Hurn Forest Canine Rehabilitation Ltd

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Christchurch, Dorset
Hurn Forest Canine Rehabilitation Ltd

Hurn Forest Canine Rehabilitation, led by Carlie Dixon, a registered and fully insured vet physio.

28/04/2026

I had a wonderful start to my day this morning, made even more special by a lovely surprise from one of my clients. Sixpence arrived for her hydrotherapy session proudly introducing her new sister, Tuppence, to show her what it’s all about.

Moments like this always mean so much, seeing a dog who had a difficult start in life find their way into a loving forever home and truly thrive makes me incredibly happy.

25/04/2026

I am deeply concerned about the growing trend of canine physiotherapists using wobble cushions online. A quick search of Tiktok or Instagram and you’ll see dogs jumping straight onto unstable equipment because it looks fun and eye-catching.

Starting a dog on unstable surfaces too early is not good conditioning or rehab.

Without a solid foundation of strength, control and body awareness, dogs will overcompensate. Instead of activating the correct muscles, dogs often shift weight and brace through the wrong areas just to stay upright. This reinforces poor movement patterns, whether the dog is recovering from injury or simply training. The sudden shift of a wobble cushion can cause unnecessary strain on joints and soft tissue injuries.

No 20-second viral video is going to teach a skill that requires proper training. You need to build foundations, work on proprioception, and then start to challenge balance.

Wobble cushions have their place in physiotherapy, but they’re not a toy and shouldn’t be a trend.

24/04/2026

Blues boops 🐾

31/03/2026

Dogs come in all shapes and sizes, and their unique conformations can affect how they move, place weight on their joints, and develop compensations over time. Canine physiotherapy plays an important role in supporting dogs with different body structures, whether it’s a long-backed breed prone to spinal strain, a large breed managing increased joint stress, or a more compact dog with differences in limb alignment.

Through targeted exercises, manual therapy, and tailored rehabilitation plans, physiotherapy helps to improve strength, mobility, and balance, while also reducing discomfort and the risk of injury. It’s not just about recovery, it’s about helping every dog move as comfortably and efficiently as possible, whatever their build.

06/03/2026

Double trouble at the clinic 🧡💛🤎

04/03/2026

Part 2: OA in YOUNG dogs...
When my friend received the radiology report confirming hip laxity and early arthritic change, she spiraled a little. And I don’t blame her. There’s something confronting about seeing the words “degenerative joint disease” attached to a dog who still feels like a baby.

Arthritis carries weight. It sounds permanent. Progressive. Like a door quietly closing.

Because we’re friends, she asked me what so many clients ask in that moment:
“If this was your dog… what would you do?”

And I remember sitting with that question for a bit. Not because I didn’t have ideas - but because arthritis management isn’t a single decision. It’s not one supplement, one injection, one exercise plan. It’s a long game, just as progressive as the condition it treats.

The interesting thing was that she already had so many protective pieces in place. He was lean. He swam regularly. His lifestyle didn’t revolve around repetitive high-impact work. We could easily adjust his exercise to favour strength and control over intensity. We layered in specific hip strengthening within his training sessions. We looked at flooring, stairs, environmental stressors. His nutrition was already thoughtful.

What this experience reinforced for me is something we often discuss clinically but don’t always communicate clearly to owners: osteoarthritis evolves, and our management needs to evolve with it.

Early-stage disease is not the same as moderate or advanced disease. The joint environment changes. The inflammatory drivers shift. Compensation patterns build over time. What a one-year-old dog with early laxity needs is very different from what that same dog might need at seven.

That staged approach isn’t just theoretical. It’s supported by growing consensus in the literature. The treatment framework outlined in the COAST (Canine OsteoArthritis Staging Tool) guidelines, for example, emphasizes matching intervention intensity to disease stage - starting with foundational weight, exercise, and environmental strategies, and progressively layering pharmacologic and advanced therapies as clinical signs evolve. It moves us away from both under-treating early disease and overloading mild cases with unnecessary interventions.

When we think in stages, the diagnosis becomes less overwhelming. It shifts from “How do I fix this?” to “What does this dog need right now?”

And maybe that’s the more empowering question.

If you’d like a structured breakdown of how treatment recommendations shift through the stages of progression, we’ve unpacked the guidelines in detail in our blog. Link in the comments

I’d love to hear - when you’re faced with early OA in a young dog, how do you decide what to implement immediately, and what to thoughtfully reserve for later?

