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If your dog or cat has problems with their bones, muscles and joints, your vet may decide to refer them to a musculoskeletal therapist to help them with their recovery.
There are three main types of musculoskeletal therapies for pets:
Physiotherapy, including hydrotherapy
Chiropractic treatment
Osteopathy
Musculoskeletal therapies are the only type of complementary therapies that can legally be performed by someone who isn’t a veterinary surgeon. But you can only access them if a vet has already diagnosed your pet and referred you, or if they perform the therapy themselves.
What's pet physiotherapy?
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Physiotherapy for dogs and cats involves manually manipulating your pet’s joints and muscles using massage, heat, or exercise to help them recover from disease or injury.
Physiotherapy is available for dogs and cats, as well as horses and even small animals like rabbits.
During a physiotherapy session, the therapist might massage and stretch your pet’s limbs before running through some exercises to help with strength and recovery.
If they have difficulty walking, the therapist might help them to practice with a harness or sling.
Hydrotherapy for dogs is one of the most popular types of dog physiotherapy, as it helps take the weight off their limbs while strengthening muscles and improving mobility.
What conditions might need physiotherapy?
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A vet may recommend chiropractic, osteopathy or physiotherapy for conditions like:
Neurological conditions, like IVDD
Post-surgery rehabilitation
Soft tissue injuries
Does physiotherapy, osteopathy and chiropractic treatment help with recovery?
Yes.
Generally, physiotherapy helps improve range of motion and muscle strength while easing pain. It’s typically used in conjunction with medication and a treatment plan.
Does pet insurance cover physiotherapy, osteopathy and chiropractic treatments?
Musculoskeletal treatments like dog physiotherapy, cat physiotherapy, and physiotherapy for dogs, as well as osteopathy and chiropractic treatment, are considered complementary therapies.
All our pet insurance policies include some cover for complementary therapies if recommended by a vet, ranging from £500 on our Value policies to £2,500 on the Complete policy.
Your complementary therapy limit is part of your overall vet fee limit.
How do you know if a therapist is qualified?
Always check if a physiotherapist is with the “Register of Animal Musculoskeletal Practitioners (RAMP)" or the "Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Animal Therapy (ACPAT).
What can physiotherapy do for dogs and cats?
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These are just some of the benefits of physiotherapy for dogs and cats:
Reducing pain
Reducing stiffness
Increasing the range of movement
Helping recovery from injuries or surgery
Improving their quality of life
Strengthening muscles and preventing muscle wasting
Cat and dog physiotherapy costs
We looked at the cost of dog physiotherapy and cat physiotherapy sessions with 12 pet physiotherapists around the UK and found that prices ranged from £40-£85. The average cost of a dog physiotherapy or cat physiotherapy session was £51.42.
Some pet physios also ask that you have an introductory session where a treatment plan is made. This is sometimes a bit longer, so the average cost of an initial physiotherapy consultation was £72.86.
Many pet physiotherapists offer home visits, which can be especially beneficial for cat physiotherapy as it eliminates the stress of travel. There’s usually a mileage charge to pay in addition to the session fee.
Sometimes, it’s cheaper to book a block of pet physiotherapy sessions, as lots of therapists offer a discount for this.
What's pet osteopathy?
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In many ways, cat and dog osteopathy is quite similar to pet physiotherapy. The techniques, training and practices are different, but both are used to treat musculoskeletal issues.
The main difference is that pet osteopaths use physical, hands-on techniques to manipulate joints and muscles, while animal physiotherapists tend to employ more exercises and movement-based techniques.
What can an osteopath do for my dog or cat?
The benefits of osteopathy for dogs and cats are the same as physiotherapy – they reduce pain and increase mobility.
Dog osteopaths work holistically to treat your pet’s body as a whole instead of relying on a single condition. They aim to restore balance and improve your dog’s overall quality of life.
Cat and dog osteopathy costs
The average cost of a dog or cat osteopathy session in the UK is £47.08.
We surveyed 12 animal osteopaths and found that they were all priced between £40 and £60. Be aware that some will have longer sessions than others, so make sure you check that too. Sessions are normally between 30 minutes and one hour.
Some osteopaths will ask you to have an initial assessment, which is usually a little more expensive. The average cost of an introductory pet osteopathy session is £60.
What's pet chiropractic treatment?
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Chiropractic treatment for dogs and cats also has a lot of common ground with physiotherapy and osteopathy. The main difference is that chiropractic treatment is specifically for the spine.
A pet chiropractor will use their hands to gently manipulate the bones and joints to relieve pain and allow the spine to holistically heal itself.
What can a chiropractor do for my dog or cat?
As with the other musculoskeletal therapies mentioned, pet chiropractic treatment aims to improve movement and reduce pain. It can usually help with:
Neck pain
Back pain
Osteoarthritis
Muscle spasms
Lameness
Muscle weakness
Cat and dog chiropractor costs
According to 12 animal chiropractors we checked around the country, the average cost of a chiropractic session for your dog or cat is £39.17. You shouldn’t need to have an initial assessment costing more.
Which musculoskeletal therapy is best for my dog or cat?
Physiotherapy for dogs and cats, osteopathy, and chiropractic treatments can often all be used to treat the same conditions, but they aren’t identical.
Some treatments are more affordable than others. Here’s a summary of the average session costs, including dog physiotherapy and cat physiotherapy:
| Hydrotherapy | Chiropractor | Osteopathy | Physiotherapy |
|---|---|---|---|
| £36.28 | £39.17 | £47.08 | £51.42 |
Chiropractic treatment can be quite a bit cheaper over the course of treatment, but it’ll only cover spinal problems. Many chiropractors also only treat horses or dogs, so it might not be an option for your cat.
If you do have a cat, you might prefer a therapist that can visit your pet at home, and there are many that are willing to travel.
Physiotherapy for dogs is the most widely available treatment and can include hydrotherapy, which many dogs find more enjoyable.
Ultimately, your vet will advise you on whether dog physiotherapy, cat physiotherapy, osteopathy, or chiropractic treatment is the best option for your pet, as a professional referral is required before treatment can begin.
If your vet recommends pain relief and oral or topical medication for your pet, you might want to contact an online pharmacy. They often dispense the same medication as your vet at cheaper prices. Order at any time from your phone or computer and have the medication delivered to your door. Find out more about online pharmacies here.
How do I find a qualified pet physiotherapist?
You should look for RAMP or ACPAT-qualified physiotherapists. You can find these on each accreditation’s website, but you can also chat with your vet for a referral.
What should I expect during a pet physiotherapy session?
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There are three main stages to a pet physiotherapy session:
Assessment
The therapist will visually assess your pet, look at their gait, check their muscles and review their joint range of motion.
You’ll also need to discuss their medical history, fitness and exercise regime.
Treatment plan
Based on this assessment, the therapist will then create a tailored plan, used in conjunction with your vet’s treatment plan, to ease symptoms. This can include massage, hydrotherapy, training or exercise. It’ll typically come as a written exercise plan or guidance sheet to perform at home.
Follow-up
Your therapist will then assess how well your pet is progressing and will recommend any follow-up treatments or supply maintenance exercises to do after the treatment plan ends.
Are there any risks involved?
Side effects and risks are rare, but your dog can encounter some problems.
Chiropractic
Sleepiness
Soreness
Vocalisation
Physiotherapy
Fatigue
Mild soreness
Temporary imbalance
Weakness
Osteotherapy
Discomfort
Rarely, it can worsen existing problems. But this is very uncommon.
How many sessions will my pet need?
This depends on your pet’s condition, its severity, the success of treatment and other factors. The only one who can really advise on this is your therapist or vet.
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