Tails Therapy & Education

Injury Management

Effective injury management goes beyond simply prescribing rest, it’s about guiding the healing process with intention and care. Providing the right balance of protection, controlled activity, and support helps promote recovery while minimizing complications.

Modern rehabilitation principles, such as the PEACE & LOVE approach, offer a clear, evidence-based roadmap for managing injuries in animals safely and successfully. By following these guidelines, owners and clinicians can work together to ensure the best possible outcomes.

PROTECTION

Limit movement or activity to prevent further damage. This may include stall rest (horses), crate rest (dogs/cats), or controlled walks. The goal is to protect the injured tissue without complete immobilization unless clinically necessary.

ELEVATION

Where practical (often limited in animals), elevation can help reduce swelling. For example, keeping a dog's limb raised briefly during rest or handling post-injury.

AVOID ANTI-INFLAMMATORIES

Emerging evidence suggests that early use of NSAIDs may interfere with the natural healing process of soft tissue injuries. In animals, this decision must be made by a vet, considering pain control versus optimal tissue regeneration.

COMPRESSION

Used cautiously and selectively in veterinary medicine (e.g., bandaging in dogs or compression wraps in horses). Proper technique is essential to avoid complications like pressure sores or circulatory issues.

EDUCATION

Education and understanding about the animal’s injury is vital. Knowing how to support and maximize recovery through proper rest and activity adjustments is key to achieving the best possible outcome for animal injury management.

After injury, animals need PEACE

LOAD

Gradual reintroduction of controlled movement and weight-bearing helps stimulate proper tissue healing and build strength. Load is adjusted based on the injury type, species, and individual tolerance (e.g., weight shifting, pole work, underwater treadmill).

OPTIMISM

A positive outlook from owners can significantly influence recovery. Animals respond to calm, consistent care, so when owners believe improvement is possible, they’re more likely to follow the rehab plan and create an encouraging environment. Veterinary physiotherapists help guide this mindset with clear goals and progress tracking.

VASCULARISATION

Aerobic, low-impact exercise increases blood flow, aiding healing and improving endurance. Techniques include leash walks for dogs, hand-walking for horses, and enrichment-based mobility for cats (e.g., play or obstacle exploration).

EXERCISE

Rehabilitation-specific exercises (targeting strength, coordination, proprioception, and range of motion) restore function and prevent reinjury. These should be species-appropriate and guided by a veterinary physiotherapist or rehab professional.

As healing progresses, they benefit from LOVE

Explore our Learning Hub for information and tracking booklets to support your animal physiotherapy programme. For in-depth reading, visit our Research Hub, where you'll find a collection of open-access articles showcasing the evidence behind physiotherapy in veterinary practice.

References

Docherty, C. L., et al. (2021). Does the PEACE & LOVE protocol have effects on the management of soft tissue injuries? British Journal of Sports Medicine. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2020-103086
Dubois, B., & Esculier, J.-F. (2020). Soft-tissue injuries simply need PEACE and LOVE. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 54(2), 72–73.