division of the interspinous ligament. Tack t, farriery, riding technique with appropriate schooling exercises should not be underestimated for their impact upon pain levels and function.(4) (5)Kissing spine, when symptomatic has a tendency to have periods of recurring symptoms, oen aer a period of rest from work, presumably due to a reduction in core strength.(5)CONCLUSIONSRecurring back pain does seem to be a common theme in horses with Kissing Spine with a history of being symptomatic.ere are many approaches to the management of Kissing Spine and various factors will dictate which approach is most appropriate, such as; • Classication of severity of the impingement on X-Ray• Severity of the behaviour displayed ie: is the horse dangerous to ride or is he simply displaying reduced athletic ability.• Value of the horse• e job that the horse is expected to perform.Treatment of kissing spine is not straightforward and it is hard to assess which cases will respond to conservative care, medication or surgery.(7) Chiropractic research in this area is in its infancy and although there is much anecdotal evidence more research needs to be made both into ecacy and which cases of kissing spine are likely to respond to conservative care, and which would be best suited to more invasive treatment. Faye Morris B.Sc. (Hons) CHIRO MMCAI, MIVCA, is a Chiropractor based in Co. Meath. She graduated from MCC in 2005 and completed her certication in Veterinary Chiropractic with the IVCA in 2010. She runs a mixed practice treating humans and animals but has a particular interest in treating dogs. REFERENCES1) ”Kissing Spines in Veterinary Equine Patients: easy to diagnose, complicated to treat.” Kenneth Marcella DVM, DVM360 Magazine, January 2015.2) ”Anatomy of Domestic Animals systemic and regional approach” Pasquini, Spurgeon and Pasquini, 8th Edition, 1995, Sudz Publishing.3) ”Merck Veterinary Manual” 2009-15 Merck Sharpe and Dohme Corp. www.merckvetmanual.com4) ”Kissing Spine Disease” http://www.bevet.com/news_and_articles/kissing_spine_disease/5) ”New Surgery for Kissing Spines” Richard Coomer, Veterinary Times #21 27/5/20136) ”Stretch Exercises for Your Horse” K Blignault 2003 J.A Allen7) “New Surgery may be the key to Kissing Spines” Kimberly French, The Chronicle of the Horse, Oct 3rd 2013.

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32Animal Therapy Magazine | WINTER 2016Laser is one of the most eective resources of treatment for tissue repair when anti-inammatory and cicatrizing (the process of a wound healing to produce scar tissue) eects are wanted, however, it is considered an expensive form of treatment, hence the need for investigation into less expensive but eective treatments. In a comparative study on the eects of Laser and Light emitting Diodes (LED) therapy on the treatment of Achilles tendon injury, the data indicated no signicant dierence and as such it could be concluded that phototherapies based on LEDs have proved to be eective on tendon healing presenting similar results to that of low-intensity laser therapy. Better alignment and organisation of collagen bres were observed making for a stronger and healthier structure post injury. MOYAVE combination therapy uses low level light therapy with red light LED and long wave infrared heat to treat a number of conditions. Designed with multi-layer technology and breathable functional materials, Moyave products are comfortable, safe and robust. Their exible application enables them to t to all sizes and with their self-contained Li-Ion battery, they are easy to use and enables the patient to be mobile if needed. The MOYAVE VET therapeutic tendon boots, at pads and joint pads are innovative, mobile and high-performance combination therapy devices for use with horses, dogs and cats. MOYAVE VET combines low-level-light and active carbon infrared heat.The MOYAVE VET therapy exerts a positive inuence on the energy supplied to the various types of tissue. It can therefore be used before any strain is placed on the tissue in order to prevent damage, or after strain has been placed on the tissue in order to achieve faster recovery.The MOYAVE VET combination therapy has been developed in conjunction with veterinarians, and is particularly suitable for use with tendons and joints.The ow of blood increases, and every cell - and its particular function - is activated. This leads to the more rapid removal of tissue water in the case of swellings, but also the more rapid repair of cells that might have been damaged.The healing processes in nerve cells, muscle cells, connective tissue cells and so forth can be greatly accelerated; inammation is counteracted, and pain can be alleviated.MOYAVE VET therapy can treat many conditions including:MUSCLES AND FASCIA • Promotes circulation • Reduces cramps • Muscle disorders • Pulled/strained muscles and muscle berruptureTENDONS AND JOINTS • Bone spavin • Excessive strain • Insertion desmopathies • Periosteal inammation • General swelling and inammation • Inammation of a tendon and its sheathsNERVES • Localized nerve damage PAIN RELIEF • Spondylosis, Dysplasia of the hip • Kissing Spine SyndromeFor more information of MOYAVE products please contact Georgia Keegan. Tel: 07766 463099PRODUCT PROFILEMoyave Vet erapy

