At Shackleton Veterinary Physiotherapy, we believe in the importance of a holistic and individualised approach to assessment and treatment. Following a thorough assessment of your animal’s environment, activity levels and management, as well as musculoskeletal and neurological health, we tailor a unique rehabilitation/prevention plan to suit both you and your animal’s lifestyle.
Matthew and Louise studied animal behaviour at undergraduate level and focus on ensuring that animals are calm and have positive experiences of physiotherapy treatment. We feel that this is particularly important as stress impacts healing and rehabilitation, and reducing stress levels gives your animal the best chance to improve.
As well as providing effective treatment for your animal during sessions we aim to provide you with the knowledge and skills to support your animal each day. As experienced animal science teachers/lecturers, we focus on helping owners to provide effective exercise prescription and management to support your animal’s Vet Physio sessions.
Louise and Matthew own two dogs (Border collie Poppy and Nova Scotia duck-tolling retriever Zac), Doona the cat, and Aria a Friesian/Thoroughbred mare.
Matthew Shackleton BSc (Hons) PGCert MScVetPhys PTLLS MIRVAP(VP)
Matt qualified as a Veterinary Physiotherapist with a Masters degree from the University of Nottingham's School of Veterinary Science, and completed research on gait in Komodo dragons in order to complete his thesis. Matt previously obtained a BSc (Hons) in Animal Behaviour and Welfare (including FdSc Zoo Management) from the University of Chester, and a PGCert in Veterinary Science and Conservation from the University of Liverpool, which covered the use of Veterinary Medicine in Zoo and conservation work.
Matt is also an experienced instructor/lecturer with many years’ experience teaching animal sciences at Further and Higher Education level within land-based colleges and universities, and over a decade's experience working with exotics, horses, dogs, and livestock at several UK Zoos and domestic collections. He is a regular guest speaker at a variety of Veterinary and Zoological conferences, Colleges and Universities, on the use of Veterinary Physiotherapy for exotic and domestic animals. Matt is fully insured and registered by the Institute of Registered Veterinary and Animal Physiotherapists to treat both exotic and domestic species, and has a particular interest in how environmental parameters and enclosure design/enrichment can affect the musculoskeletal health and rehabilitation of reptiles, birds and mammals.
Louise Lefrere BSc (Hons) PGDipVetPhys PGCE PGCert MIRVAP(VP)
Louise qualified as a Veterinary Physiotherapist with a Distinction in the Post-Graduate Diploma from the University of Nottingham's School of Veterinary Science. She previously obtained a BSc (Hons) Animal Behaviour from the University of Liverpool, and has many years’ experience of using positive reinforcement training techniques with dogs, horses, cats and zoo animals, with particular emphasis on supporting calm behaviour. Louise is also a qualified teacher/lecturer and previously taught animal sciences at school (14-16) and Further Education level within land-based colleges. Louise’s approach to Veterinary Physiotherapy prioritises evidence-based medicine; having completed a PGCert in Research Methods in 2009, she is particularly focused on the importance of a scientific approach to physiotherapy treatment. Louise is fully insured and registered by the Institute of Registered Veterinary and Animal Physiotherapists to treat domestic species. Louise enjoys training her animals and has previously taken part in agility and Hoopers training with her two dogs, who are now retired.
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