Issue 8 : simplebooklet.com

3Animal Therapy Magazine | SPRING 2017GET IN TOUCH: Hannah Ashton – Editorhannah@animaltherapymedia.co.uk Georgia Keegan – Editorgeorgia@animaltherapymedia.co.uk Beth Lorraine - Sales Manager info@animaltherapymedia.co.uk Donna Boddie - Sales Manager donna@animaltherapymedia.co.ukMoreton Morell _____5University of Surrey _7Photizo ___________8ESMA Therapy _____10FORWARD ________11Skeltal Maturation in Horses _________12Vet Festival 2017 ___ 15Dr. Richard Nap ____ 16Tony Nevin:Dr Zoo Little ______20Precious Cargo ____24Back on Track _____30Spinal Cord Compression ______32Animal Associations Register __________36Maintaining Equine Gastro Intestinal Tract Health ______38Thoroughbred Dressage _________41Dog Harnesses ____43Shoulder Joints and Muscles - Strengthening and Rehabilitation _____44Sherry Scott ______50M A G A Z I N EAnimalerapyWelcome! Spring has sprung nally, and we are all so thankful for the warmer weather, longer, lighter evenings and in many places we can walk our dogs and turn our horses out without getting caked in mud! Hallelujah.In March we welcomed Donna Boddie to the team. Donna is a Veterinary Nurse and Physiotherapist, with many years experience and is very passionate about improving the lives of animals. She has great ideas and will be a great asset to the team.As our magazine grows, we are invited to more and more events, which is such a huge compliment and we love coming along. We can’t attend them all but we will be making our way to 3 day events, shows, and of course we have the fantastic Vet Festival to look forward to in early June. We hope you have your tickets and have made use of the discount oer for all our readers.We are also delighted to begin working with Hartpury College and their equine and canine research team. With rehabilitation, stud and training facilities on site, Hartpury is keen to share the work they are doing and we are hugely excited about this collaboration with us so we can work together. Hartpury also stage top class Dressage, Show jumping and Eventing competitions and conferences, which is a great opportunity for us to share the magazine with like minded professionals.Animal erapy and Rehabilitation is forever evolving and we have plenty of fantastic articles coming your way. We have just celebrated 2 years in business and we look forward to many many more. We hope you enjoy our Spring issue and please do get in touch if you would like to take part in any future issues.ISSUE 8 - SPRING 2017Issued QuarterlyCONTENTSwww.animaltherapymedia.co.ukWhile every eort has been made to ensure that information is correct at the time of going to print, Animal Therapy Media Ltd cannot be held responsible for the outcome of any action or decision based on the information contained in this publication/website. The publishers or authors do not give any warranty for the completeness or accuracy for this publication’s content, explanation or opinion. No part of this publication and/or website may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form without prior written permission of Animal Therapy Media Ltd and/or the authors of the articles within. Permission is only deemed valid if approval is in writing.Front cover photo of Tutu by Rose Lewiswww.daydreamequineart.co.uk

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4Animal Therapy Magazine | SPRING 2017info@leucillin.co.uk www.leucillin.co.uk 0345 548 9800Healthy Happy Animals From The Outside InFast acting formula itchy skinsore paws effective allergy management cuts, grazes & post surgical sitesskinfold care for brachycephalic breedsweepy eyesirritated ears dry, flakey or smelly skin soothing and calming 100% safe on all skin typesFor all mammals, birds & reptilesDogFest Sponsors Leucillin Animal Skincare specialists will be holding their SkinClinic at DogFest 2017, please visit the stand for expert advice on how to keepyour dog happy and healthy in their own skin, or contact us today for moreinformation about Leucillin, the safest, most effective skincare product available.Topical Antiseptic Skincare That WorksFirst aid, wound wash, cuts,grazes & skin infections Call or emailnow to find out aboutthe benefits of re-selling LeucillinProud Sponsors ofLeucillin is an easy to use, effective and reliable first aid, sanitizingand skin management tool, out-performing other products withLog710 99.99999% results. Skin pH neutral; Leucillin is a safe,non-toxic, non-irritant Hypochlorous solution for use on all skintypes, it provides animal owners and healthcare professionalswith an infection control solution with excellent results. To win a pair of VIP Tickets visit www.leucillin.co.uk/win-things.phpFP_May17:Layout 1 25/04/2017 11:26 Page 1

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5Animal Therapy Magazine | SPRING 2017At Moreton Morrell, we are passionate about animals - caring for them, studying them and enjoying them. On our 750 acres of Warwickshire countryside we have stabling for over 100 horses and our Animal Welfare Centre has exotic animals including coatis, raccoon dogs, porcupines and our newly arrived meerkats. We also have a newly built Blue Cross Cattery. We’re a community of sta and students studying further and higher education courses, united by our love of animals. If you or someone you know is looking to further their career by working with animals, we could help make that dream a reality.  Animal WelfareOur Veterinary Nursing is highly respected across the sector and many of our graduates work in regional practices. Our BSc (Hons) Veterinary Nursing degree is the agship course in this area. Because we’re an RCVS Approved Centre with over 80 training practices aliated to us, you’ll have excellent opportunities for hands-on experience, on your course and when you graduate. If you prefer, you can choose to specialise with a BSc (Hons) Veterinary Physiotherapy or BSc (Hons) Animal Therapy and Rehabilitation. Our further education courses include Animal Care Level 1 and 2 and our Animal Management Level 3 Extended Diploma lets you choose between Companion Care, Farm Parks and Rescue or Zoological Science, Exotics and Conservation. Animal Management graduate Olivia Jew says: “The learning support is absolutely brilliant here and I plan to work for the RSPCA in future”. If you love animals, you’ll love studying at Moreton Morrell College Equine excellence Our reputation in Equine studies is excellent and our connections are second to none. Our Equine Therapy and Rehabilitation Centre was opened by Zara Phillips who called it ‘a fantastic centre’. And you can bring your horse! Our Equine Academy gives you the chance to work with three elite professional coaches, Jeanette Brakewell, Daniel Greenwood and Gareth Hughes. They will develop your competitive riding while you study with us. Benets also include DIY stabling, sport science support, therapy sessions for your horse and personalised academy kit. Our degrees include BSc (Hons) Equine Science and BA (Hons) Equine Studies both of which have optional placement years in which to gain work experience. Horse Care City and Guilds Level 1 Diploma and Horse Management Level 3 Extended Diploma are available for further education students. BA (Hons) Equine Studies graduate, Georgina Crossman, who now runs her own equine consultancy, says: “I was instantly intrigued by an opportunity to study my passion in life, little did I realise the impact it would have on my future. Thank you Moreton Morrell, I wouldn’t be where I am today without you.” Equine Therapy and Rehabilitation CentreOpened in 2014, the centre is a highly professional environment for the treatment and rehabilitation of equine musculoskeletal injuries. The hydrotherapy spa is a unique innovation in the prevention and treatment of lower leg injuries, harnessing the natural properties of the sea to do so. Also unique is our water treadmill where horses can work in a straight natural outline without a rider at a controlled speed. Water training improves balance control and increases range of motion. Outstanding facilitiesAs you would expect, we have all the facilities of a working equine and animal welfare centre: BSJA standard show jumps, a British eventing cross country course, covered and outdoor manege and an indoor arena. Animal Welfare students learn using fully equipped science laboratories, and a dedicated Veterinary Nursing suite comprising an operating theatre, radiography room and hospital room. Find out more and Apply Now You can nd out more at www.wcg.ac.uk and there is still time to apply to start this September. Or come along and see us: you can meet our friendly team - and our animals of course - and make sure that Moreton Morrell is the right choice for you. 

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6Animal Therapy Magazine | SPRING 2017THIS isan exciting time for canine and equine therapy. It has now been seven years since the elds of veterinary sports medicine and rehabilitation joined forces to become the newest specialty in veterinary practice. e eld of veterinary rehabilitation continues to evolve, and the demand for education and training is growing around the world.e Introduction to Canine Sports Medicine course will be held at the University of Surrey’s new school of Veterinary Medicine 2-4 September 2017.e programme will be facilitated by Dr. Janet Van Dyke - founder of the CRI, Dr. Chris Zink and Dr Constanza Gomez Alvarez DVM PhD MRCVS - Head of the University of Surrey’s Veterinary Biomechanics Laboratory. Dr Chris Zink is a recognised leader and educator in canine sports medicine and rehabilitation. She strongly believes that working with elite athletes, working dogs, and even active pets raises the bar for veterinary rehabilitation for all canine patients. If certain techniques and modalities deliver outstanding results in an athlete, why shouldn’t they be used for rehabilitating all patients?With that in mind, the Canine Rehabilitation Institute (CRI) has been at the forefront of providing advanced rehabilitation education for veterinarians, physiotherapists, and veterinary nurses since 2002. Dr Zink is a senior faculty member of CRI, and has presented courses on topics related to canine sports medicine and rehabilitation in the U.S., England, Switzerland, Finland, Germany, Australia and Brazil. is international outreach has provided an outstanding opportunity for open discussion and transmission of evidence-based knowledge between rehabilitation professionals worldwide.For more information visit: Surrey Introduction to Canine Sports Medicine.is CPD, only open to Vets and certied Physiotherapists, provides students with a fundamental understanding of structure and locomotion as they relate to performance, and an introduction to canine sporting events. Sports injuries in canine athletes are covered in depth including their causes, prevention and rehabilitation. e role that psychology can play in the rehabilitation of the canine athlete is also discussed. Participants get hands-on experience with dogs on site.TOPICS COVERED INCLUDE: Canine sporting events: the organizations that oversee them and the breeds that participate Anatomical structures and locomotion as they relate to canine performance Gait assessment and retraining Lameness evaluation Canine sports injuries: causes, prevention and targeted rehabilitation Conditioning for the canine athlete Erogenic drugs (ethical and unethical) Nutrition and supplements for the canine athlete Canine sports psychology and how it can eect rehabilitation Delegates from this event will also be invited to see Dr Constanza Gomez Alvarez’s demonstration of the new Vet School’s Biomechanics Lab, visit the Vet School’s main facilities and take part in a tour of Fitzpatrick Referrals, Professor Noel Fitzpatrick’s well-known Orthopaedic and Neurological practice in Eashing, Surrey.For more information, visit: University of Surrey, introduction to canine medicine, e-mail j.gerhold@surrey.ac.uk or call 01483 689526Introduction to Canine Sports Medicine

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8Animal Therapy Magazine | SPRING 2017Photizo® to the Rescue!Danetre Health the sole UK distributor for Photizo, is delighted to announce its new ‘Photizo to the Rescue’ campaign that’s set to shine a light on animal rescue charities across the UK. ‘Photizo to the Rescue’ is an opportunity for everyone to nominate their favourite rescue charity or not-for-prot rescue to become Photizo’s ‘rescue of the month’ that will be donated one Photizo Vetcare. As a handy pocket sized (non-invasive) treatment tool, Photizo Vetcare represents modern Phototherapy, which delivers a powerful combination of pulsating red and infra-red light in pre-programmed 30 seconds doses. Proven to promote the natural healing process, Vets, Vet Nurses, Physiotherapists and healthcare professionals are embracing its potential across a host of conditions including musculoskeletal injuries, atopic skin conditions, and in wound management. Extremely easy to use Photizo does not require any special ‘eye-wear’ unlike laser treatment products. Danetre Health’s MD, Ruth Milner commented: “We’re very excited about our ‘Photizo to the Rescue’ campaign, we’re committed to helping animals in rescue and educating their volunteers about the healing benets of this modern simple-to-use phototherapy. Photizo Vetcare works at a cellular level, it accelerates natural healing when used daily as part of an on-going rehabilitation programme. Phototherapy reduces inammation and provides natural pain relief, which the animals respond to so well, oen they instantly relax. It’s especially useful for all wound healing and to help manage common conditions like arthritis, joint dysplasia, spondylosis and atopic skin issues like ea or grass allergies. We’re sure that Photizo will be able to help rehabilitate animals in rescue helping them nd their forever home. Anyone can nominate a Rescue, all we need is the name of the nominated Rescue organisation, a few details about their work and how they would benet from having their own Photizo vetcare unit. We can receive nominations or votes by email or social media. We’ll create a dedicated facebook post for each nominated rescue so their supporters can vote for them.”e response to the campaign has been incredible from several Rescues and their supporters. Photizo has been already used with great success at many rescues across the UK, including:PHOTIZO®Shine a light on your favourite rescue charityCinque Ports Rescue, Kent:Cinque Ports Rescue, received huge nancial support for little Wonky Wanda after appearing on This Morning. We heard from Kerri at Cinque Ports who has kept Wanda, Kerri explained, “When Wanda started her journey of adjusting to wheels, she gets tired. Our specialist has said he is amazed at how well she is coping and healing. We regularly use Photizo on many of our rescue dogs and can certainly recommend this product.”Reds Rescue Northampton:Bella came into us suering horric wounds all over her body she went through major surgery and the wounds on her legs that had been stitched both internally and externally unfortunately broke down . We were kindly leant the use of a Photizo which we used 3 times a day over her body the results were amazing this unit denitely aided in her recovery. We have now purchased our own one. We are small self-funded dog rescue that take in palliative care/end of life dogs and dogs that other rescues cannot or will not take inFor more information contact: Ruth Milner, Danetre Health Tel: 01327 310909www.danetrehealthproducts.com

