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1Animal Therapy Magazine | SUMMER 2017SUMMER 2017AnimalerapyM A G A Z I N E
2Animal Therapy Magazine | SUMMER 2017The chemical Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) isweak acidic chlorine that is actually anatural occurring chemical, produced in themammalian body by Leukocytes orNeutrophils to fight infection caused byinvading microorganisms or pathogens(bacterial, viral and fungal.)Leucillin is a HOCl based antiseptic solutionand is one on the highest performingformulations of stable Hypochlorous, it isskin pH neutral at 5.5 - 6.0 pH.Hypochlorous’ efficacy is driven by pH andshould be a week acid to achieve maximumeffect. pH7 whilst being neutral is not skinneutral and is not as effective.Stabilised Hypochlorous is a revolutionarybreakthrough in healthcare with many 100times the effectiveness of standardantiseptics while proven to be 100% safe,other antiseptics struggle to achieve the99.999% efficacy required for a StandardEN13727 test, whereas Leucillin canachieve 99.99999% efficacy on the sametest; a 100 fold improvement in efficacy,whilst still remaining non-toxic, non-irritantand skin pH neutral.info@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 & reptilesLeucillin Animal Skincare, harnessing thepower of Hypochlorous TechnologyFirst aid, wound wash, cuts,grazes & skin infections Call or emailnow to find out aboutthe benefits of re-selling LeucillinProud Sponsors ofFP_July17:Layout 1 14/07/2017 15:36 Page 1
3Animal Therapy Magazine | SUMMER 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.ukPhotizo - Canine & Equine Sports ______4Tony Nevin:The Avian Patient ___6Canine Arthritis Management ______8No Bandages for Polo? ____________12London Vet Show 2017 ____________15eVet _____________16IRVAP ____________ 18Water Treadmills ___20Vet Festival 2017 ___ 23Electronic Brachytherapy ____24Anna Webb _______26Electrostimulation _31Racehorse toDressage Horse ____ 33Crate Training _____35McTimoney _______39Screening for Gastrointestinal Tract Conditions _______40Strengthening and Rehabilitation _____44Sherry Scott ______50M A G A Z I N EAnimalerapyWelcome! We hope you are enjoying the longer sunny days, with the odd day of winter in the middle. e good old English weather.... We have welcomed the warmer weather as we attended many outdoor events. e Vet Festival was brilliant, a bit of rain but that didn't dampen anyone's spirits. It was an amazing learning experience and great fun. Read the full report in this issue.We are so grateful to Ruth from Photizo Vet care who has helped us get the magazine out there, visiting Hartpury Festival of Dressage and Dogfest to mention just a couple. We also have magazines at the e Game Fair, BVNA and of course London Vet Show, make sure you come and see us and Photizo if you are going. ere are many more events to look forward to while we hope the sun stays shining.In this issue, we are delighted to have teamed up with Hartpury College and their amazing research team, so look out for some fantastic articles from them. We are also working with Canine Arthritis Management, a great concept to help owners and therapists make their four legged friends more comfortable when suering from this debilitating condition.As ever we hope you enjoy reading our magazine. Remember, you can subscribe for a hard or online copy via our website - www.animaltherapymedia.co.ukISSUE 9 - SUMMER 2017Issued QuarterlyCONTENTSwww.animaltherapymedia.co.ukWhile every eort has been made to ensure that information is correct at the time of going to print, Animal Therapy Media Ltd cannot be held responsible for the outcome of any action or decision based on the information contained in this publication/website. The publishers or authors do not give any warranty for the completeness or accuracy for this publication’s content, explanation or opinion. No part of this publication and/or website may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form without prior written permission of Animal Therapy Media Ltd and/or the authors of the articles within. Permission is only deemed valid if approval is in writing.Front cover photo: camillacaplinphotography.comThe chemical Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) isweak acidic chlorine that is actually anatural occurring chemical, produced in themammalian body by Leukocytes orNeutrophils to fight infection caused byinvading microorganisms or pathogens(bacterial, viral and fungal.)Leucillin is a HOCl based antiseptic solutionand is one on the highest performingformulations of stable Hypochlorous, it isskin pH neutral at 5.5 - 6.0 pH.Hypochlorous’ efficacy is driven by pH andshould be a week acid to achieve maximumeffect. pH7 whilst being neutral is not skinneutral and is not as effective.Stabilised Hypochlorous is a revolutionarybreakthrough in healthcare with many 100times the effectiveness of standardantiseptics while proven to be 100% safe,other antiseptics struggle to achieve the99.999% efficacy required for a StandardEN13727 test, whereas Leucillin canachieve 99.99999% efficacy on the sametest; a 100 fold improvement in efficacy,whilst still remaining non-toxic, non-irritantand skin pH neutral.info@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 & reptilesLeucillin Animal Skincare, harnessing thepower of Hypochlorous TechnologyFirst aid, wound wash, cuts,grazes & skin infections Call or emailnow to find out aboutthe benefits of re-selling LeucillinProud Sponsors ofFP_July17:Layout 1 14/07/2017 15:36 Page 1
4Animal Therapy Magazine | SUMMER 2017Photizo® Promoting peak performance across both Canine and Equine sportsPHOTIZO®PHOTIZO’S Vetcare harnesses modern Phototherapy in a lightweight hand-held (non-invasive) device. Proving invaluable pre and post competition both for dogs and horses, it ensures peak performance. e Vetcare has been specically developed with high output pulsating LEDs emitting red and infrared light to ensure a fast delivery, in 31 pre-programmed doses, of an eective ‘evidence based’ dose of light / Phototherapy.Since its launch in 2013 by sole distributor, Danetre Health, many Vets, Vet Nurses and animal healthcare professionals have embraced the Vetcare’s potential across a host of musculoskeletal injuries, atopic skin conditions, and as a powerful non-invasive tool in wound management.Being so simple to use, there is no need to wear cumbersome eyewear. It’s pocket size easily allows owners / carers to take Photizo with them anywhere whilst keeping up treatments at home in-between Vet appointments or Physiotherapy sessions. Promoting natural healing Photizo works at a deep cellular level creating biological eects, which stimulate vital cellular energy and ATP production. Simultaneously reducing inammation and promoting circulation, Photizo aids recovery and regeneration of muscles and joints. It also oers pain relief via the stimulation of endorphin and serotonin secretion. Proven to assist in any type of wound healing, Photizo increases the blood supply to the wound. It naturally increases the blood and lymph diameter, promoting the ow of oxygen and removes any debris from the wound.In the dog world, agility is becoming increasingly competitive, as the sport takes on international accreditation. Mandy Melville-Love and Darren Stokes, professionals in the sport for over 15 years, understand that a millisecond can make or break the scores. Such an intensity and pressure at a competition can also increase the risk of injury.e couple and their two Border Collies Keeva and Kruse have again been selected to join the International Mixbreed Championship Agility UK (IMCA) team. e winning team will head out to Austria in August where both Mandy and Darren will run in the individual team events. Mandy will also compete in the new Nations Cup. Keeping their Border Collies Keeva and Kruze in peak condition is a priority for Mandy and Darren who regularly take both dogs for hydrotherapy, chiropractic and massage treatments. Learning about red light therapy through Keeva’s chiropractor, Mandy was keen to meet Photizo at Crus earlier this year.Mandy explains: “Keeva picked up an injury at the start of the year and was out of action for four months. Having already seen the positive eects of red light therapy, Photizo oered exactly what we wanted: an easy to use device that we can use as part of our dogs’ daily routine. Spending time with the Photizo team at Crus convinced us to invest in our rst unit. I’m pleased to say that aer only a few sessions Keeva’s movement has improved dramatically. Being full of energy Keeva is the one that will cut a paw out walking in the woods, and again we’ve seen how cuts and grazes heal in quickly aer a few session of Photizo.”Nottinghamshire based event rider, Oli Jackson, aged 15 and his talented pony, Daydream Fourteen (Dave to his mates), have been incorporating Photizo into their wellness routine since October 2015. Equine Sports Massage therapist, Eleanor Frost, oen accompanies Oli and Dave to major competitions to provide pre and post therapy, including at e British Charles Owen National Pony Eventing Championship, (CIC* P), where Oli and Dave were placed third. Eleanor commented: “I love the eects Photizo delivers as it works to complement my massage techniques, and maximise the positive eects. Whilst promoting the inow of oxygen and nutrients to joints and muscles, Photizo assists in working deeper, correcting cell function and reducing any inammation.
5Animal Therapy Magazine | SUMMER 2017Faster, natural healing and pain reliefA non-invasive treatment toolfor numerous acute & chronic conditionsIdeal for pet owners to use at home forwounds - musculoskeletal injuries - swelling/inflammation- arthritis or joint dysplasia pain - bruising - plus many more• Highly effective • Simple to use • Rechargeablewww.photizo.co.uk 01327 310909info@danetrehealthproducts.comInvaluable pre and post any event, especially in post cross-country where the going and terrain makes jumping eorts more intensied. Phototherapy is ideal post event for treatment to retain cellular activity and prolong the therapeutic eects provided by hands on work. is assists at a maintenance level to preserve Dave’s performance, ensuring he is in peak condition. I also regularly treat Dave’s stable mates: nine-year-old Ace, six-year-old Finn and six- year-old Bobby”.Oli Jackson and Dave have been placed in each of their pony trials this season and following their success at Brand Hall have been selected for the 2017 FEI European Championships. Competing in a nal pony trial at Barbury International on the 7th July in the hope of being shortlisted to ride for Great Britain in Kapsovar, Hungary for the 2017 FEI European Championship for ponies (25-30th July 2017). e pair have now been selected to represent GB in the Charles Owen Pony squad at the 2017 European Championships for Ponies. Even if thundering around a cross-country track is not your idea of a day well spent, preferring a more relaxed day exploring new bridleway routes, your horse is still likely to appreciate the therapeutic eects of the Photizo Vetcare.Equally all dogs, but particularly seniors with, will benet from Photizo’s light therapy pre and post long walk. Reducing arthritic symptoms, Photizo helps ‘golden oldies’ by reducing stiness, increasing exibility and staying mobile for longer. Ruth Milner, Managing Director of Photizo’s UK distributor, Danetre Health Products, added: “Photizo is the result of years of research. It uniquely combines the latest advances in LED technology to oer a modern Phototherapy device, which is safe and simple for anyone to use. is is one of the reasons Photizo is rapidly becoming a popular proactive and reactive therapy tool for any owner or competitor in the world of animal sports, especially when the health and recovery of the musculoskeletal system in their performance animal is paramount. We’re committed to supporting all canine and equine sports where Photizo helps both before and aer an event.”
6Animal Therapy Magazine | SUMMER 2017FOR most manual therapists involved in animal care the thought of applying their skills to treat anything other than mammals usually raises an eyebrow or two. Many of the veterinary nurses I work with have a real feather phobia, usually discovered when I ask them to hold a bird I need to examine! So why is it that these magnicent creatures present us with so many obstacles when it comes to treating them?For me they are just as fascinating as reptiles, but they do dier considerably, from a treatment program planning point of view from, say mammals. Or I should say, larger mammals such as dogs and horses.ey generally have faster metabolic rates for a start. en their skeletal structures are highly modied with some bones acting as auxiliary air sacs, with bone density and matrix evolved for weight saving. eir skin very much gives the impression of having evolved from scales, and then there are the feathers, which insulate, and in most cases enable ight.A huge dierence when compared with mammals is the lack of a diaphragm with which to breathe, and a digestive tract and reproductive system much more akin to reptiles.However, they do have an evolved musculoskeletal system (MSK), and a highly evolved central nervous system (CNS), and are governed by all the same laws of physics as the rest of us.Most of the avian patients I get to see are wild, and as such my treatment is aimed solely at getting them back to that state. Being embedded within a wildlife hospital makes my involvement so much easier, as I have full access to all of the veterinary sta, and therefore we are much more able to accurately assess and treat these patients, aided as we are by an array of modern imaging equipment.e species we see are pretty much any and all of the native British birds that live or pass through Gloucestershire/Worcestershire area, and occasionally some that shouldn’t be, usually as a result of freak weather conditions.Most of them have suered physical trauma, some are suering from exhaustion, whilst others also have infections, or a combination of all three.Trauma can be the result of collisions with manmade objects, such as windows, vehicles, barbed wire fencing; or due to deliberate wounding by rearm, crossbow etc.; or by cat attack.Due to our geographical position some birds get blown o course when migrating and can nd themselves swept up the Bristol Channel creating disorientation, and sometimes injury as well. I occasionally get to examine these to ensure that there are no minor MSK issues that could delay their release back into the wild in a more suitable location. Birds with ID rings that have been tted by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) or other reputable organisations oen aid the successful release.With regard to the MSK of a bird probably the most intricate part is the forelimb apparatus, which has evolved for ight.e occiput has a single, large condyle, which allows superb mobility, but can also easily luxate. Between C1-Osteopathyand the Avian patientby by Tony Nevin, BSc (Hons) Ost, DO Zoo Ost LtdTONY NEVIN6 Animal Therapy Magazine | SUMMER 2017
7Animal Therapy Magazine | SUMMER 2017C2 there is vastly reduced mobility when compared to mammals, due to increases in brous connective tissue. What would be the thoracic sling in a dog or horse is modied with a hull shaped sternum that creates a large surface area for the ight muscles to attach to. e pectoral muscles themselves are much greater in mass, whilst the gleno-humeral and elbow joints will be familiar, the carpus diers considerably to allow the phalanges greater stability to aid control in ight. A phenomenon that aids stable ight is that the elbow and carpus joints work in total synchronization. e radius being able to glide along the ulna facilitates this. When one joint exes or extends, so does the other. e metacarpals are ossied into a single bony union of major and minor metacarpals. e phalanges are substantially shorter and modied in shape than those of comparable sized mammals.e thoracic vertebrae are ossied, as is the synsacrum (a blend of lumbar and sacral segments), which forms the caudal body of vertebrae. e only mobile area other than the neck is found in the nal caudal segments, which make up the attachments for the tail feathers.e lack of a muscular diaphragm also poses potential problems if anaesthesia is required for examination and/or treatment purposes.When a bird is moving around, either on the ground, or in ight it passively inates and deates the various air sacs. is supplements its other muscles of respiration.Due to their high metabolic rates, birds that present with any hint of infection, or high parasitic burden need to be treated with the appropriate medicines rst, before any physical therapy is applied. Wild birds in particular can suer signs of stress when handled in the form or mouth gaping, increased heart rate, and attempts at escape if not securely held.As with all wildlife patients, light, noise, smells, and sudden movement are all kept to a minimum. I prefer to have an assistant hold an avian patient whilst I examine and treat. is can be either the vet in charge, or one of the nursing sta. is reduces the chance of creating further injury to the patient, and occasionally the osteopath too!With any bird there are certain safety protocols that one needs to adhere to. All birds can scratch and peck, however some have interesting adaptations to their beaks and talons. Diving sea birds such as gannets have internal nostrils, as well as serrated bills. If the holder keeps their beak shut they can cause death by suocation.Herons have a nasty habit of striking at handlers’ eyes, and many a wildlife worker has scars to prove it – and they are the lucky ones!Raptors usually defend or attack with talons, although some will peck, which can clamp around and into your ngers or hand. Very oen they will have traces of faecal and food matter on them, and as such the unlucky recipient gets that punched into their blood stream.e best way to release oneself from raptor talons goes against our ingrained instincts. If the bird has snatched and grabbed you, the best way to release yourself unaided is by extremely quickly extending the birds leg joints. Basically pulling your hand or arm downwards whilst holding the rest of the bird in a xed position. I won’t lie; it does hurt, but a lot less than trying to prize the individual talons out of you and at the same time avoiding anymore going in!So far so good I hear you say, but there are other considerations before you even get to the hands on stu. Where you are going to examine and treat are important. If in a smart veterinary clinic then the temperature needs to be right for the species, windows need securing shut, as do doors, lighting subdued, and sound reduced. Much like a rst date you’re probably thinking, but that’s where the analogy should end.Plumage is essential for both ight and protection from the elements, so anything we do mustn’t damage it. Obvious when said, but not so easy in practice. Owls not only have amazingly exible cervical joints, but they also have asymmetric ear canals to help them locate prey. No point trying to go for perfect symmetry on these guys. eir feathers are, with the nocturnal species, evolved for silent running, and are not great at water repelling. If they get wet they can become hypothermic very easily.Waterfowl love to defaecate when handled, and most wiggle their caudal vertebral joints when so doing, which has an eect much like an agricultural muck spreader. I always stand to one side when working with these beauties.From a treatment approach, due to their metabolic rates, feathers, and mechanical make up I avoid any massage techniques, but do employ functional release work, rhythmic pump techniques, as well as tapping into the Involuntary Mechanism (IVM). Sometimes specic traction and joint articulations are required. Due to the nature of their skeletal structures I only like using any of the more vigorous techniques once radiographs have been taken, and if the tissues don’t respond to more gentle, global release methods.e nature of their metabolic rates also means that a treatment will usually take no more than 3-5 minutes. From my experience more than this can result in shock.So there you have the basics for successfully treating the avian patient. As long as you remember that less really is more when it comes to both the examination and treatment you wont go far wrong.In 27 years of treating birds I have had the privilege of seeing close up some amazing species, and am looking forward to continually learning from these truly amazing creatures.Tony Nevin qualied in 1988. He set up Zoo Ost Ltd to cater for humans and animals and birds. He is clinical director on the rst ever MSc in Animal Osteopathy, which is run through the McTimoney College, Witney, Oxfordshire. He also lectures and runs workshops in the UK and abroad, and Zoo Ost Ltd now produces a regular radio show titled “The Missing Link” for Corinium Radio in Cirencester.www.zooost.comwww.horseost.co.ukwww.coriniumradio.co.uk7Animal Therapy Magazine | SUMMER 2017
