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

Rehabilitation after orthopaedic or spinal surgery
Recovery and ongoing support for IVDD
Easing the stiffness and pain of arthritis
Keeping older dogs mobile and conditioning active or working dogs

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

Essex5 Cheshire3 Cambridgeshire, Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk2 Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Suffolk2 Cornwall2 Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire2 Devon, Somerset2 East Sussex, West Sussex2 Gloucestershire2 Leicestershire2 Suffolk2 Warwickshire, West Midlands, Worcestershire2 Avon, Bristol, Cardiff, Devon, Gloucestershire, Gwent, Newport, North Somerset, Powys, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Somerset, Worcestershire1 Avon, Bristol, Gloucestershire, Monmouthshire, Somerset1 Bedfordshire1 Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, North London1 Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire1 Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, South East, Sussex1 Berkshire1 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire1 Berkshire, Gloucestershire, Somerset, Wiltshire1 Berkshire, Hampshire, Surrey1 Bridgend, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Cotswolds, Glamorgan, Gloucestershire, Gwent, Monmouthshire, Newport, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Somerset, Torfaen, Vale of Glamorgan1 Bridgend, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Newport, Rhondda Cynon Taff, South Wales, Torfaen, Vale of Glamorgan1 Buckinghamshire1 Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire1 Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire1 Caithness, Highlands, Moray1 Caithness, Highlands, Moray, Scotland1 Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, London, Suffolk1 Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Peterborough, Rutland1 Cambridgeshire, Suffolk1 Cheshire, Conwy, Denbigh, Flintshire, Gwynedd, Isle of Anglesey, North Wales, Powys North, Shropshire, Wrexham1 Cheshire, Denbigh, Flintshire, Powys, Shropshire, Wrexham1 Cheshire, Derbyshire, Lancashire, Manchester, Merseyside, North Wales, Staffordshire1 Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Lancashire1 Cheshire, Isle of Man, North Shropshire, North Wales1 Cheshire, Lancashire, Manchester, Staffordshire1 Cheshire, Merseyside, North Wales, Shropshire1 Cheshire, Shropshire1 Cleveland, Durham, North Yorkshire1 Cornwall, Devon1 Cumbria, Northumberland1 Derbyshire1 Derbyshire, East Staffordshire, North West Nottinghamshire1 Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire1 Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Norfolk, Nottinghamshire1 Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire1 Devon, Dorset, Somerset1 Devon, London1 Devon, Norfolk1 Dorset, Hampshire1 Dorset, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Wiltshire1 Dorset, Hampshire, Wiltshire1 East Sussex1 East Sussex, Kent, Surrey, Sussex, West Sussex1 East Sussex, Kent, Surrey, West Sussex1 East Yorkshire1 East Yorkshire, North Yorkshire1 East Yorkshire, North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire1 Essex, Kent, London, Suffolk1 Glasgow1 Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Malvern, Monmouthshire, Worcestershire1 Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire1 Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, Worcestershire1 Gloucestershire, South Herefordshire, South Worcestershire, West Oxfordshire, Wiltshire1 Gloucestershire, Wiltshire1 Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Worcestershire1 Gwent1 Hampshire1 Hampshire, Surrey1 Hampshire, Surrey, West Sussex1 Hertfordshire1 Highlands, Moray, Perthshire1 Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Peterborough1 Lincolnshire1 London, South East1 North Yorkshire, Scarborough1 Scotland (grampian, Angus Region)1 Somerset, Wiltshire1 South Wiltshire, West Hampshire1 Surrey1 Warwickshire1 Warwickshire, West Midlands1

Conditions where physiotherapy helps

Cruciate ligament disease IVDD (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.