TENS & EMS Electrotherapy for Horses and Dogs

OP Vet Physio offers professional TENS and EMS electrotherapy as part of comprehensive physiotherapy services for horses and dogs throughout the Northwest. Using professional-grade Chattanooga equipment, these safe, evidence-based therapies provide drug-free pain relief and muscle strengthening to support your animal’s recovery and wellbeing.

What is Electrotherapy?

Electrotherapy uses controlled electrical impulses to provide therapeutic benefits for animals recovering from injury or surgery, managing chronic conditions, or requiring performance support.

I offer two types of electrotherapy, each serving different but complementary purposes:

TENS Therapy (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation)

TENS therapy provides drug-free pain relief for horses and dogs by delivering gentle electrical signals through the skin. These signals work in two ways:

Pain Signal Blocking: The electrical stimulation essentially “closes the gate” on pain messages traveling to your animal’s brain, reducing their perception of discomfort.

Natural Pain Relief: TENS encourages the release of endorphins – your animal’s natural pain-relieving hormones – providing comfort without medication.

What it feels like: A gentle tingling sensation, similar to mild pins and needles. Most animals tolerate this very well, with many appearing to relax during treatment.

EMS Therapy (Electrical Muscle Stimulation)

EMS therapy, also called NMES (Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation), uses electrical impulses to cause muscles to contract. This actively strengthens muscles when your animal can’t exercise normally due to surgery, injury, or other restrictions.

How it works: The electrical stimulation causes visible muscle contractions – you’ll actually see the muscle working. This maintains and rebuilds muscle mass even when your animal is on restricted activity.

What it looks like: Rhythmic muscle twitching or pulsing. While it looks dramatic, most animals tolerate it very well once accustomed to the sensation.

Conditions Benefiting from TENS Therapy (Pain Relief)

TENS therapy provides effective, drug-free pain management for:

Arthritis and Chronic Joint Pain

Many senior dogs and horses live more comfortably with regular TENS therapy. Whether your dog has hip or elbow arthritis, or your horse has hock or fetlock arthritis, TENS provides additional pain relief complementing veterinary medication.

Post-Surgical Pain Management

Following surgery – cruciate ligament repair, hip replacement, arthroscopy, or colic surgery – TENS helps manage discomfort during recovery, potentially reducing reliance on pain medication.

Chronic Back Pain

For horses with kissing spine, spondylosis, or chronic back discomfort, and dogs with spinal issues, TENS therapy along the spine provides significant relief.

Muscle Tension and Spasms

Compensatory muscle tension from lameness or injury responds well to TENS therapy, helping animals move more comfortably.

Acute Injury Pain

Once initial inflammation has resolved (after the first 48-72 hours), TENS can help manage pain from soft tissue injuries, supporting healing and comfort.

Conditions Benefiting from EMS Therapy (Muscle Strengthening)

EMS therapy is particularly valuable for rebuilding and maintaining muscle strength.

Post-Surgical Muscle Atrophy Prevention

The #1 use for EMS in rehabilitation.

After surgery – particularly cruciate ligament repair in dogs – muscle loss is rapid and dramatic. EMS helps:

• Prevent severe muscle atrophy during restricted activity
• Rebuild muscle strength faster than exercise alone
• Maintain muscle mass during box rest (horses)
• Accelerate return to normal function

Many dogs recovering from surgery across benefit significantly from EMS targeting the quadriceps muscle.

