Canine Rehabilitation

Welcome to Wendover heights rehabilitation for dogs, cats & more

Welcome to Wendover heights rehabilitation. We offer hydrotherapy, physiotherapy and soft tissue therapy for dogs, cats and other small animals. Our team are qualified and experienced therapists working within a multimodal support system, alongside an on-site veterinary team. 

About Our Services

  • Hydrotherapy
  • Veterinary Physiotherapy
  • Massage therapy

Hydrotherapy

Hydrotherapy for dogs has long been established as a beneficial treatment for many conditions. It is a form of non-weight bearing exercise utilising the therapeutic properties of water. It can help to increase the strength and mobility of joints and muscles and improved range of motion. The warm water is a great reliever of pain and inflammation, promoting healing and over wellbeing. 

Swimming is an excellent exercise for general fitness, but aquatic treadmill therapy provides greater control of the speed, duration, and intensity of exercise. The flexion and extension of specific limbs and joints can be targeted by variations in water depth and the use of floatation devices.

The treadmill also requires the animal to weight bear and therefore adopt a normal walking gait. The position adopted for swimming, particularly where dogs are hoisted into a pool and swim against jets, can lead to a tightening of the back and shoulder muscles resulting in a stiff and sore neck.

Another treadmill benefit is that it assists with proprioception as the resistance of the water increases sensory awareness and provides stability whilst allowing a longer reaction time for the patient to place its feet.

Veterinary Physiotherapy

Veterinary Physiotherapy encompasses a range of treatments whereby a tailored programme would be made for your pets specific condition. We use a range of equipment and electro therapies to play a vital role in helping your animal recover or adapt from injury or surgery. Home strengthening and exercise plans are often prescribed so owner involvement is often important. 

Massage therapy

Massage therapy address’s musculoskeletal issues and is utilised to rehabilitate soft tissue injury and provide chronic pain management for dogs that suffer from orthopaedic conditions. 

Canine sports massage is an alternative therapy performed on the Musculoskeletal system. 

It can be undertaken for a variety of conditions and is a recognised technique to reduce the chance of further injury and speed up the healing process when an injury as occurred.

Who might benefit from our rehabilitation treatments?

Patients who may benefit from our rehabilitation treatments include those with 

  • Arthritis 
  • Musculoskeletal injuries 
  • Trigger points 
  • Myofascial pain 
  • Undiagnosed lameness 
  • Sprains/strains 
  • Orthopaedic issues:  
  • Cruciate ligament disease 
  • Luxating patella 
  • Pre & post surgery ie: hip replacements/TPLO's / spinal surgery 
  • Scar tissue 
  • Hip/elbow Dysplasia 
  • Spondylosis 

Veterinary referrals

Dogs undergoing hydrotherapy, physiotherapy or massage for purposes other than fitness require referral by, and the consent of, their Veterinary Surgeon. For their safety, we ask that the dog’s overall health has been checked within the 3 months prior to referral to ensure that they are fit to undertake an exercise programme. This is of particular importance in older dogs. We also ask that all relevant history, details of concurrent disease and medication are supplied with the completed referral form. You will then be contacted by a member of the rehab team and an initial appointment arranged. Please note that although the Unit is based at a Veterinary Centre, it is therapist led and dogs are not seen by our Veterinary Surgeons except in emergencies. We maintain high ethical standards in respect of referrals, and you remain a client of your own veterinary practice.

Meet the Team

Alison Caldwell-Nichols - Canine rehabilitation therapist / Veterinary Physiotherapist

Alison Caldwell-Nichols

Alison Caldwell-Nichols MSc VetPhys MIRVAP(VP) Canine rehabilitation therapist / Veterinary Physiotherapist
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Dani Powell - Canine rehabilitation therapist / Canine massage practitioner

Dani Powell

Dani Powell BSc & NLSSM Level 5 Canine rehabilitation therapist / Canine massage practitioner
Read Bio

Contact Details

If you would like to discuss your case or would like to visit the rehabilitation unit please contact us on 01296 621835


Canine.rehab@whvc.co.uk


Facebook @whvccaninerehab


Find Us

Wendover Heights Veterinary Centre

Tring Road

Halton

HP22 5PN

Refer a case online