Not Happy Physio.

[Rascalmyshadow]

Chloe had patella surgery in Jan and has barely used her leg since, she was monitored closely by her surgeon and has been to Chiro and my regular vet, we have followed all instructions with her still not using the leg.

We have answers.

Edited June 28, 2016 by Rascalmyshadow

[persephone]

I hope you have sent a report to that physio - it will maybe stop further mistakes ...

[Little Gifts]

We have a physio (who also does reiki). She charges $70 and is here for at least an hour. Massive difference in the dogs overall (and not just sore areas) after her visit too. She goes all over the body to pick up the compensating areas. Huge difference in price (and outcome). I'd also be updating your physio on what the xrays say. How dissappointing all round.

[Guest crazydoglady99]

Oh my goodness Rascal

How disappointing for you. Hope you get some better answers, and you can find out whatever is troubling Chloe.

Edited June 23, 2016 by crazydoglady99

[sas]

We have a physio (who also does reiki). She charges $70 and is here for at least an hour. Massive difference in the dogs overall (and not just sore areas) after her visit too. She goes all over the body to pick up the compensating areas. Huge difference in price (and outcome). I'd also be updating your physio on what the xrays say. How dissappointing all round.

Are you sure that's an Animal Physio? They are Human Physio's with an additional degree in Animals.

[sas]

Chloe had patella surgery in Jan and has barely used her leg since, she was monitored closely by her surgeon and has been to Chiro and my regular vet, we have followed all instructions with no progress.

As advised by DOL'ers we took her to a highly recommended physio, I was charged $150 to have her massage the dog for 10 mins then tell me she thinks she has a completely luxating hip and no amount of physio will help, we need to do another major specialist surgery.

Of course I had a melt down and rushed her straight back to my vet thinking the worst, she has still got soreness in the knee but there is nothing wrong with her hip.

Next week we are going to knock her out and do more X-rays to see what's happening but I'm so upset I spent all that money for nothing.

I should add, she did feel and manipulate the dog and write a report but the only treatment she did was the massage.

Good luck with the x-rays, at least then you'll know where you stand. That is a very expensive massage, perhaps that was that only treatment that was suited to the dog at that point - without addressing it with the Physio, it's hard to really know why they didn't do any other treatments.

[RuralPug]

Just wondering - X-Rays will prove right or wrong about the hip dysplasia. But is there any chance that there is a soft tissue issue with the hip ligaments or similar? I know that you said your vet manipulated the hip and found no signs of looseness or pain - but there may not be if the pain only manifests on weight bearing.

That would mean that the physio was right about the patella, even though her diagnosis about why was off mark. When they do the hip X-Rays, they should check that patella again, just to be sure.

Of course, it would need a MRI or similar to check soft tissue damage and that is often not practical. I do hope that the mystery of the apparently non-healing patella is solved soon.

[*kirty*]

Who did the surgery? Local vet or specialist?

[karly101]

I don't think all physio's are equal. Was it one recommended by her surgeon? I hope that the massage technique was taught to you so you could continue it at home. I have seen a couple where there is a strong behavioral component and those can be quite tricky in recovery. I hope you do notice an improvement soon it can be so frustrating when you spend all that money and time in surgery and the outcome isn't as expected.

I took my dog to a physio for a 2nd opinion too and hoped to learn some massage/exercise techniques to strengthen the leg. Didn't really think I got a huge amount out of it too.

[Rascalmyshadow]

Chloe's surgery was not done by a specialist as such but the vet that did it specialises in patella surgery and has developed his own technique.

I don't think what he's done is the problem, I think she has jumped or done something else to hurt it.

Strange thing is even while we had her on Metacam she still didn't want to use the leg.

My vet checked where the physio thought the hip was a problem and the reason the bone feels so weird on that leg is because there is so much muscle wastage.

Both my vet, her surgeon and the Chiro all have only found soreness in the knee, nothing in the hip area. Also she was xrayed prior to surgery and it didn't show anything wrong with her hip.

