Vet Physique

25/08/2026

When do we use wheels for dogs?🦽

Wheels can be an amazing quality-of-life tool for dogs with significant mobility challenges, but they aren't right for every patient.

A veterinary physiotherapist may recommend wheels to enable a dog to enjoy activities they otherwise couldn't participate in.

A few important things to remember:
- Wheels are an aid, not a replacement for rehabilitation.
- They should generally be used for short, specific periods, rather than continuously.
- The dog must be comfortable and willing to use them.
- Proper fitting is essential to prevent rubbing, pressure sores and discomfort.
- The patient's condition, strength and tolerance should be regularly reassessed.

Most importantly, wheels should help a dog do more of what they enjoy, not simply make them move when they can't move independently.

Every patient is different, so the decision to use wheels should be made on an individual basis with guidance from your veterinary team.

20/08/2026

Loving the job!
Loving the feedback!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

14/08/2026

Some patients leave paw prints on our hearts long after they’re gone. 🤍🐾

Thank you to Salome Kuyper for capturing these special patients so beautifully. These portraits are such a meaningful way for their families to honour their memories and the love they shared.

12/08/2026

Real patients
Real progress
Real feedback
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

14/07/2026

Fauresmith Endurance ride 2026

Incredible athletes. Committed riders. Unforgettable determination.

02/07/2026

25/06/2026

Excited for Fauresmith 2026!

Contact Somé for bookings.
Cell: 082 385 6981
Email: [email protected]

25/06/2026

Stories like these make it all worthwhile 🌟

25/06/2026

Nothing drives me more insane than hearing thoracic spinal radiographs described as "mild" when the horse says otherwise.

Every month, I review images showing spinous processes that are touching, overriding, fusing, or demonstrating multi-level compression. Yet far too often, the conversation stops there.

The spinous processes are not the joint.

Read that again.

The spinous processes are not the joint.

They are simply the part of the vertebrae we can readily see on standard radiographs.

Below them lies the anatomy that matters most to function and pain generation: facet joints, intervertebral discs, spinal nerves, the spinal cord, ligaments, muscles, tendons, ribs, and blood vessels.

None of this can be seen on a standard radiograph of only the spinous processes.

Most importantly, spinal nerves exit at every single vertebral level below the spinous processes.

Every. Single. Level.

So when I hear, "It's only mild," while standing in front of a horse with behavioural changes, altered posture, performance limitations, and clear dysfunction on assessment, I have to ask:

Mild according to whom?

Because the horse often disagrees.

Imaging findings and clinical signs do not always correlate. Horses with significant radiographic changes can appear comfortable, while others with seemingly "mild" findings can be profoundly affected.

This is why imaging should never be interpreted in isolation.

We have many other metrics to evaluate a horse:

* anatomy & physiology (i.e. understanding normal anatomy versus pathology)
* movement assessment (gait evaluation)
* passive joint evaluation
* palpation (muscles, tendons, fascia)
* case history
* behaviour (this one is often the most clear)

And most importantly, we have the horse.

A radiograph is one piece of the puzzle.

What we see on the image may only be the tip of the iceberg.

24/06/2026