8Animal Therapy Magazine | SUMMER 2017Canine Arthritis Managementby Hannah Capon MA Vet MB MRCVS, Director, Canine Arthritis ManagementCanine Careto violently withdraw from the source, vocalise your pain, both actions which are very visual and readily linked with pain.Chronic pain is dierent and there is still indecision regarding its true role as it doesn’t t with our understanding of the evolution of the species. Chronic pain is not only long term in nature, but it is physiologically magnied pain which means the bearer experiences more pain than is actually present, for longer periods than the cause of pain exists for. It’s insidious, burning, uctuating pain. is kind of pain isn’t expressed in a sudden pronounced reaction, it debilitates the bearer over time, causing them to modify their posture and capabilities, change their movements and lifestyle, as well as causing emotional strain and depression.It is well recognised in the human medical sector examples of conditions causing this type of pain being diabetic neuropathies, cancer pain, bromyalgia, irritable bowel, migraines and arthritis. It is less well recognised in our senior canines because owners don’t see sudden changes that they can pick up on. Instead they see a slow decrease in activity, reduced energy levels, less or short lived enthusiasm for exercise, which are oen categorised as just slowing down, or just getting old, and not acted upon.But it is important that we recognise the signs of pain promptly, as if le it leads to both mental and physical exhaustion, poor quality of life and premature euthanasia.rough identifying signs of discomfort in your dog sooner, you have more chance of controlling it, and improving your dogs quality of life for longer.CAMCanine Arthritis Management (CAM) is a new initiative created by a small animal vet based in Brighton, motivated to improve arthritis awareness due to seeing endless euthanasias due to the dog ‘going o its back legs’. Hannah Capon set up CAM with the primary aim of raising awareness about arthritis and chronic pain: both its diagnosis and, importantly, its management.Canine Arthritis Management is not a replacement for the dog’s normal vet; it’s an additional support service ensuring that a true multimodal approach is being implemented by the owner.Key to this is a free online resource (www.caninearthritis.co.uk) for owners, vets and practice nurses, as well as other social media platforms such as Facebook Canine OUR wants from owning a dog have changed dramatically in the last few decades, from a utility to a companion and family member. Our rising expectations regarding their longevity has matched the rate of developments in improved pet healthcare, meaning we not only want our dogs to live longer, but we now make that happen.Unfortunately certain diseases are more prevalent in our older pets such as arthritis. It is believed that 80% of dogs over the age of 8 suer some degree of arthritis, and considering the main clinical nding is pain, this must be considered a welfare concern.Arthritis is a source of both acute and chronic pain. Acute pain is something we are very familiar with. e stubbing of a toe, or the burning of a hand. Acute pain has a well recognised role in protecting our bodies from harm. It creates a reactive pain, one to which you are forced to act and thus prevent further harm. You are likely
9Animal Therapy Magazine | SUMMER 2017Arthritis Management, Twitter CAMarthritisand the popular Instagram CAMarthritis.“I started CAM by accident really. I was a vet frustrated by my limited aect on my arthritic patients. I felt I was a one trick pony with regards to management and I wanted to oer my clients and their dogs more. I was learning about combining therapeutics for better pain control, but that wasn’t enough, so I completed a diploma in Galen Myotherapy which taught me to identify compromised dogs through looking at their posture, their physique and their behaviour. It opened my eyes to how the pain of arthritis isn’t just localised to the diseased joint, but how it is dispersed through out the body through weight shiing from the painful area to a new area that then subsequently becomes painful itself through overwork, and that by alleviating that I could reduce the dogs true pain state.rough working in the owner’s home and oering long consultation sessions, I started to get a real feel for what owners wanted, and what their understanding of arthritis was. I saw how the majority lived, where and how they exercised their dogs, and the expectations they put upon their dog. I encountered misunderstanding with regards to identication of clinical signs, exercise expectations, diet, homecare, and medical care. I regularly saw owners that loved their dogs getting it wrong and I felt strongly that there should be good quality independent advice out there for owners to tap into. e internet was a mineeld with outlandish product claims, persuasive marketing strategies preying on emotionally vulnerable owners that just wanted to do the best for their dog. ere wasn’t a safe online site that oered non biased, proven, multimodal therapy options.rough making owners aware that arthritis kills, we can help them identify signs earlier, act sooner and increase not only the length of their dogs life but also the quality. People have grown to terms with cancer and heart disease being major causes of death, but not arthritis, and I believe this is because we would never dream of putting a person to sleep due to arthritis, so owners would never believe that we would do that to a dog.”rough the creation of this extensive free online resource, Hannah hopes to help empower owners to initiate their own multimodal approach, through giving independent advice on lifestyle, nutrition, exercise and drug therapy.It is emphatically NOT a replacement for regular trips to the vets, but is designed to oer help and advice, and to give vets a resource to help owners continue to manage this condition at home.“What I’ve found is that no matter how hard I tried to convey advice to owners in the consult room, only a small percentage of that advice was going home with them.”Hannah practises what she preaches in her local area, with a service visiting owners in their home. ere she does a full assessment of the dog’s condition and capabilities, the home environment and exercise regime, and devises a personal plan which may include hands-on therapy. “For the last 3 years I have run this rewarding service and hope to inspire other vets and nurses to embrace this approach,” says Hannah.“It’s been a priceless learning curve for me; accessing the owner and their dog in the comfort of their own home, with no space or time pressures.”Hannah Capon has been working with colleagues to create a practice lecture programme aimed at educating and enthusing practices to use their resources better and create OA clinics.If you are interested in practice talks and upcoming CPD events, contact Hannah Capon at hannah@caninearthritis.co.uk THE BIG WALKTo raise awareness of arthritis and chronic pain Hannah and her 14-year-old Collie Holly will walk the South Downs Way this September. They will walk the 100 miles over 8 days, camping along the route. Holly will walk and travel in a special dog cart for rest periods. They are already on a strict training regime to ensure they are match t!We are encouraging local dog owners, dog walkers, trainers and groomers, as well as vets, vet nurses and veterinary sta as well as other animal health professionals such as physios, acupuncturists, osteopaths etc to come join for parts of the walk from Winchester to Eastbourne, to share their experiences and help spread the word.Find out more:www.caninearthritis.co.uk/thebigwalk.continued overleaf
10Animal Therapy Magazine | SUMMER 2017CANINE ARTHRITISARTHRITIS is one of the most common conditions treated by vets and therapists and as Hannah Capon from Canine Arthritis Management (CAM) explains, it is sadly a condition that frequently results in euthanasia due to irreversible mobility issues. As Hannah explains in her article on the previous page, management programmes can help slow down the degeneration, keep the patient more comfortable, mobile and happy and in essence allow them to spend more time with their beloved owners.Arthritis is inammation within a joint. is type of inammation can occur for no obvious reason and can cause pain and stiness as the immune system attacks itself. erapists have access to various methods to help relieve the symptoms of arthritis and the secondary issues that arise from the stiness, pain and reduced range of movement. A therapists hands are their most valuable tool and should be the initial stage of treatment and assessment aer veterinary diagnosis. Pathology Hand Probe Power Output Power Output Power Output Treatment Time FrequencySmall dogs Medium dogs Large dogsOsteoarthritis / DJD / 40 – 50% 60 – 70% 70 – 80% 7 – 10 mins Medial Shoulder Instability (MSI) / CONCAVE RED probe on area to treat and on surrounding areas. Osteochondritis Dissecans (OCD) 50 – 60% 70 – 80% 80 – 90% 5 – 8 mins Alternate days for theULTRA-FOCUSED probe directly on area to treat. rst week. Twice a week for the second and third week. One last treatment during the fourth week.50 – 60% 70 – 80% 80 – 90% 5 mins CONCAVE SILVER probe on area to treat and on surrounding areas. Below is a guide for treating arthritis specific to the K-9 Ultrasound deviceFurther to this there are various electrotherapies that can focus directly on the aected joints.Assessing muscular and pain response by palpation, mobilisation and various deep tissue techniques will give the true indication of the overall condition of the animal. Not only can these manual techniques restore some degree of elasticity, mobility, and comfort, it can also help to pin point origins of discomfort. Once that is established, it is then appropriate to move onto an electrotherapy of the therapists choice which can work deeper into the joint. Manual techniques are vital but generally they are quite supercial. Electrotherapies such as ultrasound can work to a depth of 6cm!From experience ultrasound therapy has complemented manual therapies well and results have been signicant. Working alongside veterinary advice and medication, owners have noticed an improvement in temperament, a greater willing to exercise and an overall appearance of improved comfort.So what is ultrasound?Ultrasound is a painless therapy where animals rarely need sedation.erapeutic Ultrasound is a treatment method that uses sound waves to treat pain, inammation and muscle spasms by stimulating the body with high-frequency micro vibrations. e waves travel through tissue with high water or low protein content, and bounce o cartilage and bone. ey are absorbed primarily by connective tissue: ligaments, tendons, and fascia.Whist we talk about treating the joint, we are in fact treating the cavities between bone. e acoustic eects (Cavitation, acoustic streaming and microstreaming) increase cellular metabolic activity, cellular permeability, blood micro-circulation, enzymatic activity, tissue oxygenation and removes metabolic debris produced by the injury / degeneration. All these physiological eects contribute to accelerate healing, reducing edema, and speeding up the inammatory phase of tissue repair for a faster recovery of the treated areas.K-9 Ultrasound is a revolutionarydevice for an eective treatment ofacute and chronic conditions in:• muscles• tendons• ligaments• joints• bonesTherapy for Canine Arthritis
11Animal Therapy Magazine | SUMMER 2017
12Animal Therapy Magazine | SUMMER 2017CONSIDERATIONSIn all equestrian disciplines where you want to achieve maximum athletic performance, even in animals of great economic value, many believe bandaging rm and booting will minimise over exion of the fetlock, avoiding excessive strain on the tendons and ligaments. Boots and bandages are also used to protect horses and ponies from impact. However there are considerations that must be made relating to when these products are used, how they are applied, and which products to choose. ese are detailed below:1 Interference with temperature dissipation Most leg protection limits the dissipation of heat. When tendons and ligaments are in exercise, they produce heat: this must be dissipated quickly. Excess heat for long periods of time decrease the ability of the horse or pony’s body to produce cells contributing to the matrix of tendons and ligaments, leading to long term degradation and weakening of of these structures. Furthermore, inammatory mediators are produced as a response to over heating, and these are responsible for tenderness and pain. Heat removal by blood is inecient on the leg because these organs have little vascularisation, unlike other parts of the body. So it is paramount that this process is not limited further by covering these structures.2 Normal joint mobility limitation It’s been demonstrated that bandages or some boots modify the angles of exion and extension of the fetlock in speed. is will aect accuracy of footing via such unnatural movements or positions through restriction. is restriction may result in a subsequent injury elsewhere, and a bandage or boot will not hold against the weight of a horse. e vast majority of polo horses end their career through joint injuries rather than injuries to tendons. erefore, it is preferable to take more care of joints, as the tendons and ligaments care for themselves if kept within their natural environment.3 Soft tissue compression against canon bone Tendons are positioned vertically, plumbed vertically, and this positioning is designed to aid the ow of uid up and down the leg. If the tissue is pushed against the cannon bone by over tightening and over usage of leg protection, this action is limited, and the leg is starved of nourishment. is will lead to problems in the long term.4 Interference with the circulation Compression via over tightening or over use of leg protection increases venous oedema and inammation of the distal structures, in this case the lower leg. Many injuries can be avoided when the ow of the venous blood of the foot is free and fast. Optimal blood ow will also contribute to the health and quality of the hoof.No Bandages for Polo?By Dr Jorge MacDonough What are the issues with Horse Bandages and Boots?continued overleafLEG PROTECTION
13Animal Therapy Magazine | SUMMER 2017Love your HorseLet it Breathe
14Animal Therapy Magazine | SUMMER 20175 Possible alteration of proprioception Horses ascertain the exact position of their legs by the activation stimuli inside the tendons and ligaments. Tight bandaging and booting can potentially limit the eectiveness of these stimuli, and therefore aect the accuracy of the horse’s or pony’s foot placement. is clumsiness can lead to injury. However, we do not know to what extent excessive pressure would interfere with this.6 Increased weight to distal legs Bandages weigh about 200 grams, and conventional boots even more! And when wet as a result of sweat or water, this leg protection can weigh almost double. As a result of this added weight, horses and ponies use more energy to get o the ground. is over exertion will eventually lead to premature fatigue, resulting in clumsiness and possible injury.7 Increase in skin moisture through sweat Damp, wet leg protection will increase risk of abrasion and irritation to the leg. Fungus and bacteria thrive in such damp conditions also. e highest risk is then posed when the fungus or bacteria penetrates the irritated skin, leading to infection. To note: All these problems are exacerbated on hot days, when bandages and boots are used excessively, or there is an excessive use of seals and tapes in the middle of the cannon bone to secure leg protection to the leg. Further issues arise when bandages may be put on too tightly or unevenly. DISTAL IMPACT PROTECTION OF LEGSe considerations mentioned earlier do not take into account the risk of impact injury to horses and ponies through contact horse sports and exercises. SOLUTIONTaking into account the issues highlighted above, choice in leg protection must meet the following conditions:- Light (the animal perceives the leg protection as little as possible)- Resistant to the most common external shocks- To not hold water, sweat, or dirt- Fully permeable to air - Easily placed and removed, with no elasticity - Not to limit joint mobility naturally (exion, extension and lateral)- Safe (not easily detached)It is also important to note that no leg protection will protect from the weight of a horse or pony in the event of an unforeseen incident, they can minimise risk, but not prevent it.LEG PROTECTION
15Animal Therapy Magazine | SUMMER 2017The London Vet Show is opening the doors of the ExCeL London once again to veterinary professionals from all over UK and Europe for its 2017 conference. With 150+ hours of lectures, 450+ suppliers exhibiting and 5,500+ veterinary professionals attending, it’s one not to miss!Covering the worlds of companion, equine, farm and business in one place on the 16th-17th November, the London Vet Show brings you a vast array of content, including:• Three RVC clinical theatres programmed by Jill Maddison and her team at the Royal Veterinary College, bringing world-class speakers like Craig Grin, Elizabeth Armitage-Chan, Adrian Boswood and Vicky Lipscomb together to present on the latest clinical topics in small animal practice.• An Equine specic programme aimed at both mixed practice and equine specic practitioners. Within the Equine programme you’ll nd our two RVC Equine theatres, BVA/BEVA Equine Theatre and the return of our Equine Meet the Professor round tables. You’ll be able to nd inspiring talks from Andy Crawford, Chris Pearce, Carolin Gerdes, Jon Pycock plus many more.• A Farm specic programme also aimed at mixed practice and farm specic practitioners. The farm programme boasts the BVA Farm Animal Theatre along with our brand new BVA Farm Associations Room, which contains content from the SVS, GVS, PVS, BVPA and BCV. • A Nurse & association programme tailored to veterinary nurses and specialist elds of practice. Our association content is programmed to help veterinary professionals learn something new and keep in touch with the pressing issues in the industry.The London Vet Show also hosts Europe’s largest veterinary exhibition, with 450+ specialist suppliers presenting innovative products and services. With special show deals and discounts, the London Vet Show is the best place to negotiate with your current suppliers and new ones! The exhibition hall also boasts equine and farm specic suppliers that oer the latest and best equine and farm related products. Don’t forget! There are 5,500+ veterinary professionals and an abundance of professional bodies attending this year’s London Vet Show, so it’s a great chance to network with peers and professional bodies alike.If you haven’t booked your pass yet make sure to visit www.londonvetshow.co.uk or call 02476 719 687 to book for just £269 + VAT with code ANI269 (BVA and BEVA members receive additional discounts).To wrap up the night of the rst day in style, the London Vet Show will host a party at NY-LON lounge bar in the O2. With food, drinks vouchers and entertainment all provided for, it’s a great chance to let your hair down after a day of learning, meet peers and join colleagues.Party tickets are limited, so make sure to call 02476 719 687 to book now!Online webinars are available immediately after the London Vet Show and can be booked with the delegate team. We look forward to seeing you!Equine Massage TrainingTake The First Step to the career and life you dream ofIf you are passionate about the physical well being of horses and enjoy interacting with animal owners, trainers and the veterinary profession, this course could be the rst step towards an exciting, challenging and rewarding career.Equine Massage Training UK is dedicated to educating students to the highest standard. The Equine Massage Therapist Course is a weekend, part-time, exible and aordable course completed over ve-months. It consists of practical, theory and module learning and is designed to provide students with a basic knowledge and skills to begin in practice.Please contact us for more informationadmin@equinemassagetraining.co.uk www.equinemassagetraining.co.uk www.facebook.com/equinemassagetraining/ Telephone: 07377 412965The College of Animal Physiotherapyis the longest-established animal physiotherapy college in the UK and trains students from around the worldAnimal PhysiotherapyIs this the career for you?There’s no need to be a human physiotherapist rst! Visit our website to see how we can help you develop your skills or start a new career.Our Equine and Canine Massage courses will complement and develop your work with animals.01844 290545 admin@tcap.co.uk www.tcap.co.uk
