brooke's blog

Winter is nigh..... Keep your best friend moving!

Tue, 01 May 2012 00:25:00 GMT

If you are finding that your best friend is slowing down in the the chillier mornings..... Let's work on keeping him moving!

It is now the time to get out your healing hands, learn how to massage your friend, give him the right sort of exercise and why not join me for a session in the heated underwater treadmill for the best workout his joints could possibly want.

Don't forget your cat can join in also for Physiotherapy (or even underwater treadmill if you saw Bella the wonder cat recently!)

If you would like to try some acupuncture to help with pain relief, relaxation and aid healing this is the perfect time. I would be happy to teach you what you can do at home to help keep him moving through the cooler months.

I have just updated my article on the front page about arthritis is you would like to learn more.

Embrace the winter and keep on keeping on!

Hip Stretches

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 23:55:00 GMT

As part of my job as an Animal Physiotherapist it is very important to teach the owners what they can do at home to improve the quality of life of their dog.

If you would like to have a peek at a common stretch I teach owners here is some information for you.

If your dog has patella luxation (often small breeds with a skipping gait) or hip dysplasia/low back pain this may not be appropriate so feel free to ask me first if this is appropriate for your dog.

Always watch his/her face when you are doing some massage/stretches to ensure it is pain free - they will let you know if you go slowly and listen!

Often when dogs get up in the morning they will do a 'downward dog' stretch (in yoga like a play bow) then an 'upward dog' stretch - this is like the upward dog stretch they naturally do. Dogs are so body aware they know in 2 stretches how to stretch their whole body.

How about you join in - a great start for you also and you will often set off your dog to do some Doga also!

Happy stretching!

Photos courtesy of 'The Healthy way to stretch your dog' (S.Foster, A.Foster)

Update on my Missie

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 23:41:00 GMT

I get asked every day how my Missie is recovering from her spinal injury January last year. I hope this photo tells a thousand words. From a dog that was incontinent and paralysed, I think she is doing very well (touch wood). It is a journey for sure with ups and downs, but overall she now has a great quality of life (despite her modifications). With the help of her vest she enjoys her swims on her own.

Many have come along in this journey with their own dog and you will understand how great it is to see them enjoying life.

She is 9 this year so hopefully we can keep these times going for a lot longer!

Is the tail wagging the dog? - APA e-news

Sun, 22 Apr 2012 08:04:00 GMT

Is the tail wagging the dog?

Did you know that the obesity problem in Australia is as prevalent in our best friend? 54% Australian adult humans are either overweight or obese and 7.4 million Australians over 18 years of age. Concurrently 33.5% of dogs are overweight and 7.6% obese and 30% of cats are overweight or obese. This is an important challenge to the veterinary practice to improve the quality of life of these animals.

What can we do about this problem?

Physiotherapists are a valuable resource and play as much of an important role in the veterinary profession to help alleviate this problem. Dogs experience the same secondary complications due to being overweight (including joint problems and arthritis, onset of diabetes mellitus, back and disc problems, ligament problems (CrCL), hypertension, heart disease, cancers, pancreatitis, hypothyroidism, renal disease, increased surgical and anaesthetic risk and skin allergies).

Prevention and early recognition (from a puppy) is important with the right advice about appropriate exercises to do with their puppy prior to being skeletally mature (much like the paediatric physiotherapist working with young athletes and school children). A multifaceted approach is essential other than to discuss nutritional and behavioural modification. Physiotherapy should also be recommended to provide a controlled, individual supervised exercise program and advice. Obviously it is important to treat any underlying condition that might also be a limiting factor in making exercise easier and to reduce pain.

Chauvet et al. 2011 discussed the issue that limited information existed for dogs regarding physical activity to improve weight loss. A 3 month weight-loss program demonstrated the potential benefit of including an organised exercise regimen, utilising an underwater treadmill, in conventional canine weight management programs. Many veterinary specialist clinics and canine hydrotherapy centres around Australia have this valuable tool in their practice.

As a dog is man's best friend, owning a dog can improve our health also.

