AJS Veterinary Physiotherapy

28/05/2026

A little Gavin update🐴🩵

Gavin has settled in really well, we’re one week into our 6 week rehab plan, the heat put a short halt on things so we’ve been catching up the last two days. I have completed two full physio sessions with Gavin now and have been using my modalities in between to keep him comfortable.

During our session last Friday I really worked through his middle gluteal, which was hypertonic and dysfunctional given the issues with his SI. He had active fasciculations through into his lumbar but appreciated the releases and even yawned!🤩 The TENS machine was used to provide pain relief in the lumbar region and therefore assist with better function. I finished by taping over his SI with 40% stretch in my tape to assist with muscle and joint function, this will stay on until it falls off.

I also noticed some puffiness in his fetlocks. Some of you may know this as windgalls or wind puffs, which means Gavin has some fluid filling in his tendon sheath. More often than not this condition is simply cosmetic and can be managed through LASER, cold hosing and being mindful of ground conditions, hard ground will exacerbate the condition which I believe is the case with Gav. I have included pre and post LASER and cold hosing pictures with arrows to highlight the affected areas, there is slight improvement with more localised filling rather than global puffiness of the lateral aspect of the fetlocks.

Yesterday was the first day of us trying dynamic core exercises which involved habituating Gavin to foam blocks. Over the next few weeks we’re going to work on getting both front feet to step onto the blocks for a short period of time. This activates the core and is fantastic for improving proprioception and balance, the hind limbs are also placed under slightly more strain- assisting with global muscle activation and development. I wanted to keep the footage of us practicing real and raw for you all!! Just to show how rehabilitating and teaching horses isn’t all sunshine and rainbows and it’s takes a lot of patience and understanding from both sides😆

Third physio session tomorrow. Stay tuned for another update soon! 💪🏼🐴

12/05/2026

🚨There’s a new kid on the block!!!🚨

I’d like you to meet the newest member of the AJS team… Gavin🤎

I was incredibly lucky to have been offered this wonderful little horse on loan from a friend. He arrived yesterday so this morning was our first chance to spend some quality time together! He’s been kept in incredible shape and so well looked after, he looks well and has a show stopping shiny coat!

As most horses do, Gavin has a few things going on medically and we’re hoping to manage him with physio and rehab alongside medicating when we need. He has a few sore bits that are notoriously tricky like his girth region (a lot of reactions through Serratus Ventralis- Thoracis), tension/ adhesion where I was getting a bit stuck in his triceps and his hamstrings! I spend quite some time working slowly and deeply through his caudal shoulder and girth area this morning followed by a good few forelimbs stretches- triceps, protraction and an abduction each side, just to try and open him up a bit and stretch out where we had worked.

I think Gavin is going to be a tougher one to crack than others! He’s very good at telling you what is sore (crinkles his nostrils, swishes his tail and lifts legs) but he won’t tell you how to fix it… that’s all on me😅 He doesn’t give much away at the minute in terms of relaxing and enjoying a massage…I got a few licks and chews, gulps and softened eyes so I’ll take it! We’re yet to unlock a yawn🥱

I’m hoping to give him a spin on the lunge tomorrow and then get on board later in the week and just go for an easy walk around the village! Check back soon, there’ll be plenty more Gavin updates👀

Love Amy & Gavin🩵 Xx

25/04/2026

RAMP Registration 2026/27

I am super pleased to say that I have renewed my membership with RAMP for another year and made the decision to leave IRVAP, despite their incredible core values and the fantastic annual conference which I attended back in October, I will remain ONLY registered with RAMP for now. I am still fully insured and ready to treat all of your lovely animals!🐴🐶🐱

RAMP remain strict with their values and ethics, and recently released a blog post outlining the importance of continued registration with themselves and the influence this has on musculoskeletal practitioners as a whole. The register relies on consistency and engagement to maintain industry standards.

RAMP ensure the highest standards and levels of care. Members follow strict codes of conduct, only work within their scope of practice and keep up to date with the world of veterinary medicine through CPD📚. The RAMP register continues to assist all of us by defining our place in the veterinary world. It is a community working hard to build trust, provide confidence, communication, development, support and reflection all while ensuring we hold ourselves accountable. RAMP are shaping the future for animal MSK practitioners and by being registered I am part of the group creating clarity for vets, insurers, owners and other practitioners in what physiotherapy encompasses.

Thank you for your ongoing support!! Here’s to another year filled with helping your furry friends stay in tip top shape🩵

22/04/2026

🩵Patient progress, Poppet update🩵

A few months ago I posted a progress post about little Poppet and here’s another update!

Unfortunately back in December, around 12 months post right cranial cruciate ligament rupture, Poppet ruptured the cruciate ligament in her left hindlimb😔 This was devastating news, Pops owner was unsure what this would mean going forward. After discussions with her vet and then myself, it was agreed we would throw everything at this little dog to get her comfortable enough to potter round the house and sunbathe in the garden☀️ Obviously her quality of life was at the forefront but there was no reason we couldn’t try! So we had conservative management of bilateral cranial cruciate ligament rupture on our hands…

There was a lot of debate as to whether Poppets right hindlimb would be up to the task of taking a majority of her weight and supporting her throughout rehabilitation round 2! I was confident we had done enough! So it was back to crate rest for 2 weeks and then crack on with physiotherapy. We’ve come such a long way in the last 4 months, Pops is much happier weight bearing, only very occasionally will she lift the left hindlimb (usually when she’s trying to zoom around) but a quick reminder to get her to use it and she’s back on 4 legs, she has more freedom around the house and garden and still loves the beach!🏖️ Her owner is happy for her to join in on all the fun in her own little backpack too😆

