How Can We Support You?
We visit pets in their own homes, spending an hour with them & their owners to work out puzzles such as funny walks, sloppy sits, intermittent lameness, sudden reluctance to go for walks, bunny hopping and slowing down or stopping on walks.
DogFit Physiotherapy follows a multidisciplinary approach, and practices in consultation with the client's Veterinarian (GP and/or Specialist). We are supportive of Vet colleagues believing that outcomes are better when we work together.
It is really helpful if a pet is already on pain-relieving medication as this allows us to examine and test the musculoskeletal nervous structures & function without causing distress to the animal. Less pain also means they can move more normally with less guarding, and therefore able to commence appropriate exercises earlier.
We recommend pet owners consult their Vet on a regular basis for medication review, health checks, excluding differential diagnoses, Rads, advice on weight management etc. We are not in competition with or a substitute for Vets - Physio is just part of a larger picture of their care.
If you'd like to discuss a case or refer a patient, you can either email info@dogfitphysio.com or call / SMS 0457 877 321 anytime.
If a Client has approached us for pet Physiotherapy, we'll contact you to request any clinical history & imaging. This is to inform our clinical management, ensure their safety during our interventions and to reinforce & compliment your care plan. We will send updates about their physiotherapy progress. If we have any concerns about the health or welfare of the animal we will ALWAYS contact you immediately.
How We Help Vets & Pets
Rehabilitation
Clinical evidence exists that orthopaedic & neurological surgery outcomes are better with prehab and post-op rehabilitation. In the human world, developing & implementing these in conjunction with Surgeons is bread & butter for us physiotherapists, and it's what patients expect. We believe animals deserve this too.
It's unthinkable to us that someone would have a cruciate ligament reconstruction without physiotherapy for many weeks following.
Ergonomic Assessments
As Registered Physiotherapists, we can assess your working environment to provide advice & adjustments to keep YOU healthy at work. Your job is already tough enough without hurting yourself moving & handing animals or equipment.
60%–90% of veterinarians reported musculoskeletal pain or discomfort during the past 12 months*
This is NOT OK!!
Let us take some of this away for you; it will be a huge return on investment financially, mentally and physically.
*Beatrice Thielmann, Robert Pohl, Irina Böckelmann,
Physical stress and musculoskeletal complaints of veterinarians – A narrative review,Applied Ergonomics, Volume 1 15, 2024, 104180, ISSN 0003-6870,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apergo.2023.104180.
(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0003687023002181)
Anxious & Reactive Dogs
Anxiety in its various forms appears to be prevalent in pets! Structured appropriate physical activity improves mental and physical health by providing enrichment, reducing inflammation & calming hypervigilant nervous systems.
We work closely with the Pet Behaviour Vet on their complex cases to identify and treat "silent pain" (which of course was never silent when you find it!) which is quoted as existing in around 80% of behaviour cases**
Senior Pet Care
Help your clients understand that ageing does not have to equal a grumpy, overweight & withdrawn pet. We're strong advocates of Pet Owners attending their Vet for medical management of Osteoarthritis at the very first signs.
We'd love to collaborate to provide a multi-pronged approach to preventing & managing age-related conditions, including promoting the use of medication where appropriate in conjunction with tailored advice & activities.
Education
We will happily visit your practice, let you play on our physio equipment, collaborate on cases or provide education on how physiotherapy can SUPPORT and enhance your practice.
Examples are:
Recognising Maladaptive Pain
Gait analysis
Laser Use
Acupuncture
Myofascial release
Manual handling for your team
Conditioning Classes
We run individual and small group conditioning classes for dogs. They're designed to facilitate movement, improve strength, prevent injuries & enhance quality of life.
If you wish to attend to see what we do, you're very welcome!
Or if you'd like to participate with your own dog, we have a discount code for you (email or SMS for it).
About Us
Emma Duffy (BSc.Hons Physiotherapy)
Emma is mobile around Sydney treating dogs in their own homes. She enjoys working closely with Vet Specialists, especially on complex behavioural cases where pain is suspected but unidentified. Emma's phone memory is always full of dog gait analysis videos & photos, trying to work out the latest puzzle.
Emma qualified as a Chartered State-Registered Physiotherapist in the UK in 1998 with a Bachelor of Science with Honours in Physiotherapy from the University of Liverpool, working for 15 years in public University Hospitals. Due to a huge love for animals she joined the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Animal Therapy (ACPAT), obtaining a qualification in Canine Massage while gaining experience working at small animal Vets who were open to having a Physio. Emma also studied and gained several qualifications in acupuncture (AACP) in 2000-2004, which she still uses successfully with many patients.
Since coming to Australia, Emma has experience with livestock & avians. written for DogsNSW Magazine, mentored Vets undertaking the US-based CCRP/CCRT and student Animal Physiotherapists. From 2022 she had the huge privilege of working with Dr Helen Nicholson at Whole Family Health in St Marys, an incredible learning opportunity, treating dogs, cats & wildlife. Due to Whole Family Health moving, Emma relocated to Sutherland Shire in 2025. She still treats humans, mostly small ones, and volunteers with rescued horses and Animal Shelters.
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