Hip Dysplasia Management

For dogs and horses with hip dysplasia, strong hip stabiliser muscles (gluteals, quadriceps) are crucial. EMS therapy:

• Strengthens muscles supporting unstable joints
• Improves joint stability
• Reduces compensatory issues
• Delays progression of arthritis

Neurological Conditions

Animals recovering from neurological issues – IVDD in dogs, wobbler syndrome in horses – benefit from EMS for:

• Muscle re-education after nerve damage
• Preventing muscle loss during recovery
• Maintaining limb strength
• Supporting return to normal movement patterns

Senior Animals with Muscle Loss

Older dogs and horses naturally lose muscle mass (sarcopenia). EMS helps:

• Maintain muscle condition as they age
• Support continued comfortable movement
• Improve quality of life
• Enable them to stay active longer

Performance Animals

Competition horses and working dogs can use EMS for:

• Targeted muscle conditioning
• Maintaining fitness during lay-up periods
• Strengthening specific muscle groups
• Supporting peak performance

Why Choose Chattanooga Equipment?

I use professional-grade Chattanooga electrotherapy equipment
This ensures:

• Precise control over stimulation intensity and frequency
• Multiple programs for different conditions and treatment goals
• Safe, reliable performance from trusted manufacturer
• Comfortable treatment for your animal
• Proven effectiveness backed by research and clinical use

What to Expect During Treatment

Initial Assessment

Before any electrotherapy, I conduct a thorough assessment to determine whether TENS, EMS, or both would benefit your animal, and ensure there are no contraindications.

Treatment Process

• Preparation: Clean coats are essential, I use conductive gel which avoids clipping the coat.
• Electrode Placement: Pads are positioned on or near the treatment area
• Gradual Increase: Stimulation starts very low and increases gradually while I monitor your animal’s comfort
• Treatment Duration: 15-30 minutes depending on the treatment type and area
• Integration: Often combined with manual therapy techniques during the same session

Animal Response

Most animals (approximately 80-90%) tolerate electrotherapy very well:

• Dogs: Many dogs relax during treatment, with some becoming drowsy
• Horses: Most horses stand calmly, with many appearing to enjoy the sensation
• Safety: Treatment can be stopped immediately if your animal shows any discomfort

Treatment Frequency

Depending on your animal’s condition:

• Post-surgical recovery: 2-3 times per week initially
• Chronic pain management: 1-2 times per week or fortnightly
• Muscle strengthening: 2-3 times per week for best results
• Maintenance: Weekly or as needed

Benefits of Electrotherapy

TENS therapy provides pain management without adding to your animal’s medication burden – no risk of side effects, no concerns about long-term medication use, and no drug withdrawal periods for competition animals.

Prevents Muscle Loss

EMS therapy can reduce post-surgical muscle atrophy by 30-50% compared to recovery without electrical stimulation – meaning faster recovery and better outcomes.

Accelerates Recovery

Animals incorporating electrotherapy into their rehabilitation often:

• Return to normal function 2-4 weeks faster
• Achieve better long-term outcomes
• Experience fewer complications from weakness or compensation

Complements Other Treatments

Electrotherapy works alongside:

• Veterinary medication and treatment
• Manual physiotherapy techniques
• Therapeutic exercises
• Home exercise programs

Safe and Non-Invasive

When properly used by a qualified veterinary physiotherapist, electrotherapy is extremely safe with minimal risk of side effects.

Electrotherapy Across Lancashire and the Northwest

I provide mobile electrotherapy services directly to your home or yard across:

• Lancashire: Accrington, Preston, Blackburn, Burnley, Lancaster, Chorley, Leyland, Ormskirk
• Greater Manchester: Manchester, Bolton, Bury, Rochdale, Oldham, Salford, Stockport, Wigan
• Cheshire: Warrington, Widnes, Runcorn, Northwich, Knutsford
• North Yorkshire: Skipton, Harrogate, Settle
• West Yorkshire: Leeds, Bradford, Huddersfield, Halifax, Keighley

Your animal receives treatment in their comfortable, familiar environment – no stressful travel required.

Evidence Supporting Electrotherapy

TENS and EMS aren’t just trends – they’re backed by substantial research:

• Studies in dogs recovering from cruciate ligament surgery show significantly less muscle atrophy when EMS is used
• Research demonstrates faster return to limb use with electrotherapy
• TENS effectiveness for pain management is well-established in both human and veterinary medicine
• Canine and equine rehabilitation centres routinely incorporate electrotherapy as standard care

Research Articles

There is plenty of research papers available online if you need further Information. Research demonstrates faster return to limb use with electrotherapy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is electrotherapy painful for my animal?