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34Animal Therapy Magazine | WINTER 2016continued overleafTHE HAMSTRING group of muscles are extensively used for generating the forward movement and for the jumping action in canine Agility. I set out to understand how much force is used in executing the jumping action in Border Collies and what might happen if this muscle group is repetitively overload-ed and subsequent treatments to help rectify issues. is has implications in Agility as the amount of training and competition continues to increase, placing ever higher demands on the canine athletes. Five case studies were used, all over 5 years old and training / in competition since at least 2 years old. In each case the hamstring tendon of origin was treated on a specic limb with therapeutic ultrasound, deep-fric-tion-massage and stretching. In all cases, improvements were noted.Border Collies are categorised by their excellent speed and jumping ability, important competitive factors in Agility. e hamstring (bicep femoris, semitendinosus and semi-membranosus), group of muscles play an important role in both speed (generating much of the dogs forward thrust) and take-o (1 of the 5 phases identied in jumping). During this take-o phase the hind limb musculature is used together with energy release from elastic tissues to provide the necessary power.Five competitive Border Collies (labelled CS1 through CS5) with tightness in the hamstring tendon of origin area were treated using a course of therapeutic ultrasound, deep friction massage (DFM) and stretching. e aim was to understand if this tension could be reduced, natural range-of-motion (ROM) improved with a Ultrasound and Manual erapy in the treatment of Hamstrings in the Agility Dogby Alan Gardner, PGD A. PHYS, MDIP, DipMgmtpotential corresponding improvement in athletic Agility performance.Studies have calculated that some 45 N/kg of body mass goes through the landing forelimbs of an Agility dog, which means a similar force will be required to execute the take-o. From this we can theorise that the hamstrings are working at 70 – 85% of their theoretical maximum force output for the dog to negotiate a 65cm hurdle. Running and jumping activities can make muscles susceptible to tearing and pulling. Overloading of one of the hamstring group of muscles would only take relatively small weight imbalance shi to induce an injury, usually at the musculotendinous (tendon) junction. is is oen referred to ‘tendinopathy’ and involves repeated stretching of the tendon. is typically results from non-optimal gait mechanics, muscular imbalances, or improper training.Tendons have a lower metabolic rate than muscle which results in slower healing aer injury. Tendon healing can be classied in the stages of inammatory (up to 3 days), proliferative (3 – 24 days) and remodelling. Features of the healing process at the remodelling stage include the formation of scar tissue and less exibility in the limb.erapeutic Ultrasound coupled with DFM, stretching and range-of-movement (ROM) exercises are recommended for treating this type of injury. Ultrasound helps break down scar tissue and re-orientates collagen bres. DFM and stretching stimulates tissue adaptation. ROM assists with gait pattern retraining.Ultrasound (sound waves) are a form of mechanical energy, which is transferred to the tissues through dissipation and attenuation. is improves both tensile strength and energy absorption of the tendon.As the ultrasound was primarily focused at the musculotendinous junction, longwave frequency was chosen at 500 mW for 5 minutes for the rst session and 100 mW for 5 minutes for a further 2 subsequent treatments.Benets of massage include increasing blood ow and oxygen supply, removal of waste products and mobilising adhesions. A low repetitive load was e anatomy of a muscle and adjoining tendonDog demonstrating jumping full extensionCanine Care