16Animal Therapy Magazine | SUMMER 2017Essentials for an improved performance and rapid recovery - a Veterinary perspectiveBy Dr Kate Martin BSc (Hons.) BVMS MRCVS, Senior Veterinary Consultant & Product Research Manager for eVetDrug Ltd. eVETINFORMATION FOR HORSE OWNERS:The Skin Pinch Test: pinch the skin over the shoulder and monitor how quickly the skin returns to its original position. In a hydrated horse, the skin pings back rapidly; in a dehydrated horse, the fold of skin takes longer than expected to return to positionCapillary Rell Time Test: press your thumb or nger rmly on the gum and then release it to reveal a blanched area of gum. Monitor the area and time how long it takes for the pressed area to return to a normal colour. Hydrated horses have a CRT of <2secs but dehydrated horses have a slower CRT of 2-4 seconds.It is important to perform both tests regularly so you get to know what is normal for your horse. Make them part of your regular grooming routine today.If you are concerned about your horse’s hydration levels, oer them water and electrolytes and cool them down if necessary. If they refuse to drink the water, encourage drinking by adding Horsequencher and give the electrolytes, once they start drinking. If their hydration levels do not improve, seek veterinary advice, as intravenous uids may be necessary.DEHYDRATION and electrolyte imbalances have serious physical eects on any horse and can play a signicant role in a horse’s recovery and performance. ey can lead to fatigue, muscle damage, laminitis, azoturia (tying up), gastrointestinal issues or they can simply lead to a loss in performance; in fact, dehydration is understood to be the most common cause of under-performance and is said to be like ‘competing with a hangover’. As a horse sweats, it loses a hypertonic solution of water and vital electrolytes (body salts), including sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium and chloride. Even a t horse can produce vast amounts of sweat, as the horse relies on sweating to control body temperature during exercise. If both water and electrolytes are lost and not replaced, the horse will become dehydrated and performance will be aected. Plain water alone dilutes the remaining electrolytes so the kidneys excrete water, in a bid to maintain the right concentration of electrolytes in the kidneys, and the stimulus to drink is suppressed. e horse therefore remains dehydrated and serious electrolyte disturbances can result. As electrolytes are integral to essential cellular functions, such as muscle contraction and transmission of nerve impulses, disturbances can trigger muscle disorders like azoturia. It is, therefore, vital to replace uids with both water and electrolytes, rather than water alone. Hydration levels can be monitored using subjective assessment methods like the skin pinch test and capillary rell time (CRT) but it is important to remember that performance can be aected before a skin tent is evident. In fact, horses are usually 5-10% dehydrated before they show clinical signs of dehydration like a skin tent, tacky gums and a slow CRT. When should we give horses additional electrolytes and water?Under normal conditions, an adult horse on a balanced, good quality diet, with access to a salt lick, will receive enough electrolytes; however, there are a number of situations where horses should be given supplementary electrolytes:• When they sweat profusely or for prolonged periods• When working hard or when competing• When the weather is hot or humid• When travelling for longer than 1 hour, particularly if unaccustomed to it and the weather is warm• When they are under abnormal stress or during illness, e.g. diarrhoeaIf you are unsure whether your horse or your client’s horse needs electrolytes, for a particular situation, it is always better to feed a slight excess and allow the horse to regulate what it needs, as long as the horse is hydrated and water is freely available. If the recommended dose of an appropriate electrolyte source is administered correctly, any excess electrolytes will be eliminated harmlessly. Signs that you may be feeding too many electrolytes could include excessive drinking, an abnormally wet bed and/or loose droppings.It is impossible for horses to store extra electrolytes for future needs, so daily electrolyte supplementation is usually not necessary unless the horses are on gruelling exercise programmes, sweat excessively or are undergoing a period of abnormal stress. However, ad lib access to sodium chloride, in the form of a salt lick, is recommended and intake should be monitored.
17Animal Therapy Magazine | SUMMER 2017To ensure horses maintain good hydration levels, before and aer exercise, they should be oered frequent, small drinks and water should never be withheld. Feeding soaked feedstus, such as sugarbeet, and room temperature water, during cooler months, are simple, eective ways of keeping horses hydrated. Adding Horse Quencher to the horse’s water is also a great way of encouraging them to drink, as it is an all-natural mix of grains and avourings that has been produced specically to encourage the most stubborn of horses to drink water.What should we be looking for in supplementary electrolytes?ere is now a vast array of Equine oral electrolyte solutions, powders and pastes on the market and it can be incredibly dicult to work out which is the most suitable. Some formulations contain prebiotics, such as Audevard’s Vetidral, which stimulate electrolyte replacement and absorption, whilst others, like Cavalor’s An Energy Boost, have B vitamins, amino acids and glucose for an instant boost. Every horse and situation should be assessed individually to ensure the most appropriate supplement is given.Check the label carefully and contact the manufacturer if necessary. Look for chloride combinations, which enable the electrolyte to be quickly and easily absorbed, such as sodium chloride, calcium chloride, and potassium chloride. Avoid products that list sugar, dextrose or corn syrup as the rst ingredient, unless your horse is recuperating from illness.Homemade electrolytes solutions are not recommended as they may do more harm than good and when competing, care must be taken to ensure you are not administering any prohibited substances to the horse. It is important that powder electrolytes, like Lectade Plus, are reconstituted with the correct amount of water and oered alongside a plain bucket of water. If electrolytes are taken without water, it can actually make the situation worse and dehydrate the horse further. If powder is added to a horse’s feed, it should be wet and you have to be certain that the horse will nish the ration. Pastes are generally more expensive per dose but they are incredibly convenient when travelling and competing and can be useful if horses won’t drink electrolytes in their water. ere are also a number of suitable electrolyte maintenance products on the market, such as TRM Isopro 2000 and Nettex electrolyte maintenance, for those horses that do require the additional supplementation, during intense exercise programmes, hot weather or periods of abnormal stress.If you would like more product information or advice regarding specic electrolyte requirements, for individual horses or yards, give eVet a call today on 01344 283888.
18Animal Therapy Magazine | SUMMER 2017IRVAPContinuing Education with The Institute of Registered Veterinary and Animal PhysiotherapistsSUREFOOT Stability Program with Wendy Murdoch. A great success at rstUK Course!The Ocial SUREFOOT Stability Pad was launched in January 2016 after 2 years in development so IRVAP were delighted to host the rst course to be held in the UK. The venue was at the state of the art new Newmarket Horseracing Museum and Retraining of Racehorses Centre in Palace HouseWhat are Equine SUREFOOT Pads? SUREFOOT Pads are Equine Stability Pads. They can help a horse improve their own balance, posture, stance, movement, balance and behaviour. They can benet a horse pre/post exercise, during a training session to improve/enhance performance, recovery from injury while stall bound or in limited movement to reset proprioceptors to re-establish normal patterns of movement.The pads have 4 dierent densities and 2 basic designs – rectangular and angled. Each Pad is 25cmX30cmX5cm providing a sucient area for horse’s hooves and thickness to absorb their weight. The variation in density provides the horse with dierent sensations and responses. Each pad also has two dierent surfaces each side (except the impression pad) – the coloured surface distributes the horses weight while the direct surface will give wherever hoof makes contact with the pads. Wendy also uses balance pods – 7inch pods with a raised surface, which some horses opt to stand on for increased proprioceptive input. The Impression Pad retains the imprint of the horses hoof for a period of time so the therapist can see how the horse is weight bearing on the dierent hoof structures. Interestingly there has been no dierences in responses between barefoot or shod horses. Initially following the lecture all the Equine Delegates got to stand on all the dierent pads to feel the sensation of the dierent densities.We had a great selection of horses on the day to practice on with the pads. We started with two ex- racehorses who are being retrained at Palace House. We were delighted to have Stand Guard attend who is trained by John Butler. He is a winner of 28 races and also shows. Alice Haynes who rides Stand Guard also brought her young 4 year old Connemara Stallion. Other horses included Splash, a showjumper, who was initially very wary of the pads, but once over her suspicions she chose to stand on the balance pods, even repositioning them herself. The responses of the horses varied - head dropping, eyes closing, breathing slowed, neck movements side to side, swaying, yawning… to list a few. The horses self-select which pad (the therapist recommends one depending on issues of horse but sometimes the horse chooses dierently) and also choose the length of time to stay on SUREFOOT Pads:Firm – Green PadsPurple – Medium PadsBlue – Soft PadsYellow – Slant PadsOrange – Impression PadsAir Pods – Same as CanineSURE FOOT®Equine Stability Program – The Murdoch Method
19Animal Therapy Magazine | SUMMER 2017“If you are interested in nding out more about the benets of being an IRVAP member please go to our website: www.irvap.org.uk, or email: info@irvap.org.uk”A national hunt racehorse post treatment pads –self-adjusting themselves to balance on the chosen pad. It was extremely interesting to watch each horse’s reactions. After standing on the pads for their chosen length of time, the horses were then walked or ridden away for the therapists and the riders to note any changes in movement. Further research into these fascinating tools is underway, including a proposed research project by IRVAP therapists in conjunction with Wendy. I have begun incorporating SUREFOOT pads into my treatments, usually post sports massage or acupressure session. As the horse’s foot is a neurosensory organ, by allowing the horse to stand on the pads it re balances itself, restoring the original map and function and re-wiring its body to correct posture. It is still very much a learning process as they are a new addition but I am nding them a fascinating tool.Grainne Ni Chaba-Byrne IRVAPnewmarketequinephysiotherapy.comThe IRVAP Canine CPD DayThe IRVAP Canine CPD Day, hosted at the Animal Health Trust (AHT) in Newmarket Suolk, on the 29th March 2017, was a very interesting and insightful day. The day started with a lecture on pain management by DR C Jolie, the head Anaesthetist at the AHT. This lecture was a fantastic overview on the signs of pain and the pain medication available to help the canine patient, including new research that is coming through and the future of pain management. This area of research is looking very interesting and is advancing fast. The second lecture of the day was on ‘Cruciate disease: prevention, treatment and recovery’ by DR G Haimel, the senior clinician in soft tissue and orthopaedic surgery at AHT. This was a very relevant lecture for us all. Did you know 85% of stie disease in canines is cruciate disease? The lecture included types of surgery and the positives and negatives of them and the research into how rehabilitation work can help recovery. Cruciate disease is one of the most common diseases seen in practice, understanding and keeping up to date with the current research is so important in this fast moving area of advancing techniques and practices. Lunch time included a guided tour around the Animal Health Trust hospital, hydrotherapy unit and brand new cancer unit. The nal lectures of the day were titled ‘Neurological and Metabolic causes of weakness’ by DR M Sharman, the senior clinician in Internal medicine at the AHT, and DR A Shea, the senior clinician in Neurology at the AHT . Wow what an informative and insightful afternoon we had with these lectures. These in-depth lectures included the pathology of the diseases, how to test for them and the available treatments and the how therapists can help these patients. This day showed yet again that IRVAP is not just for physiotherapists, but all animal therapists. I am an Hydrotherapist and Canine Massage Therapist and an associative member of IRVAP these lectures were very relevant and informative.Amy Shorrock, My Vet Hydro Rehabilitation Centre, Lancashire
20Animal Therapy Magazine | SUMMER 2017Does the underwater treadmill really modify the way dogs walk?by Dr Alison Wills Department of Animal and Agriculture, University Centre, Hartpury, Gloucestershire, GL19 3BEWATER TREADMILLSPhoto: Tessa Lewis from Cotswold Dog SpaCANINE HYDROTHERAPY is rapidly increasing in popularity as a way of helping dogs to recover from injury, managing degenerative musculoskeletal disorders and improving tness. Some owners also take their dogs for hydrotherapy sessions to promote weight loss or in some cases just for fun. Whilst the term canine hydrotherapy usually conjures up images of dogs swimming, underwater treadmills are also being increasingly used to provide a controlled environment for dogs to walk in water. e underwater treadmill has a number of advantages, including the ability to alter water depth and treadmill speed in order to better customise the session to meet the needs of individual animals. Hydrotherapists oen use visual observation to monitor improvement in movement aer dogs have undergone a number of sessions on the underwater treadmill, but the question remains as to whether there is a more scientic way to assess these improvements. Sessions can be expensive and some animals may need to undergo therapy for a prolonged period, therefore, it is important that we can evidence the benet of this therapy for dogs and gain data on the best protocols to use. is has already occurred for horses walking in water, but research on dogs is lacking compared to their equine counterparts.A study by Monk and colleagues in 2006 found that underwater treadmill exercise resulted in increased range of movement of the stie joint and increased muscle size compared to normal walking exercise. is particular research was specic to dogs recovering from a surgical procedure and the measurements were recorded quite soon aer surgery. To build on from this study, fully understanding the long term benets would be benecial as well as ensuring the treatment plans are done purely on hydrotherapy and not using a multi-modal treatment plan. is way the exact benet of the underwater treadmill can be determined and compared to physiotherapy and other exercise regimes. In a recent study by Barnicoat and Wills published in 2016, the way dogs walk on an underwater treadmill was assessed for the rst time in healthy dogs. Dogs walked at dierent depths and their limb movements were recorded using a motion capture system. e results indicated that dogs move very dierently in water to how they walk on a dry treadmill. As the depth of water increased, dogs decreased the time within a stride that their foot was in contact with the ground, and spent more time swinging their leg. Dogs also took longer, more infrequent strides as the water became deeper, which may explain why dogs have an increased range of movement aer a hydrotherapy session as seen by Monk and colleagues. is nding was also in keeping with what has been observed in horses, as a similar trend was observed by Scott and colleagues in 2010. is is an interesting observation as whilst supercially dogs might be considered similar to horses as they are athletic, four-legged animals, their movement on dry land does somewhat dier. ese ndings have an interesting application for sporting dogs, particularly where a longer stride length might result in increased performance. Hudson and colleagues in 2012 demonstrated how stride length increases speed in racing greyhounds, and these ndings may also have relevance to agility dogs where the success of a round is determined by speed as well as the ability to clear fences. In conclusion, from the studies undertaken we have learnt that hydrotherapy has seen positive results in both rehabilitation and performance and we can build from these studies further and understand in greater detail how dogs move in water. Dogs are the most diverse species in existence and therefore understanding how they move is a challenging task. We are also yet to compare whether other breeds may adapt their gait dierently to underwater walking. A further point of interest is how long any potential changes to the way the dog moves, persist aer the hydrotherapy session is completed. is information would enable hydrotherapists to design regimens more eectively and provide a more evidence based method of assessing the progress of patients. REFERENCESBarnicoat, F. and Wills, A.P., 2016. Eect of water depth on limb kinematics of the domestic dog ( Canis lupus familiaris ) during underwater treadmill exercise. Comparative Exercise Physiology 12: 199–207.Hudson, P.E., Corr, S.A. and Wilson, A.M., 2012. High speed galloping in the cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) and the racing greyhound (Canis familiaris): spatio-temporal and kinetic characteristics. Journal of Experimental Biology, 215: 2425–2434.Monk, M.L., Preston, C.A. and McGowan, C.M., 2006. Eects of early intensive postoperative physiotherapy on limb function after tibial plateau leveling osteotomy in dogs with deciency of the cranial cruciate ligament. American journal of veterinary research Am Vet Med Assoc, 67: 529–536.Scott, R., Nankervis, K., Stringer, C., Westcott, K. and Marlin, D., 2010. The eect of water height on stride frequency, stride length and heart rate during water treadmill exercise. Equine Veterinary Journal, 42: 662–664.
