Before You Book
What happens at your first appointment
Most owners arrive unsure what to expect, because physiotherapy looks quite different from a routine vet visit. Here is the whole thing, start to finish, including the practical bits.
The Appointment
How the visit runs
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01
Before we can book
UK law requires veterinary consent before a physiotherapist can treat your animal. Tell us who your vet is and we request it directly from your practice, so there is nothing for you to chase.
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02
History and questions
The appointment opens with a conversation about what you have noticed, when it started, and what your vet has already found. Expect this to take a good fifteen minutes.
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03
Watching your animal move
A look at posture and muscle symmetry standing still, then walking and usually trotting. For horses this may include ridden work if the concern is a ridden one.
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04
Hands-on assessment
A full-body palpation through the neck, back, pelvis and limbs, checking for tension, restriction and discomfort. This is usually the most informative part.
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05
Treatment on the day
Where appropriate, treatment begins at the same visit: manual therapy, and WINBACK tecar therapy where it is indicated, always at your animal’s pace.
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06
Your plan, and your vet’s report
You leave with a short written programme you can actually keep up with at home. A clinical summary goes to your vet afterwards.
Getting Ready
What to have ready
None of this needs to be perfect. Turning up with nothing but your vet's name is still a perfectly good start.
Your vet’s details
Practice name and, if you have it, the name of the vet who has seen your animal. This is the one thing we genuinely cannot proceed without.
Any history you have
Imaging, referral letters, surgical notes or a list of current medication. Useful, but do not worry if you have nothing to hand.
Somewhere flat to walk
For yard and home visits, a level, non-slip surface around twenty metres long. A quiet aisle, a school, or a stretch of driveway all work.
A calm, unrushed animal
Avoid hard exercise beforehand, and allow time so nobody arrives flustered. For horses, clean and dry legs make palpation far easier.
Your insurance details
Many policies cover physiotherapy as part of a claim. We can format invoices and notes for your insurer if you let us know in advance.
Someone who knows the animal
Ideally the person who handles them day to day, since they usually spot the changes that matter most.
No power or facilities needed
We bring a portable power station, so no electricity is required at the yard. A stable, a barn or a quiet corner of a field all work perfectly well.
Where We Meet
At your yard, at home, or online
Horses are usually seen at their own yard, where they are relaxed and where the surfaces they work on every day can be assessed properly. Dogs are seen at home for the same reason. If you are outside the travel area, a remote assessment covers much of the same ground using video you film yourself.
Explore online servicesEquine, at the yard
Assessment on the surfaces your horse actually works on, ridden work included where relevant.
Canine, at home
Dogs behave normally at home, which makes subtle changes far easier to spot.
Anywhere, online
Video gait analysis and a written programme, reviewed and progressed remotely.
Common Questions
The things owners usually ask
How long does the first appointment take?
Around ninety minutes. Follow-up sessions are usually closer to forty-five. It is worth allowing a little longer than you think for the first one, as the history and assessment are unhurried by design.
Do I need a referral from my vet first?
You need veterinary consent, but you do not need to arrange it yourself. Tell us who your vet is when you get in touch and we request it on your behalf before the visit.
Will my animal be sore afterwards?
Some animals are a little quiet or tired for twenty-four hours after a first treatment, in much the same way a person might be after a deep massage. That is normal. We will tell you what to expect and what would warrant a call.
Can I stay and watch?
Yes, and we would prefer it. You know your animal, and much of the home programme is easier to follow if you have seen it demonstrated in person.
There is more detail on the clinical side in what to expect at your first assessment, or see the full FAQ.
Ready when you are
A first conversation costs nothing and will tell you whether an assessment is worth booking at all.
Urgent or emergency cases: physiotherapy is not emergency care. If your animal is in acute distress, contact your veterinary surgeon or an out-of-hours emergency service immediately.