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One of the special animals we treated this month!

Read all about it here!

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Arthritis
An in-depth look at this condition.

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Brooke's blog

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

Brooke Marsh - Tuesday, May 01, 2012
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!



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Hip Stretches

Brooke Marsh - Tuesday, May 01, 2012

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)


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Update on my Missie

Brooke Marsh - Tuesday, May 01, 2012
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!


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

Brooke Marsh - Sunday, April 22, 2012

 

apa_animals.png
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

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Equine Acupuncture Clinic

Brooke Marsh - Sunday, April 22, 2012
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.




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Squirt's home Program after Multiple Patella surgeries

Brooke Marsh - Saturday, April 14, 2012

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!


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Article US Massage guide - Animal Physiotherapy Australia

Brooke Marsh - Saturday, April 14, 2012

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.


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This made my day...

Brooke Marsh - Saturday, April 14, 2012
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!





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Article iliopsoas Strains in Agility dogs....

Brooke Marsh - Friday, April 06, 2012

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!)


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The waiting room isn't big enough!

Brooke Marsh - Friday, April 06, 2012
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.









 
 

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