Frequently Asked Questions
What is physiotherapy?
“Physiotherapy helps restore movement and function when someone is affected by injury, illness or disability. Through education, awareness, empowerment and participation in their treatment” (CSP, 2015)
Physiotherapy has been used to treat people with injury, illness, pain & disability for decades. Physiotherapists take a holistic approach to improve or maintain health & well-being. At the heart of the profession is:
Movement
Exercise
Manual therapy
Education & Advice
Physiotherapists also strive to prevent disease & disability, enabling people to prolong their fitness, function & independence.
Physiotherapists train for three years at undergraduate degree level to become Chartered human practitioners, which includes a large amount of clinical placement, with a practical hands-on bias. They learn to manage a variety of problems, including musculoskeletal, neurological, cardiovascular & respiratory conditions. Many then specialise in a specific field of interest, such as veterinary physiotherapy.
How can physiotherapy help your animal?
Physiotherapy is growing in the veterinary field. Animals can gain the same benefits as humans, helping to manage pain, recover movement, speed up healing, build strength & improve quality of life.
Family pets, working animals and competition animals may all need help to recover from injury, surgery, illness or loss of fitness and performance. Physiotherapy and hydrotherapy can also support elderly animals, and help to prevent future problems.
Chartered Physiotherapists use a variety of rehabilitation tools:
Manual Therapy - massage, myofascial release, trigger point release, joint mobilisations, stretches
Electrotherapy - neuromuscular electrical stimulation, laser, ultrasound, electromagnetic
Exercise Therapy - mobility, strength, stability, balance, coordination & cardiovascular fitness
Education & Advice - your animal's environment, enrichment, husbandry, handling, behaviour, training and diet.
What do you charge?
Initial Assessment & First Treatment (60 minutes) £72
Follow-up Treatment (45 minutes) £62
The same charges apply to all animals and cover any treatment within the session. Payment is due within 24 hours of each appointment. We accept online, card, and cash payments.
Find out more about our prices.
Where are you based?
We are based in on the Worcestershire border in Hopwood, south Birmingham. Our facilities are easily accessible from Birmingham city and the M42.
Find out more about how to find us.
What are your opening hours?
Monday 9am - 8pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 8pm
Friday 9am - 4.30pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm
Sunday Closed
How do I make an appointment?
All animals require a veterinary referral before starting physiotherapy or hydrotherapy. Simply ask your vet to complete our referral form and email it directly to us at info@4pointphysio.co.uk.
Once we've received your referral, we'll contact you to arrange an appointment. If you'd like to discuss treatment options or availability beforehand, please call us on 07740 902 587.
We often have a waiting list; we can give you a rough time frame on when we may have availability, but this depends on the size of our caseload and when current patients are fit enough to be discharged. We always try to prioritise patients that have recently had surgery or major injuries or illness.
Find out more about appointments.
What is your cancellation policy?
We require at least 24 hours' notice if you need to cancel or reschedule an appointment. Cancellations made with less than 24 hours' notice will incur the full appointment fee.
Please give us as much notice as possible, as we often have animals waiting for appointments. This also helps us cover the costs of our staff and facilities when appointments become vacant.
We thank you for your support and understanding.
Do you only treat dogs?
No, not at all! While we do see a lot of dogs, we also provide physiotherapy for cats, horses and other animals. Our team has experience treating a wide variety of animals, from rabbits and goats to more unusual patients!
We tailor our treatments to each animal's individual needs, you can find out more about the patient’s we see below.
Do you offer fun and fitness swims, or puppy swimming lessons?
Yes! We offer 30-minute fun and fitness swimming sessions with our hydrotherapist, subject to availability and suitability for your dog. These sessions are ideal for building fitness, keeping active or simply enjoying the water.
We prioritise dogs requiring treatment for injuries or medical conditions, so availability may vary. Please get in touch to discuss your dog's needs, availability and pricing.
Can I stay with my pet during the session?
Yes, we require owners to stay with their animal during the whole duration of every appointment. This is for safety, keeping your animal at ease, and to give you physiotherapy advice and an exercise programme to take home.
Can I get in the water with my pet?
No, but a hydrotherapist will usually be in the water with your animal for safe and therapeutic handling.
Do you see reactive and nervous dogs?
Yes, we are experienced in treating highly reactive dogs, including police dogs and dogs that cannot be handled by anyone other than their owner. We encourage muzzles on the first session, but we can also minimise or avoid handling your animal, even in the underwater treadmill as we can use a remote control to operate it.
We always take sessions slowly, go at the dogs pace and ensure we work closely with owners throughout sessions.
We do not allow the use of prong/pinch or electric collars on our premises.
Are there any breeds of dog you do not allow?
No, we see all breeds of dog, as long as they have been referred by their vet. This includes XL Bullies, however, they must have a certificate of exemption and be muzzled on our premises, to comply with UK laws.
What if my pet is scared of water or never been in water?
We can slowly and gently introduce your pet to water; the underwater treadmill is great for this as we control the water level. We use a ‘fear free’ approach and offer positive reinforcement for all our treatments.
If we feel an animal is too frightened or stressed, we will stop and change our approach. Often dogs get used to the water with gradual exposure and sometimes even learn to love it!
If they are really struggling, we can also use land-based physio only, with great benefit too.
Does my pet need to be vaccinated?
We recommend all dogs to be fully vaccinated against Leptospirosis, Canine Distemper, Canine Adenovirus and Canine Parvovirus before attending our clinic.
Due to the large number of dogs in our care, cross contamination is a risk when dogs attend our centre. Home visits can be offered for unvaccinated dogs, depending on location and availability. Talk to us and your vet first if you have an unvaccinated animal.
Do you accept pet insurance claims?
Yes, we are covered by most pet insurance providers. Please check if your policy covers Physiotherapy or Hydrotherapy, or ‘complementary therapy’. All our physios are ACPAT Chartered Physiotherapists (Category A).
We do not accept direct claims or payment from pet insurers, but we are happy to fill out claim forms and provide invoices orreceipts free of charge so that owners can claim back the costs of their pet’s treatment after a course or block of sessions.
If the insurer requires a physio report or release of full clinical notes, then an upfront administration charge of £15 is payable.
How do I contact you?
The best way to get in touch is by email or WhatsApp, as we cannot always answer the phone. If we miss your call, please leave a voicemail or send a message.
We are a small, busy team but we always aim to get back to you within 1 - 2 working days.
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Photography
The professional photos on our website were taken by the super talented Pooch and Pineapple and Rae Prince Photography.