Four Legged Physio

07/08/2025

New FREE app is available now from the University of Liverpool.
Are you managing osteoarthritis (OA) in your dog?
Are you wishing to have a more accurate assessment of early symptoms and awareness in the dog’s mobility?
🐕 Why not give it a try!

🐶 When should I use this app?

Owners of healthy dogs can use DogMA for routine monitoring especially before annual or routine checks.
Veterinary practices can advise owners use DogMA as part of ongoing monitoring of dogs with a mobility condition and as part of nurse-led clinics. DogMA can also be used during pain trials to help monitor for changes.
Behaviourists can recommend owners use DogMA if they suspect pain as a cause of a dog's behavioural concerns, especially where that pain may be subtle.
Physiotherapists and other canine health professionals can use DogMA to assess a dog's mobility and understand their exercise patterns.

01/08/2025

Today I was present for an equine salt therapy session in two horses I know very well.
Both were keen as today was their 2nd treatment in the converted trailer specifically modified for the salt inhalation vapour to be absorbed through the skin and through the lungs.
This is a service provide by veterinarian, Paula from the Algarve but provided this mobile service here in Central Portugal.
If you think your horse may benefit, see the link to make appointment with Paula to visit your horses.

Benefits include:

Respiratory conditions
Skin conditions (eg Sweet itch!!)
Immune deficiencies
And more…
Check out her website.

Paula has experience working at Rossdales in Newmarket, England, and has a confident compassionate manner with our 4-legged friends.
She will clinically examine your horse before treatment, and answer all your queries.

A fabulous treatment and the horses today were so content inside the trailer, and one even asked to go back inside the trailer after the session had ended.

Nice work, Paula 💕🐴





https://www.equine-salttherapy.com/?fbclid=IwQ0xDSwL51ZtjbGNrAvnVjWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAAEetNNQPnHlRcFGqAomzfWORxNUXLXG6FJGOdIiyh1_k2SRVo7MQOzkMYQQesw_aem_S7yJNIYFStTI1DKvV1b3vA&sfnsn=wa

What is Salt Therapy?Salt therapy, also known as halotherapy, is a natural, non-invasive treatment that utilizes the inherent antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties of salt to address respiratory and skin conditions in horses. Salt therapy has been used for centuries in humans, dating back t...

08/09/2024

CPD Webinar Tues 10th Sept 7-9pm

Clare MacLeod MSc RNutr - Registered Nutritionist with the Association for Nutrition

A webinar delivering information on the principles of nutrition to support a healthy musculoskeletal system and the practical interventions that can help to support horses during injury and rehab. Plenty of time for questions afterwards.

Clare MacLeod MSc RNutr is an independent Registered Equine Nutritionist with over 2 decades of experience. She has Masters education in equine exercise physiology and a special interest in sport horse nutrition. She is passionate about translating the science of nutrition into useful, practical advice for horse owners and professionals, with the health and welfare of the horse at the centre.

Tickets: https://buytickets.at/navp/1351360

17/04/2024

The ultimate challenge for stability training.
Well done, Banksy x

17/04/2024

More intense focus practice.
You can make this more difficult by hiding the treat around the home. Just good fun too :)
Flexing the body down to 'lay down' position, followed by up to 'stand' position is also fabulous for the strengthening the body. Repeat a few times in a row to gain the benefits... repeat, eat, repeat, eat ! :)

17/04/2024

MrB was not able to do this in the first 2 weeks post onset of symptoms.
Incentive is everything in rehab :)

17/04/2024

Initially these rehab poses were on firm and flat ground. Here we use a wobble cushion (Fitbone) to increase strength.
Sit. Stand. Lay down. Stand.

17/04/2024

Short distances but more difficult terrain.

17/04/2024

3 weeks after onset of symptoms, and we were back in Portugal. He has become an expert in rolling as he body is still learning how to maintain balance at speed. Still smiling though! Dogs are great at perseverance in rehab :)

17/04/2024

After 2 weeks of short lead walking, we tried the beach with its soft, moveable terrain. You can see his stopping ability is still not back to normal. Just 5 mins of fun here :)

17/04/2024

Banksy, my dog, had his first Vestibular Syndrome episode in February. He lost his sense of balance, and was unable to walk unaided for 4-5 days. You can see this video shows his side to side nystagmus. The uncontrollable eye movements caused nausea and anxiety too.
Vets gave anti-nausea drugs. He received lots of support and reassurance, and was restricted to bed rest.
Within 5 days he was much improved, and so the diagnosis is age related vestibular syndrome. The middle ear becomes infected and inflamed. If symptoms had remained, he would have received a CT scan to seek a brain tumour. Thankfully that was not the case.
His recovery was gentle at first, with very short lead walks from 2 mins to 10 mins over a week.

08/10/2023

Please forward to anyone you can think might be interested. Another knock on effect from brexit is charities losing funding for overseas volunteers. This is in such a stunningly beautiful location in Cornwall.
All the primates on site are rescued in one way or another from the pet trade and live out the rest of their lives at the sanctuary in social groups. Often they have to learn how to be monkeys again. I like the fact that they don’t breed from them and human contact is kept to a bare minimum.

⚠️ Volunteers needed! ⚠️

We are in desperate need of volunteers to help us onsite at our sanctuary! With accommodation provided, come and work in a beautiful location alongside a great team, and help provide the best possible care for our rescued monkeys.

The role includes daily cleaning of monkey enclosures, tasks such as food preparation and making enrichment items, as well as re-roping enclosures, gardening, painting and cleaning.

This is a great experience for students, those looking for a career in animal care, anyone interested in animal welfare, or simply those looking for a break from the 'norm' & to experience something special.

Days can be long and the work is often physically demanding, so volunteers must be fit and able. To find out more please contact volunteer@wildfutures.org

Thank you 🐵❤