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10Animal Therapy Magazine | SPRING 2017Become an ESMA TherapistCerticate of Training in Equine Sports Massage (Lantra Accredited)Comprehensive accredited equine sports massage training from experienced practioners leading to membership of the longest established UK professional Equine Sports Massage Association (ESMA)More than 20 years ago Mary Bromiley set up the ITEC Diploma in Equine Sports Massage, and graduates from that course created the Equine Sports Massage Association. ESMA therapists can work on both horse and rider and are renowned for their rigorous and wide-ranging training, enabling them to work knowledgeably within the equine competition/ healthcare team, demonstrating a high level of competence and skill. The Certicate of Training in Equine Sports Massage, taught by an experienced Veterinary Physiotherapist with contributions from industry experts in specialist elds, is now the route to qualication for membership of ESMA. Now in its third year the Cert T ESM is accepting applications for the next cohort beginning in September 2017 having previously welcomed students from France, Italy, Isle of Man and Ireland. Recognising current changes within the industry, the course is presently also undergoing further development towards achieving Diploma status. Our extensive syllabus and our demanding well-known, externally assessed, multifaceted examination structure remains, ensuring the quality of successful graduates. STUDENT CASE STUDYHelen Jones undertook the rst year of the CertT.ESM in 2015. A polo yard manager, she wanted to be able to use her skills on the polo ponies she works with and in doing so expand her knowledge to aid them in training, performance and well being. A year on from successful completion of the course, she works with and supports the work of the yard’s regular physio who includes Helen’s work in her treatment plans , and also receiving referrals from veterinary surgeons for her developing freelance practice. Helen says: “It has been wonderful working with the horses I know and helping them whenever a problem arises, mostly seeing fabulous results. Our regular ACPAT physiotherapist who treats our polo ponies has been very helpful and I think she would be happy to say we have worked very well in conjunction with each other. “Of the Cert. T ESM Helen Jones says “I found the course invaluable in helping the horses I work with day to day, whether it be for pre and post match treatment, to relieving aches and pains at the ttening stage which can develop into serious problems at a later date. “The course was informative and so interesting. I still have a huge amount to learn but I gain a little knowledge every time I treat a new horse. I now wish I had done it years ago as it has been a huge help to me not only in my job at the moment but hopefully as a business I can build on into the future.“Prerequisites for inclusion on the course are: • 5 passes at GCSE Grade C or above (including English Language) or proof of equivalent educational standard• Minimum age of 21 years at commencement of the course• A minimum of 3 years experience of working with horses in a professional yard, preferably in a variety of disciplines. (Recognised Prior Learning/experiential policy applies)• A suitable and recognised qualication in Human MassageThe course has a strong emphasis on anatomy and musculoskeletal structure/function, and existing massage skills will be applied to student’s taught functional equine anatomy knowledge to enable students to oer a thorough, considered and clinically relevant treatment. On successful completion of the course, students should be able to demonstrate a high level of post-qualication “day one” competency and condence in practice. The syllabus covers four modules, each broken down in to detailed elements: A: Handling and Professional ConductB: Massage TechniquesC: Functional AnatomyD: ManagementContact: Helen Tompkins MSc (Vet Phys) MSc (An Manip) Dip ITEC (Equine) on 07970 619906 or via htompkins@btinternet.com for an informal chat or to request an Information Pack for 2017 entry.

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11Animal Therapy Magazine | SPRING 2017FORWARD SYMPOSIUMFROM the venue, to speakers, to fellow attendees, the event did not disappoint. Whilst the event had a strong veterinary and therapist attendance, we also met canine trainers and competitors, who, like us, just want to learn how to do the best for our four legged friends. Professor Noel Fitzpatrick was captivating as always. Mixed with humour and seriousness, he discussed some of the many injuries he comes across when treating competitive and working dogs. Although surgery can be necessary, prevention was also at the forefront of his talks, which made the link to Dr Chris Zink almost seamless!Dr Chris Zink is a fascinating lady, passionate about what she does and really makes you sit back and think about how you approach cases, what to look out for and how best to work, not only with injury and strain but also general performance in the canine athlete. It’s not always the technical bits that get the grey matter working, but in some cases, In February 2017, Animal erapy Magazine were delighted to support Fitzpatrick Referrals and the Forward Symposium, held at Epsom Downs Racecourse.it is just common sense, something we oen bypass for complicated scientic reasoning! It can sometimes be the basics that make the dierence.PC Ray Haggett, an experienced dog handler and trainer for the Metropolitan Police gave us an insight into the work of a police dog, not only from the side we generally see during riots, searches and persuits, but also behind the scenes, from the booties they have to wear to protect their feet to scaling obstacles, bite work and obedience. ere is so much more to these dogs than we see, how strong and conditioned they need to be to do their job and the signs the handlers need to be aware of that may prevent their four legged partners from giving 100%.Nicola Way, a canine massage specialist, all the way from Vancouver, complimented the talks with some great techniques both owners and therapists can adapt to their treatments, home care and warm up. Massage is a fantastic tool to boost circulation and promote lymphatic drainage, both vital in injury repair and as general maintenance, to ensure mobility is at its optimum. Some great advice and delivered in a way that everyone could understand.e Forward Symposium is an event we can’t recommend enough. You are treated to highly regarded professionals in their specialist eld and it is a great learning event. e 2018 date is yet to be conrmed so keep an eye on their website for updates and information.www.tzpatrickreferrals.co.uk/forward-symposium-2018Photos: Le centre: Professor Noel Fitzpatrick, Below le: Dr Chris ZinkA highlights DVD of the inaugural FORWARD Symposium in 2016 is now available to purchase for £30 including delivery and VAT. Please contact Sarah on: SarahC@tzpatrickreferrals.co.uk.11Animal Therapy Magazine | SPRING 2017

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12Animal Therapy Magazine | SPRING 2017WE oen hear people in the equine industry referring to their horse as an “early maturing horse” or a “slow maturing horse” when in actual fact there is no such thing. Every horse of every breed does not skeletally mature before the age of six.Many people believe that there are just a few growth plates in the horses’ body, when in actual fact growth plates are present on the ends of every bone, other than the skull, and in some places there are multiple growth plates (e.g. in the pelvis).e process of bone growth begins when the horse is just a foetus and throughout its early years. e cartilage throughout the ‘pre-formed bone’ (produced at the foetus stage) gradually ossies and it is this that gives strength and stability to bone. At the foal stage, thin bands of cartilage remain at the ends of each bone, these are the growth plates. For a bone to be fully developed (six years old, plus) the growth plates will have also fused with the only remaining cartilage being the coating on the outer ends of the bone. e process of growth plate conversion takes place from the distal limb and works up the horse’s body. erefore the lower the bone, the earlier the growth plates will fuse. e vertebral column is the last to develop with several growth plates in each of the 32 vertebrae (breeds can vary in vertebrae total). e main body of the vertebrae (centrum) does not fuse until most horses are ve and a half years old, with the vertebrae at the base of the neck fusing last. Skeletal Maturation in HorsesDo we ask too much too soon?PHYSIOTHERAPYby Emma Green, Veterinary PhysiotherapistForelimb BonesShort PasternLong PasternCannon BoneBones of the kneeRadiusHumerusScapularAge of fusionBirth – 6 months6 months – 1 year8 months – 1.5 years1.5 years – 2.5 years2 – 2.5 years (weight bearing portion 3 years)3 – 3.5 years3.5 – 4 years(Source: 2005, Deb Bennett, Ph.D.)e vertebral column diers from the limbs because of the increased number of growth plates, which unlike the limbs, are parallel and therefore can struggle with the stress of carrying a load (i.e. saddle and rider). For this reason the vertebral column is more at risk and much easier to damage from inappropriate exercise and weight carrying in the early years. e triangular sacrum is composed of ve vertebrae that fuse together at the fourth or h year of the horse’s life. e sacrum becomes a sturdy platform for the horse’s huge pelvis. If the sacrum is stressed early on, the horse can become susceptible to pelvic issues, such as constant pelvic tension, sacroiliac problems and shortening of the hind strides, to name a few. Hind limb BonesShort PasternLong PasternCannon BoneHockTibiaFemurPelvisAge of fusionBirth – 6 months6 months – 1 year8 months – 1.5 years4 years3 – 3.5 years3 – 3.5 years3 – 4 yearsGROWTH PLATEThin bands of cartilage at the ends of each boneExcessive stress prior to skeletal maturity will create skeletal damage.

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13Animal Therapy Magazine | SPRING 2017Bigger breeds, taller horses and longer backed horse’s will all take longer to mature through the skeletal structures, with stallions and geldings taking longer to mature than mares. erefore a 17hh warmblood gelding will not fully skeletally mature until eight years of age.So, do we ask too much too soon?As we have established, horses growth plates do not fully fuse until the horse is approximately six years of age. erefore if the horse is required to carry the weight of a rider prior to this there is a risk that strain will be put on the spine and other joints.As pointed out previously the growth plates throughout the limbs are less likely to damage because they are vertical structures, however there is the chance that the growth plates move and the cartilage within the joint can become crushed, causing a lack of lubrication which can then lead to degenerative conditions such as OCD (osteochondritis dissecans). In some cases joint deformity can occur. It is not just about the age that we back the horse, but evidently what we request of them in their early years. With the addition of a saddle and rider, a horse will naturally hollow its back. is automatically puts the horse’s vertebrae at risk of impingement. is is the case with any horse at any age, however with the added aspect of the unfused growth plates and immature vertebral structures, the risk of damage to the young horses back is greatly heightened. For this reason, it is vital we teach the horse good posture and equip it with solid muscular development. Muscular support is required in order to round and stabilise the horse’s back. Encouraging the hind legs to step through and under and liing the abdominals all pay a valuable part in strengthening, stabilising and supporting the back. In theory this is great but with the constant changing skeleton, it can take longer for young horses to develop and they oen continued overleaf

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14Animal Therapy Magazine | SPRING 2017PHYSIOTHERAPYneed time to establish and tone their musculoskeletal system. Balance and co-ordination comes with time, while in the wild a horse is capable to running away from predators almost from birth, the degree of stopping and turning we ask of them is far greater than nature requires and therefore eectively steering a young horse can be tricky, especially if corners have been cut during groundwork. Yanking or pulling on an immature horse’s head and neck will cause strain or even long term damage. Remember the vertebrae growth plates on the base of the neck are the last to fuse!Asking a horse to not only carry a rider, but perform in various disciplines before the horse is ready, can cause issues in later life such as lameness, kissing spines, pelvic problems, joint pain, and explosive reactions such as bucking, bolting and rearing. Research shows that kissing spines (impingement of the dorsal spinous processes) is clinically more likely to be found in horses under the age of 5 years old. Having said all this, it is oen unrealistic to wait until a horse is six years of age to begin backing and training, as nancial implications and what the industry requires oen dictate when a horse is started. Most people are aware that the majority of horses, particularly competitive horses are backed at a young age allowing them to start their career early, but also to allow the handler to defuse any negative responses before the horse gets too strong to manage. What can we do to help protect these young horses?When working a young horse throughout any discipline it is important to be aware of the implications on its body and try to minimise all risks. Building strong muscles correctly is crucial to support and protect vulnerable joints that are still developing. Correct training and regular muscular maintenance from a qualied physiotherapist will help to relieve any muscle tension, identify soreness and reduce the risk of injury. erapists that get to know your horse can also identify reoccurring issues, discuss with your vet and hopefully resolve quickly and eectively.It is also crucial that tack is tted correctly at all times. Young horses are constantly developing and changing shape during the early stages of training, therefore the originally tted saddle may not be suitable a few months or even weeks later. Having tack checks carried out regularly by a qualied saddle tter will limit the risk of damage to the horse. Tack can be very inuencial, on the horses development and whilst it can be tempting to ‘make do’ as the horse will change anyway, this can bring about issues preventing positive progression.Other important factors to consider are the surfaces you ask the horse to work on. If a large amount of work is done on the incorrect surface (e.g. too hard or too deep) major strain will be put on the joints and the body’s suspensory apparatus that are already susceptible to weakness. So tissue injuries such as muscle/ ligament/ tendons strains can be avoided by keeping in mind these implications.e duration of training sessions is something else to consider and should be built up slowly. Increasing the workload slowly will ensure correct muscle development without tiring and therefore protecting the joints and immature skeleton. Time o is just as important as time in work as this will give the horse time adjust to the new challenges.In conclusionere are mixed opinions within the equine industry regarding the correct age to ‘start’ a horse and the extent of what they are asked to perform. Maybe this is down to the industry itself, with more and more young horses being asked to complete more advanced performances at a young age. Every horse is an individual and quite oen when new objectives and experience presented are accepted, the rider believes the horse is ready and able to continue with its in-depth education, however, although the horse may be mentally ready, we need to repeat the question, is it really physically ready?If the horse is required to perform at a young age, it is of most importance we help them along the way with correct muscling, appropriate equipment and facilities and professional assistance as well as being mindful of the pressures on their body.www.egreenanimalphysio.co.ukFind out more and book your placewww.vetfestival.co.uk Find out more and book your placewww.vetfestival.co.uk “Came out of lectures buzzing about new things to do and try, not felt like that for ages”“A beautiful escape for real life CPD, you feel refreshed while your mind is nourished. A holistic CPD for the vet team”“Love it. And may the sun shine on VET Festival 2017”“Refreshingly different”“A vibrant, informative up-to-date learning event. The lectures with video examples of non-invasive surgery were fascinating”“More appealing than being indoors in a lecture hall”“The fusion of passion for medical change, unconditional love and hope in one field”“International CPD with a home feel”“A nice change from formal CPD events, good fun and very educational”“Good quality CPD for general practice”

