About

Charlotte first discovered physiotherapy was used for animals whilst at university, when her father sent her a newspaper article through the post, in 1991. The article was about a Chartered Physiotherapist in Yorkshire, called Janet Ellis, and the success Janet’s equine patients had enjoyed at the Cheltenham Festival that year. Charlotte still has the article from her father, as it marks the beginning of a very happy, fulfilling, successful and ongoing career.

Charlotte was immediately hooked on the concept of treating animals and spent the next few months writing to and calling Janet asking for work experience (these were the days before emails and mobile phones!)

“I remember the first horse I saw Janet treat. A thoroughbred colt with a successful trainer in north Yorkshire. I remember the weather, the yard, the trainer, the stable, the bed and how the young colt was standing, as clearly as if it was yesterday.

The colt was agitated, ears back, head raised and tail swishing. Janet calmly and quietly assessed him and went on to treat him with a technique that she had developed herself over the years. I watched the colt rapidly appear more relaxed, his tail stopped swishing, his head lowered, he licked and chewed and yawned, his eyes rolled, he took some deep breaths and he looked at least a foot longer!

At the time I had no understanding of the science behind what Janet had done but it was an epiphany for me. It was profoundly moving and I knew at that moment that I had to learn as much as I could from Janet. I spent the next 4 years visiting her in my university holidays and then annual leave from my work as a junior physiotherapist in the NHS.

Eventually she agreed to take me on as her “apprentice” and subsequently, once fully qualified in 1996, her junior where I stayed for 18 months gaining as much experience as possible and consolidating what I had learnt and practiced with equine and canine patients under Janet’s supervision.

I shall be forever grateful to Janet for her time and patience, the clinical skill sets she imparted to me and the work ethic she demonstrated.”

Charlotte was then invited to work for Amanda Sutton, the physiotherapist to the British event team at the time, as Amanda had also trained with Janet Ellis. Charlotte took a clinical     lead during Amanda’s sabbatical, which involved the treatment and maintenance of a large mixed caseload of horses and dogs, the mentoring of students and supervision of multidisciplinary clinics and teaching courses on site at the practice.

In 2009 Charlotte joined Fitzpatrick Referrals “The Super Vet” supporting both the inpatient and outpatient team, holding 2 clinics a week.

As a senior physiotherapist, Charlotte’s role evolved to include conservative and postsurgical assessment, rehabilitation and maintenance of the canine companion and canine athlete, and active participation within a multidisciplinary team in the non-surgical management of arthritic patients.

In addition, the role involved producing and teaching a CPD program for the hydrotherapy team, mentoring junior physiotherapists, liaising closely with orthopaedic surgeons and neurologists (within and external to Fitzpatrick Referrals,) the inpatient physiotherapy team, nursing teams, primary care vets, local physiotherapists and supporting clients as they took their dog home following surgery.

The clinical caseload was large and extremely varied, enveloping some of the world’s “first ever” surgeries as well as the more common orthopaedic surgeries. Charlotte loved the regular challenges of rehabilitating patients following unusual surgeries and rare conditions as well as the more commonly managed injuries.

Charlotte believes the success of her role heavily depended on good interprofessional and professional-client communication, skills which were paramount to the outcome of the patient and the effectiveness of the multidisciplinary team.

Charlotte left Fitzpatrick Referrals in April 2021 after 12 years to keep up with the increasing demand of her own practice, physio4animals. She learnt a vast amount from some brilliant and generous clinicians who helped expand Charlotte’s knowledge and experience in managing arthritic, neurological and orthopaedic dogs and cats.

Since setting up Physio4animals in 1998 Charlotte has been busy working for primary and secondary referral veterinary practices, individuals, and teams in the equine and canine communities. She has been on the ACPAT committee in a voluntary PR role, promoting the profession to the Royal Veterinary College and the public. Charlotte enjoys writing articles for public and professional magazines and has been interviewed for newspapers and radio.