Our Philosophy
How should veterinary rehabilitation work for you and your pet?
Just as human medicine has progressed over the years, so advances in veterinary care have increased our ability to understand and look after our pets. At Active Pet, we are dedicated to helping your dog, cat, rabbit or other small pet enjoy the best quality of life.
We offer a holistic approach using multi-modal treatments. From medication to therapeutic modalities, from hands-on physiotherapy to underwater treadmill hydrotherapy, we help your dog or cat feel more comfortable and active.
With so many options, how do you choose which is the best for you and your pet? There is no one-size-fits-all approach and so treatment is tailored to you and your pet, as it should be. We will find a way to help your dog or cat that suits you and your pet best.
All our patients love coming for visits
We use a force free approach to all our patients. Many of our clients tell us their pets love coming to see us. Indeed we watch them trying to get in the front door they are so keen! We won’t pull your pet around and make them cry. As we are quiet and gentle, we can pick up the subtle changes in their body and behaviour when they are sore without having to make them wince or cry.
We use positive reinforcement when handling your pets and encourage you to do the same when you are doing their exercises at home. A happy pet is much more likely to want to participate in their treatment both at the clinic and at home. If your dog or cat doesn’t like a particular treatment or exercise then we won’t force them to do it but will find a different approach. Each pet is different with their likes and dislikes so it is just a matter of finding what works for them and for you.
We are fully qualified Veterinary Surgeons
Our approach differs because your pet will be treated by fully qualified and experienced Veterinary Surgeons. In the UK, anyone can call themselves a veterinary physiotherapist or hydrotherapist as you do not need to have any qualifications. Courses, when people do take them, are very variable. Active Pet is unique in that your pet is always looked after by a Veterinary Surgeon. The veterinary course in the UK is five or six years long and then additional training and examinations are needed to become fully qualified in rehabilitation and acupuncture.
Non-Veterinary Surgeons cannot diagnose new conditions but we can
We are unique, as being Veterinary Surgeons enables us to be able to diagnose, as well as treat orthopaedic and neurological conditions. A physiotherapist who isn’t a Vet can only treat as per the referring Vet, whereas we can consider the whole of your pet. We take into consideration any other conditions that your pet has. This is really important when looking at where your pet is painful. Perhaps their sore leg has been making their back sore as it has made them change their gait and posture? Maybe the cruciate tear in their back leg has been precipitated due to them shifting their weight off one of their front legs due to arthritis? These are all things to be taken into consideration when working out a pain management and rehabilitation program.
Non-Veterinary Surgeons cannot advise on medications but we can
We are able to advise and recommend medications and understand how these may interact with other medications or conditions your pet may have. Non-veterinary personnel are not allowed to discuss or advise on medications under the RCVS guidelines. Being experienced Veterinary Surgeons is also vital in ensuring that any treatment takes into account any other conditions that your pet may have and any other medications they may be taking. For example, steroids, such as prednisolone, make the muscles weaker and so when organising an exercise or hydrotherapy program we need to take this into consideration.
We are bound by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) and must keep up to date with new treatments
The RCVS is the regulatory body of Veterinary Surgeons practising in the UK. There are rules and regulations that all Vets have to follow to maintain their registration. All Vets have to undertake a mandatory 35 hours of continuing professional development (CPD) per year. We often tend to do more than the recommended amount so we can make sure that we are offering you and your pet the most up-to-date treatments and advice. The requirements for CPD for other bodies involved in veterinary rehabilitation vary, with some not requiring any study to maintain membership. Things change very quickly in the veterinary fields both in rehab and non-rehab areas so we believe it is very important to keep up to date.
