Laurie's Blogs.

 

12
Jan 2014

Snippets from Successful Practitioners in Canine Rehabilitation & Physiotherapy

I am so excited to tell you that my latest book Successful Practitioners in Canine Rehabilitation & Physiotherapy is officially available!  It can be purchased on Amazon.com (and .co.uk, but not .ca for some reason)!  I do have a limited time special offer for the first 50 people that purchase the book through www.fourleg.com - a special reduced price…  so go check it out!

 

Here are a few snippets from the book:

 

The question:  Do you have any advice for new or existing practitioners in the field?

 

Beth Williams

USA

"If you want to grow your business, find a niche and be prepared to donate some of your time to attract new clients. Give a free class on conditioning and exercise for an agility club, provide pro bono or discounted therapy for animals at the local shelter, have a booth at animal friendly community events. Offer to write an article for local publications on “safe exercise in hot/cold weather,” or “how therapy for geriatric animals helps keep them moving well.” If you work out of a veterinary clinic, create relationships with veterinarians in the area so they are comfortable referring their clients/patients to you for therapy services without fearing that they will lose their clients completely."

 

Cajsa Ericson

Sweden

"Do good work and get results! Get to know "important people" that can help with your learning and/or can help to get you started. Get to know and visit with individual vets and vet clinics. Ask if you can shadow them for a day. Be patient, it takes time!"

 

Carrie Smith

Canada

"My advice:

  • Get all your credentials first (Certificate or Diploma) before you start to practice.
  • Vets should spend at least one day in a human practice with a PT, because human patients can give them feedback about hand pressure and joint glides when doing manual therapy.
  • Don’t overcharge! Look at what human clinics around your area charge for a rehab treatment. Animal rehab should not be more expensive, as the practitioners are basically “new grads.”
  • Spend a lot of time on assessment and re-assess at every treatment. It seems that some practitioners are doing the initial assessment, and then having the tech perform several treatments. If you don’t re-assess on each visit, you will have no idea how the patient is doing. If there are no changes after the first two treatments, you are not treating the right thing, or your treatment is not effective, so don’t keep doing it!  The tech does not have qualifications to do your re-assessment.
  • Use the “Three Treatment Rule.” I tell all of my humans and owners this. If there have been no improvements after the third treatment, you are not being effective, so re-evaluate!  Owners will really respect this. This does not mean that the patient is completely healed in three treatments; it just means you know you are on the right track."

 

Julie Mayer

USA

"You have to promote both yourself and this discipline. Reach out and approach veterinary hospitals and give presentations on your services and case studies. Host seminars and CE events at your facility. Get out into the community and attend animal-related sporting events. Learn how animals move and study anatomy. The better a practitioner and diagnostician you are, the better you can serve your patients, which leads to better outcomes and a great reputation! Those of you who are veterinarians, I would get certified in chiropractic. It really helps to understand the musculoskeletal system. In addition, acupuncture is also a great tool for pain management." 

 

And back to me:

I hope that these stories get you hungry for more!  I simply cannot believe the wealth of information, insight, and advice that all of the contributors shared, and there is so much that we can learn from each other!  In case, I'm not clear… go buy the book!  I guarantee you'll benefit from at least one story or piece of advice. Carpe Diem!!

Cheers,

Laurie



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