21Animal Therapy Magazine | SUMMER 2017Want to work with Animals?Animal Jobs Direct is a recognised and accredited training provider oering aordable courses to enhance career and employment prospects working with animals. Animal Hydrotherapy Diploma CourseThe ABC Awards Level 3 Diploma in animal hydrotherapy has been developed for careers working as an Animal Hydrotherapist or in a Veterinary career utilising hydrotherapy as a treatment. The course includes theory and practical training and completion results in a regulated and recognised qualication.2017 Enrolment Dates: 4th September, 2nd October and 4th DecemberContact us for free careers and training adviceTel: 0208 626 9646www.animal-job.co.ukVisit our website: www.westcoasthydrotherapy.co.ukSince 1988 Westcoast have been the pioneers of hydrotherapy for animal’s!Visit our website: www.westcoasthydrotherapy.co.ukSince 1988 Westcoast have been The lowest Under Water Treadmill with the largest viewing windows in any colourWestC_91mmx135mm.indd 2 01/04/2016 14:55Visit our website: www.westcoasthydrotherapy.co.ukSince 1988 Westcoast have been the pioneers of hydrotherapy for animal’s!Visit our website: www.westcoasthydrotherapy.co.ukSince 1988 Westcoast have been The lowest Under Water Treadmill with the largest viewing windows in any colourWestC_91mmx135mm.indd 2 01/04/2016 14:55Visit our website: www.westcoasthydrotherapy.co.ukSince 1988 Westcoast have been the pioneers of hydrotherapy for animal’s!Visit our website: www.westcoasthydrotherapy.co.ukSince 1988 Westcoast have been The lowest Under Water Treadmill with the largest viewing windows in any colourWestC_91mmx135mm.indd 2 01/04/2016 14:55Finance Available for New & Existing Businesses
22Animal Therapy Magazine | SUMMER 2017Should Dressage Horses Walk on Water?by Dr. Kathryn Nankervis, e Equine erapy Centre, Hartpury College, Glos. GL19 3BEBACK in September, myself and Carolyne Tranquille from the Animal Health Trust were asked to speak at an ‘Aquatrainer’ meeting at the Academy Bartels in Eindhoven, Holland. e Animal Health Trust have conducted a survey on the use of water treadmills around the world, the results of which ought to be released next year. We watched a horse on their ‘Aquatrainer’, and then I presented some of Hartpury’s research, which we have used to inform the way we work all of our horses, including Valegro. Water is more viscous than air, you cannot move as fast through water as you can through air. Both horses and humans move slower through WATER TREADMILLSwater than they do through air – even Mo Farah. He uses a water treadmill when he has ‘niggles’ or when he is clocking up really high mileages. We found a comfortable speed to walk on a water treadmill is half to 60% of that overland, resulting in a heart rate similar to walking overland. Water treadmill exercise is therefore not nearly as hard work as swimming which gets the heart rate up to 170 beats per minute or more. Dressage horses tend to suer from repetitive strain injuries, so variety in their work is sensible if you want to avoid injury. Limiting the number of ‘skill training’ days and alternating with other, complementary types of exercise may decrease injury risk. Your horse doesn’t need to be t to use a water treadmill, but is the movement in a water treadmill good for dressage? As water depth increases, horses take fewer but longer strides and they do this because of drag. Drag means you can’t swing the limb quickly, but as water depth increases, buoyancy is also increased, making it easier to move the limb upwards (towards the water surface), leading to a slow rhythm and a ‘higher’ action. e consequence of this is more exion of the lower limb joints, the fetlocks, knees and hocks.If the hocks are exed more – does this mean the back moves more also? We used back markers and tracking cameras to measure the ranges of movement in various regions of the back in horses walking on our water treadmill in dierent depths. We found that the range of movement of the back increases as water depth increases. In high water the lumbar spine (region behind the saddle) becomes more exed (rounder). So there is lots to like about water treadmill exercise for the dressage horse. We can reproduce some of the gait characteristics we require in a dressage horse, but all with reduced weight bearing which may just reduce the risk of some of repetitive strain injuries when used as part of a cross training programme. We were pleased to learn that our Dutch colleagues use the water treadmill in a very similar way to ourselves, largely ‘low’ and ‘slow’. Carolyne and I very much enjoyed the Dutch hospitality and we’re looking forward to a reciprocal visit from their vets and physios in December.
23Animal Therapy Magazine | SUMMER 2017VET Festival 2017 inspires as it celebrates a record yearVET Festival, in partnership with Centaur Services, returned for its third year in June delivering ‘Veterinary Education for Tomorrow’ to a record number of over 1400 delegates. The two-day outdoor conference held at Loseley Park, Guildford, truly lived up to its name as it provided unparalleled inspiration and education of the highest possible standard. Held in a fun, festival environment, VET Festival featured 36 international speakers that delivered the most relevant CPD applicable to small animal practice today, supported by 39 leading exhibitors. The 2017 conference theme of ‘Wellness’ was truly at the heart of the festival. Delegates enjoyed a collegiate, relaxed and vibrant atmosphere with a Wellness Hub, festival games and healthy food to enjoy between lectures. Founder of The VET Festival, Professor Noel Fitzpatrick personally selected all 36 speakers for their enthusiasm and dedication to veterinary education. The programme featured Orthopaedics, Neurology, Oncology & Soft Tissue, Nursing, Internal Medicine, Endocrinology & Cardiology, Reproduction, Exotics & Behaviour, Feline Medicine & Surgery, Rehabilitation and Wellness & Team Building streams. Professor Noel Fitzpatrick said: “VET Festival has always been so much more than just another CPD event. These two days are all about providing food for the heart, mind and soul of the veterinary professional in a beautiful grassy eld with a genuine sense of community. The atmosphere in Loseley Park this year was buzzing– full of enthusiasm, inspiration, relaxation and fun, all at the same time as delivering world-class knowledge from global leaders with a wealth of experience which can’t be learned from books. I really hope that we have set a new standard for the delivery of education and inspiration, and one thing I know for sure – we had a fabulous time in the process. I can’t wait to do it all again next year!”Centaur Services were the Headline Partner of VET Festival 2017 who supported the conference theme of Wellness, and sponsored the Wellness and Team Building stream.Once the lectures ended on Friday, the music began for delegates to unwind with friends and colleagues at the VETFest™ Party Night. Acts included Radio 2 DJ James Carpenter, VET Festival regulars Hunter & The Bear as well as busking legend Kevin. Delegates spent the evening reconnecting with old friends and making new ones in a real festival atmosphere after a busy day of CPD.Delegate feedback:“Thank you VET Festival for providing balance, relaxation and education.”“Great weekend and so well organised! Denitely be back next ye a r.”“It was an amazing programme, great set up and you couldn’t ask for a better atmosphere… Looking forward to next year already.”“Amazing two days of education, networking and fun in the sun.”To register your interest in attending VET Festival 2018, please contact Caroline on caroline@vetfestival.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”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”
24Animal Therapy Magazine | SUMMER 2017UNIVERSITY of Liverpool Equine Hospital becomes the rst in the UK to oer radiotherapy to its equine patients using the Xoft Axxent Electronic Brachytherapy system provided by Oncotherapy Resources Ltd. The Equine Hospital of the University of Liverpool at Leahurst provides world-leading, evidence-based care to horses presenting with a vast range of signs and conditions and is now leading the way with this innovative technology for the treatment of equine tumours in the UK. Two patients have received radiotherapy treatment for sarcoid tumours thus far with very promising results.Horses, like humans, are at risk of developing skin cancer as they spend too much time in the sun. Skin cancer accounts for nearly 50 percent of all equine cancers. The 3 most frequently encountered supercial tumours in horses are sarcoids, squamous cell carcinomas and melanomas, which up until recently have been treated most frequently with surgical excision, chemotherapy (drugs and creams) and cryotherapy. Brachytherapy, a form of radiotherapy is now being successfully employed to treat equine tumours.Historically brachytherapy has been performed by placing radioactive nucleotides (in most cases iridium wires or seeds) on, or within, the tumour. This method exposes the clinician to radiation during source implantation and exposes the patient’s caretakers to radiation while the source is in place therefore, use of iridium wires is no longer an acceptable treatment option.Electronic brachytherapy is a newer form of brachytherapy that delivers radiation into the tumour body via a miniaturised x-ray source placed into an applicator.It is positioned onto the skin or within a tumour cavity to rapidly deliver high doses of radiation to target tissues with excellent results.The team at the University of Liverpool Equine Hospital have initially started treating selected patients with supercial sarcoid tumours and will soon be investigating the useof specially designed ‘interstitial’ catheters which allow deeper seated tumours to be treated.The Xoft AXXENT System is being used by veterinarians in several hospitals in the USA, including the Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital and the New England Equine Practice in Patterson, USA. A recent published case study by Bradley et al reported positive outcomes of 3 horses with ocular lymphoma, sarcoid and melanoma treated with the Xoft Axxent System. The treatment proved to be very successful with no recurrences at twenty-two months post treatment. It was concluded by the team of authors - Bradley et al. (2015) that this “form of brachytherapy contains inherent advantages over previously used forms of brachytherapy and provides another treatment option for equine tumours that cannot be treated with, or do not respond to, conventional tumour therapies.”“Electronic brachytherapy has been developed as a universal application for convenient and eective treatment options. Thanks to its adaptive hardware it’s not surprising to seethe Xoft system being brought into equine hospitals and being so well received. With promising results from rst use, I look forward to seeing more from this innovative treatment system.” Sarah Williams, Therapy Radiographer.First equine patients in the UK successfully treated with Electronic Brachytherapy at the University of Liverpool Equine Hospital, LeahurstEquine CareAbove: In-theatre treatment set-up with the Xoft Axxent system.Xoft Axxent eBx system
25Animal Therapy Magazine | SUMMER 2017The University of Liverpool Equine Hospital, Leahurst The University of Liverpool Equine Hospital is an RCVS tier 3 teaching hospital with a worldrenownedclinical team and state-of-the-art facilities, based on the University of Liverpool’s Leahurst Campus on the Wirral. We have specialists in all disciplines of equine health care andare one of the few UK equine hospitals to have a dedicated team of highly qualied specialist anaesthetists. https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/equine/Oncotherapy Resources Ltd (ORL) – an Xstrahl Group companyORL are the UK distributor for the Xoft® Axxent System and the providers of managed Intraoperative radiotherapy services aiming to improve access for patients. ORL aims to improve access to innovative radiotherapy solutions such as the Xoft Axxent system for veterinary hospitals throughout the UK.XoftThe Xoft® System is FDA cleared, CE marked and licensed in a growing number of countries including the UK for the treatment of cancer. i, ii Xoft® System is a simple-to-use, portable electronic brachytherapy device, which utilises a disposable miniature x-ray tube (50kV). Minimal radiation shielding is required, avoiding the need to adjust operating theatres and enabling medical personnel to remain with the patient during treatment.References: Bradley W.M., Schlipp D., Khatibsadeh S.M., 2015. Electronic brachytherapy used for the successful treatment of three dierent types of equine tumours. Equine veterinary education.Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Colorado State University. 2013. Tackling Cancer a Layer at a Time. [online] Available at: http://csu-cvmbs.colostate.edu/vth/Pages/tackling-cancer-a-layer-at-a-time.aspx. [Accessed 10 April 2017]. i U.S. Food and Drugs Administration. Tab 5 510 (k) Summary k090914. July 2009. Available at: http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/cdrh_docs/pdf9/k090914.pdf. Last accessed 10 March 2016.ii Medical Devices Safety Service. Certicate of CE Marking for Xoft Inc. 2 December 2011. Available on request.Above: Sarcoid tumour treatment set-up using Xoft surface applicatorsBelow left: Sarcoid tumour on presentationBelow right: Sarcoid tumour post-excision in preparation for treatment.