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15Animal Therapy Magazine | SPRING 2017Find out more and book your placewww.vetfestival.co.uk Find out more and book your placewww.vetfestival.co.uk “Came out of lectures buzzing about new things to do and try, not felt like that for ages”“A beautiful escape for real life CPD, you feel refreshed while your mind is nourished. A holistic CPD for the vet team”“Love it. And may the sun shine on VET Festival 2017”“Refreshingly different”“A vibrant, informative up-to-date learning event. The lectures with video examples of non-invasive surgery were fascinating”“More appealing than being indoors in a lecture hall”“The fusion of passion for medical change, unconditional love and hope in one field”“International CPD with a home feel”“A nice change from formal CPD events, good fun and very educational”“Good quality CPD for general practice”The Friday evening of VET Festival 2017 hosts the VETFest™ Party Night providing delegates with the opportunity to relax and get in the festival spirit with live music, festival food and drink. Delegates can expect to enjoy an evening of festival fun amongst an experience which makes this outdoor conference unique in the UK CPD calendar. With your dancing-wellies at the ready, Hunter and the Bear are set to headline the Party Night on Friday 9th June. Having shared a stage with Eric Clapton, Van Morrison and Simple Minds, Hunter and the Bear will bring their infectious energy and Rock’n’Roll sound to the grounds of Loseley Park in Guildford, Surrey for the biggest VET Festival yet.A choice of street food from tastes across the world including Italy and Spain plus a drinks menu to suit will be on oer not only during the Party Night, but throughout the entire conference. VETFest™ Party Night will provide both delegates and exhibitors with a chance to unwind and enjoy themselves after a full day of CPD. VET Festival 2017 comprises of over 100 lectures of world-class CPD, covering 10 streams by over 30 international speakers. Still only in its third year, VET Festival has listened intently to delegate feedback and as a result, 2017 promises world-class CPD delivery, huge diversity in lecture subjects and stronger interaction and engagement. This outdoor, festival experience with the conference theme of Wellness is in response to the growing rise of veterinary professionals feeling disenchanted in their chosen career path and in recognition of the stress and concerns felt by many in their working life.VETFest™ Party Night will be on Friday 9th June at 6.45pm until 10.30pm and is included in the price of a VET Festival ticket. Family and friends are welcome to join delegates for free.Russell Brand and Professor Noel Fitzpatrick in conversation Comedian Russell Brand has been announced as the keynote speaker at VET Festival 2017 and will join Professor Noel Fitzpatrick on stage for a discussion on “Wellness and what that means to us.” The 2017 conference theme is Wellness which will be at the heart of the conference in response to the increasing rise of veterinary professionals feeling disenchanted in their chosen career path and in recognition of the stress and concerns felt by many in their working life. The keynote will take the form of an informal discussion between Russell and Noel, followed by an illuminating question and answer session with delegates to provide help and insight into coping with the challenges of working life in the veterinary industry and beyond. Professor Noel Fitzpatrick, who founded VET Festival three years ago, said: “I am deeply grateful to Russell for being here with us and for sharing his own personal story and experiences. I truly believe that this collectively shared vulnerability in the face of life’s challenges will make a dierence and I sincerely hope that you will feel the same.”Find out more and book your placewww.vetfestival.co.uk Find out more and book your placewww.vetfestival.co.uk “Came out of lectures buzzing about new things to do and try, not felt like that for ages”“A beautiful escape for real life CPD, you feel refreshed while your mind is nourished. A holistic CPD for the vet team”“Love it. And may the sun shine on VET Festival 2017”“Refreshingly different”“A vibrant, informative up-to-date learning event. The lectures with video examples of non-invasive surgery were fascinating”“More appealing than being indoors in a lecture hall”“The fusion of passion for medical change, unconditional love and hope in one field”“International CPD with a home feel”“A nice change from formal CPD events, good fun and very educational”“Good quality CPD for general practice”Friday night brings the festival spirit

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16Animal Therapy Magazine | SPRING 2017Dr. Richard NapDVM, PhD Dipl. ECVS and Dipl. ECVCNDIRECTOR, VETCOACH, BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINARichard is a Dutch Veterinarian (Utrecht 1979) based in Buenos Aires and Punta del Este.Richard’s career reects a wide range of international veterinary experience. He worked in private practice, at the University (Utrecht) as well as in industry (Associate Director at Iams Pet Food, Procter & Gamble). His private non-prot VetCoach project shares professional career learnings with graduating vet students and young vets (www.vetcoach.infoandwww.facebook.com/vetcoachproject). VetCoach has published over 15,000 books in eight editions worldwide. VetCoach books are endorsed by WVA, WSAVA and FECAVA as well as by national veterinary associations and Universities. e new VetTeamCoach (VTC) book for veterinary sta was launched at NAVC Congress in Orlando USA 2015 with support from NAVTA, WVA and WSAVA. Together with Dr Philippe Moreau he published the successful book on practice management “Essentials of Veterinary Practice” that sold over 10,000 copies in English, Spanish and French.Dr Nap has published many articles in international peer-reviewed journals in the area of Orthopaedics, Companion Animal Nutrition and Practice Management. He is an invited speaker in many national and international Congresses, Symposia and meetings around the world including WSAVA, BSAVA, NAVC, SEVC, ESVOT, ECVS and ECVCN and participated at the WSAVA 2016 congress in Colombia. His passion is to transfer business principles and learnings from industry to veterinary professionals in order to better serve patients and their owners and provide an Optimal Healthcare Experience. He has worked with national and International teams of Animal Health Industry partners and is a guest professor in the annual course on practice management at the USAL University in Pilar Buenos Aires.In conversation with . . .

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17Animal Therapy Magazine | SPRING 2017Find out more and book your placewww.vetfestival.co.uk Find out more and book your placewww.vetfestival.co.uk “Came out of lectures buzzing about new things to do and try, not felt like that for ages”“A beautiful escape for real life CPD, you feel refreshed while your mind is nourished. A holistic CPD for the vet team”“Love it. And may the sun shine on VET Festival 2017”“Refreshingly different”“A vibrant, informative up-to-date learning event. The lectures with video examples of non-invasive surgery were fascinating”“More appealing than being indoors in a lecture hall”“The fusion of passion for medical change, unconditional love and hope in one field”“International CPD with a home feel”“A nice change from formal CPD events, good fun and very educational”“Good quality CPD for general practice”Please can you tell us a bit about yourselfI am a Dutch veterinarian, who graduated from the Veterinary Faculty of Utrecht University, e Netherlands in 1979 with distinction. I have practiced with large and small animals both in private and University settings. Aer post-graduate positions at the University Departments of Large Animal Husbandry and Surgery and a 4-year term at a regional referral hospital, I moved on to the Department of Companion Animals for further training in the Unit of Orthopedic Medicine and Surgery. I nished my PhD on “e Inuences of Nutrition on the Growth and Development of the Skeleton in Dogs” at Utrecht University 1993. In the same year, I became a board certied specialist (Diplomate) at the European College of Veterinary Surgeon aer passing the rst exams organised in Cambridge, UK by the recently launched ECVS College. Two years later, I became a Diplomate of the European College of Veterinary and Comparative Nutrition. In 1994, I joined an international pet food company to manage and later head their European Academic Aairs team. In 2005 I le the company that in the meantime had been acquired by Procter & Gamble and started working as a private consultant, a role that I hold until today. I have been fortunate and had opportunities to meet colleagues around the world and present at veterinary international and national congresses and universities all over Europe, from Helsinki, Finland to Cape Town, South Africa, from the USA and Canada to Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia, as well as Mexico and many South American countries.I recently presented at the WSAVA Congress in Cartagena Colombia in Spanish for a crowd of over 300 colleagues talking about the Optimal Health Care Experience (OHCE) and many aspects of practice management. I have also published two books. One on practice management with Dr. Philippe Moreau “Essentials of Veterinary Practice” that sold over 12.000 copies in 3 language editions and the other book as part of my non-prot project to support veterinary students and young veterinarians around the world “VetCoach”. ere are 8 editions of the VetCoach book and over 15.000 copies have been produced for distribution world-wide. e project also published one edition of the VetTeamCoach book (2400 copies) aimed to support veterinary sta in the US market. e project is endorsed by WVA, WSAVA, FECAVA and several national veterinary organizations.What do you nd most interesting about this increasingly important area of patient and client wellness?e most important aspect for veterinarians and their sta to realise is that the primary interest of the owners of the pets who consult them is not the level of scientic knowledge accumulated in the heads of the sta of the clinic and the level of technology to support it. Owners are motivated by emotional reasons and are looking for veterinary teams that can provide services that connect and respond to these emotional needs. Pets are part of the family and their well-being and wellness is of high importance to their human fellow family members. e science is secondary to the emotions.What do you see are the greatest challenges that face every practice, including employees and their patients and families?To make the personal and practice business switch from being primarily scientic and technically oriented to being emotionally oriented when it comes to owners and their pets. Veterinary business is an emotional business. A now old but very true statement goes “Owners don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care”. e highly successful “Fear Free” approach that was launched in the USA by Dr. Marty Becker (of which I am an advisory group member) proves the importance and even economic or business relevance of this approach for veterinary clinics in the future. Dr Marty Becker preaches to “rst talk to the heart before talking to the head” when communicating with owners. e DVM degree is the entry level for every veterinary practitioner. e real success will be determined by how successful she / he connects with owners and responds to individual needs under dierent circumstances and delivers the OHCE together with the team.How do you suggest practices manage these challenges in an ever-changing world?By having an open mind and listening to their clients and at the same time keeping their eyes and mind open for what happens elsewhere. In other practices, in other countries and in other industries. is aspect is also important to consider when recruiting new sta to join the team. ere are many examples in the service industries around the world that oer veterinarians opportunities to almost copy and paste successes to improve the quality of their health care product.What do you mean exactly by an Optimal Healthcare Experience? Why is it so important?Each owner is dierent and each pet and owner is a unique combination under a unique set of circumstances. An OHCE refers to the fact that for each patient the veterinary team should try to nd the optimal outcome tailored to the needs of the individual patient and its owner within the ethical and legal boundaries. e options should be presented and explained and the owners should be allowed to make an informed decision. is might not be the top solution according to the latest scientic developments but it does suit the owners. e veterinarian is responsible for making the best possible diagnostic and therapeutic solutions available either in their practice or by referral. e owners are In conversation with . . .continued overleaf

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18Animal Therapy Magazine | SPRING 2017responsible for making the decisions regarding the healthcare of their pets and, not unimportant, for paying for the selected options. It is therefore very important that the veterinarian starts with listening very well to the owners to nd out the motivation of the visit and the personal circumstances of the owner and the pet.Do you happen to have any evidence to demonstrate that an Optimal Healthcare Experience does enhance business results?An OHCE results in happy clients. Happy clients come back. at is no rocket science and this happens in all industries. Over a 5-year period the clinics practicing Fear Free protocols in the USA have grown 20% while the overall market was at. For obvious reasons I am a fan of Fear Free approach. Owners love it and it makes perfect scientic and business sense and it ts well with what I have become to understand myself during my career and from the career learning input by hundreds of colleagues in my VetCoach project for the VetCoach and VetTeamCoach books.What exemplies excellence in an Optimal Healthcare Experience?An OHCE has been delivered by the team when the owner is happy when he or she leaves the clinic and feels that his or her concerns have been optimally addressed. e best (optimal) outcome of each visit is when the emotional and technical (scientic) aspects of the consultations are in optimal balance. An OHCE can be delivered at every level of the veterinary practice. In a one (wo-) man practice as well as in a many-doctor specialist center. Are there variances in being able to deliver an Optimal Healthcare Experience across the world?No. e principle is the same because the OHCE delivers a level of care that is tailored to the needs and opportunities of the market and the individual owner, pet and set of circumstances. On a scientic or technical level, the outcome for the same problem (diagnosis) might be very dierent, while the owner is happy with the way they and their pet were treated (taken care of) by the veterinary team. What attracts you to coming to lecture at VET Festival 2017?I am happy to have the opportunity to speak about this topic that to me is of utmost importance for veterinarians and their teams. It has been my personal learning and experience when meeting with veterinarians and students around the world that we think that our diplomas and equipment makes us a good veterinarian. e truth is that the owners do not care about my double Diplomate status, PhD thesis, published literature and books until they know they can trust me and we have made an emotional connection. Understanding and developing the importance of this connection will be good for our patients, for their owners, for our profession and for ourselves because it has the potential to signicantly increase our job satisfaction.What are you hoping that delegates will take away from your lectures? Why is it so important for them to attend? I hope the delegates understand that their DVM veterinary degree oers them a starting capacity. eir success in practice as well as their continued joy working in the profession is determined by their capacity to connect emotionally with owners and their pets. Unfortunately, many young colleagues become disappointed and stressed in our profession resulting in them leaving our wonderful profession or worse, without ever having practiced in an environment where the OHCE is put rst and pets and their owners are happy to come and to come back. e veterinary team has to work hard on making the owners feel good when they leave the clinic. It is not about what they think of you and your team when they leave the clinic. It is about how you made them feel.Richard Nap (pictured above with his dog Nala) will be speaking at VET Festival 2017 on Saturday 10th June in the Wellness & Team Building stream, in partnership with Centaur Services, at Loseley Park in Surrey.VET FESTIVAL

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21Animal Therapy Magazine | SPRING 2017FOR all of us involved in hands on manually applied therapy for animals one of the key issues we face on a daily basis is in getting across an accurate description of what we think has happened to the patient, how we intend to assist in repair and recovery, and what an owner needs to do, and avoid, in order to close the circle.Yet how oen do we nd as we engage in our enthusiastic explanation, and description of injury processes, and the body’s repair mechanism the response that this triggers is very oen in the form of “So has it put its pelvis out again?”Some further explaining then oen leads to the knock out punch line “So are you going to pop it back in now!”At this point I am ghting to control the urge to hit the DGMS button (Don’t get me started) because if I had a £1.00 for every time I’ve been asked this I could buy the island next to Richard Branson’s.For as long as there have been people willing to try to help with the recovery of movement based issues with animals, there have also been urban, and rural myths as to what these issues are really caused by. Over 100 years ago we didn’t have the luxury of all the high tech diagnostic kit that even a humble practitioner has access to, nor was there any form of structured research data available at the click of a mouse (the non furry type that is). As nature abhors a vacuum, these early practitioners came up with words and phrases to placate owners, and patients (if they also treated people). is was ne way back in the day, but what makes it tough for all of us is that there are still some people out there using these antique phases, which also include “I think its slipped a disc, could you pop it back?” and the other gem when a horse has seriously gone through the wringer “Can you point to where the problem is?” expecting an area about the size of a 5p coin to be the entire source of the problem when it has taken a rotational fall at full steam.It’s not the owner’s fault that these phases are still in modern use, and it’s not the fault of all of us who are likely to read this magazine. It’s a more global lack of any awareness of what it actually is that we all do. No matter how many talks we give, we are only ever speaking to small percentages of the population. What’s needed is a bigger platform, or arena. What’s needed is some serious amount of media minutes. Enough to actually convey in a blend of information and entertainment what happens to the body with injury, aging, and congenital issues; what we do physically, and from a physiological point of view when applying our skills; and what can be done to support and prevent further problems.Well, this is going to happen. In fact it is already in the making. A totally brand new, 6 part series for the SKY network focusing initially on osteopathy, but in future series opening up to include all of us who dedicate our careers to helping improve the lives of animals.To aid with the visualisation of injury and repair mechanisms there will be inclusion of CGI to allow the viewer under the skin, scales, and feathers of our patients, and take the viewer on a journey through the whole process with some real life cases.Because this has never been done before, and because the principal presenter doesn’t have a life long career already in television this has resulted in the series being supported by a vigorous crowd funding project where literally anyone with an interest can come on board and become part of this exciting, ground breaking project.e series is being hosted by Tony Nevin and is titled Dr Zoo Little. ere is already an active FaceBook page by the same name, which charts all of the activity to date, including some pilot lming and chat shows that have all been created to test out the logistics of the whole project. is has ranged from lming in a studio environment with all the kit one could think of within arms reach, to sweating it out in tropical jungle with the absolute basics, and lots of elephants that just love to dismantle expensive electronic equipment!Introducing Dr Zoo Littlecontinued overleaf

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22Animal Therapy Magazine | SPRING 2017TONY NEVINis venture is the brainchild of two dedicated individuals, Stewart Lawley of VTelevision, and Tony Nevin of Zoo Ost Ltd. ey have worked together in the past and have always wanted to produce a series that really sets the record straight. Both are fed up with the way any animal related stories get used as humorous news llers on television, rather than taken seriously. With the advent of so many more TV channels, and the expansion of social media, it is now possible to both create, and get a channel to air this series.By keeping the production team small, and buying in specic skill sets when required they are able to focus on creating sequences that really bring to life what we do, by telling the story in a way that the viewer can relate to.Although this is a major step up for Tony he is no stranger to being shoved in front of the camera, and has taken a crash course in media presentation to further improve his delivery, yet the fact that a real clinician will be in the driving seat is a rare opportunity and Tony is fully aware that a lot is riding on this rst series. Hopefully we can all benet from it, as can our future patients.Over the coming months there will be a ramping up of social media coverage, a potential small radio programme, and a new blog to support the making and marketing of the Dr Zoo Little series. ere are very real opportunities for individuals and companies to get on board, either with the Kickstarter crowd funding pathway, or through advertising on the forthcoming website and social media platforms. is is our chance to bring animal therapy further into the light. is magazine has done a lot of hard work so far; let’s keep the momentum going. Come and join us……..please!

