As one of less than 50 Animal Physiotherapists in Australia, Michelle Monk, believes animals are just as deserving of quality physiotherapy treatment as humans are.

But it’s not just a matter of sending your pooch to the local physio, becoming a dedicated animal physiotherapist requires specialist training, which Monk undertook almost 20 years ago, pioneering the niche industry in Australia.

“I completed some short courses in animal physiotherapy after being a human physio for six years and started offering services at my local vet.

“Soon after, my husband and I bought an existing dog swimming pool and started the first canine rehab and swim centre for dogs in Melbourne in 2002.

“The next year we had made and installed the first underwater treadmill for dogs in Australia.”

The term physiotherapist is a protected term for those with a university Physiotherapy Bachelor or higher degrees.

Human physiotherapists are then required to do post graduate training in order to become an Animal Physiotherapist. This can be from shorter certificate courses to a Diploma or even a Masters degree.

At the time there were a couple of dog swimming pools - some for training greyhounds, and a few physiotherapists treating in a mobile capacity for horses and dogs – but nothing like Monk was offering.

What qualification you choose depends on what sort of physiotherapy you’d like to do, and which animals you’d like to treat.

The Masters In Animal Physiotherapy program trains us in dogs and horses but the principles can be applied to any species - you just need to learn their anatomy.”

So, why might an animal require the services of a physiotherapist?

According to Monk, the list is almost as endless as that which would apply to a human.

“For as many reasons as you can think of that humans would require physio then animals are the same,” she says.

Conditions include:

• arthritis management
• Orthopedic surgery- joint replacement, cruciate surgery, hip and elbow dysplasia, ligament repairs, fracture repair, amputation
• Neurological surgery- spinal surgery for disc prolapse, spinal fracture
• Sporting and over-use injuries like ligament sprains, muscle strains
• Poor mobility in older pets
• Chronic neurological diseases like degenerative myelopathy
• Cardio-respiratory issues- assistance with lung clearance and improving breathing
• Muscle loss due to medication or cage confinement
• Congenital birth abnormalities- fitting braces and artificial limbs
• Multi- trauma- hit by car: fracture and soft tissue repair
• Back and neck pain
• Sports performance/ conditioning/ recovery
•  

Monk believes more animal physiotherapists are required to adequately treat the number of animals that would benefit from the service.

“Many owners find us through word of mouth and haven't been told about us by their vet.
“Some of that is because vets aren’t aware of the scope of what we can treat and help. It is very wide and varied

“Still, it’s a growing profession, there is a great need for these animals to be cared for with the skills only physiotherapists possess.

“As the years go on, and really since social media took off, people can see what’s available online and seek out therapy themselves.”

Monk says the treatments Animal Physiotherapists use are very similar to what would be used when a human patient attends a physiotherapist.

“Physiotherapists are experts in movement analysis so a thorough assessment includes watching how your pet moves, then assessing their body: their joints, their muscles, ligaments, bones, their posture, any confrontational issues.

“We then discuss with the owner a treatment plan that suits their individual dog’s needs and their goals for their dog.”

Treatments include manual therapies like joint mobilisations, massage, stretching, electrotherapy such as laser therapy, electrical stimulation, pulsed electromagnetic field therapy, heat and ice, rehabilitation exercises performed in the gym and targeted home programs for strengthening, fitness, stretching.

“We are fortunate to have an underwater treadmill in our clinic and many dogs benefit from this therapy to strengthen them when they have had recent surgery or injury, or are frail.

“It’s so beneficial as we can unload painful or healing structures while still strengthening muscles, and encouraging weight bearing.

“For our neurological patients like those who have had spinal injury or surgery and whose legs are moving, we use the underwater treadmill for gait re-education.

“A therapist goes into the water and helps re-educate the limbs to walk. Without this form of therapy progress for these dogs can be very slow.

“We also fit braces, harnesses and wheelcarts and prosthetics for dogs who have lost a limb.”

For Monk, animal physiotherapy is the most rewarding path she’s ever been on professionally and personally.

“Not only do I get to do something I love every day, I get to change people’s and their pet’s lives.

“Help them to be more comfortable, move better, regain the ability to walk, save their lives and live longer and happier.

“It’s my calling to be of service in this way and I’m passionate about teaching other therapists to provide these services also.

“There is always something different every day and new dogs and people to meet and help.”