Frequently asked questions

FAQs

1. Do I need a veterinary referral?
No. A referral is not required however we do recommend that any undiagnosed conditions are seen by your vet first. Where possible we also request vet notes are emailed to us prior to your first consult as we are firm believers in the team healthcare approach. With your approval we also send summaries of your visit to your vet. 

2. There are a number of people I can take my pet to see, why should I see a physiotherapist?
In order to hold the title of physiotherapist in Australia all physiotherapists need to have qualified in a minimum 4-6 year human physiotherapy degree. In order to treat animals they must complete further training. If you are unsure whether your physiotherapist is a registered practitioner you can search for their name on the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) or ask to see their qualifications. This is important as there are set standards and codes that physiotherapists must adhere to in order to provide the highest level of care. It is a requirement that all physiotherapists are insured and stay up to date with current evidence-based practice. Apart from high quality assessment and treatment your pet will also benefit from practical, drug-free management strategies.

3. Will my insurance cover a physiotherapy visit or rehabilitation? 
Unfortunately most insurance companies do not cover rehabilitation although there are a select few who do. We encourage you to read your policy closely or call your insurer first. Where rehabilitation is covered- the cost of these sessions may be partially covered. As pet insurance and rehabilitation becomes more common it is likely that more plans will begin to include rehabilitation like private health insurance for people...watch this space. 

4.  Does Take The Lead Animal Physiotherapy offer veterinary services?
Whilst we do work closely with vets and vet specialists, no, we are not veterinarians and nor do we provide any typical treatments that would be provided by your vet such as vaccinations, blood tests, imaging etc. If we believe any of this is needed we will refer you back to your vet.

5. What is the best way to contact Take The Lead Animal Physiotherapy?
If you have any urgent queries or require an urgent assessment for your pet please call the mobile number on our contact page (for all emergencies please see an appropriate vet). For all other enquiries or to make an appointment request please use our email. Whilst we monitor the phones and emails throughout the day, as a small business our busy schedule means that we may not be able to reply until the evening or the day after, we thank you for your patience.

6. Do you treat my pet's condition? 
We do treat most bone, tendon, ligament and neurological (brain, spinal cord and nerve) conditions. This includes geriatric vestibular disease, pre/post surgical, amputations, back pain and more. There are some cardiorespiratory conditions that we can help too, however there are simply too many conditions to name so please email us if you are unsure whether we can help. If we feel that we cannot help we will do our best to recommend someone who can.

7. Do you only treat dogs? 
No. We treat a whole range of small pets including cats and rabbits although dogs are the most common animal that we see.