26Animal Therapy Magazine | SUMMER 2017DIETARY FAT has been given a bad rap as it’s associated with heart disease and strokes in humans. Many people wrongly assume that we should restrict fats in our dog’s diets.Dogs naturally have more good cholesterol (HDL) than bad (LDL), meaning dogs and cats will not develop high blood cholesterol or thickening of the arteries from fat in their diet.In fact we should ensure that our dogs (and cats) in-take a regular dose of essential fatty acids daily. In a species appropriate diet fat is served generously. ink about a freshly culled rabbit with all its fatty skin, which dogs (and cats) are pre-programmed biologically and physiologically to eat. Dogs metabolise fat for energy, protein to re-build muscle, but have no biological need for carbohydrates.For an in-built safety mechanism dogs like to store energy for a rainy day. When a diet is decient in fat but contains carbohydrates, the body stores carbohydrates for energy instead. To get the same energy storage a dog must store twice the amount of carbohydrates, in terms of weight as supplied in fat. Contrary to popular belief the rise in canine obesity has nothing to with fat, and everything to do with the rise in carbohydrate rich modern, processed pet foods. It’s fat, and good for your dog! by Anna Webb Broadcaster, Author, and Trainer has studied natural nutrition and therapies with the College of Integrated Veterinary erapies (CIVT) Canine Care26 Animal Therapy Magazine | SUMMER 2017
27Animal Therapy Magazine | SUMMER 2017Feeding a natural complete raw food like Natural Instinct is an easy way to ensure that your dog is receiving the correct amount of fat to stay healthy and vibrant.Fat provides dogs with a vital extra layer of subcutaneous tissue under their skin. Used as a thermostat, this layer regulates the body temperature and it pads muscles and bones from injury.ere are two types of dietary fats – facilitative and functional. Facilitative fats are saturated fats ie present in meats, cheeses, eggs that will feature as part of your dog’s diet, especially if you feed a raw diet. Functional fats are the ones known as ‘Essential Fatty Acids’. Named essential these dietary fats are vital to add to your pet’s diet as dogs and cats cannot ‘produce’ them naturally. ey comprise omega-6 fats and omega-3 fats. A good balance of both is ‘essential’ for good health, but it’s the omega-3 fats that can be incredibly benecial in treating a wide variety of health conditions. Omega-3 fatty acids include alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). ey are long chain fatty acids, which regulate cellular metabolic functions and gene expression in a manner that reduces inammation.Omega-6 fatty acids particularly arachidonic acid (AA) can promote inammation when consumed in excessive amounts. ese short chain fatty acids are found in abundance in modern processed foods and commercial diets generally contain a signicant imbalance, with both people and dogs consuming far too much omega-6’s, and too little omega-3’s. By ensuring our dogs’ in-take Omega-3’s , the aim is to help balance and regulate the immune system. Omega-3’s also reduce excessive inammation that creates allergy symptoms, joint pain and many other chronic conditions. ere’s evidence provided in many clinical studies that Omega-3’s help turn around cardiovascular disorders, boost cognitive function and overall retinol health.Similarly Omega-3’s help mobility and reduce the symptoms of osteoarthritis and aging both mentally and physically. So how do we add omega-3’s into our dog’s diets? Foods that are rich in EPA and DHA are sh / marine sources including, herring, sardines, mackerel, anchovies; salmon (wild caught). Source products made from small sh like sardines, anchovies. ese smaller species are less likely to be as contaminated than larger sh like Tuna and sharks. e more Omega-3’s your dog consumes from the whole food, the less is the need to supplement. e recommended dose is 100-150mg of EPA and DHA combined per ve kilos of bodyweight daily, (Straus 2013).Unfortunately much of the sh in our modern food chain is contaminated with heavy metals like arsenic, lead and mercury as well as other industrial pollutants like Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB’s). (PCB’s) were banned in 1979 but they’re still found in the oceans and in sh. Worryingly a lawsuit in 2010 found PCB’s in sh oil that had been certied as ‘clear’. Omega-3 acids are inherently very delicate and highly susceptible to oxidative damage. Whenever these fat particles are exposed to oxygen they break down into smaller compounds, like malondialdehyde (MDA), and they create oxygen-containing molecules known as ‘free radicals’. Overtime the damage caused by ‘free-radicals’ is known as ‘oxidative stress’ and it can lead to chronic disease like cancer and inammatory conditions. Here lies a big irony as the reason for adding sh oil initially is to reduce inammation and contribute to our dogs’ overall health. e problem is lot of sh oil is oxidised before it’s purchased. Oxygen leaks through plastic containers and even the gel capsules. Every time a glass bottle is opened and decanted it is exposed to oxygen.A study by Mata et al shows that oxidative damage increases as the intake of Omega-3’s increase. And even eating fresh, non-oxidised DHA and EPA in sh causes an increase in stress markers in rats. continued overleaf27Animal Therapy Magazine | SUMMER 2017
28Animal Therapy Magazine | SUMMER 2017Bearing in mind the delicate nature of omega-3’s, it highlights that any commercial kibbles claiming to be packed with omega-3’s is a misnomer.Highly sensitive to heat damage any omega-3’s added before the ‘screw extrusion’ process to produce kibble will become oxidised, simply in this processing technique. Equally even if the sh oil is applied to the kibble aer processing, the bags of food remain in ‘airy’ warehouses for several months before ending up in your dog’s bowl. is exposure to oxygen will have negated the omega-3 potential. Potentially adding another negative health aspect to commercial dry food diets, underlines the value of a natural species appropriate diet. A solution is to add Vitamin E that’s fat-soluble. It can help with the Omega-3 oxidisation issue. Its ANNA WEBB28 Animal Therapy Magazine | SUMMER 2017role is to neutralise harmful ‘free radicals’. Its anti-oxidant capabilities help to prevent cancer and circulatory diseases. Good whole food sources of Vitamin E are found in cold-pressed seed oils, eggs, green leafy vegetables and meats like turkey leg, and chicken breast. Supplement to ensure 7.5mg alpha-tocopphotol per 1,000 kcal/ME daily (NRC 2006), by sourcing a ‘human-grade’ product available in reputable health stores.An organic raw unpasteurised butter is another good source of fat – containing a healthy 1:1 radio of Omega-3 and Omega-6 content. It contains Butyric acid, which has shown promising results in studies reducing diabetes, inammation, cancer and digestion. Recently coconut oil has become en trend, and is considered a vital source of fatty goodness. Mostly saturated fat, 50% of this is lauric acid, a medium chain saturated fat.Coconut oil also contains caprylic acid that’s known for its ability to feed yeast, and has shown very positive results in studies with diabetes, and other health conditions.Both are backed by very promising research showing cognitive improvements in senior dogs. It’s brain food. Use raw coconut oil and add one teaspoon per ve kilos bodyweight daily. So it’s clear that fats and omega-3’s are essential to a dog’s diet. In writing this I’m researching alternatives to sh oil as a source of Omega-3s. Fish like dogs are not born with a resource of natural omega-3’s. ey get it from Phytoplankton in the ocean.It is possible to farm PhytoPlankton in ltered water, so there’s no worry over heavy metals, PCBs, or oxidisation. Unlike other plant sources of omega-3 fats, which dogs can’t really convert eciently, Phytoplankton molecules are so small , they don’t have to be digested: they simply travel to your dog’s cells and nourish them directly.I’m interested in Phytoplankton as above and beyond being rich in Omega-3’s it also contains a powerful antioxidant called Superoxide dismutase (SOD). Known as the king of anti-oxidants, research has revealed that creatures with the largest amounts of (SOD) live longer.It’s food for thought in an age where our oceans are becoming more and more depleted and polluted. Plus if you have a green conscience perhaps we need to re-think? It’s estimated that shery nets kill 300,000 whales, porpoises and dolphins each year. Shockingly from 1970 – 2012 their numbers have been split in half.
29Animal Therapy Magazine | SUMMER 2017Aa WebbBroadcaster, Author, Trainer, studied natural nutrition and therapies with the Coege of Integrated Veterinary Therapies (CIVT) I’m a fan of Natural Instinct for bringing convenience into fding a raw, I like to say ‘natural’ fding choice. Simply store, thaw and serve! It’s also about the peace of mind that my ‘furkids’ are eating ‘we’ with nutritional dense and completely balanced meals. Raw is BestComplete Organic Meals AvailableWE RAW5 Admiralty Way, Camberley, Surrey GU15 3DT Tel: 01276 608500 • www.naturalinstinct.comProudly supporting British produce Order online for fast delivery to your dr 100% British Meats Human grade ingredients No artificial additives, colours, preservatives, fiers or grains Check out naturalinstinct.com to s what our wonderful customers say about usA fresh, clean, natural superfd alternative to kibble and tied pet fdAs humans we have learnt that gd nutrition promotes gd health, so why should this not apply to our pets? Made in Surrey
30Animal Therapy Magazine | SUMMER 2017ElectrostimulationPHYSIOTHERAPY 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.What is Electro stimulation?Electro stimulation – including neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES), transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and interferential therapy – (IF) are forms of electrotherapy. Electro stimulation is useful for pain relief (TENS, IF) or for neural and muscular stimulation (NMES, IF). e other broad types of electrotherapy are: ultrasound, laser and electromagnetic therapy.ey are useful modalities used by physiotherapists to complement and support treatment.How does electro stimulation work?With electrotherapy you facilitate muscle contraction by stimulating motor neurons or produce pain relief by stimulating sensory neurons. Stimulation of these neurons creates depolarisation of the nerve cells membrane potential which creates an action potential known to us as a nerve impulse. is changes the state of the nerve from unpolarised to polarised, where it is then able to transmit messages to the brain or the periphery (the bodies extremities).e polarised/depolarised state (which produces an action potential) is a natural occurrence in nerves throughout the body. However, when we use electro stimulation, this process is ‘generated articially’. Whether the polarised/depolarised state occurs naturally or is manufactured using Physiotherapist Megan King uses a range of electro therapy modalities to support her physiotherapy practice. Here, we discover how she uses electro stimulation on some of the horses in her care . . .by Megan King and Kelly McCarthy-Maine
31Animal Therapy Magazine | SUMMER 2017Electrotherapy, the response of the nerves about a stimulus remains the same. is is one of the great benets of electrotherapy. A stronger stimulus increases the number of bres being targeted, so you feel or receive a stronger reaction.Action and reactionere is always a refractory period where the nerve cannot carry an action potential, which usually follows aer depolarisation of the nerve (once a message is sent). e bigger the action potential generally the longer the refractory period. Electrotherapy is a non-invasive treatment and has few side eects.Electrical stimulation can be used to excite sensory nerve A-delta bres, which inhibit the transmission of the C bres noxious stimulus producing pain relief via a pain-gate mechanism. Using conventional TENS with high frequency and pulse duration will achieve this pain relief mechanism.A further pain relief method is produced using acupuncture-like TENS set at higher intensity and lower pulse frequency. is produces a release of endogenous opioids producing pain relief at a segmental level. is form of TENS is slightly less tolerated than conventional TENS due to the higher intensity.continued overleafCASE STUDY 1Nine-year-old polo pony hit on the shoulder by a polo ball. Sustained injury to suprascapular nerve causing muscle atrophy to supraspinatus and infraspinatus muscles. Alongside other physiotherapy tools, NMES was used to initially reduce pain alongside anti-inammatories and then to stimulate neural ring and muscle contraction to prevent further disuse. The aim was to build up muscle strength to enable rehabilitation of normal gait pattern. CASE STUDY 3 12-year-old eventer who had a long standing stie injury with associated quadriceps weakness and atrophy. Regular use of electro stimulation helped to build up the strength and ring of the quadriceps muscle to help support the stie joint. The NMES was also used during the competition season for pain relief over longissimus or gluteals when needed.CASE STUDY 2Seven-year-old event horse who jumped their stable door and sustained an injury to the interspinous ligament presenting with back pain, tenderness over dorsal spinous process (DSP) palpation and muscle guarding. After a course of pain relief and anti-inammatories, TENS was used as part of their physiotherapy treatment to reduce pain and spasm of musculature in the region. Due to this horse’s pain and character (usually dicult to treat) they was happier and responded better to the use of TENS as a less-invasive, less hands-on approach. STOCK PHOTO
32Animal Therapy Magazine | SUMMER 2017PHYSIOTHERAPY FOR PERFORMANCEHorse 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 qualied 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. 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 qualied 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, Photos Bob Atkins and Camilla Caplin camillacaplinphotography.com32 Animal Therapy Magazine | SUMMER 2017An important part of my practice“As a mobile physiotherapist, I need to choose the equipment I carry around with me carefully. The Neurotrac Sports XL is a lightweight, compact and aordable therapy tool with a range of customisable settings that allows me to oer my patients muscle stimulation and TENS. Though my equine clients tolerate electro-therapy well, I prefer that horses being treated be held by their owner or handler (rather than tied). Some horses nd the sensation of their muscles ‘moving’ without their input a bit strange and may feel the need to move around a bit. This is much better managed when the horses are held and allowed to take a step or two until they settle into the treatment session”, Megan explains.
