Information for Veterinary Surgeons
Our clinic at Squirrel Lodge Specialist Canine Rehabilitation Centre in Lincolnshire only accepts animals following veterinary referral. Dogs are assessed by our fully qualified rehabilitation practitioner and fitness trainer. We only accept clients on a referral basis and request that you provide us with full clinical notes on any animal you refer to us. Hence, we have in-depth information about their full medical history. If this is not possible, please provide us with as much information as possible regarding all conditions the animal currently has and any significant previous history, including current medication.
Veterinary Surgeons and Fellow Therapists are invited to refer their clients to us for computer-assisted stance and gait analysis.
We will provide you with a report on how the dog is weight-bearing, any weight transference and any changes in gait that are occurring.
Our stance and gait analyser provides a report after taking several readings per second of how a dog is standing and moving. It records the weight distribution across all limbs and also includes information on the dog’s centre of gravity, which can have balance implications. When analysing gait, it looks at impact force, stationary proportion, stride symmetry, duration, length, height, and regularity. This analysis can provide insight into any changes in gait long before these can be seen by ordinary visual analysis/assessment. This enables informed decisions to be made regarding future treatments and management of the dog’s condition and allows you to focus on the limb which requires treatment, and enables us to plan appropriate management of the dog as a whole, including not only the affected limb but also any joints that are likely to have or develop compensation issues.
Dogs can be referred for analysis solely to assist with diagnosis and follow-up assessments, monitoring the progress and effectiveness of treatments and therapies. Dogs do not need to receive therapy here to be referred for this service analysis.
Please note – we do not see any animal without a veterinary referral for therapy, we can accept a dog for computer assisted stance and gait analysis without a referral, but this will be required should your dog need therapy and you decided to have your dog treated by us. We will complete the analysis even if your dog is being treated elsewhere, this service is to assist diagnosis and monitor progress of any condition or injury and monitor fitness in working and sporting dogs. It is an aid to either ourselves or other therapists and veterinary surgeons involved in the care of your dog.