Oh well I guess we will hopefully have some answers on Tue, my vet is going to X-ray both entire legs (her other patella completely luxates but causes no pain) so we can get an overall assessment.

I just can't believe we are having so much problem with a 2.5kg dog, although the vet did say the littlies can be the worst because they can get around so easily without needing four legs so they often just won't use it again.

[Little Gifts]

We have a physio (who also does reiki). She charges $70 and is here for at least an hour. Massive difference in the dogs overall (and not just sore areas) after her visit too. She goes all over the body to pick up the compensating areas. Huge difference in price (and outcome). I'd also be updating your physio on what the xrays say. How dissappointing all round.

Are you sure that's an Animal Physio? They are Human Physio's with an additional degree in Animals.

Certified in:

Equine Massage

Equus Muscle Management

Animal Husbandry Levels 1 & 2

Artificial Insemination (A.I.)

Reiki Master

Equine CST Levels 1,2 & 3 and dissection

Emmett Technique Level 3

Member of IICT

I don't actually know what all these mean of course! She studied and worked in America for a long time and has worked with racing horses and racing dogs for a long time. She's also involved in horse and greyhound rescue. Very interesting to watch her work. The dogs can get away if they want to but don't and she keeps at the bad spots until she feels some kind of release and often the dogs will do a big sigh or yawn to confirm it. They are definately calmer and more limber. She was recommended to us by a doggy hydrotherapy business who didn't feel our old dog was a candidate for their services.

Edited June 24, 2016 by Little Gifts

[Rascalmyshadow]

We have a physio (who also does reiki). She charges $70 and is here for at least an hour. Massive difference in the dogs overall (and not just sore areas) after her visit too. She goes all over the body to pick up the compensating areas. Huge difference in price (and outcome). I'd also be updating your physio on what the xrays say. How dissappointing all round.

Are you sure that's an Animal Physio? They are Human Physio's with an additional degree in Animals.

Certified in:

Equine Massage

Equus Muscle Management

Animal Husbandry Levels 1 & 2

Artificial Insemination (A.I.)

Reiki Master

Equine CST Levels 1,2 & 3 and dissection

Emmett Technique Level 3

Member of IICT

I don't actually know what all these mean of course! She studied and worked in America for a long time and has worked with racing horses and racing dogs for a long time. She's also involved in horse and greyhound rescue. Very interesting to watch her work. The dogs can get away if they want to but don't and she keeps at the bad spots until she feels some kind of release and often the dogs will do a big sigh or yawn to confirm it. They are definately calmer and more limber. She was recommended to us by a doggy hydrotherapy business who didn't feel our old dog was a candidate for their services.

Sounds very positive is she in Vic?

[megan_]

Rascalmyshadow, if you went to the person I think you went to, she is a proper, qualified physio with a Masters in small animal physio (ie she went to uni to become a human physio and then did her masters). I have taken my boy to her and have been very impressed. She works with lots and lots of dogs post op. The actual massage at the first session didn't take to long, as she was focused on diagnosing what was wrong and drawing up a treatment plan. My vet - who has greyhounds - recommended her. I could be way off the mark though, but there aren't that many qualified small animal physios around (apparently they tend to specialise in either cats/dogs or horses, and not both). I think I paid $180 for that first session.

If you're getting $ back from insurance then I'd personally stick with officially qualified people otherwise you might void your claim.

There is someone in Vic who a lot of the agility people use who is meant to be brilliant. Don't know how many post-op dogs she sees though.

Edited June 24, 2016 by megan_

[Rascalmyshadow]

She is highly qualified and is obviously good at what she does but $150 is a bit steep when not much could be done on the day. She did give us two exercises to try but said without surgery there not likely to do much.

I didn't mean to suggest she's not good at her job just not happy spending so much money for nothing, especially when it's only $20 for a Chiro visit.

Oh edited to add we don't have private health for the dogs all out of our pocket.