33Animal Therapy Magazine | SUMMER 2017AS a rider you have begun the search for a new dressage partner. Ideally you look for a good walk, good canter, nice temperament and good conformation. We all have hopes and dreams of winnings, placings, possible regionals and maybe even nationals!Can an ex racehorse really t the criteria for your asperations ... you now have a horse who has been ridden and kept in an environment which seems completely dierent to what you have or wanted. e horse looks like a dened athlete; fully toned muscle, no excess fat and seems, at times, a little awake, shall we call it? You wanted a dressage horse, who oozes suppleness, cadence, calm, yet powerful, so how and where do we start? ese athletes can run fast in a straight line and the only form of ‘bend’ they know is the bend into the nal straight of a race course……Getting on ...It may sound simple; however, your dened athlete is used to either having their jockey legged up on the move, or being vaulted on, again, on the move. We now want them to stand at a mounting block and wait for us to mount. It takes lots of practice and ultimately patience. I use a mounting block, slightly positioned away from the fence, so the horse can walk around the block. I break then down the ‘getting on process'. Can I jump up and down without them moving? Can I put my foot in the stirrup and stand into it, again without them moving? Do they stay relaxed? It is only once you can answer ‘yes’ to these questions, do we then get on. I always have someone on the oor, oering treats to the horses, to encourage them to stay with us, rather than run on. It also teaches them to ‘go to the person’ on the oor if they get worried, and more importantly, they breathe. If the horse is chewing it stops them holding their breath and possibly over reacting to any situations that may occur.I then ask the horse to move forwards from the voice, with an ever slight turn to the inside. en we ask them to stand again, reward with a treat and move on from there.It may be that your horse doesn't want to walk for too long. I don't force the ex racers to walk. If they want to get moving, then I allow them to and encourage the walk more towards the end of the session, or in between the other two gaits. e scales of training always have to be considered and applied. Rhythm is the most important and fundamental part of the beginning stages, before we even consider asking them to become round, so and submissive. It may appear or be seen as a slightly ‘poked nose’ frame to start with once you're either walking, trotting or cantering around.First and foremost, your horse should be in front of the leg and going for you. Forget about the frame, that will come with time, patience, strength and better balance. It is not uncommon to get on an ex racer and for them to be slightly cold backed, or want to jog for the rst few steps/circles. is doesn't mean that they are bad, it could just be a case of nerves, anxiety, excitement, and general weakness in their back muscles. ALL of my horses whether a baby, just starting retraining, or an advanced horse, have neck straps on. Its a ‘just in case’ measure and means that we as riders don't pull on their mouths for balance if anything goes wrong. For the rst few times riding I make sure that I have someone on the ground at all times, and if possible, we attach the horse to a lunge line. Again, this a ‘just in case’ scenario so everything starts o on the right foot. One of the main dierences, for me, between the warmbloods and the thoroughbreds, is how we begin to ‘work the body’ and get them to soen, relax and supple up across their back, neck etc. e warmblood usually has the ideal conformation for dressage, it is a question of working ‘back to front.’ How can we get he back legs to engage to allow the front to ‘let go’ and relax, which, in turn, begins to form a good contact. With a thoroughbred, we have to start by working front to back, to allow us to then work back to front.You have to be aware that oroughbreds use their necks to balance (hence the poked nose frame). ink of it as their h leg. oroughbreds are built as ‘one unit’ to allow their body to connect in a way to allow them to run as fast and eciently as possible. In our new dressage star, we require li, bend in the rib cage, soness and release of the neck and jaw.Yes we want our athletes to start to ‘stretch’ and seek the contact forward, but what we as re trainers need to consider is the conformation that we have to work with. If we truly get them to stretch down and forward at From RaceHorse to Dressage HorseLouise Robson, a sought after specialist in the eld tells us more about what is involved in the retraining of a racehorse and the success she has enjoyed.THOROUGHBRED DRESSAGEcontinued overleaf
34Animal Therapy Magazine | SUMMER 2017the very beginnning, all we are doing is encouraging them to fall on the forehand and not actually li through their stomachs/rib cage and back, which is where we need to build the most strength.We have to be able to make the jaw supple and relaxed, to the le, right and centre. Having raced, your thoroughbred may favour a side, and end up holding/resisting to one side more predominently. is is very natural, you have to be able to assess the horses conformation and muscular structure, to see what is weak, what is stronger, needs developing/changing and how the disparencies in muscular structure can alter/aect gait movement. A very high percentage of ex racers have strong le hand sides of the their body and weak right hind legs. is is due to the proportion of racecourses in the UK being le handed tracks, which results in a weaker right hind as this is the trail leg.Once ‘control’ of the jaw has been gained, we then have to be able to make the thoroughbreds ‘h leg’ bend, ex and become less of a balancing structure. So how do we achieve this? We turn them!In the early stages we have to almost take more bend/lower the neck more than may be desirable. is is to allow the complete release of the neck, and to allow the back to begin to work. What we have to be very careful of, as retrainers, is that when the neck releases and the horses back begins to be engaged, we are asking them to li their rib cage, engage core muscles and make their back stronger. Its the human equivalent to a sit up, and we all know how much they begin to burn aer some time. Lots of breaks and doing little and oen, and building upon moments, allow for strength to be built without too much pressure being applied. Be aware, that your thoroughbred may nd it easier to bend one way more than the other, or release their neck quicker. We have to be very forgiving at this stage of training as it is polar opposite to what they have previously known, and in THOROUGHBRED DRESSAGE2: Once your thoroughbred is travelling happily in front of the leg, they will start to draw the contact forward. One hand is always kept on the neck strap, so you at all times, go with the horse, rather than against them. Also, note the mouth of the horse. We encourage our horses to take treats from the rider and person on the oor to promote chewing and noon holding of breath as they go round. It stops tense jaws and ultimately tense necks occurring. terms of ‘sit up strength’, are very very weak.Naturally, thoroughbreds are very good at slotting their neck back into their shoulders and inverting themselves. ey are very good at holding the muscle that attaches the wither to the neck and ‘assuming the position’ rather than releasing and allowing the back to come up and through and ultimately ‘swing’. So to make sure that we have, or are encouraging proper release and gaining connection, I ride a series of gures of eight, serpentines, tear drops, and 20, into 15, into 12 metre circles then leg yield back out. When you turn your thoroughbred onto a smaller circle, you will feel them stien, and almost try to run through what you're asking of them. Back o the tempo and allow them to work out where their feet have to go. As you lower the tempo they hopefully lower their neck. Once they have release their neck, following the line of the rein, then leg yield back out to;1 Take the pressure o both physically and mentally2 Allow your horse to see this as a release from tension3 Allow your horse to accept the leg whilst beginning to step under from behind with a so neck.At the beginning stages of re training, encouraging a soer neck may position the poll lower than you would require. Over time, as the back muscles become stronger, the poll can then become the highest point, without any tension in the neck or back. I do not ride the canter in a ‘stretch’ when we rst start working them. is is because the thoroughbreds conformation already encourages a low wither and high croup action, which we, as dressage riders, do not want to encourage as this prevents the back being so and the horse truly working through the body. To encourage the soeness/throughness to come, we do the same as in the trot but on a smaller scale.First o, I do not work the canter with me sitting on their backs. As long as they are safe, I stay half seat and work the canter with me out of the saddle. In the beginning stages our ex racers are not strong enough through their backs to take us sitting, which leads to tension and resistance to the body and leg. If you can work them in the half seat this encourages the back to stay up, I would do this until you feel that they are becoming stronger and In the beginning: As you can see the lunge line is there as a precaution. We just get the thoroughbreds used to having a jockey on their backs with their legs in a slightly longer and lower position and less weight carried ‘above them’ and more on their backs. We don't ask for a frame/ contact and just let the horse nd their way. I would call this frame the ‘poked nose’ frame IN the beginning
35Animal Therapy Magazine | SUMMER 2017Phillip A- Year one. Phillips natural head carriage. You can see the slight upside down nature of his neck and how the wither naturally wants to sink down to the oor Phillip B- In the early stages, when a thoroughbred becomes tense and slightly choppy in their gait, we have to lower the neck more than is slightly desirable. This stops the neck coming back at us and slotting into their shoulders slight, which would result in a dropped back and tense bodyPhillip D- Having done a slight leg yield movement, you can see how, although the police still not at its highest point, Phillip is more to the vertical with a softer neck than photo B. In year one, it may not be physically possible for your exracer to have a soft neck, fully out to the vertical with the poll being the highest part due to weak back muscles and conformation not naturally allowing the handles to step through and support.Phillip E- In the canter, I do not ride so long in the frame as it encourages a downhill movement, which can result in a four beat canter. Lots of small leg yield away form the inside leg to encourage ned, softness and an uphill nature.Phillip G- Two years down the line, we can now see the left of the rib cage, the stepping through of the right hind (weaker hind) and the ‘bend’ coming from the poll area, with a soft neckPhillip F- Two years on: Phillip now trots with an engaged, and stepping through hindleg, poll at the highest point, soft neck, with back lifting and swinging through PRINCES TRUST: By Invincible Spirit out of Lost in Wonder (Galileo)8 runs: 3 wins, 1 third Trained by William Haggas, Bred and owned by HM The QueenStable Name: PhillipAge: 7 Years oldLevel: NoviceTime at thoroughbred Dressage: 2 yearsHighlights: Paraded in HM The Queens 90th birthday celebrations in 2016. Phillip has taken a while in his retraining due to the injury he sustained whilst in racing. His nature/brain is quite excitable, so it has taken a long time for him to mentally and physically build up. in 2017 he has started competing aliated BD Novice and is being placed with mid to high 60’s tests.Phillip C- Once relaxed, you can use a slight leg yield away from your inside leg to keep your thoroughbred still accepting the leg, encouraging being around the inside leg, but most importantly, encouraging engagement and length of neck from picture Bsoer in their necks and backs, which will then allow you to sit comfortably and your thoroughbred to stay relaxed and happy. So not to daunt our ex racehorse in re training, the smaller circle is only metre or two in, otherwise if we make the circle too small, we will lose balance, encourage four beat canter and also run the risk of the thoroughbred brain becoming panicked. e small leg yield away from the inside leg, whilst encouraging the idea of dropping their nostrils over their inside knee allows for the bend to come through the whole body.
36Animal Therapy Magazine | SUMMER 2017AS the owner of a Golden Retriever with a cruciate ligament injury I know only too well how quickly an unsupervised dog can cause further damage with a sudden twist or explosion of movement. But no owner can watch their convalescing pet 24/7 and to enjoy a speedy recovery back to full health they must be well managed to avoid such set-backs. ankfully, crate connement can help prevent further injury.Advantages of crate trainingAside from post-operative or injury recovery management, crates are excellent for supporting behaviour modication training and for day-to-day care. Family and friends can inadvertently reward unwanted behaviour, such as begging for tit-bits from the table or jumping up to greet people, which can be avoided if a dog is crated at these times. Under the Dangerous Dogs Act owners can be prosecuted if their dogs are unruly in their own homes and for everyone’s peace of mind if your visitor doesn’t love ‘man’s best friend’, please crate your dog. Crates are handy when visiting friends, or when in hotels with restrictions such as no dogs allowed on the bed or in the dining area. Children can learn to respect a dog’s space by leaving him alone when he is settled in a crate. Crates can help with housetraining too, as puppies will not usually soil their bed, and are ideal for safe car travel and for managing multi-dog households. Most importantly, crates provide a ‘go to’ place of safety in the home that a dog can call his own.Practical considerationsTurning to practical considerations, size and placement of a crate needs careful thought. When buying a crate, an adult dog should have room to comfortably stand up, turn around and have enough space to lie in a lateral recumbency, with access to water and a comfortable bed. Site the crate in a quiet spot in the home with three sides covered to reduce light streaming in and to minimise visual stimulation. A dog who is constantly watchful cannot easily rest, and this is especially true of sight hounds and border collies who xate on movement. e correct sized crate situated in the right place supports good quality sleep, which is essential for normal body functioning. e amount of sleep needed varies considerably between species: the average dog spends nearly ten hours in quiet non-REM sleep and around three hours in active REM sleep in any one day while puppies sleep for up to sixteen hours. Dogs recuperating from illness and elderly dogs require more, and some drugs such as benzodiazepines will aect sleep patterns. If the room is too well lit at night this may disturb bedtime as there is less ecient production of melatonin, an important hormone that helps maintain circadian rhythm, and one cause is light pollution from switches on electric appliances.How to train consideratelyCrate training requires a structured plan, preferably from puppyhood, taught with positive reinforcement. A reinforcer is anything that maintains or strengthens a behaviour, such as food, toys or play. When rst introducing a crate, it is vital that a dog feels emotionally comfortable in his crate to enable him to settle. Dogs are sentient beings and through emotional classical conditioning anything that has been suciently paired with strong feelings, both positive and negative, has potential emotional consequences. Owners should open the crate door so the puppy investigates on his own. Choice is a powerful reinforcer, and will encourage further exploration. Place a plug-in diuser by the crate such as Pet Remedy, which enhances Coping with connement- a guide to crate trainingGolden Retriever Phoebe took three months to crate-train when she was 9 months old, and now enjoys her crate restCRATE TRAININGby Kate Mallatratt A Dip CBM, ICB, PPG, Canine Behaviourist
37Animal Therapy Magazine | SUMMER 2017the production of the calming neurotransmitter GABA, or Adaptil, which mimics comforting species-specic pheromones. According to trainer Jo-Rosie Haenden from e School of Canine Science, crates should be lled with food and toys and the door closed to prevent access, to ignite a puppy’s curiosity. With an eagerness to explore, the puppy will ‘ask’ to go in and the door into his goodie-lled den can be opened. Before increasing the training criteria, evaluate the puppy’s level of comfort with some key questions. Does he remain settled in the crate if you open the door? Does he settle if you close the door, or ask to come out? If so, let him out and then add more ‘yummies’ to the crate, close the door and wait until he asks to go back in. When he begins to settle inside his crate with the door closed, start to leave him alone for a few moments, potter around the room and then return, gradually building up the time he spends alone. If a puppy is always le with exciting things to do, this sets him up for future successful home-alone training. Mealtimes are fabulous training opportunities and stued KongsTM or other interactive feeders may be placed inside the crate. For dogs who remove KongsTM, thread a knotted rope through one end and tie the KongTM to the crate bars. ese interactive feeders increase the time a dog spends eating and provide puzzle solving opportunities, which are tiring and encourage post-prandial relaxation. Treats can be folded into towels, hidden in eece rugs such as Snuemats®, or tucked inside fabric training mats like PickPockets, and placed inside a crate too. Foraging is an innate behaviour that engages the brain’s seeking circuit - about one eighth of the brain is dedicated to olfaction and a dog’s sense of smell is at least 10,000 better than ours. Nose work is therapeutic, and a powerful management tool. Cultural dierencesNot everyone is in favour of crate connement, however, with some owners and animal welfare groups having concerns on compassionate grounds. In Finland and Sweden, crates must be a minimum size and crating a dog for non-essential reasons is illegal and considered animal abuse. On the other hand, in the USA crating for hours at a time when owners are at work is generally more accepted, according to New York canine behaviourist Tori Ganino of Calling All Dogs. Having advised clients on serious behaviour issues arising from long periods of connement, she expresses strong opposition to this practice adding that owners should nd better alternatives such as a good doggy day care or dog walker. In the UK crating for long periods is frowned upon, although no law exists to govern this. Under normal circumstances, around two hours is the maximum time a dog or puppy should be conned without good medical reason, with puppy pens or baby gates being better for longer periods. The fallout of poor trainingA sudden need to conne a dog due to injury can be fraught with ideal for dogs on restricted exerciseexcellent for crate trainingcalming for anxious dogsgreat distraction from unwanted behaviourfabulous for puppy developmentstimulating for dogs with sensory impairmentperfect mental stimulation for golden oldies useful for extending reward timesrecommended by canine professionals fully washable and can be tumble driedwww.pickpocketforagers.comwww.pickpocketforagers.comWhy does my dog need aPick Pocket?EMAIL kate@PickPocketforagers.comTEL07875 951632A MUST HAVE! The PickPocket is a superb interactive feeder providing mental stimulation, especially important for dogs on restricted exercise for medical reasons. Highly recommended!Brigie Barton, chair & education oicerInternational Canine Behaviourists | www.icb.globalMy 9 month old border collie Thessie loves her PickPocket. It occupies and mentally stimulates her, and is helping to improve her nosework skills ready for