Does My Dog Need Physiotherapy? Signs of Pain & Stiffness

Changes in gait, shortened stride length, slower getting up, slowing down on walks, less willing to jump in cars or on the sofa… these are all signs of discomfort and stiffness in dogs. But how can physiotherapy help?

Dogs are wired to hide their discomfort. Traditionally, this would have protected them from pack rivals and predators, but today it means pain can quietly manifest. You might notice a change in your dogs mood, performance and/or energy long before a noticeable injury or limp occurs. this long-term pain can cause worsening injuries and compensatory patterns risking secondary injuries.

Canine physiotherapy can help relieve pain, muscle tension, reduce compensatory patterns and strengthen your dog so they can move more fluidly and comfortably.

At Chandler’s vet physiotherapy we work with vets of canine rehabilitation cases as well as taking on maintenance cases to promote better joint health, muscle and skeletal health which reduces the risks of injuries. because every dog is unique, each treatment plan is personalised to the animal in front of us. We use a multimodal approach to provide the best treatment for you dog including:

• Manual therapies: hands on treatment such as massage, joint mobilisation and stretching to reduce pain, tension and improve range of motion.

• Remedial exercises: Helps improve active range of motion (ROM), support joint health and build strength.

• Electrotherapies: for some clients, we use evidence-based treatments such as PEMF (pulsed electromagnetic field therapy) to help reduce pain and accelerate cellular healing.

Help your pet feel their best by contacting Chandler’s Veterinary Physiotherapy today. Or if you are out of our area, find a qualified, insured and evidence based veterinary physiotherapist by ensuring they hold registrations with professional bodies such as RAMP, NAVP, AHPR, ACPAT and/or IRVAP. You can use any of these listed registering bodies’ websites to find a practitioner near you.

Some useful reads (both scientific and lay)

Recognising Signs of Pain in Animals (2019) FOUR PAWS UK - Animal Charity - Animal Welfare Organisation. Available at: https://www.four-paws.org.uk/campaigns-topics/topics/companion-animals/recognising-signs-of-pain-in-animals (Accessed: 8 September 2026).

Alvarez, L.X., McCue, J., Lam, N.K., Askin, G. and Fox, P.R. (2019) ‘Effect of Targeted Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy on Canine Postoperative Hemilaminectomy: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial’, Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association, 55(2), pp. 83–91. Available at: https://doi.org/10.5326/JAAHA-MS-6798.

Šutalo, S., Klasen, L., Tichy, A. and Harms, O. (2025) ‘Influence of pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy on osteoarthritis in dogs’, BMC Veterinary Research, 21, p. 573. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-025-05036-9.

grandvalleyvet (2021) ‘Pet Pain – Why Animals Hide It and What You Can Do to Help | Grand Valley Animal Hospital’, 25 May. Available at: https://grandvalleyvet.com/pet-pain-why-animals-hide-it-and-what-you-can-do-to-help/ (Accessed: 8 September 2026).