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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. 

  • 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. 

  • 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. 

  • 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. 

  • Purpose of the Referral System:

    The referral system ensures that:

    • The animal's welfare is prioritised, as the vet is aware of all treatment plans. 

    • The vet can provide relevant diagnostic information and ensure the animal's overall health is being addressed. 

    • The vet physiotherapist can work effectively within the scope of veterinary practice. 

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?

  • 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.

  • Conduct thorough, whole-body assessments — evaluating gait, posture, muscle symmetry, joint function, neurological integrity, compensation patterns, pain indicators, and soft tissue tone.

  • 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.

  • Deliver hands-on treatments including joint mobilisations, soft tissue release, myofascial techniques, and trigger point therapy to address dysfunction, pain, and restriction.

  • 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.

  • Utilise electrotherapies (e.g., PEMF) to aid pain control, inflammation reduction, tissue repair, muscle stimulation, and scar management.

  • Manage chronic conditions (e.g., OA, IVDD, CDRM), helping maintain function, reduce reliance on medications, and improve quality of life.

  • Communicate clearly and frequently — providing regular updates, rehab summaries, re-referrals when needed, and integrating within the wider veterinary care plan.

  • Support owner compliance and education — explaining pathology in lay terms, coaching home-based rehab tasks, and improving long-term outcomes through engagement.

  • 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

RAMP

Contact

Please use our contact form from our website, or send us an email to enquire about physiotherapy. 

We aim to get back to you within 7 days. 

07772 369962

RAMP Registered Member
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