No. When properly used, electrotherapy should never be painful. The intensity is carefully controlled for your animal’s comfort. TENS feels like gentle tingling; EMS causes muscle contractions but shouldn’t be uncomfortable.

Will my animal tolerate the treatment?

Most animals (80-90%) tolerate electrotherapy very well. I start at very low intensity and increase gradually while monitoring your animal’s response. If your animal doesn’t tolerate it, we simply don’t continue.

How quickly will I see results?

• Pain relief (TENS): Some animals show immediate improvement; others benefit over 2-4 weeks
• Muscle strengthening (EMS): Visible changes typically take 3-6 weeks of regular treatment

Can electrotherapy replace my animal’s medication?

No. Electrotherapy complements – not replaces – veterinary medication and treatment. Any changes to medication should always be discussed with your veterinary surgeon.

Do you need to clip my horse/dog?

For good electrode contact:

• Horses: No
• Dogs: No

Is there anyone who can’t have electrotherapy?

Yes, see the contraindications section below. When in doubt, I always consult with your veterinary surgeon.

Important Safety Information: Contraindications

Electrotherapy (TENS and EMS) should NOT be used on animals with:

Absolute Contraindications (Never Use):

• Pacemakers or other implanted electrical devices
• Over tumours or cancer sites
• Pregnancy (especially early stages)
• Epilepsy or seizure disorders
• Over carotid sinuses in the neck area (particularly horses)
• Directly over the heart
• Open wounds or broken skin

Relative Contraindications (Use with Caution/Vet Approval):

• Active infection
• Acute inflammation in first 48-72 hours post-injury
• Severely anxious or aggressive animals
• Areas with impaired sensation
• Very recent surgery (first 7-10 days – requires veterinary approval)

Always check with your referring veterinary surgeon or contact me if you’re unsure. I carefully screen all cases before using electrotherapy to ensure safety.

Integration with Comprehensive Physiotherapy

Electrotherapy is most effective as part of a comprehensive treatment approach including:

• Manual Therapy: Massage, myofascial release, stretching, joint mobilisation
• Therapeutic Exercise: Controlled walking, sit-to-stand exercises, balance work
• Home Exercise Programs: Exercises you perform between physiotherapy sessions
• Activity Management: Appropriate modifications to support healing
• Ongoing Assessment: Regular monitoring and treatment adjustment

I use electrotherapy strategically where it provides the most benefit, integrated seamlessly with hands-on techniques and exercise programs tailored to your animal’s individual needs.

Getting Started with Electrotherapy

If you’re interested in TENS or EMS therapy for your horse or dog, the first step is a comprehensive physiotherapy assessment.

During this initial session, I’ll:

• Evaluate your animal’s condition and needs
• Determine whether electrotherapy would be beneficial
• Ensure there are no contraindications
• Develop a comprehensive treatment plan
• Begin treatment if appropriate

For Rehabilitation (Post-Surgery, Injury, or Illness):

A veterinary referral is required. Your vet will assess your animal and provide a referral for physiotherapy if appropriate.

For Maintenance (Ongoing Care, Performance Support):

No veterinary referral is required, though your animal must be registered with a vet.

Ready to Explore Electrotherapy for Your Animal?

New clients: Register with OP Vet Physio to create your personal client portal and discuss how electrotherapy could help your horse or dog.

Have questions first? Contact me to discuss your animal’s specific needs and whether TENS or EMS therapy would be appropriate.

Mobile service across Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Cheshire, and Yorkshire – bringing professional electrotherapy directly to you.

Learn More:

• How TENS Therapy Helps Dogs with Arthritis
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Canine Physiotherapy Services
• Equine Physiotherapy Services