Amanda Butler Veterinary Physiotherapist

16/01/2026

This is the look of a dog who absolutely loves his physio sessions 🐾💙

15/01/2026

🙏

The United States are the only country where I've ever seen joint injections being sold to horse owners as "maintenance". When I ask horse owners if they go to an annual visit with their primary care physician and have all of their joints injected they typically say "of course not", but why do they think it needs to be done on their horses?

Joint injections with cortisone are a common method for pain relief in osteoarthritis, but they should be considered critically, as repeated or high-dose applications can cause cartilage and bone damage, tendon shortening or rupture, and an increased risk of infection, making the long-term consequences riskier; therefore, they are often used for a limited time and with caution.

Risks and critical thoughts:

Cartilage and bone damage: Repeated injections can promote cartilage breakdown and even accelerated joint degeneration, especially in joints that are under more pressure.

Tendon and ligament degeneration: Cortisone can weaken tendons and ligaments, increasing the risk of tears (never have I seen that many suspensory injuries anywhere else!).

Slowed healing: Inflammation is important for healing; cortisone interrupts this process and can delay healing.

Side effects at the injection site: Skin discoloration and infections are possible, but infections are rare.

Systemic effects: In metabolic horses blood sugar levels may rise; ACTH levels in cushings horses rise, increased appetite and weight gain are possible.

In humans steroid injections have found to be the cause of Rapid Destructive Hip Disease. Injections in horses are a huge money making factor, so there aren't pharmaceutical companies who are willing to invest money into studies that prove this "maintenance" causes more harm than good.

Regular bodywork that strengthens the musculoskeletal frame and breaks up compensation patterns is the only thing that should be called "maintenance".

14/01/2026

🐦✨ Meet Robin! ✨🐦
Tonight’s treatment session is all about unwinding those tense muscles. Robin is enjoying some much-needed physio to release tension within his splenius muscle and poll. 💆‍♂️

The splenius muscle is key for their posture and mobility. It extends and elevates the head, allowing them to bend their necks laterally with ease. Whether they're looking up, tilting their head to the side, or stretching out after a long day, this muscle plays a crucial role in their comfort and agility.

🐦 Robin feels the difference after each treatment, and so can you when your pet gets the right care! 🐾

14/01/2026

Reviews like this touch my heart 💙 forever grateful for my position 💙

11/01/2026

✨ What a week in Vet Physio! ✨

Feeling incredibly grateful for the amazing patients (and owners) I’ve had the privilege of working with this week 🐾🐎

From helping horses stay comfortable and performing their best through regular maintenance sessions, to supporting recovery and quality of life in some truly complex cases, this week has been a reminder of why I love what I do.

🦴 This week’s cases included:
• Osteoarthritis management
• Elbow dysplasia and hip dysplasia support
• General maintenance sessions in horses
• Achilles tendon rupture rehabilitation in dogs
• Polyarthritis and cruciate damage
• Wobblers syndrome in dogs
• Lumbosacral disease care

Every session is tailored, every win—big or small—is worth celebrating 💪
Progress doesn’t always happen overnight, but consistency, teamwork, and the right physio support can make a world of difference.
Here’s to stronger, happier, more comfortable animals 💙

09/01/2026

🎉 GIVEAWAY ALERT 🎉

We’re almost at 500 FOLLOWERS! 🐾💥

To say THANK YOU, we’re giving away a FREE Veterinary Physiotherapy Session to a very special follower…

👀 Whoever becomes FOLLOWER #500 wins!
🐕✨ How to enter:
1️⃣ Follow our page
2️⃣ Share our page to your story or feed 📲
3️⃣ Tag us so we can see it
4️⃣ Turn on post notifications 🔔

🎁 The prize:
A FREE vet physio session — for your own pet OR as a gift to a pet parent of your choice 💙🐶
The moment we hit 500 followers, we’ll announce the lucky winner 🎉

📣 Tag a pet parent friend who would love this & help us reach 500 faster!

02/01/2026

🐾 Neurological Rehabilitation Progress – Dylan 🐾
Dylan presented 7 weeks ago with a suspected fibrocartilaginous embolism (FCE) and absence of deep pain perception at initial assessment. His neurological prognosis was guarded.

