Veterinary Physiotherapy Maintenance & Performance Advice

Maintenance physiotherapy is intended for a healthy animal rather than for an undiagnosed problem. Its value comes from looking at physical function in the context of workload, recovery, equipment, surfaces and the tasks the animal is expected to perform. It should complement routine veterinary care and good training, not replace either.

Start with the animal’s real workload
A useful assessment begins with what the animal actually does. For a dog, this may include family walks, stairs, play, working tasks or sport. For a horse, it may include turnout, schooling, hacking, competition, travelling and the surfaces used. Recent changes in intensity, frequency or routine help explain the demands being placed on the body.

I assess posture, movement, muscle function, joint movement and how the animal manages relevant tasks. The findings help shape practical advice on conditioning, recovery and home or stable management. Physiotherapy cannot guarantee that an injury will be prevented or that performance will improve, but it can provide a structured way to review physical function and respond to the animal in front of us.

Coordinate the care team
Different professionals answer different questions. The veterinary surgeon diagnoses disease and injury and directs medical care. A farrier addresses hoof care, a saddle fitter assesses saddle fit, and a trainer or coach develops skill and performance. The owner or handler sees the animal every day and can report changes that are absent during an appointment.

Physiotherapy can connect relevant observations about movement and physical capacity with this wider plan. With consent, findings can be shared so that advice on treatment, equipment, workload and training does not conflict.

Use a plan that can change
There is no single maintenance schedule that suits every animal. The appropriate interval and content depend on age, workload, health, previous problems, goals and what is found at assessment. Some animals need a short period of focused input; others may only need review when workload changes. Appointments should have a clear reason rather than follow an arbitrary calendar.

A home or conditioning programme should also be proportionate. It needs to fit the training already being done and allow adequate recovery. Adding exercises without considering total workload can create fatigue or reduce the quality of the animal’s normal work.

Know when maintenance must stop
Maintenance care is not the correct route for a new painful or clinical problem. If an animal develops lameness, marked stiffness, swelling, neurological signs, unexplained loss of performance or another sign of possible disease or injury, work should pause and the veterinary surgeon should assess the animal. Remedial physiotherapy can then proceed following veterinary diagnosis and referral where required.

Maintenance and performance appointments
OP Vet Physio offers mobile maintenance and performance assessments for healthy dogs and horses that are registered with a veterinary practice. I take the animal’s routine, work and environment into account and provide advice that owners can use between visits. Contact me if you would like to discuss whether this pathway is appropriate, or whether a veterinary assessment is needed first.

Clinical references
Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. Supporting guidance for veterinary surgeons, section 19, treatment of animals by unqualified persons. McGowan CM. Introduction to Equine Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation. Veterinary Clinics of North America Equine Practice. 2016;32(1):1-12. Clayton HM. Core training and rehabilitation in horses. Veterinary Clinics of North America Equine Practice. 2016;32(1):49-71.