Physio for Pets

01/01/2026

Starting my hand therapy.

Because after 29 years of being a physiotherapist, it is now starting to catch up with my hands.🤦‍♀️

22/12/2025

21/12/2025

Hi Everyone,

That’s a wrap for the year. Physio for Pets will be taking a break over the summer and officially back on the 2nd Feb 2026.

For any urgent cases, I have my team member Tara covering Saturdays starting the 3rd Jan 2026 - this will be by appointment only.

I would like to take the time to thank you all for supporting my small business Physio for Pets. Look forward to coming back refreshed in 2026, just like the little dude below who is showing his best relaxation mode as cats do it best.

Have a lovely Christmas and New Year.

17/12/2025

Our next question on the Equine Cervical Neck -
How does arthritis in the neck affect hoof handling of both front and hind feet? Thank You, Monique L

If your horse struggles with their farrier work or afterward, there could be a reason unrelated to the trim/shoeing.
• Pain with sustained positioning.
Farrier work requires the horse to hold a limb up and often slightly flexed for several minutes at a time. For a horse with lower cervical (neck) arthritis, this prolonged positioning acts like a long flexion test, stressing painful joints and surrounding soft tissues.

• Nerve involvement (especially in the front limbs).
The nerves that supply the front legs originate in the lower neck and brachial plexus. Arthritis can irritate or compress these nerves. Vibrations from rasping and hammering travel up the limb and can amplify nerve pain, making hoof work very uncomfortable.

• Shoulder girdle strain.
Lifting and holding a front leg requires stabilization through the neck and shoulder girdle. If the neck is arthritic, this effort can trigger pain that persists for days after farrier work, sometimes mimicking lameness caused by the trim or shoeing.

• Hind feet are affected too.
Although the hind limbs are not directly innervated by the brachial plexus, holding a hind leg up requires the horse to brace through the neck and back to maintain balance. Neck pain makes this difficult, so the horse may resist, fidget, or become sore afterward.

• Delayed soreness after farrier work.
Horses with cervical arthritis may appear fine during trimming but become lame or stiff for 2–4 days afterward, leading to farriers being blamed for issues like “taking too much off” or nail pain, when the real source is cervical discomfort.

Bottom line:
If a horse consistently struggles with farrier work—front or hind—especially with signs of soreness afterward, resistance to holding legs up, or sensitivity to vibration, the neck is an important place to investigate, particularly for arthritis or nerve-related pain.

09/12/2025

My office this morning. Caught this guy sneaking stealth mode into my work basket which I had hidden in a paperbark tree.Such a cheeky monkey and a lovely curiousity of a young horse. He wasn’t the patient by the way.

06/12/2025

06/12/2025

Another surprise message from client from 12months ago who was awaiting surgery for her dog.

Again fabulous outcome as being a diligent owner and continuing her rehab , has really paid off in that her dog no longer needs surgery.

Well done.

A few words of gratitude , mean so much to me!!

06/12/2025

Just when I was starting to feel abit flat and tired………I get a surprise message from a new client I just saw on Thursday.

Some gentle joint mobilisation to the neck to address a nasty DOGGY WRY neck type pain.

Feeling good!

Just another 2 weeks before Xmas, so if you need a review for your pets, best to book in soon as clinic will be closed for month of JAN.

28/11/2025

Describe what is happening to these toes in the forelimb?

Lameness ? Definitely

27/11/2025

First trial of hydrotherapy in the home pool.

23/11/2025

Observation time.

What abnormality do you see in these legs?

22/11/2025

4 weeks till Xmas break. If you are needing physio for your pets, please get in soon.