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23Animal Therapy Magazine | SPRING 2017Supply and Service of Medical Devicestrimbio offers a vast range of products all at very competitive pricesAnimal Therapy Products Vetkin-Tape® Kinesiology TapeVetkin-Tape® is a tape that sticks well and gives the maximum results for animals, as it is 20% larger than Human tapes.Photizo Vetcare Light Therapy UnitA simple-to-use, non-invasive treatment tool to accelerate natural healing and provide drug free pain management for degenerative conditions. £9.95 +VAT£208.00 +VATExtra Wobble CushionThis large wobble cushion (55cm dia.) is ideal for animals as £33.95 +VATVet H-WaveThe Vet H-Wave uses a signal that is natural to the body. It emulates the H waveform found in nerve signals and therefore enables greater £1695.00 +VATIntelect Mobile Ultrasound with Pro Carry BagThis unit is ideal for animal therapy where the unit can be powered by battery whilst in its carry bag, and be protected from the elements. Call for latest pricing offerHand Held LaserA hand held system that does not require protective glasses and runs off standard AA batteries. The unit is extremely hard wearing, portable and effective within supercial and soft tissue injuries.Intelect Mobile Laser PackagesThese packages are ideal for all Animal Therapy Practicians as we can mix and match the probes & clusters to suit the required eld of treatment.Neurotrac Sports Muscle StimA dual channel muscle stim unit which has 15 preset programmes and the option to store 3 of your own custom programmes.£59.96 +VATBiomag 2 Base UnitThe Biomag 2 unit has a range of frequencies offering a range of treatment options from soft tissue injuries, fracture repair enhancement and pain relief.Prices start from £495.00 +VATand deeper penetration of a low frequency current, whilst using signicantly less power than other machines.£295.00 +VAT2 limbs can be easily placed on the cushion, for balance and proprioception work.01403 597597 www.trimbio.co.uk sales@trimbio.co.ukCall for latest pricing offeranimal therapy ad 03 17.indd 1 01/04/2017 15:29

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24Animal Therapy Magazine | SPRING 2017Precious Cargoby Kelly McCarthy-MainePHYSIOTHERAPY FOR PERFORMANCEPHYSIOTHERAPIST Megan King is part of the horse health team that supports Canadian Olympic event rider, Rebecca Howard, her long-time partner, Riddle Master, ‘Rupert’, and an exciting string of up and coming event horses at her Wiltshire training base.“I visit Rebecca’s yard weekly to assess and treat Rupert, as well as the up and coming horses in her training and competion program”, Megan explains. “Leading up to the 2016 Olympic games, we started looking at ways to support Rupert on his travels to the games. We explored ways we could make his long journey by road and air as comfortable as possible so he could arrive feeling fresh and rested”, Megan continues. Rupert’s vet Christiana Ober was travelling with Team New Zealand horses on the same ight to Rio. “e goal in these long transport situations is to be proactive with healthcare in the lead up to the departure and make sure you have the healthiest horse possible getting on the plane”, Christiana explains.Rupert’s travelling groom, Angela Molson agrees: “e home team worked tirelessly to give Rupert the best possible run up to the Olympics and ‘Rup’ was in tip top shape to t r a v e l ”.Discussions with massage therapist and qualied tape practitioner Harriett Freeman led the team to consider kinesiology tape applications. “I was really excited to work with Megan on kinesiology tape applications to support Rupert during his travel to Rio - collaborating with other professionals is always rewarding”, explains Harriett.“Harriett and Megan working together to nd taping applications that would assist Rupert’s muscles and circulation during his transport is just another example of the detailed program put together by a dedicated team. Harriett arriving at the crack of dawn to apply fresh tape on the morning we started the journey to Rio was a lovely send o”, explains Angela.

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25Animal Therapy Magazine | SPRING 2017How careful management and kinesiology tape helped Olympic event horse, Riddle Master, arrive feeling fresh and relaxed after his long journey to RioThe taping process“With all taping clients, we do an allergy test where the horse wears a sample piece of tape for 24 hours”, Harriett explains.erapy tape applications fall into two main categories: athletic or therapeutic. Athletic applications can help horses progress in their tness and training, bring awareness to weaknesses or imbalances in development, support muscles as they adapt to an increased workload or explore a greater range of movement.erapeutic applications are oen used to enhance and prolong physiotherapy or massage treatments, help ease muscle spasms, reduce swelling or bruising and increase blood ow and lymphatic drainage to support the body through natural recovery and healing processes. Travel taping applications would fall into a therapeutic category. Tape should never be used when there is an open wound, an infection or under circumstances where an increase in circulation would be contraindicated. Prepare the coatBefore applying tape, the horse’s coat needs to be clean and dry. e cleaner the horse, the better the attachment the adhesive on the tape will be able to make, which ensures an even, consistent application.continued overleafOn a clean coat, preparation is as simple as wiping the horse with a microber cleaning cloth to pick up dust and create a smooth, even surface for the tape.Tape can stay on when the horse is washed, be worn under rugs and depending on the application, can be worn under a bridle, head collar or saddle. TOP TIP“I advise my clients to avoid using coat conditioning shampoo or tail spray in the days leading up to a taping application as the ingredients can repel the tape”, explains Harriett. What is kinesiology tape?Kinesiology tape is a latex-free decompression sports tape made of elastic, two-way stretchable cotton with adhesive on one side that can be applied directly to the horse’s coat. Depending on the application and therapeutic aims, some tape may stay in place for up to four days.e medical-grade adhesive on the back of the tape allows it to stick to the horse and works in two stages: the primary adhesive is warmed by rubbing with your hands, while the secondary adhesive is activated as it warms through contact with the horse’s body. Elasticised therapy tape mimics the skin’s own behaviour, stretching and contracting as the horse moves.e theory behind sports taping is that as the tape lis the skin blood ow is gently increased, allowing better lymphatic drainage and improved cell regeneration. is increased blood ow can also help dissipate and ease muscle spasms, reduce swelling and bruising, and speed up natural recovery and healing processes.Tape can also help to re-educate muscle memory and support the normal functions of tendons and joints, which can help boost range of movement. Star treatment: e home team looks on as Megan works with Rupert

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26Animal Therapy Magazine | SPRING 2017Travel tape applications 1. GLUTEAL What it targets: Gluteal muscles e tape was placed from the tuber coxae to the greater trochanter of the femur. e tape was applied with 100% stretch as a supportive technique.Reason for application: e gluteal muscles support the exion of the hip joint; retracting and abducting the hind limb. Supporting this large muscle group during travel helps the horse stay comfortable while standing for long periods of time. 2. SEMITENDINOSUSWhat it targets: Semitendinosus Tape was applied roughly from the rst caudal vertebrae (the origin of the muscle) to the caudal aspect of the tibia, where the muscle inserts. Travel application: Taping this region helps to support weight bearing structures during long periods of inactivity, like travel. 3. THORACOLUMBAR SUPPORTWhat it targets: Tape was applied to the thoracolumbar region transversely across the longissimus muscle across the vertebrae with medium tension, overlapping the end of the tape provides further support on the outer limit of the application. Travel application: is application aims to provide stability and support during sway and weight rebalancing during transport. e longissimus muscle aids in extension and supports the vertebrae column, stabilisation of this this will help to control and support the movement of the horse during travelling.First leg of the journey to Rioe rst part of the journey to Rio was by road. A lorry and professional driver arrived at Rosegarth in Wiltshire early in the morning to collect Rupert. His feed, a Haygain-Go and a complete wardrobe of rugs and competition gear had been loaded onto a truck the previous aernoon. PHYSIOTHERAPY FOR PERFORMANCE“I had butteries as the truck pulled into the yard. It didn’t all feel real until the transport arrived and we loaded Rupert and set o on down the road. It was only then that I understood the magnitude of the trip and could believe that it was really happening!”, Angela explains.“e road journey took a few hours and once we arrived at Stansted airport, we had a couple of hours to wait until we boarded. Luckily there was a patch of grass and Rupert was happy to wander around and graze”, Angela continues. Extra special cargo“Rupert was paired to travel in an air crate with the Japanese horse, ‘Just Chocolate’ who was travelling with his groom, Elliot Griths. We were ying in a cargo plane so it had a small passenger area behind the cockpit, where the humans were seated during take o and landing. During the ight we had free access to the horse area and were able to check the horses, just as we would on a long truck journey. Veterinary support“e biggest challenge with lengthy transport is the risk to the respiratory system. e likelihood of the bacterial infection known as ‘shipping fever’ increases exponentially with 12 hours or more of travel”, Christiana explains. “As the horses are loaded onto pallets, lied into the plane and during takeo and landing, their heads must be tied up for safety reasons. Once the plane is in ight, we do everything we can to give them the freedom to lower their heads by loosening the ties, feeding and watering them from the ground. Essentially, a lowered head position allows them to clear their lungs. “e environmental temperature is also kept quite cool during travel and we manage the horse’s body temperature carefully with rugs. e goal is to minimise stress and keep as close to a normal routine as possible under the circumstances, Christiana explains.

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27Animal Therapy Magazine | SPRING 2017Something from the trolley?“I brought a whole bag of carrots and apples to feed Rupert during the ight to give him added moisture and nutrients and tempt him to keep eating his hay and feed. Rupert drank a good amount of water, which was really reassuring. Normally quite a fussy eater, Rupert was really settled in the air and managed a whole meal on the ight out and again on the ight back”, Angela explains. Heads down“When I was feeding him or oering him water, I would unclip Rupert from the cross ties and encourage him to put his head down. is helps him stretch his muscles and drain any build-up in his airways from having his head upright for too long a stretch”, Angela continues.Precious cargo “is ight was amazing. e horses all travelled incredibly well and the logistics were seamless. Peden is such an expert at transporting horses; they do months and months of work to preapprove and preauthorise with the regulatory authorities so when the ight lands, the ocials are there ready with paperwork and behind them there are a row of lorries waiting continued overleafFive tips for supporting your horse during travel 1. Ensure your horse is in supremely good health before travelling2. Monitor the temperature during transit - ideally maintain a cool environment and regulate the horse’s body temperature with rugs3. Minimise stress by keeping a regular feeding routine. Feeding and watering the horse in a low-head position helps the airways to clear4. Consider working with your physiotherapist/taping practitioner on therapies that will support your horse during long distance travel5. Monitor water intake and seek veterinary advice early if the horse is not drinkingImages of horse air travel. Courtesy of PedenBloodstock

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29Animal Therapy Magazine | SPRING 2017Horse Health TeamRebecca Howard - riderRebecca Howard is a UK-based Canadian high performance event rider with results at Luhmulen, Badminton, Burghley and Kentucky and has double-Olympic, Pan-American and World Equestrian Games experience. Rebecca’s top ten nish at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio made her the highest placed female eventer at the games.Riddle Master, ‘Rupert’2013 Canadian-bred horse of the year, Blithe Hill Farm’s Canadian Sport Horse, Riddle Master, ‘Rupert’ came to Rebecca as talented and unruly six-year-old. Nearly a decade later, Rupert is a polished athlete at the top of the sport with fans all over the world. Megan King - physiotherapistMegan qualied as a human physiotherapist in Western Australia before moving the to the United Kingdom to gain her Masters in Veterinary Physiotherapy and join the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Animal Therapy (ACPAT). Megan has worked with elite event riders, including Lucinda and Clayton Fredericks and Rebecca Howard, as well the elite horses on Australian, Canadian and Japanese teams. Megan has a keen interest in the relationship between rider and sport horse performance, as well as injury rehabilitation. Harriett Freeman - massage therapist and kinesology taper Harriett Freeman, BSc Hons, is a Equine Sports Massage Therapist EEBW, a certied Kinesiology taper with K-active taping and a Low Level Laser therapist. During her time as head girl at an event yard, Harriett Freeman applied her massage therapy and kinesiology taping skills to help keep the horses feeling t and well. Harriett is doing her masters in physiotherapy and works at a small animal vet clinic. Angela Molson - travelling groom Freelance elite competition groom Angela Molson has worked with Rebecca at major events, like Burghley and the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio. Angela has taken the skills she developed grooming, like attention to detail, organisation, planning ahead and understanding what riders need to succeed into her new role as Equestrian Sales Manager for Countrywide Stores. When not devoted 24/7 to Rupert, Angela spends time with her husband, Tim and ex-racehorse Minnie, who is always immaculately turned out.Christiana Ober - vetDr Christiana Ober has 15 years experience in equine sports medicine and managing the competition horse. Her primary interests include: purchase exams, lameness, management and rehabilitation of soft tissue injuries, regenerative medicine, and sports medicine especially related to the three-day event horse. Christiana graduated in 2000 from the Virginia- Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine and is FEI qualied as both a permitted treating veterinarian and as a veterinary delegate for three-day eventing. She is currently the vet for the New Zealand Three-day eventing team. With thanks to: Rebecca Howard Equestrian rebeccahowardequestrian.com, Megan King Physiotherapy megankingphysiotherapy.com, Harriett Freeman and Georgia Keegan. Photos Bob Atkins and Camilla Caplin camillacaplinphotography.com29Animal Therapy Magazine | SPRING 2017