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35Animal Therapy Magazine | WINTER 2016For free nutritional advice: Tel 01845 565030Email:info@vetspec.co.uk www.vetspec.co.ukfor dogsSaid Alan Gardner: “I am delighted that VetSpec has supported my dogs for over six years now. As an animal physiotherapist I know how important joint supplements are. They improve the normal structure and function of the joint by providing natural pain relief, reducing the effect of degenerative and inﬂammatory enzymes and stimulation of synovial ﬂuid and collagen production.“VetSpec Joint Mobility is recommended for both our younger, hardworking agility dogs and to support the older dogs in retirement. Joint Mobility contains the correct balance of glucosamine, chondroitin and MSM. It is added to the dogs’ normal food at mealtimes”.VetSpec Joint Mobility • A highly speciﬁed supplement ideal for all dogs to support joint ﬂexibility and aid the natural anti-inﬂammatory process. • Contains glucosamine, MSM, chondroitin and antioxidants. • Ideal for dogs with poor mobility; arthritic dogs requiring nutritional support; older dogs; dogs in hard physical work and those recovering from skeletal injury or limb and pelvic operations. • Simply add to your dog’s normal feed. A 500g tub will last a 20kg dog for 12 weeks.VetSpec Senior • Provides complete micro-nutritional support and a full joint supplement for older dogs. • Contains scientiﬁcally proven ingredients including vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and is rich in glucosamine, MSM and chondroitin to optimise joint mobility. • Contains pre and probiotics to help maintain gut health. • Ideal for elderly dogs, dogs with reduced mobility, dogs showing signs of senility, older dogs that are losing condition, dogs needing gastro-intestinal support and those recovering from surgery or veterinary treatment. • Simply add to your dog’s normal food. A 500g tub will provide 12 weeks supply for a 20kg dog. VetSpec Active • A specially formulated canine supplement providing nutritional support for all hard working dogs, especially gun dogs, agility dogs, sheep dogs and greyhounds. • Contains vitamins, minerals, antioxidants plus extra glucosamine, MSM and chondroitin to optimise joint mobility. • Helps to supplement any deﬁciencies in the dog’s normal diet and lead to improved performance, giving better results and a longer working life. • VetSpec Active addresses the micronutrient balance in the diet and helps to build muscular condition and maintain gut health. • Simply add to your dog’s normal food. A 500g tub will provide 12 weeks supply for a 20kg dog. VetSpec Omega-3 Joint Mobility + Gravy • Provides a high level of active ingredients including generous levels of the omega-3 fatty acids, DHA and EPA, along with glucosamine, chondroitin and MSM to optimise joint health and ﬂexibility, and antioxidants to help reduce oxidative damage. • Ideal for older dogs with joint disease such as osteoarthritis; dogs following skeletal injury or those recovering from orthopaedic surgery which can result in them going off their food; ﬁt and active dogs in hard physical exercise. • Specially designed to produce a delicious gravy when mixed with warm water, which can be poured over a dog’s food. Extensive palatability trials have been enormously successful when mixed with either dry or wet food, tempting even the pickiest feeders to enjoy their meal and joint supplement. • Provides a high speciﬁcation of nutraceutical joint support, plus the scrumptious gravy may help to disguise any other veterinary medication being fed. • A 500g tub will provide 6 weeks supply for a 20kg dog. The VetSpec range of canine supplements includes two speciﬁc joint mobility supplements as well as two other varieties that contain ingredients to promote joint health. All VetSpec products have full traceability of all ingredients and are wheat gluten-free.Developed in consultationwith veterinary surgeonsatMiddle Park

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36Animal Therapy Magazine | WINTER 2016HAMSTRINGS IN THE AGILITY DOGTable 1 - Lameness score pre and post treatmentsPre-Assessment33222Post Assessment31112Table 2 - Rear weight distribution before and aer treatmentsPre-Assessment (L:R)10:9030:7050:5065:3535:65Post Evaluation (L:R)10:9030:7050:5060:4050:50CS1CS2CS3CS4CS5applied resulting in tissue elongation by generation of new tissue due to the applied force.Stretching improves exibility by increasing the number of sarcomeres. Passive stretching is the most applicable for the canine patient as it avoids concentric, eccentric and isometric contraction. e sessions followed the general stretching rules for the canine patient, namely the muscles should be warm and stretched in the straight plane for 30 seconds. e dogs were in the recumbent position and the joint stabilised.For evaluation, 3 methods were used, (i) Hamstring extension (ii) static weight measurement, using electronic scales under each limb (iii) gait analysis using a treadmill at 2.5 – 3.0 km/h.For the hamstring extension, the dogs were stood square, with the hips supported to avoid rotation. Individually both hind limbs were extended cranially as far as the dog was comfortable, without inducing a passive assisted stretch. At that point the paw was placed on the ground and the distance from the rear of the front paw to the tip of the rear paw measured. For the gait analysis the dogs were recorded in both real time and slow motion using a Sony Cam HDR-AS15Quantitative calculations included stride length, relative stride length, stride duration and stance phase duration. Qualitative observations included factors such as the lameness scale and foot placing.Photos this page:Administering Ultrasound Photos opposite page:Measuring from the tip of the front feet to the tip of the rear feetMeasuring of the hamstring extension. e tip of the rear foot is again used for the calculationCS1CS2CS3CS4CS5