21/02/2026

Hydrotherapy can be very beneficial for dogs with luxating patellas. The buoyancy of water reduces stress on the knee joint while still allowing controlled movement, which helps strengthen the surrounding muscles, especially the quadriceps and hip stabilisers. Stronger muscles improve joint stability and can reduce pain, limping, and the frequency of patella dislocation. Additionally, the resistance of water promotes low impact conditioning, improving range of motion and supporting recovery without overloading the joint.

15/02/2026

Veterinary physiotherapy laser therapy is a non invasive treatment used to support recovery from injuries in dogs.
Whether your dog is recovering from surgery, a muscle strain, ligament damage, or chronic joint issues like arthritis, laser therapy can play a valuable role in the healing process.

Laser therapy works by delivering specific wavelengths of light into the tissues. This light energy stimulates cellular activity, increasing circulation and encouraging the body’s natural repair mechanisms. As a result, damaged tissues receive more oxygen and nutrients, which can speed up healing and reduce recovery time.

14/02/2026

Post hydro stretch from our girl Shelly 🐚 🧘‍♀️

05/02/2026

As a veterinary physiotherapist, one of the most common issues I see in sporting dogs is insufficient warm up before activity.
Whether it’s flyball, canicross, working trials, agility or any high intensity sport, a proper warm up is not optional it’s essential!!

Why warm up?
A structured warm up gradually increases heart rate and circulation, raises muscle temperature, and prepares joints, tendons, and the nervous system for the demands ahead. This improves coordination, flexibility, and reaction time, allowing your dog to perform more efficiently and comfortably.

The benefits of warming up include:
• Reduced risk of muscle strains, tendon and ligament injuries
• Improved performance and movement quality
• Better joint lubrication and range of motion
• Smoother transitions into fast or complex movements

What can happen without a warm up?
Dogs asked to perform at speed with “cold” muscles are at significantly higher risk of soft tissue injuries, joint overload, compensatory movement patterns, and long term wear and tear. Many injuries I treat could have been prevented with just a few minutes of appropriate preparation.

A warm up doesn’t need to be long but it does need to be intentional. Your dog’s body deserves the same preparation we expect of ourselves before sport.

If you have any questions or would like further advice, please get in touch 🐾

01/02/2026

Canine intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) can significantly affect mobility and coordination, making post-operative rehabilitation essential for a successful recovery. Canine hydrotherapy and physiotherapy are key components of this process, supporting both neurological and musculoskeletal healing.

When little Poppy first began rehabilitation, she was uncoordinated, stiff, and showed proprioceptive deficits, including knuckling of her hind limbs. Hydrotherapy provided a low impact environment where buoyancy reduced spinal and joint loading, allowing safe gait re education, improved range of motion, and enhanced neuromuscular activation. Physiotherapy complemented this by addressing muscle weakness, stiffness, and balance through targeted therapeutic exercises.

Twelve weeks after surgery, Poppy has returned to normal functional mobility. Her progress highlights the important role that structured hydrotherapy and physiotherapy play in restoring movement, coordination, and quality of life following IVDD.

23/01/2026

Medical and Rehabilitation aids!

I’m really proud to offer professional fitting of medical and rehabilitation aids here at my clinic 🐾

As a veterinary physiotherapist, I’m trained in animal anatomy, biomechanics, gait analysis, rehabilitation, and pain management. This allows me to properly assess how each dog moves, identify where support is needed, and ensure the right aid is chosen and fitted correctly.

I fit a wide range of equipment, including braces, harnesses, dog wheelchairs, knee braces, splints, orthotic splints, supportive wraps, and shoulder and elbow braces. Correct fitting is essential, not only for comfort, but for safety and effectiveness and it’s something I take very seriously.

Every patient is different, and rehabilitation is never one size fits all. I’m also pleased to offer all my clients a 10% discount on any medical and rehabilitation aids ordered through the clinic, making specialist support more accessible.

Being able to provide this service in clinic or at home means I can support dogs with tailored solutions that help them move better, recover safely, and enjoy a better quality of life 🐾✨

Address

Christchurch
Christchurch, Dorset
BH242NX

Telephone

+447572033345

Website

http://www.hurnforestcaninerehabilitation.com/

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