Apollo Animal Physiotherapy & Hydrotherapy

23/08/2025

See us there! We would love all our patients to come and say hello 👋 and anybody who wants to talk rehab in any way, shape or form 🙌

Come and visit the Kent Country Show and Kent Festival of Dogs Show on the 27th and 28th August. A perfect family day out with live music, rural crafts, kids entertainment, local produce and cookery demonstrations, it really is a perfect day out with children in Kent.

21/08/2025

Some amazing reviews from our lovely Ellie's clients this last week ❤️

20/08/2025

Murphy is an on-the-go busy busy Border Collie. His Mum captured a rare moment of peaceful bliss as he was having treatment yesterday.
Murphy gets generalised stiffness and tension from being such a busy body! He has been coming to us regularly for years now, and for an 11 year old ex-agility/ paddle boarding CaniCross dog, he is in fabulous condition.

Laura went to America to learn some new manual therapy techniques earlier this year, and Murphy luurrrrves them. Here he was receiving some mobilisation of his scapula, an area he has always held such chronic tension. Well, safe to say he was in a dream state during this moment yesterday 😍

19/08/2025

This is so exciting! I heard about this last year, and we have treated dogs who were part of the original study at Cambridge looking into surgical vs conservative treatments and the clinical outcomes.
This is a fantastic alternative to surgery and I can't wait to see the results of this innovative new treatment for IVDD.

CAMBRIDGE VETS OFFER NEW INJECTION TREATMENT FOR DOGS WITH IVDD

A new enzyme injection treatment for dogs with severe intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) is now available at the Queen’s Veterinary School Hospital (QVSH), offering a safe, less invasive, and more affordable alternative to surgery for some patients.

The treatment, called percutaneous intra-discal chondroitinase injection, involves delivering an enzyme directly into the damaged intervertebral discs. This enzyme dissolves the central part of the disc, potentially relieving pressure on the spinal cord.

The QVSH in Cambridge recently worked with colleagues from Texas A&M University in the United States, to run a clinical trial involving 54 dogs who had lost the ability to walk due to IVDD. The trial, now published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, showed that dogs receiving chondroitinase injections recovered the ability to walk at a similar rate to those who undergo other forms of treatment for IVDD.

The procedure is now available at the QVSH as part of a low-cost IVDD treatment package including a full neurological consultation, MRI scan, and injections into multiple discs for a total cost of £1,750. We are still accepting dogs for the original trial, where pet owners who are unable to afford traditional treatment may be offered the injections at a significantly reduced fee of £400, but with no MRI or CT scan.

What Dogs would meet the criteria for treatment?

A : The treatment is aimed at dogs who are severely enough affected that they are unable to walk ie would otherwise normally be recommended for surgery. For the specific trial we have been running we have to see them within 48 hours of becoming unable to walk; for the new protocol where we offer MRI as well the time limit is not as strict.

For further information about chondroitinase injections for IVDD or about the ongoing trial, contact the QVSH on 01223 337621, or alternatively email Professor Freeman at pf266@cam.ac.uk or the neurology service at neuro@vet.cam.ac.uk.

And see the links below.

IVDE Chondroitinase trial | The Queen's Veterinary School Hospital https://share.google/UDZoQQItpxesbiZHF

Published Trial Results
https://avmajournals.avma.org/view/journals/javma/263/6/javma.24.12.0790.xml?tab_body=fulltext&fbclid=IwQ0xDSwMQh41leHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHpWvYwUsUddJIbBt4tuOJLsE4hE5Qj2HRVVlu8yCGeighD0tEELP61kr6ie4_aem_ZtV-82cHTjaDWYOKt2xIyg

https://www.dachshund-ivdd.uk/symptoms-treatment/chondroitinase-injection/

14/08/2025

Laura got the privilege of treating Lilly on her 12th birthday this week 🥳

Lilly comes for weekly therapy to keep on top of any stiffness and tension that arises from having hip dysplasia. She still manages to live life to the max and goes sea swimming with her pawrents 3 x a week ❤️

Happy birthday special girl, we love you lots!

08/08/2025

We also advocate young dogs being introduced to our aquatic treadmill - a great way to satisfy a curious mind, build strength and learn about the equipment in a fun and fear-free environment.

Contact us to find out more - comment PUP and we can reach out with some more information 🐾🌊

Puppies go through key developmental stages in their first year, and introducing them to water early helps build confidence, coordination, and strength from the very beginning.

Here’s why early swim sessions matter:
✅ They learn faster when young
✅ Builds strong muscles with no joint strain
✅ Reduces fear of water later in life
✅ Boosts confidence and body awareness
✅ Great for socialisation and mental stimulation

Our Puppy Package is designed just for this stage, gentle, safe, and fun.

Want a confident, water-loving dog later in life? Start now.

Save this post as your reminder to book your puppy's first swim before their 1st birthday!

08/08/2025

💙 When your dog is hurting, your heart hurts too. We understand how hard it is to see them in pain — and we’re here to help them get back to tail wags, zoomies, and happy walks.

