Practical Physiotherapy for Veterinary Nurses

Donna Carver BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy, Dip AVN (surg), RVN, MCSP Donna works as part of the Pain and Rehabilitation service at The University of Glasgow, School of Veterinary Medicine, providing physiotherapy and hydrotherapy to small animals. She started her veterinary nursing career in small animal general practice. She has previously worked at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, Edinburgh, as a surgical veterinary nurse, and returning later as an animal physiotherapist/veterinary nurse. Donna is a member of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy and has given numerous CPD seminars in physiotherapy and rehabilitation.

Acknowledgements vii

About the companion website ix

1 Musculoskeletal physiotherapy 1

Introduction 1

Gait analysis 2

History taking 5

Physical examination 6

Exercise plans 7

Physiotherapy treatment techniques and modalities 8

Musculoskeletal presenting conditions 24

Pain management 75

Physiotherapy musculoskeletal assessment 79

Self‐assessment questions 86

2 Neurology 89

Introduction 89

Surgical presenting conditions 91

Non‐surgical presenting conditions 116

Medical neurological presenting conditions 125

Neurological assessment 136

Physiotherapy assessment for the neurology patient 142

Self‐assessment questions 148

3 Respiratory physiotherapy 151

Introduction 151

Chest auscultation and interpretation 152

Percussion note technique and interpretation 153

Interpretation of blood gases 154

Respiratory failure 154

Cardiorespiratory monitoring 156

Electrocardiograms 158

Respiratory presenting conditions 160

Respiratory physiotherapy treatment techniques 164

Self‐assessment questions 181

4 Hydrotherapy 185

Introduction 185

The aims of hydrotherapy 185

Pool chemistry 187

Properties of water 188

Hydrotherapy for specific conditions 189

Self‐assessment questions 202

Appendices 205

Abbreviations 209

References 211

Self-assessment answers 213

Index 219