Treating an animal is a team effort

If there is one thing I’ve learnt working in this fantastic industry, it’s that successfully treating an animal with an illness or injury requires a team effort.

Of course, the primary person you must call is your vet, they are the only member of the multi-disciplinary team that can diagnose a condition, prescribe medication and safely perform surgery (and perform a myriad of other potentially invasive treatments). They play a vital and central role in the treatment of your pet.

Like many other professional care services recently, they have come under increased criticism for the standard of care and at times the cost of treatments. There has been significant consolidation in the market place in recent years and many vet’s practices are now owned by corporations rather than smaller independent practises.

I’m sure there are advantages to these new groups but often the frustration I hear from owners is that they don’t get to see the same vet, missing that opportunity for one person to build up that deeper knowledge of your animal.

Having a good relationship with your vet is key. In the case of Finnbar (please read my other blog – Finnbar: Rehabbing Meningoencephalitis of unknown origin (MUO) – Lead The Way Physio) it was Finnbar’s GP vet who pushed for the referral as he knew him and his owner so well. He knew something was seriously wrong when it may not have been so obvious to another vet who hadn’t built up the same relationship. This quick action ultimately saved Finnbar’s life and without that vets and owners awareness Finnbar may not have lived, let alone gone on to compete again.

We have to respect the pressures all vets are under to deliver quality care to an ever growing population of pets. Here you can help your vet and there are many ways you can make the most of those precious interactions & appointments. For instance you can take videos of any lameness, or capture other symptoms your pet may be experiencing. Keep a journal, write down when they happen. Equally be aware of your own dog so you spot any new lumps or other issues early, this way you can also detect if they grow or change (feel free to read back to my blog on pain for more information on this Does Breed effect pain? – Lead The Way Physio)

As a veterinary physiotherapist it is my job to support our vets by offering complimentary treatment to the vital work they do and I’m proud to be considered part of the team they can call upon in the treatment of your animal. Ultimately we are all aligned, our role is to provide the very best treatment for you pet possible.

If you feel physiotherapy is something your pet could benefit from speak to your vet or local physiotherapist, you’ll find we are a great team and always here to help.