The Animal Physio

04/06/2026

Earlier this week, I had a very special visit from the team at Paws and People.

Back in April, I read about Madison and GiGi, two Chinese Crested dogs who were rescued after being surrendered to Corran Kennels.

At around three years old, both girls girls required veterinary care due to problems affecting their hind legs, and rehabilitation support to help prepare them for finding their forever homes.

At The Animal Physio, I am proud to offer charities such as Paws and People subsidised treatment. This meant that Madison and GiGi were able to receive Class 4 laser therapy, time on the PEMF mat, massage, and myofascial release therapy at no cost to the charity.

My treatment aims to support their recovery by addressing the primary issues affecting their hind limbs, while also helping to relieve any compensatory pain and tension that may have developed elsewhere in the body as a result of altered movement patterns.

27/05/2026

It was a very warm evening for the penultimate session of our Canine Conditioning course.

We started by learning about the canine core muscles, with Labradoodle Wally kindly standing in as my model so I could show the group the location of the key muscles we would be targeting during the exercises.

After demonstrations from both Oliver and Paula, the dogs began working through the three exercise stations we had set up in the shade. This week’s stations were Cavaletti, Fold Back Down, and The Plank.

Each dog was measured individually for their Cavalletti poles so we could calculate the correct flexion and extension distances for safe and effective movement. For many of the dogs it was their first experience with Cavaletti work, and I was really impressed by how quickly they understood the exercise.

Next week, we will be bringing everything together into a full conditioning routine, using all the exercises we have learned throughout the course.

20/05/2026

20/05/2026

A reel from an amazing four days at the World Agility Open in the Netherlands.

I was lucky enough to travel over to watch the competition and support 5 clients representing Team Northern Ireland, along with 1 representing Team Ireland.

Agility is a team effort, and having a Physiotherapist as part of that team can make such a difference to the dog’s performance and overall wellbeing.

19/05/2026

Appologies for the slow response to emails and enquiries. I have been fortunate to travel to the Netherlands and support my clients in both the Northern Irish team as well as the Irish team. Normal services will resume shortly... but for now I feel like these competitors walking the course at the WAO 😅😅

15/05/2026

Week four of the canine conditioning course at Beechgrove was all about strength, mobility and stabilisation for the rear limbs.

Exercises such as the rear metatarsal stand and lateral weight shifting saw the dogs working on ways to stabilise their hind limbs and protect their feet.

Owners are starting to learn more about their dogs. Sasha the Pomski has rolled toes on her back right paw, and this is something only noticed by doing the stretches we practiced.

There was a moment of cuteness with Oliver demonstrating pivots with step up. He kept his front paws still whilst his back paw floated from side to side trying to find the target pad.

A special mention to Lurcher Tux, whilst he is the oldest course participant he has a natural flair for the exercises.

12/05/2026

Poor Calvin thought physio meant he was finally going to get some peace and quiet from Clifford, his new baby brother.
What he didn’t know was that I’d already told his parents to bring Clifford along too!
It’s always lovely to have puppies or more nervous siblings attend appointments so they can get used to the clinic environment, meet new people, and see that physio sessions are a positive experience.
Safe to say Clifford was very interested in everything Calvin was doing!

07/05/2026

Week 3 of our Canine Conditioning Course focused on thoracic limb strength, mobility, and stability.

We started by strengthening the muscles of the metacarpals and carpals. These are areas that are often overlooked, yet vitally important for balance, shock absorption, performance, and long-term soundness.

Everyone could really see the progression from our foundation plank exercise, with the dogs showing improved stillness, posture, and body control throughout the session. It’s fantastic watching them develop greater awareness and stability week by week.

I captured a fantastic video of Tux during the manual weight shifting exercise, clearly showing the muscles activating and working throughout the movement, which I’ll be sharing soon.

02/05/2026

Twelve-year-old Lola thoroughly enjoyed her first experience with The Animal Physio this week.

During the session, I was able to help Lola reduce muscle tension, improve circulation, and support her overall mobility. She also received laser therapy and myofascial release (massages) while resting comfortably on a PEMF mat, enhancing the therapeutic benefits of her treatment.

Therapeutic intervention can benefit dogs of all ages; however, the impact on older dogs is often more noticeable improvements due to age-related changes within the body. As dogs age, they are more likely to compensate for underlying discomfort, which can lead to secondary muscle tightness or overuse in other areas.

Lola has been given some gentle stretching exercises to continue at home, and we look forward to welcoming her back to the clinic soon to begin her underwater treadmill hydrotherapy programme.