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30Animal Therapy Magazine | SPRING 2017Back on Track Photos: Debbie Fuller PhotographyLAUREN LANGMAN of Devon Dogs uses Back on Track infrared garments on a daily basis. Lauren has built a solid reputation in canine training and top end sports dog performances. rough Devon Dogs Lauren runs numerous training classes and activities for a wide range of dogs and their owners. In addition to this Lauren is one of the leading dog agility competitors in the UK with several team GB squad selections, Crus winners, Olympia medalists and 11 Championship Ticket wins to her name. Spending so much time with dogs of all shapes sizes and temperaments Lauren is very aware of the role the well-being of the dog has in his overall demeanour, health and temperament. Lauren said: “A happy, well cared for, bright, and enthusiastic dog relies upon a consistent routine, plenty of attention and routine great care. If the dog feels relaxed and happy and well it will aid their overall well-being and in turn their performance will be enhanced.”Lauren uses the range of Back on Track infra-red rugs, braces and dog beds on a daily basis to help provide these well-being benets to her dogs. Back on Track ts in well with Lauren’s daily routine and complements all of her training exercises. Back on Track has pioneered the use of far-infrared energy to help dogs, humans and equines. Scientic studies have found that the infra-red technology aids circulation which supports well-being and mobility.Back on Track was founded by Swedish scientist, Dr Erland Beselin who developed his unique, Welltex™ fabric which has minute ceramic particles infused into it. ese ceramic particles reect a long-wave infrared ray which helps circulation. Back on Track have developed their Welltex fabric into a state-of-the-art range of infrared garments, braces and mattresses.Lauren said: “We have found that Back on Track range of infra-red rugs, braces and dog beds have helped with providing relaxation for our dogs both pre-competition but also in day to day life. e Back on Track items are beautifully made and the rugs come in many dierent styles and thicknesses.” e Back on Track rugs have innovative and well-researched designs, they t snugly and are fully breathable. In fact - Lauren’s dogs actively want to sleep on their beds, indicating it feels: “Super great for them, when given a choice they want to get their coats back on and sensible dogs really should stay warm aer work so it does help therapeutically to put them on aer any work at all!” In addition to day-to-day use of the Back on Track rugs, Lauren has also found the rugs invaluable at competitions. Lauren added: “e rugs are just perfect for between classes at competitions, I need the dogs to stay warm and supple. A dog that has been allowed to get a bit sti from hanging around and waiting their turns will neither perform as well as he is able to and could sustain an injury.” e long-wave infra-red ray that is created by the Welltex fabric has been scientically proven to increase circulation which in turn can help mobility. e Back on Track range of dog beds and mattresses is also used extensively by Lauren. “Our dogs travel on the Back on Track mattresses and they really relish getting into their cosy beds! I feel the Back on Track travel mattress is second to none. My dogs spend a lot of time in the vehicle travelling to and from competitions as well as between events on competition days. ey need to be comfortable when spending large amounts of time in the car. It’s super to know they have their own therapy system linked to simply being in the vehicle. It’s also great to see some of our previously stressed dogs wanting to happily jump into the Back on TrackCanine Care

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32Animal Therapy Magazine | SPRING 2017ULTRASOUND THERAPYTHE average dog and cat has 7 bones in their neck, 20 in their back and 3 in the sacrum (bones that pass through and connect to the pelvis). ey also have anywhere from 5 to 23 bones in their tails. at’s a total of somewhere between 35 and 58 spinal vertebrae/bones. e most important are the rst 30 from the back of the skull to the top of the tail. ese bones provide a bony cage through which the delicate nervous tissue of the spinal cord travels. With the exception of the 3 sacral bones, which are fused, the rest of these vertebral bones articulate, moving against each other to allow curvature and movement of the spine. ey are cushioned between each other by shock-absorbing, intervertebral discs that absorb compression and stress to the spine. When everything is working well the spinal column is an incredibly clever, stabile and eective structure that allows us to twist our necks, look up to the sky and down to the oor, bend down to pick things up and swivel around. Unfortunately sometimes things do go wrong. One of the more common problems is when a disc ‘prolapses’. is is usually when the outer brous part of a disc tears or ssures and the so gel like interior is propelled into the space where the nerves travel, this is known as Hansen type-I disc disease. Alternatively the outer part of the disc (the annulus) itself can bulge into the spinal cord and impinge on the nerves, this is known as Hansen type-II disc disease.Compression on the spinal cord can cause intense pain, temporary nerve damage or in extreme cases permanent paralysis. Treatment might be conservative with powerful anti-inammatories and pain relief to treat the symptoms. is is more likely when there isn’t signicant nerve function impairment. If spinal cord damage is signicant then surgery to relieve pressure from a ruptured or bulging disc may be required. Diagnosis is usually achieved with radiography or more accurately with MRI or CT imaging of the individual discs. Surgery on the spinal cord can involve either a ‘fenestration’, which involves cutting into the disc to remove the internal spongy gel and prevent further spinal cord damage or it can involve ‘decompressive’ surgery to cut away the bone protecting the spinal cord allowing access to remove prolapsed disc material from around the nerves themselves. Whether surgery is indicated or conservative treatment is chosen, back disease can be recurrent and recovery from an episode of spinal cord compression is likely to be prolonged and require a holistic approach. Medication +/- surgery and rest in the short term may be advised but long term weight management, physiotherapy and rehabilitation are likely to be key to a successful recovery. Spinal cord compression in cats and dogsBy Dr Oliver Wilkinson BVSC MRCVS, Dragon Vet Centre, CheltenhamK-9 Ultrasound treatment can begin a week after surgery to treat the surrounding areas and compensations, but it should not be applied directly on the incision area until the skin is completely closed and the stitches have been removed. Once the incision site has completely healed, ultrasound can be applied directly on scar tissue.Ultrasound therapy can stimulate both angiogenesis (the formation of new blood vessels) and bone morphogenetic factors; it appears to induce the dierentiation of the osteoblast and promote osteogenesis. Furthermore K-9 Ultrasound therapeutic treatments help to reduce pain following surgery by eecting nerve ber conduction.ULTRASOUND TREATMENTThe healing process following surgery very often leaves pronounced scar tissue and adhesions, which are made of generic connective tissue, rather than specialised connective tissue. This generic connective tissue is qualitatively inferior and adheres to skin, tendons, ligaments and bone.Hypertrophic or keloid scarring and adhesions can entrap nerves causing pain and consequently limiting normal joint range of motion.Ultrasound energy is absorbed into the tissues with high collagen content, like scar tissue and adhesions. Scar tissue and adhesions are denser than surrounding tissues and thus absorb more ultrasound energy. With the need for selective treatments depending on the tissue being treated, K-9 Ultrasound can oer a variety of probes to meet every need.Mechanical non-thermal eects generated by K-9 Ultrasound white hand probes help softening scar tissue and adhesions, while diathermy / deep heat generated by K-9 Ultrasound red hand probes increase local vasodilation, blood ow and soft tissue extensibility.Treatment recommendation for scar tissue softening is between 7 and 10 minutes every other day for a maximum of 2 weeks.When treating Ligament injuries, desmitis and ligament inammations, treatment time should be 8–10 minutes 2–3 times a week for a maximum of 4 weeks.32 Animal Therapy Magazine | SPRING 2017

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34Animal Therapy Magazine | SPRING 2017In March 2017 Dragon Veterinary Centre installed a new GE, 16-slice CT scanner within the practice, based at Prestbury Park, Cheltenham.The scanner is the most advanced model to be installed in the UK and it enables us to obtain images of your pet within seconds, often avoiding the need for other diagnostic tests that may or may not be conclusive. This new service allows Dragon to obtain CT scans of dogs and cats (and occasionally other small animal species) and allow the rapid diagnosis of animal diseases, without the need for our patients to travel to distant referral centres. Indeed, we are the only practice in Cheltenham that can oer this service ‘in-house’. CT is recognised as being excellent for the identication of many diseases, especially those involving bones, nasal chambers, lungs, the abdomen, spinal problems, and even conditions such as brain tumours. Often, CT will detect subtle changes that XRAYs or even ultrasound may miss.The CT scans are interpreted byspecialistsin veterinary diagnostic imaging and can, in many cases, avoid the need for extensive testing and even surgery. Our CT service is also available for clients and pets that attend other vet practices on an outpatient basis. If your vet has suggested a CT scan for your pet and you live locally, you are at liberty to request a scan with us and you should discuss this with your usual vet.CASE STUDY: BLIXRecognise this gorgeous face? Blix is a 4 year old, very large, German Shepherd dog. At 11 months he weighed 34kgs and was destined for a career as prison security dog!Less than a year into his career it became clear that Blix was not coping with the work. Despite loving and excelling in the training, he struggled with the daily patrol shifts. He started showing signs of lameness, dropping through his shoulders and dragging his toes. His hind end also started showing mild signs of ataxia. After veterinary examination it was decided to try him on a course of pain relief to assess his response. He improved over time and even competed in local trials achieving reserve champion, which he loved, however, unfortunately the lameness crept back in so he went back for further veterinary investigations.Blix had previously had x-rays which showed his hips and elbows were good so further investigation in the form of an scan was needed. The scan generally showed good disc morphology, however, his lumbar sacral disc showed signs of degeneration and protrusion with irregular end plates. The side view showed entrapment of the cauda equina (nerves within the spinal canal), inammation of the compressed and surrounding nerves especially of the left outow tract, which in turn blocked messages to the hind limb. This would have also been causing chronic pain, exacerbated by the type of work he was doing. Blix underwent corrective surgery which was a great success and with the addition of regular physiotherapy and hydrotherapy, his recovery has been beyond every ones expectations. His physiotherapy involved various soft tissue techniques to work through compensatory muscular spasms. He had phototherapy to encourage cell regeneration, repair and circulation and once the stitches were out and he was happy for me to work around the surgical site, we began a course of ultrasound therapy using the K-9 ultrasound machine. Please see protocol for treatment times.Another vital part of physiotherapy is to retrain and encourage correct gait which in turn will allow the rest of his body to move correctly and regain strength and suppleness.Blix continues with regular hydrotherapy to ensure he keeps his strength up and also has regular physiotherapy to make sure all is well.Blix was retired from work and you now generally nd him residing on the sofa between his walks and playing with his fellow (past and present) security comrades!Blix before pain relief or surgery. He had weak musculature. You can see how his right hind plaits under and his general posture is hunched and he sits low in his stie and hocks.Case study, provided by Cotswold Horse and Hound Physiotherapy.Dragon Veterinary Centre, Prestbury Park, New Barn Lane, Cheltenham, GL50 4SHTelephone: 01242 580324info@dragonvet.co.ukwww.dragonvet.co.ukCT SCAN

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35Animal Therapy Magazine | SPRING 2017Magnetopulse II Pulsed Electro-Magnetic Field machine Blue and red light phototherapy plus six different magnetic field frequencies enabling a wide range of therapy treatments for joints, bones, ligaments and muscles Package includes: Magnetopulse II unit, phototherapy head, leg applicator and charger. RRP: £900 +VAT Promotional price: £700 +VAT Dual outputs allow two applicators to be used together. Other accessories are available. We also stock Electrovet and Long and Shortwave Ultrasound machines. Please contact us for a price list, training opportunities and CPD. The College of Animal Physiotherapy admin@tcap.co.uk | www.tcap.co.uk | 01844 290545 magnetopulse IIPulsed Electro-Magnetic Field machineBlue and red light phototherapy plus six different magnetic eld frequencies enabling a wide range of therapy treatments for joints, bones, ligaments and muscles.Dual outputs allow two applicators to be used together. Other accessories are available.Package includes:Magnetopulse II unit, phototherapy head, leg applicator and charger.RRP: £900 +VATPromotional price: £700 +VATMagnetopulse II Pulsed Electro-Magnetic Field machine Blue and red light phototherapy plus six different magnetic field frequencies enabling a wide range of therapy treatments for joints, bones, ligaments and muscles Package includes: Magnetopulse II unit, phototherapy head, leg applicator and charger. RRP: £900 +VAT Promotional price: £700 +VAT Dual outputs allow two applicators to be used together. Other accessories are available. We also stock Electrovet and Long and Shortwave Ultrasound machines. Please contact us for a price list, training opportunities and CPD. The College of Animal Physiotherapy admin@tcap.co.uk | www.tcap.co.uk | 01844 290545 The magnetopulse is an eective, safe treatment for a variety of issues associated with the musculoskeletal system and the skin. It delivers both pulsed electromagnetic eld therapy and phototherapy and has shown positive results in;• Joint disease - Osteoarthritis and any chronic disease of the joint such as navicular and spavin in horses or problems such as hip or elbow dysplasia in dogs.• Soft tissue injury - including the treatment of tendons, ligaments, muscles and skin.• Fracture repair - for the treatment of stress fractures and more severe fractures. Particularly useful in encouraging non-union fracture repair. Can be used over plates and xators and will penetrate cast and dressings.• Neurological - provides optimum conditions for nerve regrowth. Used in conservative treatment of neurological conditions can help to settle acute are ups and reduce inammation causing nerve pain.• Post operative - provides optimum conditions for repair of soft tissue, bone and skin.So how does it work?Pulsing magnetic elds aect the function of the cell and help restore the normal balance in a damaged cell. Unbalanced cells result in inammation. Therefore, pulsing magnetic elds provide an anti-inammatory eect.Another very important benet of this therapy is that it provides an increase in blood ow. Fresh blood brings nutrients and oxygen, essential for repair and normal function. This also helps to rid damaging waste from the injured area.Fracture repairAt a particular frequency pulsing magnetic elds can assist in fracture repair and are particularly useful in the repair of non union fractures. The treatment mimics the natural currents found in healthy repairing bone and works to draw bone cells to the fracture site. A huge benet of PEMF is its ability to pass through casts and dressings.PhototherapyThe magnetopulse can also deliver blue and red phototherapy. Phototherapy works at a supercial level and therefore is most eective on the skin. Blue phototherapy is very eective at prohibiting bacterial proliferation. Red phototherapy works to aid wound repair, encouraging epithelial growth and healthy granulation. Red light applied over acupuncture points has the added benet of initiating a reaction similar to that of acupuncture or acupressure and also has the eect of releasing endorphins, the body’s natural sedative.We also stock Electrovet and Long and Shortwave Ultrasound machines.Please contact us for a price list, training opportunities and CPD.Do you have an injured animal or an animal with a degenerative condition?01844 290545admin@tcap.co.ukwww.tcap.co.uk

