Animal Mechanics Veterinary Physiotherapy

10/10/2026

I don't think we talk enough about how much our dogs do for our mental health.
The days we didn't want to get out of bed, but they need feeding. The days we didn't want to face the world, but they needed our attention. The moments we felt completely alone, but there was a little heartbeat beside us reminding us that we weren't. They keep us warm.
Not just on the outside but on the inside too.
Sometimes looking after them was the only way we knew how to look after ourselves. I can say with my whole heart that I wouldn't be here today without my dogs.
They'll never understand just how many times they saved us, simply by needing us.

08/10/2026

24/09/2026

Making sure your pet is kept at the correct weight is really important for their overall health and wellbeing.

A SIMPLE WAY TO MONITOR BODY CONDITION.

1. Gently, but firmly run a finger over the ribs (both sides).
2. Repeat along the backbone.
3. Visual inspection

TOO LEAN:

Ribs and vertebrae prominent, with individual bones easily felt with little or no pressure (like the bars of a xylophone). Body looks thin, exaggerated waist visible.

HEALTHY:

Individual ribs and vertebral prominences felt with pressure, beneath a light covering of fat. Body looks healthy, waist visible.

TOO HEAVY:

Ribs and spinal bones barely felt, it at all, with a significant amount of fat beneath the skin. Body looks heavy, no waist visible.

IMPORTANT NOT TO UNDERESTIMATE THIS:

An unhealthy body condition for any length of time (too heavy or too lean), risks damaging joints, weakening ligaments (including ACL's - anterior cruciate ligaments), causing bone / joint problems, diabetes, lipomas, cancer and other conditions - ultimately shortening life.

Maintaining a healthy body condition does the opposite. Feed wisely.

18/09/2026

07/09/2026

I’m pretty sure this is true of every fur baby who has ever held a piece of our hearts… xo

29/08/2026

🥕 Why Carrots Are a Smart Snack for Your Pet — The Science 🐾:

That crunchy orange treat is actually a little pharmacy of plant compounds. Here’s what the research says:

🌈 Color = Different Superpowers
Carrot color isn’t just pretty — it signals different nutrients:
• Orange = alpha- & beta-carotene
• Purple/black = anthocyanins + the highest polyphenol/antioxidant load
• Red = lycopene
• Yellow = lutein (an eye-supporting nutrient)

🛡️ A Real Immune Boost (Proven in Dogs)
In controlled studies, dogs fed beta-carotene had stronger immune responses ; higher helper-immune cells and more antibodies. Dogs genuinely absorb beta-carotene into their blood and immune cells.

🔥 Nature’s Anti-Inflammatories
Carrots contain unusual compounds called falcarinol and falcarindiol. In lab studies these calmed inflammatory signals in cells (lowering IL-6, TNF-alpha, and nitric oxide).

🦠 Happy Gut Bacteria
Carrots’ soluble fiber (pectin) is food for the good bugs in your pet’s gut. Pets need fiber for a healthy microbiome. Bacteria ferment it into short-chain fatty acids that support the gut barrier, calm inflammation, and help regulate metabolism.

🍬 Low in Sugar — and No, They Don’t “Feed Yeast”
Carrots taste a little sweet, but the actual sugar per serving is small. A carrot has a low “glycemic load,” meaning a normal treat-sized portion does not spike blood sugar. The yeast overgrowth people worry about is driven by refined/free glucose in the gut, not by the modest natural sugars in a whole, fiber-rich vegetable — in lab models it’s concentrated glucose that fuels yeast growth. Bonus: carrots’ fiber actually feeds the good bacteria instead.

👀 Eye Support
Lutein and beta-carotene are antioxidants that help protect the eye from oxidative stress.

✅ Pet-Parent Tips
Offer carrots raw for a satisfying crunch (great for teething puppies, too!) or lightly cooked, depending on your dog (and what kitties prefer). Steamed, mashed carrots (mixed with bone broth) work great on a lick mat, and slicing mini carrots into thin rings makes great low-calorie training treats for dieting dogs 🥕
➡️ 1 inch of carrot for every 3 pounds of body weight per day.