All rehabilitation

Physiotherapy for dogs

Veterinary physiotherapy combines hands-on techniques, tailored exercises and therapies such as laser or massage to ease pain, restore movement and speed up recovery. A physiotherapist assesses how your dog moves and builds a programme you can continue at home, supporting everything from post-surgery rehabilitation to keeping older, arthritic dogs comfortable and active.

When it’s usually recommended

Veterinary physiotherapy usually follows referral from your vet. Look for practitioners registered with ACPAT, RAMP, the NAVP or IRVAP, which set training and practice standards.

Find dog physiotherapy by area

Essex66London64Hampshire56North Yorkshire40Kent36Gloucestershire35Devon34Surrey33Leicestershire32Suffolk32Norfolk27Oxfordshire26Lincolnshire25Somerset25Warwickshire25West Sussex24Wiltshire24Buckinghamshire22Lancashire22Worcestershire22Hertfordshire21Cambridgeshire20Derbyshire19Staffordshire19East Sussex18Rotherham16Cheshire West and Chester15Nottinghamshire15Perth and Kinross15West Northamptonshire15East Riding of Yorkshire14Stockton-on-Tees14St Helens13Cornwall12Herefordshire, County of12South Gloucestershire12Swindon12Dorset11Dumfries and Galloway11Stockport11Bristol10Central Bedfordshire10Cheshire East10West Berkshire10Aberdeenshire9Shropshire9Solihull9Telford and Wrekin9Dudley8Leeds8Pembrokeshire8Scottish Borders8Birmingham7Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole7Cardiff7Darlington7Glasgow City7Kirklees7North Somerset7Powys7Sheffield7Westmorland and Furness7Bradford6Brighton and Hove6Edinburgh6Rutland6Carmarthenshire5Denbighshire5Wrexham5York5Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon4Bedford4Channel Islands4Flintshire4Isle of Wight4Leicester4Milton Keynes4Northumberland4Southend-on-Sea4Swansea4Vale of Glamorgan4Angus3Ards and North Down3Bath and North East Somerset3Bracknell Forest3Caerphilly3Cumberland3East Lothian3Highland3Liverpool3Medway3North Northamptonshire3Redcar and Cleveland3South Ayrshire3South Lanarkshire3Tameside3Wakefield3West Lothian3Blackpool2County Durham2Doncaster2East Ayrshire2East Renfrewshire2Hartlepool2Knowsley2Lisburn and Castlereagh2Manchester2Midlothian2Mid Ulster2Moray2Neath Port Talbot2Newport2Oldham2Peterborough2Reading2Renfrewshire2Rochdale2Sandwell2Sefton2Stirling2Wigan2Wirral2Wokingham2Belfast1Blackburn With Darwen1Bolton1Bury1Calderdale1Causeway Coast and Glens1Ceredigion1Clackmannanshire1Derby1Fermanagh and Omagh1Fife1Gwynedd1Halton1Isle of Man1Monmouthshire1North East Lincolnshire1North Lincolnshire1North Tyneside1Nottingham1Orkney Islands1Plymouth1Portsmouth1Rhondda Cynon Taf1Salford1Southampton1Stoke-on-Trent1Sunderland1Torbay1Walsall1Warrington1West Dunbartonshire1Windsor and Maidenhead1

Conditions where physiotherapy helps

Cruciate ligament diseaseIVDD (disc disease)Osteoarthritis

Common questions

Does my dog need a vet referral for physiotherapy?

Usually yes. Most veterinary physiotherapists work on referral or with your vet's consent, which is also a requirement of their professional bodies. It means treatment is built around your dog's diagnosis rather than guesswork.

What's the difference between a physiotherapist and a hydrotherapist?

A physiotherapist assesses how your dog moves and uses hands-on techniques, exercises and modalities (like laser or massage) to restore function, often including a home programme. A hydrotherapist delivers water-based exercise in a pool or underwater treadmill. The two are frequently used together in a recovery plan.

How many physiotherapy sessions will my dog need?

It depends on the condition. Post-operative rehabilitation is often a structured course over several weeks; managing arthritis or a chronic problem may mean periodic top-up sessions. Much of the work continues at home between appointments.

How do I choose a good physiotherapist?

Look for registration with ACPAT, RAMP, the NAVP or IRVAP, which set training and practice standards, and a willingness to work alongside your vet. Ask about their qualifications, experience with your dog's condition, and what the home programme will involve.