Another study showed (Westgarth et al, 2012) that pregnant women who had dogs were more active, through walking, than those who did not own dogs. As walking is a low-risk exercise, participation of pregnant women in dog walking activities may be a useful context to investigate as part of a broader strategy to improve activity levels in pregnant women and obesity.

Ruzic et al, 2012 also concluded that dogs may help to maintain continuous physical activity in elderly cardiovascular patients promoting their physical capacity.

As human and animal physiotherapists we are in a unique situation to be able to kill two birds with one stone so to speak, and improve the quality of life of both the human and the animal. Less McDonald's (or Pal) and more fun in the sun I say!

Brooke Marsh, APA Animal Physiotherapist
Chair, Animal Physiotherapy Group

Equine Acupuncture Clinic

Sun, 22 Apr 2012 07:30:00 GMT

I had another fantastic week working to complete my Advanced Diploma of Equine Acupuncture. This is the 2nd last clinic to consolidate all the information I have learnt over the last year. We had some fantastic responses to treatment and I really enjoyed getting my brain working again. Chinese medicine is such a great compliment to Western medicine.

The more I learn the more I know there is to learn.

These large beasts are so responsive to treatment and I enjoyed my week immensely.

Thanks Tom for taking us patiently through all the twists and turns of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Squirt's home Program after Multiple Patella surgeries

Sat, 14 Apr 2012 09:28:00 GMT

Squirt is heading back up a long way north. This litlle fella has had 4 surgeries for patella luxation in 3 months. He needs a lot of physio to get him going and regain his buns of steel to support him through life.

As I cannot see these dedicated owners as needed I set up an extensive home program to help them out as much as possible. Here is a snippet of some massage and stretches for Squirt when he gets home.

Goodluck squirt!

Article US Massage guide - Animal Physiotherapy Australia

Sat, 14 Apr 2012 08:50:00 GMT

Animal Massage Guide

Alternative Health Care Options For Your Pet

Feel free to have a look at an article about Animal Physiotherapy in Australia and Holistic Animal Physiotherapy on a great US Animal Massage guide...

www.animalmassageguide.com/animal-physiotherapy/

Thanks Cattie for your enthusiasm and interest in this new profession.

One inspiring photo...

Sat, 14 Apr 2012 07:40:00 GMT

A picture tells a thousand words!

This made my day...

Sat, 14 Apr 2012 07:08:00 GMT

I treated Harry a few years ago after Cruciate surgery. He recovered very well but had an incident of back spasm on Easter weekend, requiring treatment. I was a little concerned about the fella and woke up to this message which made my day.

Hi Brooke

I can’t thank you enough for the care you took with Harry yesterday, and the extra time you gave him.

He slept for about 2 hrs when we got home, snuggled up in his pale blue dressing gown. When he woke up he was very happy and energetic. The massage and acupuncture worked wonders for him. This morning he woke us up (first time all week) ready to go out walking and demanding breakfast.

That is why I love my job!

Article iliopsoas Strains in Agility dogs....

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 06:56:00 GMT

If you would like to read an interesting article in the Canine Sports Medicine Journal on non-responsive hind-limb Lameness in Agility dogs: Iliopsoas Strain follow this link:

http://www.vetsportsmedicine.com/pdf/Proof_Non-responsiveHind-limbLamenessa.pdf

In my animal physiotherapy masters I did my research on the iliopsoas muscle in the dog with Hip dysplasia. In humans this is a very interesting muscle and likewise in the canine especially with respect to hip dysplasia and disc/spinal injuries.

Good brain food for Easter to satisfy your chocolate craving.... (hardly!)

The waiting room isn't big enough!

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 06:47:00 GMT

What a site! I am glad we had a clear waiting room at NCVS when Friday the lovely long haired Saint Bernard visited me yesterday. She now has a younger sibling who is keeping her on her toes and causing a few issues with her shoulders with rough play. I treated Friday years ago for a severe neck injury (conservative management for disc degeneration). She recovered very well with Physiotherapy treatment and is the easiest largest hairiest dog to treat with Acupuncture.