At Apollo Animal Physio in Ramsgate, we’ve had the privilege of helping dogs from all over Kent recover, heal, and thrive through expert physiotherapy and hydrotherapy. With over 100 five-star reviews, we’re proud to be trusted by so many pet parents — but every dog we treat is special to us.

🐾 Our Autumn diary is now open!
Whether your dog is recovering from injury, surgery, or just needs a little extra support as they age, our fully qualified physiotherapists are ready to help.

📋 Book a no-pressure consultation today — we’ll chat through your dog’s needs and create a plan that’s right for them.

✨ Restoring mobility, one paw at a time.

30/07/2025

Cobber giving Laura big smiles during his physio session 😍
Cobber comes for regular maintenance to keep on top of his hip dysplasia tensions. He loves coming and we love being part of his team ❤️

30/07/2025

📲 Why Titles Matter in Animal Therapy: it’s easy to get in knots as to who is who!

🐕💡**“My dog had physio last week!”** Or was it massage? 🤔 🖐️

It’s easy to blur the lines, but when it comes to your animal’s care, words matter. Here’s why 👇

👩‍⚕️ Veterinary Physiotherapy is an evidence-based profession that requires:
✅ 3–5 years of university-level education
✅ Extensive clinical training
✅ Ongoing CPD and insurance
✅ Working under veterinary referral
✅ Professional body registration (NAVP, ACPAT, RAMP, etc.)
✅ the title of qualification must carry Veterinary Physiotherapy within it either at BSc or MSc

👐 On the other hand, Animal Sports Massage Therapists:
✅ Use soft tissue techniques to aid muscle comfort
✅ Often train via shorter courses (weeks to months)
✅ Generally use manual therapies
✅ Provide supportive, maintenance care and valuable complimentary care
✅ work as part of a wider team, especially when injury or performance issues arise.

⚠️ Here’s the issue: The term “physio” is protected by law in human medicine, and increasingly being challenged in veterinary contexts too. One day the industry will get there and this will help alleviate this problem. Some massage therapists still use “physio” in their title which may unintentionally mislead owners or infringe boundaries.

🙏 We say this respectfully: every qualified professional has a place. Massage therapy is a fantastic tool when used appropriately. However, if someone is calling themselves a “Vet Physio” or “Animal Physiotherapist”, they should be qualified to that level.

🎯 Check credentials. Ask questions. Protect your pet.
Not sure who’s who? Do your homework, check qualifications, ask questions.

25/07/2025

Please, don't punish me.
I'm not naughty, I'm scared.

➡️Challenging canine behaviour has been on the rise; over a quarter of owners say their dog has developed at least one new problem behaviour during lockdowns.

➡️One study found that dogs under three years of age are at a proportionately high risk of death due to undesirable behaviours.

➡️The theory of 'dominance' as a corrective technique has led to an increase in punishment-type behavioural corrections.

➡️This punishment training style is concerning to evidence-based behaviour professionals

➡️Recent literature highlights the negatives and damaging effects these corrections can have on dogs.

✅Please, choose your behaviourist or dog trainer wisely...

✅Read more here:
https://www.vetvoices.co.uk/post/dominance-debunked

✅Read more here:

Dog Behaviour and Training, Does Aversive Training Work Better Than Other Methods?
https://www.vetvoices.co.uk/post/dog-behaviour-and-training-does-aversive-training-work-better-than-other-methods

23/07/2025

Loose lead isnt natural. It’s a skill that has to be learnt. Biomechanically, dogs are built to move faster than us. Dogs choose to shift to a natural trot and on average walk at 2.5 - 4 mph (Hildebrand, 1966) where us naked monkeys on the otherhand average 2-3 mph walking (Kirtley, 2006). Do you know what 2.5 feels like? You should!

Because the mismatch alone creates tension — physically with the lead and emotionally in the relationship. Infact Dogs Trust found 30% of owners considered it a reason to rehome.

Now add in breed differences with research by Fischer & Lilje (2011) suggesting that Different breeds have different locomotive profiles based on original function. Malinois and Vizslas who are bred to move, track, cover ground; hearding breed like kelpies and collies who are bred to arc out infront; scent hounds like Beagles and Bloodhounds - designed to follow their noses with purpose, drive and speed; and of course breeds like Huskies who are literally bred and built to pull - it’s in the actual job description.

Its not a suprise that Rooney & Cowan (2011) found Lead tension and restricted gait was specifically a negative welfare marker for working breeds.

So when we expect all dogs to plod beside us through a park at human pace, ignoring smells, distractions, and natural instinct…we’re arent asking for a behaviour: We’re asking for the dog to restrain their pace, suppress their instincts, and constantly self-regulate.

In my opinion loose lead is one of the three essential skills I believe every dog pro needs to understand in depth - gait, drive, motivation, mechanics, assessment, different technique and exercise, consequence gradients and all.

Because when you understand what you’re really asking for,
you stop calling it stubbornness
and start training it like the advanced skill it actually is. And this leads to way better pet dogs with way happier relationships. ###