Physio Focus - Jackie Grant

Jackie Grant was the Chair of the ACPAT committee and is a practising Chartered Veterinary Physiotherapist.

How long have you been an animal physiotherapist?

I have been a Chartered Physiotherapist since 1976, joined ACPAT in 1989 and became a Category A member in 1996.

What interested you in specialising in animals?

Being a horse, dog (Louie, Cracker & Rufus pictured) and cat owner myself, other animal owner friends started to approach me for treatment for their own animals. This prompted me to investigate animal physiotherapy and how physiotherapy could help animals.

Where did you train?

ACPAT has its own training for members which I undertook to upgrade to Category A status. In 2000 I applied to the Royal Veterinary College (University of London) for their Post graduate Diploma/Master of Science degree in Veterinary Physiotherapy and graduated in 2002 with an MSc.

What did it involve?

Though the ACPAT training route is much more comprehensive now, my ACPAT training consisted of work experience with other Category A members and vets, submitting essays and references from vets and experienced Category A members, as well as attending training seminars and courses.

The RVC Veterinary Physiotherapy course is obviously more academic and is a part time course over two years.

The practical training is provided by ACPAT Category A members.

What do you enjoy most about treating animals?

It is highly satisfying to see an animal make a functional recovery from an injury or surgery with physiotherapy intervention. Physiotherapy can also be used to great benefit for athletic animals or animals with conditions such as osteoarthritis and neurological insults.

What is the most unusual animal you have treated?

A chinchilla! He injured one of his hind limbs and was due to have it amputated when the vet suggested physiotherapy. He has made a full recovery thanks to the dedicated input of his owners implementing his physiotherapy regime.