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37Animal Therapy Magazine | WINTER 2016Conclusione study focused on the tendon(s) of origin for the hamstring group as these are the prime muscles for generating the dog’s forward motion and jumping ability. Competitive Agility dogs make extensive use of this muscle and research showed that the musculotendinous junction is the area where hamstring injuries may occur, with tendinopathy a potential outcome. Tendinopathy can be treated with therapeutic ultrasound, deep-friction-massage and stretching. ese modalities were combined into a treatment schedule to address reduction of scar tissue, increasing blood ow / mechanical loading and producing growth factors. e treatment schedule did improve the natural range-of-motion (measured as hamstring extension) to varying degrees in all the Border Collie’s used in these case studies. Although not uniform, Discussione study set out to understand could “tension (in the hamstring tendons) be reduced and the natural range-of-motion (be) improved by the application of therapeutic ultrasound, deep friction massage and stretching”. Graph 1 demonstrates the respective improvements in hamstring extension for the limbs specically outlined in the case studies. Generally the lower the ability to stretch the hamstring (in extension) to start, the greater the improvement seen.Table 1 shows the lameness score before and aer the treatments. 3/5 were given an improved score. e lack of improvement in CS1 can be explained by chronic arthritis which was not treated as part of this study. e anomaly is CS5, considering the improvement seen in hamstring extension. From a weight distribution perspective (discounting CS3, which had even rear weight distribution to start), it appears that some improvements were gained where the distribution was not dramatically uneven to start with (table 2).A common factor between all the case studies is that the stance duration, stride duration, frequency and length remained consistent, not changing before and aer treatments.Following the treatments we also surveyed the owners to understand was there “any improvement in athletic Agility performance”. 4 of the 5 owners answered positively, with the remainder (CS1) deciding to retire the dog due to age and arthritis rather than return to the competitive ring.improvements were also noted in rear weight distribution and reduction in the ‘lameness score’. Additionally, if more subjectively, where the dogs continued to compete in competitive Agility classes the owners felt there had been a performance improvement. Drawing conclusions from 5 data points and applying them as a generalisation is a recognised limitation of case studies. However it is worth noting that 4 out the 5 dogs in this study had experienced other (dierent) injuries that the owner could recall. is gives grounds for theorising that these hamstring strains are compensatory in nature, but this needs to be proven.Additionally the use of heat generating shortwave ultrasound may have improved results consistency. Measurement by a goniometer to compliment the hamstring extension test and a dynamic GLS Lameness Test may also have further improved test evaluations.2015. Adapted from a paper: DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.1.2137.5441https://goo.gl/f0v6FIGraph 1 – Demonstrating the percentage improvements in hamstring extension100%90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%0% CS1 CS2 CS3 CS4 CS525%13%6%5%18%

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39Animal Therapy Magazine | WINTER 2016BELIEVING “you are what you eat”, I’ve never been a fan of ‘popping’ microwave meals, or eating over processed foods that are packed with nasty additives, rened sugars and more. In fact I don’t own a microwave! Growing up with our family Springer Spaniels being fed an ‘old-fashioned’ diet comprising meat, leovers and bones. When my late Miniature Bull Terrier, Molly, came into my life 14 years ago, I was staggered to nd that dry food was presented as the ‘de-facto’ way to feed. An exclusively pellet based diet didn’t appeal to me. It felt alien to feed a ‘primary carnivore’ just on biscuits, where was the meat? I opted to follow Molly’s breeder’s advice and feed her a natural diet comprising a variety of raw meat, including green tripe, veggies and some fruit. Luckily I lived a stones throw from a well-known butcher in