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36Animal Therapy Magazine | SPRING 2017developed to ensure animal welfare by providing a list of practitioners with appropriate qualications which have been externally veried and accredited, appropriate insurance, ongoing commitment to professional development and recourse for accountability.” Further details on the registration criteria and application dates will follow, including a provision for Grandparenting. is release has been developed by the following Associations / Training bodies:Association of Complementary Animal erapies (ACAT); Institute of Complementary Animal erapies (ICAT); Association of McTimoney-Corley Spinal erapists (AMCST); Association of the Scientic Study in Veterinary and Animal Physiotherapy (ASSVAP); Justo Development; Berkshire College of Agriculture Canine Association of Accredited Myotherapists (CAAM); Galen erapy Centre Canine Hydrotherapy Association (CHA); McTIMONEYAnimal associations welcome professional registerAnimal therapy organisations and training providers have announced their intention to launch the Animal Health Professions Register further to a DEFRA review of the regulations governing animal complementary therapies. SINCE the inception of animal complementary therapies, the industry has exploded with a growing number of dierent therapies and modalities available to the animal owner. In recent years, there has been a review of the regulations governing animal complementary therapies and discussion on how animal owners can be fully informed about the therapist they choose. Twenty separate animal therapy associations, representing approximately 75% of the musculoskeletal therapists working in the UK, and a similar number of training providers, have come together to develop the Animal Health Professions Register. e aim of this Register is to make all levels of therapy accountable and clarify training and treatment type for owners and veterinary surgeons. A statement has been released from all the groups involved: “As a result of the last 3.5 years of meetings conducted by the animal / veterinary and musculoskeletal groups in light of the Review of Minor Procedures Regime (RMPR), initiated by DEFRA, we are delighted to announce the intention to launch a new, industry-representative voluntary Register, the Animal Health Professions Register (AHPR). is Register will include a wide range of animal health professions, categorised into subgroups.” “e purpose of the Register will be to address the outcomes of DEFRA’s RMPR which indicated that there are confusions in the market for owners and veterinary surgeons when choosing animal health practitioners. is Register will be McTimoney Animal Association Chair, Vanessa Davidson treating a horse. Photo: Colin Davidson.European Guild of Canine Bowen erapists (EGCBT); Carole Justice Gray Institute of Registered Veterinary and Animal Physiotherapists (IRVAP); Canine & Equine Physiotherapy Training (CEPT) International Association of Animal erapists (IAAT); e College of Animal Physiotherapy (TCAP); International Equine Touch Association (IETA UK & Ireland); Equine Touch Foundation; Instructors Guild; McTimoney Animal Association (MAA); McTimoney College of Chiropractic National Association of Veterinary Physiotherapists (NAVP); Harper Adams University; Writtle University College; Moreton Morrell College Register of Graduates of OCEPT; Oxford College of Equine Physical erapy (OCEPT); e Equine Shiatsu Association (tESA); e International Equine ermography Association (IETA); Equine ermography Training Centre TTouch Guild (TT); Tellington TTouch; Animal Laser erapy Association (ALTA); Laser erapy & Training Centre Canine Conditioning Academy (CCA); Hawksmoor Hydrotherapy Training Centre.36 Animal Therapy Magazine | SPRING 2017

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37Animal Therapy Magazine | SPRING 2017Our members are highly skilled in providing physiotherapy care for animals. We work as part of the multi-disciplinary team which is involved with the care and welfare of animals. Members are graduates of university validated BSc and PgD/MSc courses that are accredited and supported by the NAVP.NAVP members must full certain requirements including CPD, they must carry Professional Liability Insurance and practice in line with the Associations regulations and standards of practice. FOR FURTHER DETAILS CONTACT: EM AIL info@navp.co.uk W EBSITE www.navp.co.ukPromoting Excellence in Veterinary PhysiotherapySPECIALISING IN SYMPATHY CARDS FOR PETSHaving worked within the Veterinary Profession for 16 years, I know what a dierence it makes and just how much clients appreciate receiving a condolence card after the loss of a pet. I have, therefore, combined my background knowledge along with my love for watercolour painting to produce an individual range of quality cards, which are exceptional value for money and are very dierent to others available. Delivery within 7 working days. Cards can be blank,with standard verse or personally customised. Over 25 designs available, please visit my website for details. A new brochure, ower seeds and 7 new designs available now.Sarah Brown CardsSarah Brown CardsSarah Brown CardsPet casket bags ...Now available in 2 colours and sizes:WAYSIDE, 2 THE LOKE, DITCHINGHAM, BUNGAY, SUFFOLK NR35 2QS Tel/Fax 01986 893953 sarah@sarahbrowncards.co.uk www.veterinarysympathycards.com 20 - £16.00 200 - £135.00 50 - £37.75 500 - £300.00 100 - £72.50 1000 - £550.00You can mix designs within each pack sizeDeluxe85p each10% discount on orders of 50 or moreRegular 65p each10% discount on orders of 50 or moreThe loss of a beloved pet can be an emotional experience for owners. After pets have been cremated this is a sympathetic and discreet way of presenting their ashes to your clients.Sarah Brown CardsSarah Brown Cards

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38Animal Therapy Magazine | SPRING 2017THE correct management regime is crucial to the soundness and overall wellbeing of horses in training, and the Para professions are ideally placed to educate and advise. However, equestrians are likely to associate the physiotherapist, chiropractor or osteopath with identifying and treating skeletal and musculoskeletal conditions only. In reality, the scope of the paraprofessional’s work can reach far beyond, to include the eects of internal anatomy and physiology on other body systems, and on the horse’s overall health and performance. In this light, understanding the important role of nutrition and the health of the digestive system can benet the important work of the paraprofessional.In this article, the importance of nutrition to gastrointestinal (GI) tract health, and ultimately on overall health and performance, will be discussed. We will review why problems within the GI tract can occur, how these may manifest both locally and systemically, and how they may be identied during a consultation. Optimum nutrition requires optimum GI tract healthOptimal nutrition and digestive tract health play an integral and synergistic role in determining the athletic potential of the horse. Advances in nutritional research have broadened the understanding of the nutrient requirements to support various equestrian disciplines. is has led to development of an extensive range of feedstus and to the rapid growth of the feed industry. However, despite the provision of high quality feed to the horse – oen at great expense - the health of the GI tract, and its ability to fully absorb and utilise the nutritional content of the feed, are oen overlooked. e structures and functioning of the gut must be working correctly for feed to be eectively utilised. The horse functions when the GI tract functions Typical diets associated with performance, can present their own risks to the GI tract. Feed rich in energy dense, non-structural carbohydrate, fed intermittently, with limited access to forage, represents a signicant departure from how the horse’s GI tract has evolved to function. Problems such as starch overload, rapid feed transit times through the tract, and prolonged periods of reduced bre intake can be characteristic and may result in damage to the gastric mucosal membrane and imbalance of the delicate bre-digesting microbiota of the hindgut. When the stress of training, travelling and competing – and even long-term use of commonly used acid suppressing drugs – are also incorporated, specic biological responses can reduce integrity of the intestinal mucosa. e ability to combat ingested pathogens and toxins can also be depressed. Further, components necessary for the maintenance and functioning of the tract, such as specic amino acids, can become depleted. When faced with these conditions, it may be advantageous to provide additional GI tract support and specic nutritional supplementation which can help to oset the negative eects posed by this type feeding and management. Maintaining gastrointestinal tract health when feeding and managing for performanceby Emma Hardy, PhD, R. Anim. Technol (Cert)Equine Carecontinued overleaf

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40Animal Therapy Magazine | SPRING 2017Above: Gastric ulcer at margo plicatus. Below: Colitis.Clearly, optimising GI tract health for feeding is equally benecial in combating imbalance and disease, which is crucial to maximising overall wellbeing and performance potential. Symptoms of hindgut and gastric conditions can be similarInitially identifying GI tract inammation and ulceration can be dicult. Individual horses can present with a range of signs, symptoms and severities, some of which are not always typical. Unexplained loss of appetite, weight and condition, changes to performance and attitude, development of stereotypies, and bouts of colic are considered the usual indicators of gastric ulceration. However, many of these signs have also been observed in horses with a hindgut compromise. Areas of inammation, ulceration or bleeding from the intestinal wall will undoubtedly prevent ecient nutrient uptake which, in turn, can lead to weight and condition loss. Imbalance within the bacterial populations of the large intestine will diminish important bre fermentation and can lead to further complications. When conditions result in an increased acidity within the gut, it is perpetuated by the subsequent proliferation of lactic acid-producing bacteria and exerts a negative impact on the populations of bre-fermenting bacteria. is can result in the production and release of toxins into the vascular system, which can become responsible for more serious clinical conditions such as colic and laminitis. As Pellegrini (2005) showed, gastric and hindgut inammation and ulceration can oen occur concurrently. Whilst a denitive diagnosis for gastric ulceration can be established via gastroscopy, a hindgut diagnosis can be more protracted. Awareness of the signs pertinent to a hindgut disturbance can be useful during a consultation when seeking a diagnosis. is, in turn, helps to devise an eective treatment plan and achieve rapid resolution. Symptoms more indicative of hindgut issues are becoming better recognisedDue to the expansive structure and location of the hindgut, discomfort there may give rise to various issues that one may not typically associate with a GI tract condition. Some signs and symptoms may include:• Intermittent hind limb unsoundness, particularly aecting the right side. • Changes in the length and quality of hind limb stride, and a reluctance to engage the hindquarters. • Loss of exibility through the body around the leg, with a deterioration in the quality of extension or collection. • Girthyness resulting from discomfort in the large colon. • Sensitivity of the anks, perhaps towards brushing or rugging, often with a corresponding dislike or even an acute response to touching or palpation over the area of the abdominal oblique muscles.Should a GI tract problem be suspected, further veterinary investigation and diagnostic tests may be warranted. Accurate, early diagnosis is crucial in selecting the most eective plan of treatment for complete recovery and limiting any long-term eects. Of equal importance is obtaining a dierential diagnosis. Gastric and hindgut conditions require dierent approaches for resolution, and so knowing the location of an abnormality is highly advantageous. ese next steps will be explored in more detail in the third article of this series. REFERENCESPellegrini F (2005) Results of a large-scale necroscopic study of equine colonic ulcers. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science. 25 (3): 113–117

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41Animal Therapy Magazine | SPRING 2017THOROUGHBRED Dressage was set up in 2011. It is a stable we have dedicated to the retraining of the racehorse into Dressage. We have enjoyed success with horses at regional, young horse and National level. It really is all possible with the right ethos and training methodology! We aim to produce happy athletes and happy riders. We retrain for numerous owners the most prestigious being HM the Queen, having retrained successfully Mister Glum, Quadrille and Princes Trust. Mister Glum was in fact, the foundation horse for oroughbred Dressage and went on to compete at PSG level until his retirement in 2012. Having ridden since the age of ve, Mr Glum saw me through my GCSE’s, A levels and University. Aer some soul searching I decided that a career with horses really was the only path for me and so along with Mr Glum we travelled to Germany to train with Triple Gold Olympic Medallist Monica eodorescu.Monica had an ex racehorse Arrak XX competing at International GP level and so this seemed to be a great place for me to learn and train. is really was the beginning. I was Monicas travelling groom for four years until her retirement from competitive dressage in 2012.Retraining the Racehorse for a career in DressageLouise Robson, a sought after specialist in the eld tells us more about what is involved in the retraining of a racehorse and the success she has enjoyed.At oroughbred Dressage we have a small but wonderful team. As the horses’ body begins to change it is imperative to have the best support possible to keep them comfortable and on form. My Physiotherapist Annabelle Galt, Vets Towcester Equine, Spillers Feed Nutritionalist and Phil the Farrier Pearce are all hugely instrumental to the success of retraining. We are not only retraining the body but the mind of the horse also.When retraining a racehorse into any discipline, dressage and showjumping are for me the most dicult. We are asking the horse to begin to work against their conformation, breeding and natural way of going. e cross country phase in eventing, horse ball, reigning and barrel racing use the thoroughbred’s natural ability in speed to encourage performance.Dressage and showjumping require the horse to learn to sit back, carry some weight onto the hocks, o the shoulder and of huge importance for the horse, to remain calm and learn to focus.“What are we working with?”One of the most important questions I ask when a new horse arrives is “What are we working with?” e conformation of the horse as it stands. As a racehorse the breed is encouraged to allow the horse to move as eectively as possible for the job it is required to do. For the wither to sink, the forelegs to pull and the hind legs to push. e horse needs to stay as close to the ground as possible but allowing maximum push and ground coverage. e neck at speed elongates and is used for balance.Many oroughbreds bred for racing are build downhill (Croup High) this enables the pull and push of fore and hind limbs to work at maximum capacity. With this in mind when we retrain for dressage we require the horse to step under and begin to take more weight behind instead of infront. In retraining I use a training Pyramid. e base being the foundations. ese take the longest to establish.In basic form, walk, trot and canter on the aids, transitions becoming uid with no resistance or tension.DevelopmentSuppleness & ConsistencyFoundationsWhen re educating the Psyche of the ex racehorse we need to be conscious that we are dealing with an animal that has been used to a specic routine day in and day out.Taking the racehorse out of this routined environment and introducing things such as below we do need to allow the horse some time out.- turnout- dierent yard routine- the fully t athlete no longer galloping everyday- standing to be mountedWhen the horse rst leaves racing we allow, depending on their level of tness, a quieter spell/ time o to mentally decompress.THOROUGHBRED DRESSAGEcontinued overleaf41Animal Therapy Magazine | SPRING 2017