competition. As a behaviourist I strongly recommend this product to all dog owners.David Svennelid, canine behaviourist & trainer Swedish Dog Academy | www.swedishdogacademy.comMy dogs love the PickPocket! They are perfect to keep noses busy, and as a veterinary nurse I can see their value for dogs on crate rest, restricted exercise or recovering from ortho-paedic surgery. With a PickPocket your dog can ‘exercise’ with his nose!NIKKI CADDICK, Registered Veterinary NurseTrained to Pawfection | www.trainedtopawfection.co.ukThe puppies in my class LOVED exploring the PickPocket – one had his evening meal in it! In my grooming salon, the PickPocket made Angel’s first puppy visit very enjoyable, and she happily foraged in the pockets while being combed.Karen Backhouse, APDT trainer & groomerGuiding Paws Training | www.guidingpaws.co.ukGift setsAre you looking for that extra special gift for your ‘bestie’? Look no further than our pawsome gift set - PickPocket and matching bandana.ideal for dogs on restricted exerciseexcellent for crate trainingcalming for anxious dogsgreat distraction from unwanted behaviourfabulous for puppy developmentstimulating for dogs with sensory impairmentperfect mental stimulation for golden oldies useful for extending reward timesrecommended by canine professionals fully washable and can be tumble driedwww.pickpocketforagers.comwww.pickpocketforagers.comWhy does my dog need aPick Pocket?EMAIL kate@PickPocketforagers.comTEL07875 951632A MUST HAVE! The PickPocket is a superb interactive feeder providing mental stimulation, especially important for dogs on restricted exercise for medical reasons. Highly recommended!Brigie Barton, chair & education oicerInternational Canine Behaviourists | www.icb.globalMy 9 month old border collie Thessie loves her PickPocket. It occupies and mentally stimulates her, and is helping to improve her nosework skills ready for competition. As a behaviourist I strongly recommend this product to all dog owners.David Svennelid, canine behaviourist & trainer Swedish Dog Academy | www.swedishdogacademy.comMy dogs love the PickPocket! They are perfect to keep noses busy, and as a veterinary nurse I can see their value for dogs on crate rest, restricted exercise or recovering from ortho-paedic surgery. With a PickPocket your dog can ‘exercise’ with his nose!NIKKI CADDICK, Registered Veterinary NurseTrained to Pawfection | www.trainedtopawfection.co.ukThe puppies in my class LOVED exploring the PickPocket – one had his evening meal in it! In my grooming salon, the PickPocket made Angel’s first puppy visit very enjoyable, and she happily foraged in the pockets while being combed.Karen Backhouse, APDT trainer & groomerGuiding Paws Training | www.guidingpaws.co.ukGift setsAre you looking for that extra special gift for your ‘bestie’? Look no further than our pawsome gift set - PickPocket and matching bandana. Tel: 07875 951632 kate@PickPocketforagers.com www.PickPocketforagers.com Fabric food foragers for your best friendFind us on FBSee our latest fabrics, watch videos of happy customers and read our training tipscontinued overleaf
38Animal Therapy Magazine | SUMMER 2017diculties if crate training has not been taught positively in the lead up to illness. Removed from his siblings and isolated in a new environment, an anxious and bewildered puppy is frequently shut in a crate in the kitchen on the rst night. Not only is this his rst introduction to being alone, but also to being conned. Over subsequent days the negative feelings of being crated can stack if the puppy is only shut in at night, conned when owners go out in the day, put away for ‘time outs’ when displaying unwanted behaviour such as chewing, when over-exuberant or when ‘naughty’. With nothing to do in the crate, it quickly becomes a place of incarceration. Crates are not places to conne dogs that suer from separation anxiety or CRATE TRAININGCASE STUDYAs a young puppy Molly, a delightful and inquisitive Portuguese Water Dog, refused to go in her crate and would lean in on her tiptoes to reach for her dinner. One explanation was that the metal base rattled when she walked on it, frightening her. Molly’s owner, Alison Eastland, called me for help when Molly was 14 weeks old.Firstly, to minimise noise, a towel was placed under metal base to reduce any rattle. Three sides of the crate were covered with a blanket, and familiar toys were placed in there. With the door left open, Molly could explore.Molly’s feeding times were enriched with stued KongsTM, and throughout the day foraging skills were built. Molly initially enjoyed these activities outside her crate, to avoid any negative association with crate connement. When interactive feeders were placed inside her crate, Molly happily entered and the time she spent there was gradually increased. Her bed was also sprayed with Pet Remedy.Molly now loves her ‘bedroom’, running to her crate in anticipation of her dinner, happily playing and choosing to sleep in there. Meanwhile, Alison continues to build solid foundations for the future by positively reinforcing her crate time to ensure that Molly continues to enjoy it.Puppy Molly enjoying her cratewho are destructive when le alone, as the root causes need addressing. A puppy should not be le in a crate to bark or cry, either. ese behaviours, which are oen reinforced with attention, verbal reprimands or being let out, are signs the training has progressed too quickly. Good crate training should leave a dog happy to spend time there and indeed my own English Springer Spaniel pulls his crate door open and takes himself o for a snooze.Returning to my Golden Retriever’s rehab, she is now on her way to full recovery with careful management and increased use of her crate. Having been crate trained as a puppy, she is perfectly content being conned with her teddy bear friends, licking out stued KongsTM at mealtimes, foraging in a Pickpocket or gnawing on raw marrow bone and the use of her crate has, thankfully, made her convalescence easier and minimised the risk of further setbacks.REFERENCES:1. Sneider, S M (2012). The Science of Consequences: How they aect genes, change the brain and impact our world. Prometheus Books.2. Mercola, J (2010). Want a good night’s sleep? The never do these things before bed. Available from http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/10/02/secrets-to-a-good-night-sleep.aspx 3. Beaver, B V DVM (1999). Canine Behaviour: A Guide for Veterinarians. WB Saunders Company.4. Landsberg, G et al (2003 second edition). Handbook of Behaviour Problems of the Dog and Cat. Elsevier.5. Haenden, J R (2015). Training your puppy to love his crate. Available from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPheiar_6k0Kate Mallatratt is a founder member of International Canine Behaviourists and member of Pet Professional Guild for force-free training. She is author of Home Alone – and Happy! and has worked in television as assistant animal trainer for Plimsoll Productions. Kate holds an Advanced Diploma in Canine Behaviour Management and her area of special interest is errorless learning, a concept she incorporates into problem prevention, behaviour modication and enriching the home environment for the family dog. Kate has owned and trained dogs for many years and runs her behaviour and training business, Contemplating Canines, in East Devon, UK.English Springer Spaniel Oscar lets himself into his crate for a nap
39Animal Therapy Magazine | SUMMER 2017Some of the horses that Sophie uses these techniques on have become regulars. One of her favourites is Malibu, an ex-riding school horse that the sanctuary took in when she developed narcolepsy and was no longer able to be used in the riding school. Sophie said: “She is an absolute pleasure to treat and loves her treatments so much so she oen wants to go to sleep. However, being narcoleptic means that when she falls asleep she is prone to falling over. Trying to keep her awake during her treatment is sometimes tricky and oen means giving her short breaks and leading her around regularly throughout the treatment to keep her aw a k e .”Elderly goat, Willow also very much enjoys her McTimoney visits from Sophie, who continued: “Willow will stand there without being held to have her treatment she enjoys it so much, however she does not like massage and will walk o if you try to give her one. She gets very upset if the other goats interrupt her treatment. People are oen surprised that goats enjoy McTimoney treatments so much!”From her work at the sanctuary Sophie has learned a lot about the common problems that can be found in ageing animals, she said: “Oen the horses with arthritic changes in their front limbs will become very tense through their shoulders with misalignments displayed McTIMONEYRescue animals benet from McTimoney treatmentHORSES, GOATS AND CATS taken in by the Remus Memorial Horse Sanctuary in Essex are benetting from regular check-ups from McTimoney Animal Practitioner, Sophie Plummer-Jones. Many of the animals at the sanctuary have physical problems whether due to age or circumstance and the McTimoney treatments are playing a vital role in their rehabilitation. e Remus Memorial Horse Sanctuary is a non-prot organisation and runs solely on public donation. All 200 or so animals at the sanctuary have been rescued, they are mainly horses, but donkeys, goats, sheep, cows and plenty of cats are also in residence there.Whilst undertaking her MSc in Animal Manipulation at the McTimoney College of Chiropractic in Abingdon, Sophie worked part-time at the sanctuary. Upon becoming fully qualied, the sanctuary were very enthusiastic for Sophie to come and use her McTimoney skills on some of the animals to help improve their quality of life. Sophie said: “Many of the animals I treat at the sanctuary are quite elderly. e McTimoney treatments help keep them comfortable, particularly those that suer with arthritis. I also spend time treating some of the younger horses that require more attention as part as their rehabilitation. In addition to this, animals that have just arrived at the sanctuary are treated with McTimoney as part of their new start in life.” McTimoney treatments take a very holistic approach with the focus on rebalancing the animal’s skeletal frame to aid overall wellbeing and mobility. e McTimoney treatment uses quick light adjustments to rebalance and achieve skeletal symmetry again. mostly in the cervical and thoracic region. Horses with hind limb arthritic changes display tension in the lumbar region and also pelvic misalignments.”Sophie has also found that horses that have been prone to laminitis can be very tense through their base of neck and shoulders and late cervicals and early thoracic. Young pony, Sparky is an example of this. Sophie said: “Unfortunately Sparky developed laminitis due his stable management before living at the sanctuary which means he has to have rubber heel lis bandaged onto his feet as his feet are too sensitive for shoes. Due to the heel lis he is prone to having tense shoulders so thoroughly enjoys his McTimoney treatment to release this tension.”Sophie is delighted that she can use her McTimoney skills to help improve the lives of the animals at Remus. She added: “It is very rewarding to see these animals that haven’t had the best start to life – or have faced challenging times really benet from the all-round care that the sanctuary provides. Nothing is too much trouble for the dedicated sta here and I nd it very rewarding that I can use the skills I have learned to help.”All members of the McTimoney Animal Association are qualied aer training with the premier institution of its kind, the McTimoney College of Chiropractic in Abingdon, having studied up to three years at postgraduate level attaining an MSc or Post Graduate Diploma in Animal Manipulation.McTimoney Animal Practitioners are registered with the McTimoney Animal Association. For more information on your local practitioner go to www.mctimoney-animal.org.uk. 39Animal Therapy Magazine | SUMMER 2017
40Animal Therapy Magazine | SUMMER 2017THE work of the para professional is crucial in maintaining the ongoing health of the horse, ensuring that all systems are working correctly and in balance. While physiotherapists, osteopaths and chiropractors are typically focused on muscular/skeletal issues, the digestive health of the horse is worth their consideration, given the potential impact of the latter on the former. Gastrointestinal Tract health problems aren’t always easy to spotIt is an unfortunate dilemma that the lifestyle required for performance can be a signicant departure from how the horse has evolved to live. e oen-unavoidable management routines, dietary needs and stress of training and competition leaves the horse at a signicant risk of gastrointestinal disease. Disturbances to the health of the gastrointestinal tract can elicit a range of symptoms and signs. Some are easily recognised, such as weight loss, diarrhoea, and poor condition, but others may masquerade as something very dierent. Increasingly, signs such as hind limb lameness, changes in gait quality and back pain are being identied as originating from gastrointestinal discomfort. ese particular issues may lead the horse owners to consulting the paraprofessional. As a result, physiotherapists, osteopaths and chiropractors should include an assessment of a horse’s GI health as part of their overall evaluation.e prociency at which chiropractors, osteopaths and physiotherapists can investigate, evaluate and arrive at a carefully considered diagnosis is in no doubt, but when it comes to the gastrointestinal tract, making a dierential diagnosis can be more dicult. Ruling in or out a gastrointestinal tract issue can be a vital step in establishing what is wrong with the horse, and how best to formulate an eective recovery plan. However, even the very best para professional can be limited in his or her licensed capacity to investigate an internal problem, which is where veterinary advice and involvement may become necessary. Screening for Gastrointestinal Tract Conditionsby Emma Hardy, PhD, R. Anim. Technol (Cert)Equine Carecontinued overleaf
41Animal Therapy Magazine | SUMMER 2017Even if a horse seems fine, his may be under duress.DIGESTIVE SYSTEMBecause you keep your clients’ horses in top shape, they’re training and performing well. But what if the horses had more to give? What if the horse’s digestive health was keeping him from reaching his true potential? After all, the digestive system is the key to the horse’s overall health, temperament, and ability to train and perform.That’s why you should have every horse tested regularly with the SUCCEED Equine Fecal Blood Test (FBT). The SUCCEED FBT allows the vet to assess whether a horse has an underlying GI tract condition in minutes, right on the yard.When you know what’s going on beneath the surface, you can take the appropriate action on the outside. That means healthy horses...and happier clients.Have the horse tested rst with the SUCCEED® Equine Fecal Blood Test™.www.succeedfbt.co.ukThe SUCCEED Equine Fecal Blood Test is a quality product from Freedom Health LLC.SUCCEED® is a registered trademark, and Equine Fecal Blood Test™ is a trademark of Freedom Health LLC. © 2017. All Rights Reserved. U.S. Patent Nos. 7,629,180 and 8,168,446. Canadian Patent No. 2,601,368.Photos: Getty Images, Tammi Nowack Photography.
42Animal Therapy Magazine | SUMMER 2017Current methods of detection are “not bad, but not good” It has been well established that gastric ulcers are nearly ubiquitous in horses used for competition. Digestive disorders beyond the stomach also bear signicant consideration for the horse and demand attention from owners and professionals alike. Indeed, ongoing research by Professor Derek Knottenbelt at Glasgow vet school shows that large colon pathology is known to be more signicant and widespread than many believe (Knottenbelt, 2015). Much is still yet to be learnt, but Knottenbelt emphasises that for eective resolution, accurate and reliable methods of initial detection are key. “e sooner we can detect something, the earlier we can focus treatment and limit the possibility of signicant long-term eects,” Knottenbelt says. He comments that the current methods of identifying intestinal pathology are generally “not bad, but not good” and notes that some limitations exist with a lack of sensitivity, non-specicity, subjectivity of images and data, and diculty in the physical reach and access to areas of interest without involving surgical procedures. Clearly, developing non-invasive methods for denitive early diagnosis is crucial in taking the necessary proactive steps to correct it and achieve full recovery. Initial Gastrointestinal Tract screening using the SUCCEED® Equine Fecal Blood Test™Should a gastrointestinal tract condition be suspected, a quick and easy way to investigate this further is by screening the horse with the SUCCEED® Equine Fecal Blood Test™ (FBT). e FBT is a lateral ow assay which detects albumin and haemoglobin within a fresh faecal sample. gastrointestinal tract conditions, being aordable, completely non-invasive and returning results within 15 minutes, stable-side. The FBT can help narrow down options for further testing and therapye initial information gained about the gastrointestinal tract from using the FBT equips the vet to consider or negate further diagnostic techniques or medication options. For example, a positive result for gastric bleeding may warrant subsequent gastroscopy to visualise and score gastric ulceration, whilst a positive result for inammation beyond the stomach may rule out this procedure and initiate a hindgut-directed drug therapy or a gastrointestinal nutritive supplement course. e test can also be carried out over the duration of recovery to assess treatment ecacy, as well as to simply monitor ongoing gastrointestinal tract health as part of a wellness program. e FBT gives all those involved in the health and welfare of the horse a window into the gastrointestinal tract. By knowing what is going on inside the horse, perhaps even before symptoms become overtly apparent additional diagnostics, treatment strategies and preventative measures can be rapidly implemented, securing a fast and long-term resolution. Knottenbelt DC, Kerbyson N, Parkin TDH (2015) The prevalence of large intestinal mucosal pathology in horses being euthanized for non-gastrointestinal reasons. In: Proceedings of the 2015 ACVIM Forum. American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine Forum, Indianapolis, Indiana.e blood components serve as markers of inammation and bleeding which can facilitate diagnosis of many gastrointestinal tract disorders, from suspected ulceration, colitis, IBD, protein losing enteropathy, or colic, to investigating the causes of more generalised loss of weight/condition/performance and changes in temperament. Furthermore, due to the nature of degradation of albumin within the tract, the FBT can help to locate the point of source, being gastric or at a point thereaer. Despite its simplicity of use, the FBT is available through veterinary practices only due to the range of gastrointestinal tract disorders that may be reected in the results.. Evaluation of these test results, combined with other diagnostic tests and the vet’s expertise, facilitates a dierential diagnosis, which is vital in devising a targeted and eective plan for resolution. e FBT is the only test which enables the vet to perform an initial screening for SUCCEED
43Animal Therapy Magazine | SUMMER 2017Learn more at www.backontrack.comVisit our website to download brochure, or email Georgia at uk@backontrack.com®Back on Track’s own unique Welltex fabric works by reflecting the body’s infrared heat due to the infused ceramic particles in the textile, helping to support circulation and ease muscle tension. As used by Lauren Langman, Devon Dogs agility team. ATM-July_190x134_BOT17 July 2017 12:57:57Our members are highly skilled in providing physiotherapy care for animals. We work as part of the multi-disciplinary team which is involved with the care and welfare of animals. Members are graduates of university validated BSc and PgD/MSc courses that are accredited and supported by the NAVP.NAVP members must full certain requirements including CPD, they must carry Professional Liability Insurance and practice in line with the Associations regulations and standards of practice. FOR FURTHER DETAILS CONTACT: EMAIL info@navp.co.uk W EBSITE www.navp.co.ukPromoting Excellence in Veterinary Physiotherapy
