Whats the deal with physios needing vet permission...?

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hannahealasaid

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I've been using a registered physio for years and not come across the permission been needed by a vet thing. When did that happen?

I've just moved area and had to register with a new vet and am trying to get a registered physio but they wont come until they get permission. Feeling a bit annoyed really because 1. I know my horse much better than the vets who beyond the receptionist taking down that he's a bay gelding know nothing about him and have never seen him! How are they well placed to judge if physio is appropriate for him? and 2. why do we have to jump through hoops to get someone who is properly qualified so has presumably passed numerous exams probably overseen by the highest trained vets in the country?
It seems pretty counter productive to make using a qualified person so difficult to use when any tom dick or harry can advertise over Facebook as a physio with no hassle.
Absolutely no disrespect intended to any physio as I will only use someone who is registered and I know they are only following rules, but its the process I don't get?!
 
It's completely justified that physios should only treat on vets advice. Vets are the only ones qualified to diagnose.
 
But when they don't see your horse and are happy to say yes go ahead over the phone how is that right? They have no idea if they haven't seen the horse!!
Plus in a routine check there is nothing to diagnose but that's a different issue and not what i'm getting at.
 
They just need to know that there is nothing the vet is aware of that they need to take into account in treatment. It's like my OH is diabetic &,anybody treating him for anything e.g. dentist, physio needs to know. They can't ask the horse his medical history so they ask the vet who won't be as delusional as some owners. Some owners will tell physio that vet has given horse all clear for serious injury when vet hasn't seen the horse - also useful for physio to know. In your case it seems daft because the vet is new to you too.
 
Sports massage physio I use needs permission, so does a mctimothy practitioner, chiro doesnt. As far as im aware its something to do with insurance from the sports massage point of view
 
it is the law, that only a vet can treat the horse, but that vet can give permission for other professionals to treat your horse.

I'm qualified in equine massage, and it was drilled into us in training we had to get permission from the vet before treating the horse, and I used to make the client sign a piece of paper to say that they had permission from their vet.
 
Both the osteo and physio get prior confirmation from my vet practice that it is ok to come out to treat each of my neds. I think that they email them prior to a visit, naming each horse individually.

Mostly it's a bit of a tick box exercise, if it's for a routine check up, but there will be a dialogue between the two if there are any current issues that the vets think that the osteo/physio need to be aware of.

Very sensible all round, I'd say. However, there are plenty of 'lone ranger' back people out there who don't bother.
 
Apache Warlord said:
it is the law, that only a vet can treat the horse, but that vet can give permission for other professionals to treat your horse.
Click to expand...

To a degree it is a legal technicality, and most vets just give it a nod by giving carte blanche to those body workers they know are reliable and properly trained. You will run into the full force of the law if you do something that causes damage and were not vet referred, but I'm not sure whether the owner is partly culpable as well, I have been asked to obtain the referral on occasion.
 
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