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Animals Are Endangered Due to A Lack of Regulation

Animals Are Endangered Due to A Lack of Regulation

Published By Anjana , 2 years ago

The American Physiotherapy Association's new Position Statement on Animal Physiotherapy urges that all animals, whether they are high-performance competitors, working animals, or much-loved family pets, should be treated by highly competent specialists.

Lynne Harrison, National Chair of the APA Animal Group, said that the APA is urging veterinary surgeons to only refer their customers to licensed allied health experts, such as animal physiotherapists, to ensure that all animals get the most appropriate and competent care.

Physiotherapy is not just for humans; it also provides important rehabilitation and treatment for animals to enhance their quality of life and aid in preventing and recovering from accidents.

Animal physiotherapists collaborate closely with veterinary surgeons to treat horses, dogs, and cats as pets and working or performance animals such as racehorses, show jumpers, and greyhounds.

Animal physiotherapists provide the same skills and interdisciplinary treatment as human physiotherapists, assisting in reducing pain, improving function and mobility, and preventing recurrence of injury. The result is improved outcomes for animals after surgery and neurological events and increased quality of life for aged animals and those receiving palliative care.

Ms. Harrison notes that APA physiotherapists are working hard to develop ties and a comprehensive approach to animal rehabilitation with veterinarians. Even yet, a lack of understanding is placing animals in danger.

The APA has received criticism that many veterinarians oppose physiotherapy due to a lack of knowledge about the profession and personal prejudice. Vets may not wholly comprehend the advantages of collaborating with us. As a consequence, no animals are referred for physiotherapy.

Education for veterinary students is equally critical. APA animal physiotherapists have given presentations to vet students on occasion, but this is not a common occurrence. It would be good if all veterinary colleges in Australia provided physiotherapists with lecture time, teaching graduates the advantages of working closely with animal physiotherapists.

One of the most significant obstacles, however, is a lack of regulation in the veterinary profession. The American Physiotherapy Association is concerned that certain animal practitioners professing to be physiotherapists may lack credentials or official, recognised training.

There are many ‘therapists’ out there who are not clinically trained, not insured, and work without supervision. These therapists often advertise themselves as canine/equine physiotherapists.

The APA has previously pushed Ahpra and the Physiotherapy Board of Australia on title protection. However, only 'physiotherapists' are officially protected. They have yet to get title protection as animal/canine/equine physiotherapists, extending the misunderstanding. For this reason, APA is promoting and encouraging vets and consumers to work with qualified physiotherapists.

According to Ms. Harrison, all Ahpra-registered physiotherapists have completed a four-year Bachelor of Science degree in Physiotherapy, but those practising in animal physiotherapy have undergone further postgraduate training.

Animal physiotherapists either hold a Master’s or postgraduate diplomas in animal or veterinary physiotherapy or have completed the APA’s Career Pathway in Animal Physiotherapy.

Consumers have a right to know that practitioners calling themselves physiotherapists are just that and should be confident that their animals are receiving physiotherapy from a qualified professional who is providing the best care possible.”

The APA is also calling on pet insurers to include animal physiotherapy cover in their policies and provide policies covering the range of complaints that animal physiotherapists regularly treat.

Pet insurers should provide policies covering common injuries and illnesses that animal physiotherapists usually treat, such as cruciate ligament repair, hip dysplasia, and intervertebral disc disease.

Pet insurance companies certainly have a role to play in promoting physiotherapy provided by qualified physiotherapists. Providing physiotherapy cover in their policies endorses the profession to vets and the general public.

The pet insurance market offers multiple policies for owners, but only one company covers physiotherapy as part of the policy, whilst two cover up to two sessions per annum. They are currently working with Petcover, who has covered physiotherapy for many years and sees the benefits of working with a physiotherapist to reduce medical and surgical intervention.

Until there is greater uptake in the pet insurance market, it’s buyer beware for animal care, according to Ms. Harrison.

Ms. Harrison urges all animal owners to carefully scrutinise all pet insurance policies to ensure they stipulate their pet or working animal will receive care from highly qualified, Ahpra-regulated physiotherapists.


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