44Animal Therapy Magazine | SUMMER 2017IntroductionAnimals can mask pain or discomfort by altering their posture and gait. From the perspective of a rehabilitation and strengthening team this is a critical point. If not treated in a timely manner, issues such as this can lead to compensatory injury factors.For example, inamed so tissues can sometimes impinge on nerves and blood vessels. Additionally, shortened muscles may pull bones out of alignment, causing joint imbalances. ese factors can cause additional pain and muscle atrophy. If le unchecked overtime further instabilities and abnormal wear on joint surfaces will occur with a potential for the premature development of osteoarthritis.An area oen identied for secondary (compensatory injuries) are the muscles of the canine back. Hourdebaigt (1998) refers to these as ‘lines of compensation’. In a performance dog this may be related to ‘o-loading’ of a limb, usually identied from a visual / GLS based gait analysis.Working alongside the veterinary, the rehabilitation team, which may consist of the physiotherapy, MCST, Hydrotherapist and K9Fitness practioner, (see Table 1) will oen treat compensatory1 factors of the back to assist in skeletal realignment, relief of muscular tension and strengthening the of the core. In many cases they may refer the patient back to their veterinary for guidance on specic issues, particularly if the dog is not responding to treatment.e canine vertebrae column has 5 distinct regions (see Table 2) which is curved in a single arc to aid locomotion. Stress points along the canine spine include the cervical, thoracic-lumbar junction (containing the longissimus dorsi muscle), lumbar spine and sacro-iliac areas. Professional spinal assessments may involve advanced diagnostic techniques such as X-ray, MRI or CAT scan which will aid potential conservative treatment protocols.Aer referral by a veterinary professional the physiotherapist evaluation would include a Gait analysis, on the Gait4Dog treadmill system and palpation of the muscles along the spinal column.Additionally, an evaluation by a MCST (oen seeing patients as referrals from veterinary practice or other physical therapist’s due to skeletal misalignments) will also include a visual and palpatory examination, in particular (the MCST) will be looking for skeletal misalignments and reactive muscle areas.e importance of these combined approaches is that skeletal and muscular systems work in conjunction with each other, so to treat one you must treat the other. Tight muscles can cause skeletal misalignments and vice versa. erefore, it is very important to work alongside other practioners to help achieve restoration of full tness in the patient. is multi-evaluative approach is carried out to both assess both primary and any possible compensatory / related issues.Compensatory Muscular Issues of the Canine BackRehabilitation and StrengtheningCanine Careby Bobbie Lyons CCFT, FP-MTI, Cert CF, Alan Gardner PgD A. Phys, MDip, DipMgmt, IAAT, ASSVAP and Niki Warren RVN CertVNECC MCAM“A cross function team brings a wealth of skills including ability to work with both soft tissue and joints, and prescribe an individualized program to restore optimum function.”“Animals have the ability to mask pain or discomfort by altering their posture and gait, potentially leading to secondary compensatory issues” TABLE 2VERTEBRAE TYPE NUMBER IN DOGCERVICAL 7THORACIC 13LUMBAR 7SACRAL 3COCCYGEAL 18 23
45Animal Therapy Magazine | SUMMER 2017 Uses physical approaches to promote, maintain and restore physical, psychological and social well-being. The goals of the physiotherapist are the restoration of the functional movement. Typically, a physiotherapist would assess spinal muscles by checking for (i) adhesions using skin rolling techniques (ii) muscle tension by reviewing areas of tension, discomfort and potential trigger points.McTimoney-Corley skeletal therapy treats the whole body, encompassing that moto even though there may be a specic problem located in only one area. Skeletal therapists will evaluate the patient initially with a visual exam and then a palpatory exam, looking for skeletal misalignments and reactive muscle areas. The aim of the session is to help restore the body back to normality.Training Coach A K9Fitness training coach develops personalized tness programs that are designed to improve a dog’s level of body awareness, strength and overall performance A K9Fitness training coach develops personalized tness programs that are designed to improve a dog’s level of body awareness, strength and overall performance. Conversations with the rehabilitation specialist or veterinarian to fully understand an injury and the rehabilitative process needs to occur prior to seeing a dog with a previous spinal injury. A signed veterinary release letter must accompany the client at the time of appointment. Specic strength, cardio, exibility and balance tests, are completed prior to designing a strength training plan to make sure that the exercises are appropriate for the dog’s level of tness.Physiotherapy MCST(McTimoney-Corley Skeletal Therapist)K9FitnessTABLE 1continued overleafe canine skeletonCommon Issues that Can Contribute to an Injury of the spinal musclesThere are many contributing factors that could cause injury to the spine and core muscle group. The core muscle group consist of those muscle along the “trunk and spine” as well as the hip exors and abdominal muscles. Some general causes of injury• Improper jumping - in performance sports as well as on/o the bed or in/out of a car• Transverse (twisting) movement through the spine that is unsupported with strength• Repetitive activities without proper strength to support the movements• Movements that are repetitive in one direction only – such as yball dogs• Blunt force injury to the spine - dogs colliding in play• Limb injuries or joint injury that causes secondary compensatory issues in the spine• Surgery recovery – compensatory movement• Post-surgery (e.g. carpal arthrodesis) – compensatory movements• Congenital limb deformitiesRisk factors of injury• Inactive dogs• Poor core strength and conditioning• Dogs that do not participate in cross training activities• Improper use of body – compensatory muscle activation• Long backed dogs – any breed. This applied to any dog with a longer back – not just the Dachshund, Corgi and Basset type body typesSome common signs of injury to the spine• Inability to stand with a neutral spine• Inability to bend through the spine• Lack of extension in the neck, shoulders and/or pelvis• Stiness or observable soreness along the spine• Reluctance to even jump in the car• Behavioral changes – guarding/aggression/fear
46Animal Therapy Magazine | SUMMER 2017Experience Based Rehabilitation Protocolse rst stage when treating muscles of the spinal column is to reduce any myofascial adhesions and muscular tension which may have been noted during the evaluation. ese issues may lead to pain and ‘holding’ patterns. Electrotherapies coupled with physiotherapy based manual manipulations are excellent methods to achieve this. With the spinal area, we must take into consideration that (i) it is oen an area with a dense fur covering (ii) sensitivity of the so tissue located around the spinal column and spinous processes.LASER and Pulse Magnetic Field erapy (PEMF) are particularly suited to treating spinal areas as:1. ey can be used to treat large areas in single sessions2. Canine fur2 is not an issue when using animal specic equipment3. ey are not typically contraindicated to bone tissue4. Ability to penetrate deep tissue (particularly PEMF)Benets of LASER includes the stimulation of cell mitochondrial activity, increased production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) / specic enzymes, growth factors, and formation of anti-bodies. is can be summarized as “restarting metabolic reactions at the cellular level, stimulating the production of the energy to maintain all the cell’s mechanisms in, muscles, tendons, ligaments and even disc tissue.”For treating specic areas of the spine, we would use typically use 4j/cm3 of energy (IIIB LASER) using multi or specic wave frequencies. e reason for using these frequencies is that dierent cells are able to pick up their particular resonant frequencies. If there were many areas to treat in one session, for a medium size dog (i.e. 20 kilos), 16j/cm3 of energy would enable treatment from lower cervical to the sacro-iliac joint in one session.is can be complimented with home treatments of PEMF at 50 Hz Base / 17.5 Hz Pulse, usually twice a day. is frequency is particularly recommended for muscle, tendon, ligament and joint injuries. It also helps reduce secondary inammation due to Osteoarthritis. A major advantage of PEMF treatments is the depth of penetration, the pulsed waves easily being able to penetrate into most dogs deep laying tissues. PEMF benets secondary injuries by redistributing ions across the cell membrane, thus modifying resting membrane potential and certain cellular metabolic processes.e next stages involve overcoming muscle inhibition, restoring range of movement and skeletal realignment. Complementary physiotherapy and MCST techniques are typically employed at this stage.Physiotherapy based treatments may combine both passive and active manipulation techniques such as:1. Skin rolling, with the aim of releasing areas where the skin is tightly held by adhesions to the spinal muscles. Adhesions can be thought as bands of internal scarring that binds all the tissues together.2. Mulligan concept which uses techniques such as sustained natural apophyseal glides to reduce pain and increasing mobility of the individual vertebrae.3. Active stretching by encouraging the canine patient to bend laterally, downwards so creating a ‘C’ stretch and extending upwards to lengthen out the spine/MCST oen see patients post these 2nd stage physical therapy treatments. Muscle tension will have been reduced but skeletal misalignments may still be present. e skeletal system will be manipulated back into place through adjustments along the spine and pelvis and associated muscle releasing techniques will be used such as massage.MCST rehabilitation exercises are based on physiotherapy activities. We may oen refer to the physiotherapists we are working in partnership with for additional work or if the animal requires extensive rehabilitation.Gait4Dog delivers a GLS score designed to show a grade for ‘o’ loading and ‘over’ loading of a limb. Additionally, the physiotherapist visually assesses the gait. For example, a pacing gait can often indicate issues with spinal muscles.CANINE BACKDog receiving LASER treatment
47Animal Therapy Magazine | SUMMER 2017Strengthening and Return to WorkIt is important to work closely with a rehabilitation expert when designing a proper strength training plan aer a spinal injury. e spine and the muscles that support it are a very complex system and an emphasis is placed on strengthening both the spinal and core3 muscles. Re-injury is very common in dogs that go back to normal activity to soon, complete the wrong strengthening protocol or suer from secondary compensatory issues.Recommended ExercisesStrengthening exercises should be performed when the healing process has moved out of the acute phase and when starting to return to normal activity.Nose to body part bends for exibility are particularly recommended. ey increase exibility in the neck, spine, shoulders and hips –• Nose to chest• Nose to each shoulder• Nose to each front foot• Nose to mid spine (both sides)• Nose to each hip• Nose to each rear footUnder Water Treadmillese can be used from an earlier stage than swimming due. is is because the Hydrotherapist can control the movements of the patient in addition to the buoyancy from the water supporting the body weight. is will help prevent muscle wastage and help return functional ROM when normal exercise is restricted. is can be progressed onto normal swimming when the animal is no longer lame. e primary advantages of water treadmill can be summarized as aiding movement of the body evenly on both sides and strengthening the core muscles.Cavaletti – Straight - (Using six poles)Lengthens through the spine, while swinging the hips and shoulders in full range of motion. Space between the cavaletti poles should be equal to the measurement at your dog’s withers (this is a good staring place). If your dog has a longer stride it is ok to increase the distance between the poles 1” at a time to help lengthen through the dog’s stride, lengthen through the spine and get good range of motion through both shoulders and hips. e height of the poles should be just over hind foot (1-2” [2.5 – 5.0 cm] in most cases) – NEVER over hock height. e dog should be at a trot and repetition should typically be done to exhaustion. When the dog starts repeatedly hitting the poles or refuses the exercise, this is the sign to stop.Cavaletti – CurvedSame spacing and height as for straight cavalettis – measure the distance between the poles at the inside of the curve. Most dogs will stride through the poles closest to the handlerTuck sit and kick back standis can be practiced either on the at or with front limbs elevated. Front feet stay stationing while the rear assembly moves forward to sit and then moves back to stand. is activates the core and rear assembly in the movement while the shoulders stabilize. Elevating the front limbs will put more weight to the rear.Tight turnsTight turns should be done in a controlled manner when approved by the rehabilitation sta. is will help to activate the joint stabilizers while oering an active stretch through the shoulder complex, spine and rear assembly.Strengthening exercises should be performed when the healing process has moved out of the acute phasecontinued overleafTight turns should be done in a controlled manner
48Animal Therapy Magazine | SUMMER 2017CANINE BACKACKNOWLEDGEMENTSHourdebaigt, J. 1998, CANINE MUSCULAR COMPENSATION, Massage Awareness, IncAUTHORSBobbie 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 benets of each exercise. Bobbie has completed the FitPAWS/University of Tennessee Certied Canine Fitness Trainer Program and is a FitPAWS Master Trainer “Program Instructor”. She has also completed the Certicate 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 can quickly demonstrate compensatory patterns.alan@smartpawsphysio.comNiki Warren RVN CertVNECC MCAM. Niki is a registered Veterinary Nurse having 15 years’ experience working with small animals. Qualied in 2009 in McTimoney-Corley Skeletal Therapy for dogs, horses and people. Currently training to become an Hydrotherapist to enhance my skill set. I work in Alrewas with Capable Canines Agility treating and working with the agility dogs and their handlers. www.equipeutic.co.ukniki@equipeutic.co.ukSUMMARYis article has been designed to provide guidance for the rehabilitation and strengthening of compensatory issues involving the muscles and joints of the back and strengthening of the core.1. In this case means compensatory means not an initial, orthopedic or hereditary area of concern, but in all probability related to a primary strain or sprain from one of the limbs or associated soft tissues.2. *In units designed for human use the at head will mean a substantial loss of energy due to reection. The MKW Lasertwin 21 with comb is specically designed for animals and overcomes this limitation.3. The dogs core muscle group needs to be strong and exible before returning to full activity. The “core” is dened as the abdominal muscles and muscles along the lumbar spine.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. Walking around the dog will encourage them to follow you with their head. When the dog turns 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 forwardCrawling 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.Following diagnosis by the suitable qualied professional, conservative treatment can be carried out on issues related to the back. ese treatments will be particularly benecial where gait and limb o-loading have been identied, particularly as le untreated premature osteoarthritis could develop.Due the highly complex structure of the spine and related muscles the rehabilitation team which may consist physiotherapy, MCST, Hydrotherapy and K9Fitness. Treatments will typically include reducing pain / inammation with relevant electrotherapies, hydrotherapy to prevent muscle atrophy, so tissue / joint manipulation followed by targeted strengthening programs. Combined, the objectives of these collaborative treatments are to optimize the healing process and strengthen the area to prevent recurrence of the injured area.It must be emphasized that the spine is a highly complex and sensitive area. erefore, we strongly recommend that in any doubt, an owner must get in touch with their veterinary practice before any treatment can begin and rule out any underlying orthopedic condition.
49Animal Therapy Magazine | SUMMER 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 supercial 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 signicantly 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
50Animal Therapy Magazine | SUMMER 2017AS you frequently hear, or at least we hope you frequently hear, when working with a therapist, regardless of the technique they use, this should only happen with veterinary consent and in most cases, aer veterinary investigation and diagnosis. You really should not be working with anyone who does not abide by this protocol. It is actually an oence to treat an animal without veterinary approval.Animal therapists have been specically trained to deal with a number of conditions, not just the back, and quite oen people are surprised at the number of problems they can help with. With all the industry changes afoot I felt it appropriate to remind or in some cases educate what therapists, particularly physiotherapists can work on.erapists can also come equipped with a number of electrotherapies to compliment manual techniques and allow a greater depth of therapy if and when appropriate.ese include:LaserPhototherapyerapeutic UltrasoundElectrovetPulsed magnetic eld therapyTrophic electrical stimulatorsSherry’s Blogby Sherry Scott MBEBack problems and upper hind limbNeckWoundsLegsHocksWither / ShouldersHoofSore backs from ill tting saddlesRider inuencesExcessive training Trauma Muscle spasms or damangeChronic and acute back pain including kissing spineSacroiliac problemsPelvic misalignmentMuscle imbalanceReduced range of movementPoll / ear sensitivity / shynessStiness / unwilling to bend and exHeavy on the forehand or in the contactBehavioural abnormalitiesReduction of swelling (stops stitches from breaking down)Surface and large brous woundsWounds where it is likely a ap of skin will be lostGranulated licksProud eshAbrasions and over reachesPost operational treatmentGroin, tendon and ligament strainsSore shins, wind galls, ruptures, splints, mud fever, fractures, arthritisInammation of tarsal jointCapped hocks, thoroughpins, ligament strains, bog / bone spavinsStie injuriesLymphangitisSaddle soresSpondylosisMuscle injury / atrophyNavicular, Pedal osteitis, bruised sole, corns, penetrating injury, laminitis, quarter cracks50 Animal Therapy Magazine | SUMMER 2017
51Animal Therapy Magazine | SUMMER 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: £750 +VATMagnetopulse II Pulsed Electro-Magnetic Field machine Blue and red light phototherapy plus six different magnetic field frequencies enabling a wide range of therapy treatments for joints, bones, ligaments and muscles Package includes: Magnetopulse II unit, phototherapy head, leg applicator and charger. RRP: £900 +VAT Promotional price: £700 +VAT Dual outputs allow two applicators to be used together. Other accessories are available. We also stock Electrovet and Long and Shortwave Ultrasound machines. Please contact us for a price list, training opportunities and CPD. The College of Animal Physiotherapy admin@tcap.co.uk | www.tcap.co.uk | 01844 290545 We also stock Electrovet and Long and Shortwave Ultrasound machines.Please contact us for a price list, training opportunities and CPD.01844 290545admin@tcap.co.ukwww.tcap.co.uk
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