And yes Friday fits in my treadmill.... I must say I would enjoy the buoyancy of the water if I was that size.

This is her session today....

A little about this breed:

Saint Bernards are awesome family pets if you don't mind having a gigantic dog being part of your family, if you don't mind a lot of slobber, if you don't mind a lot of fur, and if you don't mind a dog who can clean off the dinner table with his tongue. Saint Bernards are famous for how good they are with children. They seem to have an innate understanding for how children think and behave, and are incredibly patient with them. They are gentle with little ones, and go out of their way not to hurt them. They aren't that easy to train as they can be independent, and occasionally stubborn. They are quick to housetrain, however. Saint Bernards were bred to be search and rescue dogs, and they need daily exercise and mental stimulation. However, they are not terribly active dogs, so they will need some incentive to exercise.

I am glad I am not stomaching the food bill for this household!

I am glad I am not stomaching the food bill for this household.

Charlie recovering from Spinal surgery

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 03:21:00 GMT

What a shot! Meet Charlie. This beautiful little fella came all the way from Gladstone. He was born with scoliosis in his thoracic spine, requiring surgery to decompress his spinal cord. He was in hospital with us at North Coast Veterinary Specialists for a few weeks. His amazingly dedicated owners drove down and back from Gladstone to visit and attend his physiotherapy sessions. He is now walking (though with ataxia - neurological 'wobbly' gait) but this will improve in time.

I look forward to seeing his progress and take my hat off to his owners (and extended family) for all the hard work they are putting into this fella to improve his quality of life.

Go Charlie!

Rainy days

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 03:12:00 GMT

Gotta love a sleepy physio session in a bali hut. What a lovely sight to see the relaxing session for Snoopy and her mum. After some underwater treadmill (no umbrella or gumboots required) and acupuncture and physio both enjoyed some time to revitalise.

I think we should rename the sunny coast! The underwater treadmill has been a blessing for many owners who have not been able to get their loved ones out for a good ol fashioned stroll in the park. Blue is so Blue today! Thanks huey for giving us some respite!

Read my new article about Acupuncture

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 21:30:00 GMT

I have just attached a new article I did for the NCVS (North Coast Veterinary Specialists) newsletter on the Acupuncture page on this website. It gives a background for understanding the east and west approach to Acupuncture.

I hope it helps you understand a little more how this 5000 year old method of treatment works.

APA Chair Induction Meeting - Melbourne

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 20:59:00 GMT

As I have taken on the Chair role of the Animal Physio Group (APG) of our Professional Body The Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA), we had an induction meeting last Friday in Melbourne.

I had the opportunity to meet other like minded physios from each sector. Many are not aware of the scope of our Practice. The other areas (those that work on 2 legs) include: Sports, Musculoskeletal, Aquatic, Acupuncture and Dry needling, Gerontology, Paediatrics, Neurology, Physiotherapy Business Australia, Cardiorespiratory, Continence And Women's Health.

How lucky we are to have so many well established sectors of our Profession. It was interesting to learn about the pathway of Physiotherapy since 1950s. We were headed by the Medical Pracitioner's Board but had our first Physiotherapist as head of our professional body in 1972 when we became Primary Practitioners.

As such a new area of Physiotherapy, our growing profession in Australia of Animal Physiotherapy is a very interesting path. It is just fantastic to have the support of the APA and to learn a little more about what they are doing for our profession. There have been many changes in the last few years and we now have a strategic plan for 2012-2014 to build our profession.

I learnt many techniques to help take on the role of Chair and am very grateful for the opportunity to meet all involved and feel supported in this new position. It is a very exciting time for Animal Physiotherapists in Australia and I hope the next 4 years are very productive to help continue to build our profession.

Ps Melbourne was usual Melbourne - rain, a bit of sun, rain, wind, rain.... I have 3 APA trips in the first few months of this year and I must say it seems to be the same. Saying that the 'sunny coast' needs a change of name also this year!