Carver - Practical Physiotherapy for Veterinary Nurses

1. Chapter 01
2. Chapter 02
3. Chapter 03
4. Chapter 04

1. Chapter 01
2. Chapter 02
3. Chapter 03
4. Chapter 04

Donna Carver BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy
Dip AVN (surg), RVN, MCSP

Chartered Physiotherapist, Specialist Veterinary Nurse

School of Veterinary Medicine

University of Glasgow, UK

This edition first published 2016 2016 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Carver, Donna, 1968 , author.
Practical physiotherapy for veterinary nurses / Donna Carver.
p. ; cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 978-1-118-71136-1 (paper)
I. Title.
[DNLM: 1. Physical Therapy Modalitiesnursing. 2. Physical Therapy Modalitiesveterinary. 3. Hydrotherapyveterinary. 4. Physical Examinationveterinary. 5. Veterinary Medicinemethods. SF 925]
SF925.C37 2016
636.0895853dc23
2015015321

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

Wiley also publishes its books in a variety of electronic formats. Some content that appears in print may not be available in electronic books.

I would like to dedicate this book to the patients and clients I have worked with throughout my career.

I would also like to thank the staff at the University of Glasgow Veterinary School for their support and for helping me make this book possible, with special thanks to Clare Skea (RVN) for her photography skills and patience.

Practical Physiotherapy for Veterinary Nurses is accompanied by a companion website:

www.wiley.com/go/carver/physiotherapy-veterinary-nurses

The website includes:

• Videos showing examples of exercises and treatments
• Self-assessment questions and answers taken from the book are offered in interactive form on the companion website to make testing yourself easier

Gait analysis or assessment is a skill that requires close observation of the patient at walk and trot, to determine the cause and location of the lameness. A start point is to become familiar with a normal gait pattern, taking into account breed variations (i.e. dachshund vs bull mastiff). Once you are familiar with normal gait pattern, any deviation from this can be recognised.

Animals should be on a loose lead at walk and trot to observe for anatomical symmetry (normal gait pattern). Animals should be observed in a straight line towards, and then a straight line away from the observer. Pay particular attention to how the animal turns to both the left and right side this may show reluctance to transfer weight onto the affected limb, or that the animal has issues with balance. The observer should then view the animal moving from both left and right sides. Subtle lameness may not readily be observed at walking pace; however, at trot the animal will only have one thoracic limb and one pelvic limb in contact with the ground, and these limbs will be placed under greater pressure meaning a lameness may be easier to detect.

Videoing the gait pattern, then slowing it down on playback, may be a useful way to detect lameness.

Observe muscle symmetry, weight-bearing (paw and toe position) and conformation at rest.

Observe gait in a quiet area at walk and trot; thoracic limb lameness is often associated with head bobbing. When the animal takes its bodyweight through the painful thoracic limb the head will bob upwards in an attempt to unload the ground reaction force passing through the limb.

Pelvic limb lameness can be observed by a hiking up in the gluteal region in an attempt to offload or shift weight from the painful limb; this may be towards the contralateral pelvic limb, or forwards usually towards the contralateral thoracic limb. Lameness in pelvic limbs may also present with a