Golden Vet Physio
Canine & Equine Physiotherapy

07772 369962
Olivia@goldenvetphysio.co.uk
Olivia.pauling@outlook.com
For Vets
Legal Information
In the UK, it is a legal requirement, per the Veterinary Surgeons Act of 1966 and the Veterinary Surgery (Exemptions) Order 2015, that veterinary physiotherapists (and other musculoskeletal therapists) can only treat animals after a referral from a registered veterinary surgeon. This ensures the animal's welfare and that the vet is aware of all treatments.
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Veterinary Surgeon's Referral:
The law mandates that a veterinary surgeon must first examine the animal and determine if physiotherapy is appropriate. The vet then provides a referral, which may be a written form or simply verbal consent.
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Exceptions:
There are some exceptions, such as maintenance physiotherapy for healthy animals that are competing or working, where a referral may not be strictly required, but registration with a vet is still necessary.
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Role of the Veterinary Physiotherapist:
The vet physiotherapist works under the direction of the referring vet, and may need to refer the animal back to the vet if concerns arise.
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Purpose of the Referral System:
The referral system ensures that:
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The animal's welfare is prioritised, as the vet is aware of all treatment plans.
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The vet can provide relevant diagnostic information and ensure the animal's overall health is being addressed.
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The vet physiotherapist can work effectively within the scope of veterinary practice.
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In summary, while there may be some flexibility in certain maintenance cases, the core legal requirement for veterinary physiotherapy is that it is always under the direction and referral of a veterinary surgeon.
How will Physiotherapy complement your care?
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Support recovery and optimise outcomes in a wide range of cases — post-op orthopaedic, neurological, chronic MSK conditions, age-related mobility decline, and performance issues.
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Conduct thorough, whole-body assessments — evaluating gait, posture, muscle symmetry, joint function, neurological integrity, compensation patterns, pain indicators, and soft tissue tone.
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Flag abnormalities (e.g. persistent lameness, neuro deficits, severe discomfort) that may require re-evaluation or diagnostic workup — ensuring appropriate escalation back to the vet.
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Deliver hands-on treatments including joint mobilisations, soft tissue release, myofascial techniques, and trigger point therapy to address dysfunction, pain, and restriction.
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Prescribe condition-specific exercise programs tailored to support healing, restore function, reduce compensation, and build long-term resilience — adjusted based on progress, age, and temperament.
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Utilise electrotherapies (e.g., PEMF) to aid pain control, inflammation reduction, tissue repair, muscle stimulation, and scar management.
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Manage chronic conditions (e.g., OA, IVDD, CDRM), helping maintain function, reduce reliance on medications, and improve quality of life.
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Communicate clearly and frequently — providing regular updates, rehab summaries, re-referrals when needed, and integrating within the wider veterinary care plan.
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Support owner compliance and education — explaining pathology in lay terms, coaching home-based rehab tasks, and improving long-term outcomes through engagement.
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Maintain professional development through CPD, clinical audits, and evidence-based protocols — contributing to high clinical standards and integrated case management.
Contact
Please use the attached referral form to contact us with a client referral
07772369962