London then, so getting fresh quality o cuts was easy. At the time many considered this quite a radical way of feeding. Yet Molly’s breeder had owned dogs for over 30 years. ey all looked healthy and happy, including her golden oldies at 14 years plus. In 2009 a handful of passionate rms, including Natural Instinct launched complete, nutritionally dense and balanced, pre-packed raw meals for dogs and cats. Oering ‘raw food feeders’ like myself convenience, without compromising on quality, providing you’ve got the freezer space to store, its simple to thaw and serve, preferably in a ceramic bowl. Studying natural nutrition and therapies with e College of Integrated Veterinary erapies, (CIVT), I learnt that the eld of nutrition is an evolving science. It’s also an emotive subject.e key is to appreciate that all creatures, including humans, should eat a ‘species appropriate’ diet; one that can be eciently metabolised for maximum nutritional benet. For dogs as ‘primary carnivores, this means a meat based diet with some grain free carbohydrates, fruit and veggies. For cats as ‘obligatory’ carnivores, it’s about a 100% meat based diet. Rabbits as ‘herbivores’ should eat mainly grass and hay. Nutrition is one of the three pillars of health, along with the immune system and physical well-being. A natural, species appropriate diet is a ‘tool’ to combine with therapies including acupuncture, physiotherapy and massage. An awareness of environmental factors will also inuence maximum health and longevity.e concept to use diet to promote good health isn’t new. Centuries ago Hippocrates noted that: “let medicine by they food, and food be thy medicine’. Planning meals would have been less complicated when Hippocrates was alive around 480 BC. Far more hand to mouth all foods would have been whole, seasonal and organic. Nothing could dier more from our convenience-led and fast paced lifestyles that inuence our modern ‘ready to go’ eating habits. Today big-budget advertising campaigns entice brand loyalty, whilst attractive packaging and bold messages convince us we’re making a healthy choice. Until a closer look at the labelling and the ingredients might make us think twice. Another consideration is the processing, which changes a food’s molecular structure from what nature intended as a whole food. It’s only been in the past decade that science has revealed new evidence that diet, and specic ‘functional’ foods, can have a dramatic inuence on health and disease both in people and animals. Making the old adage ‘you are what you eat’ quite literal, this new scientic eld is called Nutrigenomics. A combination of the words nutrition and genomics, it’s the science of how diet aects the epigenome and gene expression, which can alter our genetic predisposition toward health or disease. (Dodds 2014).It began with the ground breaking international research program called the Human Genome Project in 2003, which sequenced and mapped the location of the known genes in the human body. DNA contains our genes, which provide instructions to make proteins, which determine everything about us from our eye colour to our ability to ght disease.Feeding for optimum health by Anna Webb Broadcaster, Author, Trainer studied natural nutrition and therapies with the College of Integrated Veterinary erapies (CIVT) Canine Care

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40Animal Therapy Magazine | WINTER 2016e Dog Genome Project (NHGRI 2005) revealed that people share an even closer relationship with their dogs than previously thought: right down to the structure and evolution of their genes. Researchers from the University of Chicago and other international institutions found that humans and dogs share an extensive parallel genomic evolution, particularly in genes associated with digestion, metabolism, neurological processes and diseases like cancer. is similar genetic make up is likely to have evolved over thousands of years from living in parallel, sharing environments and scavenging for food (Lee et al; Wang et al). Like us dogs and cats are made up of trillions of cells. ese have distinct purposes to be skin cells, or heart cells, or kidney cells and so on. Gene expression is responsible for chemical changes that make cellular changes. It can also change a cell’s destiny, making it either healthy or diseased. Dr Jean Dodds and Diana Laverdure landmark book, Canine Nutregenomics was published a year ago. Describing its potential Dr Barbara Fougere, co-founder of e College of Integrated Veterinary erapies (CIVT), enthused: “Want to help your dog live a long and healthy life? is informative, easy to read book, based on the discovery of how food aects genes, will empower you to do that. Practical and useful, it will also be the key text for Veterinarians and animal health professionals at our College.”Food for thought indeed as so many health conditions