Animal physiotherapy
The Animal Physiotherapy in Germany is a government not recognized method of treatment. The origin of animal physiotherapy can no longer be proven today; it can be assumed that it is just as old as human physiotherapy . Today animal physiotherapy is the standard of treatment in Scandinavia, England, France, the Netherlands and America after many operations and injuries, in old animals to maintain mobility or to improve the performance of sport animals.
Most diseases to be treated affect muscles , joints , bones or the spine . Possible consequences of such diseases are pain , which can be expressed in lameness . With the help of physiotherapy, illnesses and pain in these areas can be treated in a targeted manner. The relieving postures of the animals, which often result after lameness and operations, are released again with the help of individual exercises and manual techniques.
Animal physiotherapy is often a form of human physiotherapy that has been converted to the animal musculoskeletal system. Selected devices and methods from human medicine such as electrotherapy and medical ultrasound , which can also be used on animals, are used. In addition to these methods, massages, passive physiotherapy (in the form of stretching or passive movement or movement) and manual therapies are also used. To complement a successful therapy, exercises on an underwater treadmill can include (see: dog treadmill ).
Possible uses of animal physiotherapy
- Rehabilitation after orthopedic operations in z. B. fractures , cruciate ligament tears , spinal diseases, etc.
- Arthrosis of the joints and spine
- Back problems (calcifications and herniated discs, spondylosis )
- increased muscle breakdown ( muscle atrophy )
- painful muscle tension
- Tendon disorders
- Lameness for which no clear cause can be found
- Patellar dislocations ( dislocated kneecap)
- Diseases and damage to the nervous system
- Hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia
- Cauda equina compression syndrome
- other diseases of the musculoskeletal system and the nervous system
- Trauma / injuries, e.g. B. after accidents such as sprains, dislocations, broken bones, whiplash injuries, etc.
- Keeping old animals healthy
- Maintaining or improving movement in animals with restricted mobility
The weight and diet of the animals also play an important role in physiotherapy. For example, an overweight dog or cat has significantly more problems with the musculoskeletal system than animals of normal weight. It is therefore important for prevention that the owners pay attention to the animals' diet. That is why there are also special offers for nutritional advice for pets .
literature
- Cécile-Simone Alexander (editor): Physical therapy for small animals. Parey Verlag, 2003.
- Kerstin Hasse-Schwenkler: Physiotherapy for dogs . Kynos Verlag , Mürlenbach, 2nd edition 2007
- Mima Homann: Physiotherapy in the practice of small animals: from diagnosis to therapy plan. Sonntag Verlag, Stuttgart, 2007.
- Tanja Richter: Manual therapy of the horse's spine. Sonntag Verlag, Stuttgart, 2006.
- Norman Zellmer: Dogs on the massage bed . In: Leipziger Volkszeitung from March 5, 2012