Head to Tail Veterinary Physiotherapy

24/06/2026

Is your dog in pain? TENS could help.

TENS stands for Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation and works by delivering gentle electrical impulses. These help block pain signals from reaching the brain and encourage the release of the body's natural pain-relieving chemicals (endorphins).

Here both dogs are receiving TENS as part of a multimodal approach to managing pain from elbow arthritis.

TENS is just one of the many tools that may be used as part of a physiotherapy treatment plan. Contact us to find out if TENS might be suitable for your animal ⚡🔌

19/06/2026

Look what just arrived!
I'm excited to be warm in the winter and sun-smart in the summer ❄️☀️ as well as getting to represent this awesome association.
Check out their website to see if there's an NZAVPA physio near you! https://www.nzavpa.co.nz/

14/05/2026

Excited to be able to help improve access to physiotherapy services for more small animals in the Waikato 😻

A mobile service is now available via Head to Tail Veterinary Physiotherapy at our Ngāruawāhia clinic to help build strength, improve mobility, and support recovery – whether it’s arthritis, injury, or post-op care. Because moving well = feeling well. 🐶🐱

13/05/2026

Getting creative with Cycled Design Raglan 🖌️✨

13/02/2026

Meet Loki, the 76kg Leonburger 🦁

When his owner Inger first got in touch, she wasn’t sure he even counted as a “small animal”… luckily for Loki, he does 😅

Loki has had an on-and-off front leg limp for several years, with a recent flare-up that left him pretty uncomfortable and Inger hoped physio might help him feel a bit happier.

On assessment, I suspect his pain is coming from his shoulder, likely due to a biceps tendinopathy (an irritated or damaged tendon).

His treatment includes:
• Targeted LASER therapy (for his shoulder and a sore paw pad)
• Myofascial release and massage
• Gentle joint mobilisations to loosen tight structures around the shoulder

After his first session, Loki was already moving more freely — and Inger reported he was waking them up with a waggy tail 🥹
After his second session, he even started playing with his retriever sister again, which he hasn’t done in a long time!

Because this has been a long-term issue, it may take time before he stops limping completely — but the most important thing is that he’s already feeling happier and more comfortable.

This is a good reminder that animals don’t always need a formal diagnosis to benefit from physiotherapy.
We can treat what we find, and sometimes the goal is simply to improve comfort and quality of life 💛

If you’d like to see whether physio could help your animal — big or small — please get in touch.

27/01/2026

Exciting Update! 🐾

Starting from today I'll be offering Veterinary Physiotherapy consults every Tuesday at the Anexa clinic in Ngāruawāhia.

So get in touch if you think your animal could benefit from some physiotherapy or come and say hi if you spot me in the clinic!

Looking forward to helping the animals of Ngāruawāhia move better, feel better, and live happier, healthier lives. 💜

16/01/2026

Found this in a clients discharge summary from the vet 😍

16/01/2026

How soon after surgery should my dog start physio?

This is one of the most common questions owners ask and the answer is… as soon as possible!

If you had a knee replacement, you’d be seeing a physiotherapist the day after surgery to get you moving and it’s no different with animals.

A lot of owners worry their animal will be too sore, or that physio might be too much in those early post-op days. But the truth is, physiotherapy can actually help with pain relief and recovery right from the start.

✨ Laser therapy helps reduce pain and inflammation while promoting healing, making the early recovery period more comfortable.
✨ Swelling management in the first 1–2 days reduces pressure on nerve endings, which in turn reduces pain.
✨ Early intervention supports better movement patterns from day one.

Early physio is also incredibly helpful for you as an owner. Those first few days after surgery can be stressful, and we can guide you on:
• How much your dog should be using the operated leg
• How to safely support them when going to the toilet
• Alternatives to crate rest if your dog really struggles with confinement
• Simple exercises you can start straight away to help speed up recovery

🐶 Pictured here is Missy during her first physiotherapy session, just 2 days after surgery for a cranial cruciate ligament rupture.

So if your dog is booked in for surgery, chat with your vet about animal physiotherapy in your area and consider booking a session for the day after surgery. Early physio can make a huge difference to comfort, confidence, and long-term recovery.

23/12/2025

Meri Kirihimete and Happy Holidays from Head to Tail Vet Physio (and Maddie)! 🎄

Maddie update: she has a few physio sessions under her belt now and is happy for me to treat her back, as long as treats are part of the deal 🥓 😉
Maddie was our lucky last patient for the year, and it felt very full circle as you may remember she was also Head to Tail's very first client too!

A huge thank you to everyone who has supported Head to Tail Vet Physio this year. It’s been an exciting, challenging, and incredibly rewarding start for this little business.

We’ve got some exciting things in the works for next year, and I can’t wait to help even more furry friends live happier, healthier lives.

✨ See you in 2026! ✨

04/12/2025

Meet Clarence — connoisseur of cool breezes and deck naps. 😎 He’ll happily come back inside for physio though, especially when possyum is on the menu!

At nearly 14, Clarence is another one of our wonderful golden oldies. His owner, Linda, reached out to see what more she could do to help manage his arthritis — and the good news is, there’s plenty we can support him with.

Here’s what we’ve put in place:
• Tailored advice on safe exercise levels
• A gentle nudge to fix those steps — safer and easier for Clarence and his humans
• Laser therapy
• Myofascial release
• A couple of targeted exercises to maintain his function and muscle strength

Despite his reputation for being a little grumpy, Clarence was an absolute gentleman during his session. 💛

See you next week, Clarence — and until then, stay cool! 🐾✨