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42Animal Therapy Magazine | SPRING 2017ere are small things we can do in terms of groundwork to help with the transition process for example -plaiting your horse at home when going training or just to another area. is will help the horse begin to disassociate itself plaiting =racing.Putting travel boots on as and when, in the stable, in the yard, take them o, put them on without going on the lorry. this all helps to avoid the “brain snap” that triggers the adrenaline cycle.When is a horse fully retrained?All horses are individuals and there is no cookie cutter approach. Some take longer than others. We also consider the reason for their retraining for example is it to nd a new home, or to become a competition horse?For us it is when the horse is happy at walk, trot, canter and has a reasonable level of balance.ey are able to be hacked out and can travel and be ridden away from home happily and safely.At this stage I would begin to think of the individual now as a riding horse rather than an ex racehorse.CASE STUDYQuadrille10 years oldby Danehill Dancer Out of Fictitious and still owned by HM the Queen trained by Richard HannonRACING CAREERSprinter, 7 Starts, won 4, 3 secondsHighlight - Second (by a nose) Royal Ascot 2011Retired from racing in 2011 due to Tendon injuryCastrated and aer a year’s rest relocated to oroughbred Dressage.DRESSAGE CAREERWon Petplan Festival at Novice, Elementary, Medium and has been to the winter championships at Hartpury twice.He was taken to the Diamond Jubilee in 2012 and HM e Queens 90th Birthday celebrations in 2016Quad is currently training and competing at PSG with the hope of going further. Quad is intelligent and beautiful but also a reball of a horse. He naturally doesn’t have a good trot but has a very good walk and canter.He is croup high and has followed most traits of young at horses when leaving racing and growing a lot! In March 2012 he measured 15.3hh and now at 10 years old he measures at 16.3hh.His cannon bones are very long and considerable time has been taken with him to make sure that tendons and ligaments are not stressed too much whilst he was developing and growing.In the next issue we will be taking a look at specic ridden exercises for the racehorse in retraining, relaxation techniques & standing at the mountain block.42 Animal Therapy Magazine | SPRING 2017THOROUGHBRED DRESSAGE

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43Animal Therapy Magazine | SPRING 2017IN our work as veterinary surgeons and canine rehabilitation therapists, we see a lot of dogs on a daily basis. Some of them wear special dog harnesses, and, in general, we really like these. But they don’t all work in the same way or are in fact good for your dog. is article describes various kinds, or types, of harnesses and the reasons why they are more or less suitable for your dog.Harnesses are great for multiple reasons. In many cases it allows the owner better control and helps to reduce the dog from pulling, however, they can also be essential when managing chronic conditions and post surgery. Dogs suering with any of the below will benet from using a harness over a collar and lead as it takes away all the pressure around their necks and respiratory systems. • Small dogs (such as Yorkshire terriers) can suer from tracheal collapse. e pressure of a lead and collar could result in them passing out due to constriction around their throat; • Dogs who have had neck surgery or suer with intervertebral disc disease• Brachycephalic dogs such as Pugs who are at risk of eyeball prolapse• Dogs at risk of increased intra-ocular pressureWhen buying or advising on harnesses it is critical that we use a non-restrictive harness that allows entire forelimb free to move. e front leg of a dog is attached to the body purely by muscles and these must be free to move at every pace, particularly for working and sport dogs.A good, non-restrictive harness is one that ts perfectly, snugly (you should just be able to place two ngers underneath the harness on all sides) and doesn’t cause any friction or excessive pressure. Some are eece lined and therefore very comfortable. Some harnesses have D-rings at the front of the harness, for an additional attachment of a second lead should the owner need more directional control.A restrictive harness typically sits straight across the shoulders and in some designs there is also a strap positioned right under the axilla of both front legs and Dog HarnessesDr. Amy Watson, MA, VetMD, MRCVS, CCRT, Pinpoint Veterinary Care, Dr. Pete van Dongen, Drs.(Utrecht), CertVR, MRCVS, CCRT, Pennard Vets“We can t any size, shape and age of dog with a Perfect Fit”• Modular design allows and secure and snug t• Easy to put on and take o• Adjustable in up to 5 dierent places• Each piece can be replaced as and when needed• Front piece comes with an additional D-ring• Safe for amputee dogs• Dicult for escapologist dogs to get out of• Calming for excitable dogsTel: 01684 569553www.dog-games-shop.co.ukacross the back putting pressure over the scapula. Together these pressure points can aect the movement of the front limb, altering the dogs natural gait. In addition, pressure on the front of the shoulder could aect the biceps tendon, and there is some debate as to whether this may cause problems such as bicipital tendonitis and altered gait can cause increased pressure on shoulder joints. Christine Zink has some done fascinating research and is well worth checking out her website: www.caninesports.comUnfortunately, the restrictive harnesses are oen promoted for training and ‘all day wear’, and oen win awards in the dog literature for ‘best harness’ or ‘best new product’, which isn’t helpful for the consumer or the dogs wearing them! Another problem is that a lot of the working dog harnesses are restrictive - search and rescue dogs, the police dogs and even Guide Dogs, in my opinion, wear restrictive harnesses. Maybe this is an area we need to tackle!Harnesses can be brilliant - as long as you get the right one and one that ts your dog properly!

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44Animal Therapy Magazine | SPRING 2017IntroductionAccording to Canape (2007) “e shoulder joint is an intricate network of over 25 interlinked muscles designed to withstand large forces, provide extraordinary mobility and maintain forelimb stability and control”. Taking these factors into account, it is not surprising that various authors report that injuries (to the shoulder) are not uncommon for performance dogs. In addition to non-specic so tissue sprains / strains, explicit problems associated with the shoulder joint include:• Bicipital Tenosynovitis• Rhomboids / Trapezius (general tightness)• Medial Shoulder Instability or ‘Rotator Cu’ strains (Infraspinatus, Supraspinatus, Teres minor, and Subscapularis)• Supraspinatus Tendinopathy• Teres Major strainsEvaluationFollowing the veterinary referral diagnosing the causes for the front limb lameness a comprehensive physiotherapy based evaluation generally includes: i. Gait analysis, on the Gait4Dog treadmill systemii. Palpation of the shoulder joint so tissuesiii ROM is multi-evaluative approach is carried out to both assess both primary and any possible compensatory / related issues. e gait analysis uses the GAITRite® soware to produce a GLS score derived from factors such as stance time / distance and limb pressure / reach. Additionally, visual assessment (while on the treadmill) demonstrates the dog’s gait at the time of testing. is data provides guidance for the subsequent palpation, giving the therapist areas to concentrate on. Finally, ROM tests can conrm limitations in limb movement due to issues such as so tissue strains and trigger points.Common Forelimb Muscle Stress AreasTable 1 (above right) demonstrates the common stress areas associated with shoulder issues, the related muscles and their primary functions. As can be seen from this list many muscles do exhibit similar functions. is knowledge, coupled with the professional diagnosis and the physiotherapy based evaluation guides the potential treatment protocols.Common Issues that Can Contribute to an Injury of These Muscles (Lyons, Gross) Shoulder problems may start from a simple slip on a foreign surface such as tile, hardwood or Laminate ooring, ice, snow, new training grounds, or wet grounds. Other things that might cause shoulder injury are:• Mistimed bite during bitework• Two on two o (stopped) contacts in agility• Poorly trained turn or hitting the box in Flyball Shoulder Joint and Muscles Rehabilitation and Strengthening Canine Careby Bobbie Lyons CCFT, FP-MTI, Cert CF and Alan Gardner PgD A. Phys, MDip, DipMgmt, IAAT, ASSVAP“The shoulder joint is an intricate network of muscles designed to withstand large forces, provide extraordinary mobility and maintain forelimb stability and control”Gait Analysis on Gait4Dog treadmillGLS score is designed to show a grade for ‘o’ loading and ‘over’ loading of a limb. A perfect score is 100. Numbers below 100 can indicate a level an o-loading of a limb i.e. lameness. Numbers above 100 indicate over loading of a limb (compensation)

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45Animal Therapy Magazine | SPRING 2017• Performance on a “new” surface that has not been trained• Injury to the rear assembly (secondary or compensatory injury) • Folding a shoulder upon landing a jump or leaping o a high surface• Slipping / tripping coming down a hill or out of a natural body of water Predisposed to a shoulder injury • Straight shoulder assembly• Previous rear assembly injury• Poor conditioning and strength• Dog’s involved in any canine sports• Limitations or problems in the wrist or carpal area• Problems with the dogs’ neck, thoracic or lower back• Inherent problems in their elbows, such as elbow dysplasia• Inherent problems in their shoulders, such as Osteochondritis dissecansSigns of a shoulder soft tissue problem:• Avoidance of jumps or the down side of the A frame or problems with the long jump• Decreased stride length or weight bearing on the forelimb Primary Function(s)• Extends extensor and same as deltoids• Protraction on limb• Assists abduction• Flexion and stabilisation of the shoulder joint• Extends the shoulder joint• Assists abduction and lateral rotation of limb• Stabilisers of the shoulder joint• Raises the scapula in a dorso-cranial direction• Strongly involved in neck extension • Adduct / internal rotation of shoulder as same as Triceps• Protraction and retraction of the forelimb• Apply force to the shoulder joint by drawing the scapula dorsally and caudally• Flexes shoulder (both)• Extends elbow• Stabilisation of the forelimbMuscleBicepsDeltoidsInfra / SupraspinatusRhomboidsTeres MajorTrapeziusTriceps• Decreased movement, specically in extension, compared to the other side• Diminished tracking turns to the aected shoulder• Head bobbing lameness when turning in to the shoulder• Knocking bars in agility• Increased head extension or an upward movement while the dog is landing• Lameness during movement (front or rear)• Lameness or stiness upon rising from a down position (crated) for a prolonged period• Loss of control at the end of the teeter (seesaw)• Pacing while moving instead of trotting• Pain with palpation to the area• Reluctance to take turns to one side• Slipping on stock or avoidance of turns to one direction while working stock• Warmth to the shoulder complex• Weave pole pop outs or rejections• Verbalization while landing, jumping out of the car or coming down stairsDo’s and Don’ts (Lyons, Gross)It is important NOT to stretch an acute or ‘fresh’ muscular injury. e stretching will cause micro tears in the already injured muscle. If the dog self-stretches, that is ne, but we do not want to force the stretch. Range of motion is ne, but only to the point of no pain or discomfort. Short leash walks will be benecial and modied crate rest should be adhered to. Many times, strict crate rest can stien a so tissue injury and it is not benecial. But you want to make sure you can control the movements. Any movement that causes lameness should NOT be performed. Always keep in mind – lameness equals pain and inammation and this will continue the problem causing weakness, loss of motion and more pain and inammation. Experience Based Rehabilitation Protocolse rst stage in physiotherapy based rehabilitation is to reduce pain / inammation and restore integrity of the damaged tissue. Electrotherapies are an excellent method to achieve this. With the shoulder area, we must take into consideration that (i) it is an area with a dense fur covering (ii) many muscles can exhibit similar lameness, when selecting the preferred modality. We typically use LASER and Pulse Magnetic Field erapy (PEMF) for treating shoulder issues for 2 primary reasons:• ey can be used to treat large areas in single sessions• Canine fur* is not an issue when using animal specic equipment (particularly useful if the issue is general in nature)Depending on the injury (acute or chronic / specic or larger area), we would use 4 – 16 j/cm3 of energy (IIIB LASER) and / or PEMF at 50 Hz Base / 5 to 17.5 Hz Pulse.Arguably therapeutic Ultrasound and Electrostimulation (NMES) can also be successfully employed. However, these do present additional challenges for shoulder treatments in the canine patient (namely fur covering and point specicity).TABLE 1continued overleaf