Through ongoing, structured physiotherapy and home exercise compliance, Dylan has demonstrated progressive improvements on a weekly basis, including:
• Increased limb strength
• Improved motor control and coordination
• Enhanced functional mobility
Dylan continues to exhibit an ataxic gait, however he is now ambulatory and functionally independent, with a clear return of his normal behaviour, engagement, and quality of life.

Neurological recovery is often non-linear and does not always result in complete resolution of deficits. In Dylan’s case, meaningful functional recovery has been achieved, and rehabilitation remains ongoing to optimise neuromuscular control and endurance.

We are extremely proud of Dylan’s progress and look forward to continuing to support his recovery journey.

31/12/2025

🎉 Happy New Year! 🎉
As we step into the New Year, Amanda Butler Vet Physio would like to say a huge thank you to our amazing clients and their furry companions. Here’s to more tail wags, stronger strides, and healthier pets in the year ahead! 🐶🐴🐾

23/12/2025

🎉 Wrapping up the year with a very full (and grateful) heart 🎉

Thank you to every single person who trusted me with their horses and small animals this year – it’s been such a privilege to be part of their care 💕

I’m officially finishing the year with one full year of practice under my belt, and I couldn’t be more excited about what’s next!

2026 is all about growth, new prospects, and taking this business even further 🚀✨

Here’s to another year of helping animals move, feel, and perform their best 🐴🐾💪

20/12/2025

Checking poll and hyoid tension in our equine athletes is so important 💙

Did you know.....The Tongue 👅 is the most sensitive part of your horse's mouth and the most prone to injury.

This very large muscle extends from its tip, which you can see, to the hyoid apparatus and its attachment to the ramus of the mandible at the back.

The tongue is vital for swallowing and influencing the hyoid apparatus

Like any other muscle, restriction or tension within it can induce a muscular chain reaction.

The sensitivity of the tongue is a crucial consideration when fitting a bit. An ill-fitting or harsh bit or excessive pressure on the bit from your hands can cause pain and discomfort. In some cases it can result in tension throughout the body and poor performance.

Like and follow our page for lots more tips, exercises and advice on equine anatomy and biomechanics.

19/12/2025

🩷

✨ Meet the Team – Amanda Butler ✨

Many of you will already have met the lovely Amanda! Originally from Liverpool ⚽️🎶, Amanda has lived in Pembrokeshire for many years and has been part of the Arberth Vets family for nearly 4 years. She’s famously known as our “Bleach Queen” 🧼👑 – if something’s sparkling or mysteriously been tidied away… chances are Amanda’s been there!

During her time with us, Amanda has also achieved an incredible milestone, qualifying as a Veterinary Physiotherapist after completing a PGDip at Nottingham Veterinary School 🎓👏

We’re delighted that Amanda is now our in-house Veterinary Physio, running a physiotherapy clinic here every Thursday. Veterinary physiotherapy can be hugely beneficial for pets recovering from surgery, managing arthritis, improving mobility, or supporting long-term conditions 🐾

Alongside her role at Arberth Vets, Amanda also runs her own business, treating both horses and small animals 🐶🐴

When she’s not busy helping patients, Amanda is kept on her toes by her two young children and somehow still finds time to enjoy spending those rare spare moments with friends and family 💕

Bright, bubbly, and always smiling – we’re so lucky to have you, Amanda! 🌟

👉 Find out more about our Veterinary Physiotherapy service here:
🔗 https://www.facebook.com/share/1N5WV1fuRL/?mibextid=wwXIfr

📅 Physio clinics available every Thursday – speak to the team to book or learn more.

16/12/2025

🌟 No More Apologies, Just Progress! 🌟

Hey there, amazing clients! 🙌

I’ve noticed something that I want to address: stop apologising for not getting to your prescribed exercises! Life gets busy, and we ALL juggle a million things. 🏃‍♀️💼⚽ Whether it's work, family, or the daily grind, sometimes those exercises get pushed aside—and that’s OK! I get it. 💖

But here's the thing: even just a few times a week can make a world of difference. 💪✨ That’s why I always try to make these exercises fit into your everyday routine, so they feel natural and don't add more stress to your plate. 🏡💫

Let’s take the pressure off and focus on small wins! When you do have a moment, try sneaking in those stretches or movements—it’ll pay off in the long run. 🐾

If you need help finding ways to sneak them in, or feel overwhelmed, reach out! We’ll work through it together. 💬💖

You’ve got this—and I’m cheering you on every step of the way! 🎉