FAQs

ACPAT is abbreviated from the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Animals Therapy. This is a clinical interest group derived from fully qualified and registered human physiotherapists, who are members of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP). These members have then completed further education in Veterinary Physiotherapy.

Payment is generally made after each appointment and can be made by cash or cheque. We will accept payment up to 7 days post treatment, however payment made after this time will incur an additional £25.00 for administrative expenses. This administrative charge does not apply for those clients who are claiming the cost of treatment on their insurance, as these accounts may be paid monthly.

Many insurance companies provide cover for veterinary physiotherapy, when it is carried out by a fully qualified ACPAT practitioner and the animal will require a veterinary referral prior to treatment commencing. You should contact your insurance provider to confirm exactly what you are covered for as animal policies may vary.

Contact us as soon as you are aware that you are unable to attend your appointment. For cancellations made with at least 24 hours notice, there will be no cancellation fee. For cancellations made with less that 24 hours notice there is a cancellation fee of 50% of the total appointment fee. This will be refunded if the physiotherapist is able to fill your appointment.

This will vary dependent on the animal, the problem and the treatment required. A typical small animal appointment will last approximately 60 minutes and a large animal appointment approximately 90 minutes.

This will be dictated by your animal’s circumstances. At your first appointment the physiotherapist will assess your animal and discuss the treatment strategy. This may require a course of physiotherapy or it may require an exercise programme, which you and/ or your trainer can implement. However many of our clients, especially those with competition or older animals continue to book routine visits every 3 months to maintain peak performance.

The Veterinary Surgeon’s Act (1966) dictates that any treatment not carried out by a vet, must be approved by them. Therefore a veterinary physiotherapist may not treat your animal until a referral has been obtained. This is generally sought by your veterinary physiotherapist and does not incur any further charges. This is also beneficial as it allows your veterinary physiotherapist to liaise more effectively with your vet and keep them informed of treatment progression.