Poppet has resumed hydrotherapy and has been taught to use a set of steps to get on and off of the sofa. Who says you can’t teach an old(er) dog new tricks! I’m so unbelievably proud of this little dog and the resilience of her owner, a super team! Well done lil Pop!🐶🩵

Don’t forget to give A Piece of Cake Dog Training a follow to see what Caitlin, Poppet and the rest of the crew are up to! 🍰💜

20/03/2026

An interesting read! Highlighting the importance of researching the breed you are considering getting and ensuring they fit within your lifestyle! 🐶

🐕 A new study from the RVC has revealed that three popular designer Poodle-crossbreeds (often generically called Doodles), Cockapoos, Labradoodles and Cavapoos, often display higher levels of undesirable behaviour than their purebred parent breeds. As the first UK study of its kind, these findings challenge widespread public perceptions that these Doodle breed dogs are easier to train or especially suited to family homes with children compared to purebred dogs. The results also provide vital information which can assist prospective owners deciding which type of dog to welcome into their family.

➡️ Read more: https://rvc.uk.com/designer-crossbreeds

23/02/2026

A wonderful and insightful weekend at the Horses Inside Out: Soundness & Symmetry Conference🐴. A fantastic line up of speakers, a talk with Ros Canter- double Badminton and Burghley winner, lots of interactive displays and trade stands showcasing some incredible businesses and ideas! I came home with a beautiful painting, hand painted by Gillian Higgins herself!🦴There was lots to see and learn, I had a blast🐎

Thank you and for being great company! Hopefully lots more CPD in the near future… some very exciting things in the works, all will be revealed on here so do keep your eyes peeled👀 I can’t wait for next year🩵

30/01/2026

Here’s how the animal musculoskeletal industry is changing (and we’re here for it)!

✅ More transparency

✅ More clarity

✅ Better informed decisions

✅ Owners who KNOW that the practitioner they’re using is the best

The animal musculoskeletal industry is largely a new and rapidly evolving sector. A wide range of qualifications, therapies, training and skills, have made it difficult for owners to know who is suitably qualified, appropriately insured and working to a recognised standard.

This lack of clarity has not only made it challenging for owners, but has also created challenges for collaboration between vets and practitioners.

RAMP was created as an industry-led solution.

To give owners reassurance that our registrants practice at a gold standard.

To raise the standards of the MSK industry.

To support informed choices.

Our registrants meet our clear competency requirements, commit to ongoing education and practice to our gold standard.

To find our more about our registrants, DM the word “TRUST”

14/01/2026

Let’s talk… Tendon & Ligament Injuries!

Tendon and ligament injuries are relatively common. Anyone involved with horses knows how challenging they can be, and having rehabbed my own horse through bilateral hindlimb suspensory ligament injury, I know firsthand that it’s not for the faint-hearted 🤕

Tendons and ligaments are dense connective tissues vital for structural stability and movement. Horses have no muscle below the knees and hocks therefore blood supply is reduced🩸, meaning healing is slow 🐢

There is a lot we can do to help. Quality healing is essential — better scar tissue means a greater chance of returning to work and a reduced risk of re-injury.

So how do we go about rehabilitation in the initial stages?…

Box rest — the words no owner wants to hear. Crucial in the early stages, it allows the injured tissue to rest and begin healing while preventing further damage. Stable enrichment is important to keep horses content during this time.

In-hand walking becomes key as healing progresses. Scar tissue forms during rest, but lacks collagen and isn’t very elastic. The body begins to lay fibres down at the injury site but in a disorganised way. Gentle, controlled loading through in-hand walking helps encourage better fibre alignment, improving stretch and tissue quality.

Therapeutic ultrasound (US) is a useful electrotherapy which uses sound waves to:
• Increase cell membrane permeability for improved nutrient exchange
• Stimulate fibroblast activity and organised collagen production
• Encourage collagen fibres to align along lines of stress, particularly when combined with movement (the picture with the pick up sticks is a very good visual representation of fibre alignment!)

Rehabilitating these types of injuries can feel daunting and time consuming, but following these steps provides the best chance of optimal healing, a safe return to work, and a comfortable life❤️.

10/01/2026

RAMP Registration 2025/26

For a little while now I have been registered with RAMP- Register of Animal Musculoskeletal Practitioners and plan to renew with them as well as IRVAP in this coming spring!🎉

RAMP recognised and accredited the Veterinary Physiotherapy course that I studied at Writtle, and therefore I have been familiar with RAMP for some time. This can be reassuring for clients, not only did I study at a recognised institution, but also that I am fully insured, registered and have appropriate qualifications to be treating your four legged friends! 🐕🐎

RAMP are strict with their values and ethics, and rightly so! They ensure that all professionals demonstrate high standards and levels of care. Members follow strict codes of conduct, only work within their scope of practice and keep up to date with the world of veterinary medicine through a required number of annual CPD hours. I am continuously expanding my knowledge📚 (and will soon be visiting an exciting conference for more CPD hours! Keep your eyes peeled👀)

The next slide outlines RAMP’s fundamental principles, which puts your mind at ease that all of my patients are in very capable and loving hands!👍🏼

I am incredibly grateful for all of my clients so far and can’t wait to continue growing both my business and as a physiotherapist! Here’s to another year filled with helping your furry friends stay in tip top shape🩵

16/12/2025

A week ago we lost one of the most important members of the AJS team😔 Please bear with me🤍 Xx