PetFlex Veterinary Physiotherapy

06/09/2026

Mickey thoroughly enjoying his Winback TECAR treatment! 🥰 Those big yawns say it all! Such a lovely, relaxed response throughout his session. It’s always a pleasure seeing him relax and enjoy his treatment. 🤍🐴

04/09/2026

The lovely Wren enjoying her physiotherapy treatment. 🥰

Wren is a hardworking gun dog who sustained an injury while out on a walk. Since then, she has been having regular physiotherapy treatment, and I’m so pleased with how well she’s progressing.

She’s responded brilliantly to her treatment and is continuing to make great improvements with each session. I’m really looking forward to seeing her continue to get stronger and return to doing what she loves.

And, of course, no session with Wren is complete without plenty of cuddles! 🤍🐾 Mel Newton

02/09/2026

A massive thank you to everyone who attended our Winback event on Sunday! 🤍

I couldn’t be happier with how the day went. It was fantastic to see so many of you there and to have such a great group of people getting involved.

We covered lots of information about Winback TECAR, what it is, how it works, and, most importantly, how we can use it in practice to support our patients. There were plenty of demonstrations, discussions and practical applications throughout the day, and I hope everyone took away lots of useful information.
A huge thank you to everyone who helped make the day possible, especially Lee for sharing his knowledge and experience, and to everyone who helped with the venue, food and organisation.
It was a brilliant day and I’m so pleased with how it all came together! 🐴✨

Thank you again to everyone who came along and supported us! 💙 Winback Equine Lottie Fairs Amy Russell Veterinary Physiotherapy

15/08/2026

Milo enjoying his physio session😍 such a handsome boy 🫶🏻 Here we’re combining PEMF, poles and sit to stands to support muscle development, proprioception and joint health.

✨ PEMF supports circulation and tissue recovery.

🐴 Poles encourage controlled joint movement and increased flexion, helping to stimulate synovial fluid movement within the joints, while also challenging coordination and proprioception.

💪 Sit to stands build functional strength through the hindlimbs, supporting stability around the hips, stifles and hocks.

A simple combination to build strength, encourage joint mobility and support overall movement quality.

12/08/2026

A few spaces are still available! Get in touch today to secure your place 🫶🏻

🚨 FREE CPD 🚨

OPEN TO PROFESSIONALS & THE GENERAL PUBLIC

Join us for this FREE Continuing Professional Development (CPD) event.

📩 To register your interest or for more information:
📞 07875 192405
📧 [email protected]

🎟️ Please let me know if you would like to attend.
A ticket system will be used, so booking is essential to help manage numbers.

We look forward to seeing you!

06/07/2026

🦴 Understanding Canine IVDD (Intervertebral Disc Disease)

If you’ve ever heard the term IVDD but weren’t quite sure what it meant, here’s a simple explanation.

Between every vertebra (bone) in your dog’s spine sits an intervertebral disc. Think of each
disc like a jam doughnut:
🥯 The tough outer ring is called the annulus fibrosus.

🍓 The soft, jelly-like centre is called the nucleus pulposus.
These discs act as shock absorbers, allowing the spine to move while protecting the spinal cord.

So what happens in IVDD?
Over time (or sometimes very suddenly), the disc begins to degenerate. Depending on the type of IVDD, it can affect the spinal cord in different ways.

🔴 Hansen Type I IVDD (Disc Extrusion)
The outer ring tears or ruptures, allowing the nucleus pulposus to burst out into the spinal canal. This material hits the spinal cord with force, causing sudden compression. Dogs often show signs very quickly, ranging from pain and reluctance to move, to weakness or even paralysis.

🟠 Hansen Type II IVDD (Disc Protrusion)
Instead of bursting, the disc gradually bulges as it degenerates. The annulus fibrosus remains mostly intact, but the enlarged disc slowly presses on the spinal cord over weeks or months. Clinical signs are usually more gradual and progressive.

⚡ Why is spinal cord compression such a problem?
The spinal cord is like the body’s motorway, carrying messages between the brain and the rest of the body. When a damaged disc presses on it, these messages can’t travel normally. This is why dogs may experience:
• Neck or back pain
• Weakness or wobbliness (ataxia)
• Knuckling or dragging their paws
• Difficulty standing or walking
• Loss of bladder or bowel control
• Paralysis in severe cases

🚨 Early recognition is vital.
The sooner IVDD is diagnosed and treated, the better the chance of recovery. Treatment may involve strict rest, medication, physiotherapy and rehabilitation, or surgery, depending on the severity and type of disc disease.

Not every dog with IVDD will need surgery, but every dog showing signs of spinal pain or neurological changes should be assessed by a veterinarian as soon as possible

03/07/2026

🦴 Arthritis isn’t just “getting old” 🦴
It’s a progressive joint disease that can be managed with the right treatment.

Arthritis causes the smooth cartilage that cushions a joint to gradually wear down. As the cartilage deteriorates, the joint becomes inflamed, leading to pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility.

One of the most important parts of managing arthritis is movement. Gentle, controlled exercises prescribed by a veterinary physiotherapist improve active range of motion, helping the joint move as it should. Movement stimulates specialised cells in the joint lining (synoviocytes) to produce synovial fluid—the joint’s natural lubricant. This fluid nourishes the cartilage, reduces friction, and helps joints move more comfortably.

When an animal is in discomfort, they often change the way they move to compensate. These compensatory movement patterns reduce normal joint motion, meaning less synovial fluid is produced. Less lubrication leads to increased friction within the joint, placing more stress on the cartilage and potentially accelerating the progression of arthritis.

Veterinary physiotherapy combines targeted exercise, manual therapy, and modalities such as electrotherapy to improve movement, reduce pain, restore more normal function, and address compensatory movement patterns before they create further problems.

While arthritis cannot be reversed, it can be effectively managed. Early intervention, appropriate exercise, weight management, and physiotherapy can help slow its progression, improve comfort, and maintain your pet’s quality of life for as long as possible.

🐾 Better movement means healthier joints, and healthier joints mean a happier, more comfortable life

02/07/2026

🚨 FREE CPD 🚨

OPEN TO PROFESSIONALS & THE GENERAL PUBLIC

Join us for this FREE Continuing Professional Development (CPD) event.

📩 To register your interest or for more information:
📞 07875 192405
📧 [email protected]

🎟️ Please let me know if you would like to attend.
A ticket system will be used, so booking is essential to help manage numbers.

We look forward to seeing you!