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46Animal Therapy Magazine | SPRING 2017Table 2 (above) outlines the advantages and disadvantages with various electrotherapies for treatment of shoulder injuries LASER reduces local pain and inammation by stimulating cell mitochondrial activity, increasing production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) / specic enzymes, growth factors, and the formation of anti-bodies. PEMF facilitates redistribution of ions across the cell membrane, thus modifying resting membrane potential and certain cellular metabolic processes. PEMF is particularly suitable for home use. Typically, for a new case, we will be applying LASER during consultation supplemented by home treatments of PEMF.e second stage involves overcoming muscle inhibition and restoring range of movement. Massage and stretching regimes are excellent modalities for achieving this.Massage Given that there are well dened stress points identied for the canine forelimb which relate directly to the muscles outlined in table 1, it is practical to focus on these areas. Actual massage techniques employed will be dictated by (i) ROM evaluation (ii) Type / size of patient (iii) Practitioners preferences (iv) any active trigger points [TrPs]. is is a typical regime we might employ:1. Warm up the area with eeurage and wringing.2. Apply myofascial release using the MKW Laser comb system to the large muscles around withers and shoulder blades with the aim of relieving any adhesions.3. Mixture of compression, kneading and friction techniques4. TrP release if required5. Drain areaStretching improves exibility by increasing the number of sarcomeres and alters muscle sensory feedback. In conjunction with stretches outlined below we may apply rocking of the shoulder blade and if required an advanced stretching technique called ‘So Tissue Release’ or STR.Canine stretches for the forelimb include:• Shoulder extension, elbow straight (targets the caudal muscles), elbow bent (triceps)• Shoulder exion, elbow straight (targets the cranial muscles), elbow bent (biceps brachii)• Shoulder adduction (withers) and abduction (pectorals)e authors advise that stretching (see do’s & don’ts) is continued into the strengthening and maintenance stages as it should form a part of any performance dog’s training program. Using both static stretching and active range of motion movement techniques applied to all the main muscle groups is recommended. When ROM has been restored, the patient can be moved the next stages.Strengthening and Return to Work (Lyons/Gross)One of the more frustrating aspects of a shoulder injury is knowing when the shoulder is getting better and when to get back to activity. So tissue injuries in general are very dicult to recover from in that the process may be lengthy. So tissue injuries in shoulders are a bit more dicult because it is such a strong weight bearing area – especially in the performance dog. e process may take weeks to months, and it is so important to follow the steps of the entire rehabilitation process. e steps are as follows, and are very general. e phases may vary in length depending upon the severity of the problem and the overall condition of the dog. LASER Treatment using the MKW Laser comb system Advantages Improves blood ow, collagenformation, DNA synthesis, RNAproduction, reduces myofascial painBlocks pain messages, increasescell metabolism, lengthens shortened tissue, can build muscle toneExceptional penetration, eventhrough dense layers of fur.Excellent for stimulating repair byincreasing blood supply / oxygenpressure over large arearReduces muscle tension / pain,reduces scar tissue, excellent deeppenetration into tissueDisadvantageHair reects light*Knowledge of muscle origin / insertion points required, more complicated to use than other electrotherapiesNeeds daily applications over a few weeksHair (air) interface presents a barrier to penetration of sound wavesModalityLASER (IIIB) NMESPEMFUltrasoundTABLE 2*In units designed for human use the at head will mean a substantial loss of energy due to reection. e MKW Lasertwin 21 with comb is specically designed for animals and overcomes this limitation. “Massage increases blood ow and oxygen supply, aids removal of waste products and mobilizes adhesions. Stretching improves exibility by increasing the number of sarcomeres and alters muscle sensory feedback.”SHOULDER JOINT AND MUSCLES

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47Animal Therapy Magazine | SPRING 2017• Recognize the injury• Reduce the pain and inammation and begin range of motion and weight bearing exercises• Begin static exercises such as weight shiing, standing on uneven objects, stretching, and controlled leash walking• Begin dynamic exercises such as controlled trotting, light jumps, controlled stops• Return to activity – gradually One of the steps to assist with the returning to activity aer shoulder issues is stretching, especially shoulder extension or reach. Range of motion should be performed lightly before any activity and a static stretch is recommended aer activity when the dog is properly warmed up. Shoulder extension stretching may be performed by ‘scooping’ the dogs’ elbow from behind and moving it slowly forward. is motion is similar to performing a high ve and care should be taken to move the shoulder straightforward and not out to the side (not like a chicken wing). Asking the dog to perform a “play bow” with forelimbs extended is an option that allows the dog to be in charge of the stretch. See photos below.Recommended Exercises (Lyons) Strengthening exercises should be performed when the healing process has moved out of the acute phase and when lameness is reduced. Strengthening the scapular muscles – or the large muscles of the shoulder blade – is important to begin the base of strengthening. is area needs to be strengthened rst and foremost to establish the strength for the rest of the shoulder region. Asking the dog to place the front feet up donut with rear feet on a K9FITbone (or rear feet can be on the oor) and beginning rocking motions will encourage the facilitation or activity of the scapular muscles. It will be important to watch the elbows – when the elbows start to turn out – the dog is fatiguing and requires a rest. e dog should be given a rest and then the exercise can be started again. e goal is quality over quantity. In the photo below, the dog is placing his front legs on the donut and we are encouraging the activity of the scapular muscles as well as the triceps muscle group. As the dogs is placing weight on the donut (in the photo above, the handler is using a nose touch “hold” to assist the dog in shiing weight forward) – he should be encouraged to rock forward and backward. is is performed until fatigue. Fatigue will be evident when the dog either places all of their weight on the forelimbs or the elbows begin to point outwards. e dog’s elbow should point str aight backwards. When fatigue begins to occur, the elbows will start to point outward. Tight turns Tight turns help to activate the shoulder stabilizers while oering an active stretch through the shoulder complex, spine and rear assembly. Weight shifting o handler movementTwo Fitpaws discs may be utilized to assist with the general core and scapular stabilizers. Placing the dog with front feet on a disc and rear feet on another disc will initiate contractions of these muscles. Stretching should form a part of any performance dog’s training and physical maintenanceFlexion Adduction Bow with shoulders extension Extension continued overleaf

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48Animal Therapy Magazine | SPRING 2017Walking around the dog will encourage them to follow you with their head. When they turn their head to the right, it will shi weight to their le. As you round behind the dog it will shi weight to the rear and then back to the right as you complete the circle. Crawling forward Crawling forward activates the scapular muscles, lengthens through the spine while strengthening the core and trunk of the dog. Using something the dog can crawl under in continuous movement is ideal. Poles should be set so that the dog can crawl under with his sternum as close to the ground as possible. Each limb should rotate forward individually. No “frogging” out of the hind legs should be accepted. Look for signs of fatigue such as unable to reach forward and rear leg extension. Proper movement is all four limbs rotating forward.Backing up over poles exes through the elbow and shoulders while increasing strength in exion. Poles can be placed low to the ground and up to hock height. Backing up in a one step at a time or continuous is ideal. Note that many dogs will hit the poles (they do not have eyes in the back of their head!) and that is OK. is exercise should be focused on backward motion and liing limbs over the poles. Lateral movement must be added in a controlled manner prior to adding freedom of movement with speed in all directions. Side stepping on the at activates the muslces needed to stabilize (for example Infra / Supraspinatus) lateral movement, turning, and over all balance. e proper motion is to have the dogs nose above spine level with both front and rear feet reaching laterally – crossing of the limbs is ideal. It is important to move laterally in both directions.Increase diculty by elevating rear legs to increase weight bearing to the forelimbs. Ask the dog to step laterally to each pod while abducting and adducting the forelimbs. is will increase strength in the stabilizing muscles surrouding the shoulder complex.Endurance activities (Lyons/Gross)Endurance activities should be an integral part of the shoulder conditioning program. Endurance activities are considered aerobic. e American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) denes aerobic exercise as “any activity that uses large muscle groups, can be maintained continuously, and is rhythmic in nature.” It is a type of exercise that utilizes the heart, lungs and large SHOULDER JOINT AND MUSCLES

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49Animal Therapy Magazine | SPRING 2017muscle groups in order to get them to work more eciently at rest and at movement. e exercise helps increase oxygen consumption and helps the body work more eciently. Ideally, the exercise should be at least twenty minutes in length and there are many options. • Hiking• Swimming• Underwater treadmill• Walking at a fast pace• Land treadmill designed for dogs• Sustained trot work by running or biking with your dogHowever, we need to make special considerations with a dog with prior shoulder injury. Swimming should only be pursued when the dog possesses full and pain free range of motion in the shoulder. In other words, the motion of the shoulder should be normal compared to the other shoulder and the dog should not be exhibiting any pain. While swimming is a great activity, it involves mostly exion or bending of the joints. If the dog is already lacking extension or straightening, the continuous activity of swimming could accentuate the negative. Bicipital tenosynovitis is a common so tissue problem and if the area is not healed and the dog begins swimming, it can cause more problems. Part of the rehabilitation process of bicipital tenosynovitis is extension and strengthening. e continuous exion or bending while swimming will stress the area. If full range of motion is not present, and the dog continuously works the muscle in a shortened position, it will continue the inammatory process. Bicipital tenosynovitis, supraspinatus and infraspinatus tendinopathy, and medial shoulder instabilities are prime examples. Continuously working in the shortened position will cause more problems. Full range of motion should be present before swimming is pursued. In the end stages, swimming will be ne, but it should be as mentioned, when the shoulder possesses full pain free motion. When swimming is pursued, the activity should be controlled as much as possible. Some dogs are ‘wild’ swimmers while others possess a sense of control. Appropriate otation devices (dog life jacket) should be utilized but care should be taken not to inhibit or restrict shoulder motion. And of course, the dogs need to be able to swim! Some dogs are much better swimmers than others, and some are just not meant to swim. If your dog falls into the category of just cannot do it, then skip it and nd another aerobic activity. (Lyons/Gross, taken from Balance Your Blades online Class)SummaryStrains of the shoulder complex are not uncommon in performance dogs with it being one of the leading causes of so tissue injury in canine athletes today. Diagnosing an injury early can mean the dierence between;• An acute injury possibly taking less time to heal.• A chronic injury that develops scar tissue/lesions that impairs the healing process. Following diagnosis by the suitable qualied professional, conservative treatment should be carried out in conjunction with an experienced rehabilitation team, particularly because these so tissue injuries are highly susceptible to re-injury. e treatment protocol will involve rehabilitation using modalities such as LASER, PEMF, Massage, Trigger Point Release and stretching followed by strengthening exercises. All these are taken during the relevant stages of the healing process. When the dog has returned to work, the owner should consider continuation of strengthening and stretching exercises. Finally, a concern is that handlers can be in a hurry for their dog to return to activity and do too much too fast. e rehabilitation team can guide the owner and help to avoid this.We hope this experience based article has outlined potential protocols which practitioners and owners can use as a reference for rehabilitation and strengthening of similar injuries.ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSCanapp, S.O. Jr., D.V.M., M.S., Diplomate ACVS, Shoulder Conditions in Agility Dogs, Clean Run Magazine, January 2007 AUTHORSBobbie Lyons CCFT, FP-MTI, Cert CF has eleven years of experience training handlers and their performance dog’s safe canine tness practices. She obtained this knowledge by consulting with the leading veterinarians, rehabilitation specialist, and canine PT’s to ensure proper position and technique to maximize the benets of each exercise. Bobbie has completed the FitPAWS/University of Tennessee Certied Canine Fitness Trainer Program and is a FitPAWS Master Trainer “Program Instructor”. She has also completed the Certicate Canine Fitness program through the Companion Animal Science Institute.www.pawsitive-performance.combobbie@pawsitive-performance.comAlan Gardner PgD A. Phys, MDip, DipMgmt, IAAT, ASSVAP. Alan is an animal physiotherapist and practices at Hawksmoor, Nuneaton and Dunton Veterinary Clinic in the UK. He specializes in rehabilitation of performance dogs and improving gait post-surgery. At the Hawksmoor practice, there is a GAIT4DOG gait analysis treadmill which is exceptionally good for evaluating imbalances in pressure distribution of the canine limbs. This evaluation is invaluable when studying issues related to shoulder injuries.

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50Animal Therapy Magazine | SPRING 2017Reminiscing with Ann Scott DunnI recently spent a lovely aernoon sharing memories with Ann Scott Dunn at her house. Mary Bromiley and I receive a lot of credit for being the rst Animal Physiotherapists, but in the early days Ann was also working away with her husband Peter Scott Dunn, the Queen’s Vet.Annie was very lucky to be trained by Sir Charles Strong who started using his TRANSEVA, so-called because it was manufactured by Messrs TRANS–SEVA Limited of Weyhill, Surrey. (SEVA stood for ‘Strong Electronic Veterinary Apparatus’.) Veterinary Record published the results of 100 cases in 1961, the rst real research.Sir Charles Strong (knighted by the Queen for being her rst Physio) worked mostly on Polo ponies – recommended by Admiral of the Fleet the Earl Mountbatten of Burma, who played Polo in the Ascot area. e results Charles obtained really started owners and riders realising that treatment enabled them to keep their ponies going.Sherry’s Blogby Sherry Scott MBEAnne’s early life was in a horse environment. Her father was a racehorse trainer; Peter’s father was a Vet. ey were very much a couple. Both represented Great Britain at no fewer than three Olympics as ocial Vet and Physio.e use of Charles Strong’s Transeva was explained as rhythmic muscular contractions, the rst Faradic machine, which we usually referred to as the Strongs machine. Melanie Gurdon was lucky enough to be trained by Anne and so helped with the workload on the cases referred by Peter.Anne’s rst job was to work for Richard Todd, the lm star, giving her a heady insight into the world of Acting.We recalled a very signicant dinner which was held in my house on 23rd February 1990. e guests were Peter and Ann, Jane Nixon and Stewart Hastie. During the meal Peter agreed to be President of the National Association of Animal erapists and Stewart, Chairman. Stewart has been such an amazing support over so many years. We use his great book, e BHS Veterinary Manual, as one of our teaching manuals at e College of Animal Physiotherapy.Remembering our early days, eating tea and cake, was a great pleasure. We discussed how lucky we are to have had our chosen careers. Below: Ann and Peter Scott Dunn50 Animal Therapy Magazine | SPRING 2017

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51Animal Therapy Magazine | SPRING 2017The College of Animal Physiotherapyis the longest-established animal physiotherapy college in the UK and trains students from around the worldAnimal PhysiotherapyIs this the career for you?There’s no need to be a human physiotherapist rst! Visit our website to see how we can help you develop your skills or start a new career.Our Equine and Canine Massage courses will complement and develop your work with animals.www.tcap.co.uk 01844 290545 admin@tcap.co.ukAnimal wound protection Does your pet hate the ‘cone of shame’? Try the DogEase bamboo medical pet suit alternativeDogEase is a wearable suit made from super-soft bamboo fabric which has helped thousands of pets recover after surgery – without having to wear a plastic cone collar. DogEase creates a fabric barrier to help stop pets from licking or biting stitches. The bamboo fabric is not just wonderfully soft, it is breathable, has 4-way stretch and has many natural properties like being anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, hypoallergenic and naturally thermal making it perfect for next-to-the-skin wear. DogEase is designed to be open at the back to help avoid the need to remove the suit for most toilet trips and has no heavy velcro or ddly poppers. The bamboo material does not fray which helps vets and owners to customise the suits as needed and the snug t helps to keep dressings in place and also keep dogs calm. DogEase helps with skin issues and the suits have been used on dogs, cats and rabbits. DogEase is available in 6 sizes XS-XXL in the short-legged suit and will be available in a long-legged version from June this year. The long-legged suits can be used for many uses such as leg, thigh and hip surgeries as well as helping further with skin issues. lisa@dogeaseuk.com www.dogeaseuk.comNo FasteningsSuper Soft Bamboo FabricWashableNEW Long-legged version (from June 2017)

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