Edited June 24, 2016 by Rascalmyshadow

[_PL_]

A vet explained to me ages ago after an osteo surgery that limping can sometimes become a habit after the actual pain is gone. That's not a lot of help to you and I can't give you proof but apparently it can be more in their mind than physical. A result of looking after that limb while it heals.

[Rascalmyshadow]

A vet explained to me ages ago after an osteo surgery that limping can sometimes become a habit after the actual pain is gone. That's not a lot of help to you and I can't give you proof but apparently it can be more in their mind than physical. A result of looking after that limb while it heals.

Yeah that's what my vet said as well, if it gets to a stage where she can't or won't use it and we run out of options we will consider amputating but obviously not without doing everything possible first.

[Jumabaar]

Just to help people understand.

It is illegal for anyone who is not registered as a Physiotherapist to say that they do Physio or Physical therapy. They can be reported to the Physical therapist association of Australia for breeching this as it is a protected title.

It is illegal for anyone who is not a registered Veterinarian to take money for making a diagnosis on an animal as it is an act of Veterinary Science.

A good rehabilitation therapist will certainly pick up on subtle signs and potentially secondary problems. Ie there may be hip laxity due to muscle wastage.

So I think checking in with your vet its an awesome idea.

Edited June 28, 2016 by Jumabaar

[J...]

She is highly qualified and is obviously good at what she does but $150 is a bit steep when not much could be done on the day. She did give us two exercises to try but said without surgery there not likely to do much.

I didn't mean to suggest she's not good at her job just not happy spending so much money for nothing, especially when it's only $20 for a Chiro visit.

Oh edited to add we don't have private health for the dogs all out of our pocket.

Maybe you should be discussing your concerns with the physio after you've had x-rays done and read. You haven't mentioned names but those of us who have an interest in keeping our sporting dogs fit and strong can pretty much work out who you are talking about.

$150 does sound like a lot but an initial consult is a longer appointment. Yes, the physio couldn't proceed but she can't just slot another patient in at a moment's notice to fill the rest of that time slot.

I'd wait and see what the x-rays show first. There is a reason why humans see a physio for muscle injuries and rehab, because your GP is a generalist not a specialist. I've had several minor injuries and one major one in my agility dogs that I guarantee would not have been picked by the local vets - no lameness, no obvious swelling. Nothing against my local vets, they just don't have the interest or skills so I do a 7 hour round trip to go to someone who does.

[Rascalmyshadow]

Unfortunately I wasted a lot of money seeing physio's over the years for my own injuries and got very little results wasn't until I found my Chiro that I finally got results and became pain free, so I am very sceptical about taking my dogs and with the cost involved I most likely wont be going back.

Unfortunately my opinion is probably going to rub some people up the wrong way but I can't afford to throw that much money away to get nothing out of it.

[Little Gifts]

We have a physio (who also does reiki). She charges $70 and is here for at least an hour. Massive difference in the dogs overall (and not just sore areas) after her visit too. She goes all over the body to pick up the compensating areas. Huge difference in price (and outcome). I'd also be updating your physio on what the xrays say. How dissappointing all round.

Are you sure that's an Animal Physio? They are Human Physio's with an additional degree in Animals.

Certified in:

Equine Massage

Equus Muscle Management

Animal Husbandry Levels 1 & 2

Artificial Insemination (A.I.)

Reiki Master

Equine CST Levels 1,2 & 3 and dissection

Emmett Technique Level 3

Member of IICT

I don't actually know what all these mean of course! She studied and worked in America for a long time and has worked with racing horses and racing dogs for a long time. She's also involved in horse and greyhound rescue. Very interesting to watch her work. The dogs can get away if they want to but don't and she keeps at the bad spots until she feels some kind of release and often the dogs will do a big sigh or yawn to confirm it. They are definately calmer and more limber. She was recommended to us by a doggy hydrotherapy business who didn't feel our old dog was a candidate for their services.

Sounds very positive is she in Vic?

Queensland in the Logan area.