Silvia Boscolo and Laura Romano – London Vet Rehab
Silvia Boscolo RVN, PGD VET PHYSIO, MIAAT, RCH
Silvia trained as a veterinary nurse in Italy, but moved to the UK in 2014. She started her veterinary career in London as a neurology nurse at a vets which included referrals for MRI and CT scan. Over the next few years, having decided to dedicate her all her time and energy on physiotherapy, she studied for and gained her Diploma in Animal Physiotherapy and a Level 3 Certificate in Hydrotherapy. Silvia now has her own consultancy in London called Peace Love and Animal Physio, she is member of IAAT (International Association Animal Therapist) and is applying for registration on RAMP (Register of Animal Musculoskeletal Practitioners).
Laura Romano MRCVS, IVAS-ITVAS , ABVA, IRVAP
Laura graduated as a Veterinary Surgeon in 2006 at the University of Milan, Italy. After 10 years of clinical experience in both equine and canine practice, she moved to London. In UK she decided to totally dedicate herself to integrative medicines working as referring specialist in veterinary acupuncture and veterinary holistic medicine.
As most of the patients treated with integrative medicine were senior animals suffering from chronic pain, reduced mobility and neurological condition, she decided to increase her knowledge in animal rehabilitation. She obtained a Level 3 Certificate in Hydrotherapy, an second International Certification in Veterinary Acupuncture and she started a MSc in Veterinary Physiotherapy at the University of Nottingham.
Laura is currently practicing as “Natural Holistic Vet” based in London collaborating with other colleagues performing animal rehabilitation across the UK and Europe.
Silvia and Laura kindly agreed to answer the following questions:
What are your feelings on how we currently manage this common debilitating condition in dogs?
We think CAM are doing a great job in spreading the word about the importance of arthritis. We believe that this is important information to help educate all owners about this condition. It is part of the therapy to help make the owner aware of what it really means when their dogs or cats suffer from arthritis and what they can do to help their pets.
As a vet and veterinary nurse team what do you feel is essential for managing canine arthritis effectively?
As both a Vet Nurse and Vet Surgeon, with many years experience in rehabilitation therapies we believe in practicing a multimodal approach as the essential approach for managing arthritis.
Day by day, we are motivated by the results and are therefore passionate to keep on educating owners and colleagues to refer dogs (and cats) suffering from arthritis to a veterinary physiotherapist. Assessing a patient and discussing together the optimal multimodal approach for that particular patient is the best management for this kind of condition. Every animal is different and every one deserves a personal approach that could differ from each patient suffering from the same disease.
Every day we treat elderly patients suffering from the worst case scenario of arthritis and osteoarthritis, meaning inflammation of the joints and also as a degeneration of the joint and the tissues interacting with the joint, leading to limitation in the movement and therefore a different rehabilitation program depending on the severity of the condition.
How do you see treatment options for arthritis progressing over the next ten years?
We hope to see treatment options for arthritis progressing over a multimodal prevention. Unfortunately prevention is not well enough rooted in our medical as well as veterinary culture but we hope that a multimodal prevention will become part of the routine of every dog and owner. A multimodal prevention made of a natural diet, where “natural” means “in line with the nature of the animal” and a monitored physical activity depending on breed, age and environment should become essential for every dog.
If you could have the opportunity to give one tip/ piece of advice to an owner with a dog suffering from arthritis what would it be?
As in a normal day, little things can be the best such as; the smile of a stranger, the sun shining on a Monday even though its a work day, and to witness an act of kindness. We should think the same about osteoarthritis. Making the smallest of changes in the daily routine of your dog will change its life. For example, the layout of rugs in the house, raise the food and water bowls for a better posture, frequent short walks during the day, just keep moving, use massages and basic exercises on a daily basis to keep the flexibility of the joints and muscles stable.
Little things can really make a difference, you have just to believe it.