These days, veterinary care isn’t just about giving an injection or a course of tablets – for many conditions, we will often employ complementary therapies. Some of these we are able to offer in house and some we are happy to refer clients for.
Laser therapy
Laser therapy is a relatively new idea in veterinary medicine and has major benefits in treating a number of conditions such as arthritis, tendonitis and skin conditions and is also very good at helping to speed up wound healing and recovery from surgery.
It involves using a specialised hand-held laser device which emits varying wavelengths of light designed to penetrate tissues and therefore reduce inflammation, increase circulation and improve cell repair. We can offer courses of laser treatment for both acute and chronic conditions, with each session usually taking less than 10 minutes.
It is completely painless and most pets find the warming effect quite relaxing!
Acupuncture
Acupuncture uses fine needles in specific points around the body to relieve pain by facilitating the release of the body’s natural pain relieving chemicals known as endogenous opioids. Research has also revealed that acupuncture acts on an area of the brain called the hypothalamus where it has ‘normalising’ effects, opening up the possibility of treating of all sorts of internal medical problems. Acupuncture can be used in all species but we tend to treat mainly cats, dogs and rabbits, for conditions ranging from back pain and muscle strains to urinary and airway disease.
Physiotherapy and hydrotherapy
Physiotherapy and hydrotherapy are most commonly utilised in cases of osteoarthritis or in recovery from surgery. Physiotherapy involves skilled manipulation and palpation of the affected areas alongside physical exercises in order to improve strength and flexibility.
Hydrotherapy encourages the pet to exercise at a gentle pace but in water, so removing the stress of their bodyweight. It is particularly useful in neurological conditions and in heavier animals with joint conditions. We are currently not able to offer these services ‘in-house’ but work closely with local therapists who we know are qualified and insured to provide the appropriate treatment to your pet.
They will always request that you are referred to them by one of our vets to make sure that it is safe for them to treat your pet and as this is a professional service and requires some paperwork on our part, we do apply a charge of £14 per referral (price correct as of July 2022).
Over 30 years of caring for our clients pets’ well-being