Appointments

Appointments: What To Expect

Before scheduling an appointment with one of Yorkshire Animal Therapy's practitioners PLEASE READ the following guidance carefully:

  • Please allow between 60-90 minutes for your first consultation and around 40-60 minutes for each follow up session. 
  • Avoid booking an appointment prior to competitions for routine checks as your animal may need an altered exercise regime for a few days.
  • Veterinary Consent:
    • It is a legal requirement (as per the Veterinary Surgeons Exemptions Order 2015 Section 19.19 (https://www.rcvs.org.uk/setting-standards/advice-and-guidance/code-of-professional-conduct-for-veterinary-surgeons/supporting-guidance/treatment-of-animals-by-unqualified-persons/) that ALL therapists seek & obtain veterinary consent before any treatment can take place.
    • At Yorkshire Animal Therapy we request veterinary consent before an initial assessment, on an annual basis or when a condition changes or a new injury/ailment occurs. We try to work closely with veterinary practices to ensure our patients get the best possible outcome, we’re working within the law and we refer back to the treating veterinarian where necessary.
    • You can download a veterinary consent form from our home page - we require YOU to fill this in and get your vet to sign it prior to treatment. All completed forms can be returned to us via email or in person. If you wish to give us back the form in person please take a picture of the completed & signed form and text/email it to us so we can check it prior to treatment. 
    • Completed forms can be returned to: info@yorkshireanimaltherapy.co.uk
  • General Health:
    • Patients with infectious or contagious conditions such as ear, nose, eye or skin infections, gastric upset, kennel cough, strangles etc. will NOT be treated. Owners are advised to cancel or hold off booking all appointments until the patient has been clear of symptoms for at least 1 week. 
  • Payment:
    • Payment for a treatment should be made by BACS prior to your consultation or in cash on the day. Dominique also has a card machine. Payment should be made in FULL as we DO NOT offer credit or finance agreements. Unfortunately we are no longer able to accept cheques as a method of payment. If you are wishing to claim your treatment back through your insurance you must pay us in full and we will issue you an invoice/receipt for you to submit to your insurance company.
By accepting and booking an appointment with a Yorkshire Animal Therapy therapist you are agreeing to our terms and conditions - for full details of these please follow the link below.
Yorkshire Animal Therapy: Full Terms & Conditions

How To Prepare For Your Appointment

  • Make sure that there is somewhere warm, dry and comfortable for the assessment and treatment to take place and ideally somewhere relatively flat to perform a gait analysis.
  • If possible please make efforts to minimise any distractions during the appointment. E.g. appriopriately restrain/remove other animals, book your appointment at a time where it is likely to be quieter. etc.
  • Please avoid exercising your dog/horse within an hour of your scheduled appointment. 
  • Ensure your dog/horse is clean and dry at least 30 minutes before your scheduled appointment. This allows for a thorough assessment and effective treatment to be given.
  • Please ensure there is a power source available for any ultrasound appointments.
  • If lighting/electricity is an issue please notify us so we can book according to daylight hours.
  • Please make sure you are ON TIME for your appointment. Let us know as soon as possible if you encounter any problmes which may affect your attendance.
  • Please allow for sufficient time for the appointment to be conducted.

What Should I Expect After An Appointment

General Aftercare Guidance: Chiropractic/Physiotherapy Treatments
  • Please ensure your animal has access to plenty of fresh drinking water directly following a treatment - this will aid the removal of any toxins which may have been released during the treatment process. 
  • Post treatment exercise restriction: 
    • Horses should not be ridden/exercised for at least 24 hours after a treatment. They can be turned out in the field if they are likely to be more settled than if stabled.
    • Dogs should only be taken for short walks/toilet stops for the next 24 hours and avoid ball games, rough play with others and any excessive exercise after a treatment. Jumping on/off things and access to stairs should also be discouraged. 
    • This general guidance may be elaborated on a case by case basis. 
  • Ideally every animal should receive follow up treatments. This enables us to re-assess the patient, identify areas of improvement/concern and note the patient's normal response to a treatment. Follow ups are generally recommended within 7-10 days of the initial consult. 
  • Tailored exercise regimes & guidance will be given to promote optimum recovery and maintenance.
Normal Responses To A Treatment Process:

Your horse/dog may act slightly differently directly following a treatment - all are quite normal reactions to treatment as the body realigns & balances itself and removes toxins from the system which may have been released during the treatment process.  Your horse/dog should return to their normal selves within 24-48hours. 

Things you may expect to see your horse/dog do:
  1. They may eat/drink more/less than usual. 
  2. They may be more/less energetic than usual. 
  3. You may notice some mild stiffness/lameness - this will subside over the next 48 hours. 
  4. Ultrasound/Laser therapy patients may also experience increased localised swelling of the affected area for 24 hours post treatment.
  • Please contact us or your vet immediately if you have any concerns about the health or well being of your animal following a treatment. 
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