are plaguing our pets including: obesity, autoimmune conditions, gastrointestinal diseases, skin disease, arthritis, heart disease and cancer. Understanding that certain foods can be used to send messages to pets’ genes potentially preventing, managing, or even reversing disease is empowering.I re-homed Dexter now a four-year old English Toy Terrier 18 months ago. He suers from Legg Calve Perthes Dexter looks bright with healthier skinPrudence refuses to eat from a bowl enjoying using her KONG instead Prudence loves Natural Instinct!Disease, a condition that causes degeneration of the femur head. Little Dexter had his le femur head surgically removed when he was only a year old.He arrived “oven–ready”, that’s to say he was quite bald and had a nasty damp rash on his neck. Consciously feeding him ‘functional foods’ to nourish his bones and muscles, I supplement him with MSM, sh oil, green lipped mussel and tumeric. Giving him a variety of protein sources, packed with antioxidants and omega 3 & 6, Dexter tucks into Natural Instinct’s complete range with gusto. Making homemade broth (from organic bones) he laps up a healthy soup a couple of time a week. His diet combined with regular physiotherapy, photizo red-light and massage has made a dramatic dierence to his muscle tone, strength and exibility. Plus he’s become quite a hairy boy with healthier skin. Feeding dogs through their ‘life stages’ needs consideration. I opted for a complete holistic healthcare ‘plan’ with Molly in her last few years. Feeding her to relieve arthritic symptoms and boosting her immune system was our daily routine. Until recently it was deemed inappropriate to feed a senior dog too much red meat for concerns of over-taxing their kidney function. However, Nutrigenomics has revealed that the contrary is true, and seniors need slightly more red meat rather than less to remain healthy.My six-month-old Miniature Bull Terrier puppy, named Prudence, was weaned to raw. Switching her to Natural Instinct was very easy even tough her ‘toddler’ preference is eating from a KONG rather than a bowl. I’ll include blueberries, banana and chopped apple as training rewards to educate her taste buds to enjoy a variety of fresh functional foods. Adding foods like goat’s milk yoghurt, coconut oil, organic eggs, sh oil and goats milk cheese. e irony, she probably does eat healthier than I do!FEEDING

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42Animal Therapy Magazine | WINTER 2016– PART III –An extract from her upcoming Biography.AS THE veterinary profession started to refer cases to Physiotherapists I was told that I was not allowed to call my work “Treatment” so I used the word and billed for “visits” . e Vets I worked for did not like to see me assessing a horse by watching it go so with considerable diculty I worked through the reex response along the back nding that when horses did not respond that the back was tight. Riders soon learnt that when their horse went “heavy in their hands “ that they needed a physiotherapists or as they began to call me “e back Lady “.Getting good results gave condence to the vets and clients alike, this is still true today. When it came to dogs it was heaven as they would come to me, no long journeys or cold stables. I found a quick eye was essential, sometimes you see something and then it is gone as quickly. Dogs and adrenaline can make such a dierence to diagnosing.In the beginning it was the top riders who made their living with horses who used us as they knew they needed us, the race horse trainers realised they got better results and performance. For many years I was the physiotherapist for the Horse of the Year show and the Royal International Horse Show in London. During the intervals I spoke to the general public and answered questions on this new subject of animal physiotherapy. is all helped to feed the demand for our services. One year I was on duty at the Royal international show in London when the army and riders were involved in a bombing in Hyde Park. It was a horse named Seon that caught the public’s imagination as he was very badly wounded. I was part of the team that worked on him every day while being watched by cameras and soldiers.He was much better by the time the Horse of the Year show took place (at Wembley in those days) Seon went into the arena with an empty saddle as his rider was still in hospital. e crowd gave him a standing ovation. Brigadier John Spurry who ran a horses’ home of rest asked if I could request that Seon retire there. My request was turned down as at this time all army horses were put down once their service ended. I was married to an Army Colonel at the time and he made it his business to get this policy changed. ankfully army Horses are all now retired to homes of rest and so was Seon. In the beginning ...by Sherry Scott MBE

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