Veterinary Osteopathy
Dr Debbie Prattley
Veterinary osteopathy is an integrated approach to musculoskeletal health that prioritises the animal’s comfort and functional abilities. By using a wide range of gentle, hands-on techniques, I can tailor each session to suit your pet’s individual needs. Osteopathy is the perfect addition when you want more than pain medications.
What is osteopathy about?
Osteopaths consider the whole body as one integrated unit. We don’t just think about the sore, injured or diseased part. Instead, we think about all the things that might have contributed to the condition arising in the first place, and we consider how the condition affects the rest of the body. As an example, most of us are aware of compensatory patterns – if you’re lame on one leg, you put more pressure on the other, which means more load on those joints and muscles.
As a registered osteopath treating people (you can check out my human osteopathy website here), I often have human patients who have, for example, a knee injury, who then end up with lower back pain because they haven’t been able to walk properly. This happens to our animals, too, but they don’t always have obvious ways to show it. Careful observation skills, refined palpation and years of experience have taught me what to look for. It’s important to look after the whole body, otherwise we can miss areas causing pain and discomfort.
What does veterinary osteopathy look like?
Osteopathy is an essential part of my rehabilitation practice. I assess the whole body to see where the loads and strains are, and help the animals to cope with them. I choose which osteopathic treatment techniques to use – options include joint mobilising, myofascial release, trigger point therapy, positional release, craniosacral therapy, joint adjustments and many more. Osteopathy has the biggest range of hands-on techniques to choose from, which is part of what attracted me to study it in the first place. I aim to be as effective as possible while causing the least amount of discomfort. Your animal will tell me what they do and don’t like!
How does osteopathy help rehab?
Veterinary osteopathy treats sore and stiff joints, tight muscles, and fascia, which may be directly injured or compensating for other painful conditions. By improving mobility and reducing discomfort, your animal can experience more ease in movement and an overall better quality of life. This enhanced physical function often leads to improved behavior, greater willingness to engage in daily activities, and reduced stress. It also supports the body’s natural healing processes, promoting long-term health and vitality. Each treatment is tailored to your animal’s unique needs and preferences, ensuring a gentle experience that prioritizes their comfort and well-being.
How many sessions does it take?
It depends (my favourite phrase)! During rehab for an injury or after surgery, I use hands-on treatments to help your animal to cope with those compensatory patterns as well as with the direct effects of the injury. They’ll need treatments throughout their recovery period. How long recovery takes varies depending on what’s happened. For senior animals, ideally I see them on a regular basis, depending on what their needs are and what works for you. For example, this could be monthly. Sporting and performance animals might have treatments up to weekly when they’re working hard. Other animals might be treated on an as-needed basis, when you’ve noticed something isn’t quite right.