Musings of an Osteopath - Part 2

Well, here I am again, going into my thoughts about Osteopathy and putting them down in writing. Last time in the “Musings of an Osteopath” series, I discussed my introduction to Osteopathy and a little about the industry and how it progressed. 

This time I want to talk about what it's actually like at the “coal face”. If you are reading this, you might be interested in becoming an Animal Osteopathic Practitioner, or perhaps you already are one and just seeking a bit of opinion. Either way, I can only tell you about my experiences and perhaps a little of those I know well. Spoiler alert… It's a great job! 

So, an average day in the life of an Animal Osteopathic Practitioner will depend on the individual’s client list and areas covered. Some people may work in more urban areas, and others may be in the countryside. Some practitioners may work predominantly with horses, while others prefer to work mostly with dogs or small animals. 

The joy of a career in Animal Osteopathy is that it can take you in a variety of directions and is flexible enough to accommodate personal preferences. Of course, some practitioners may split their time between practice and another income stream. Many practitioners of Animal Osteopathy are also qualified trainers, saddlers, Vets, or may maintain work part-time in a completely different industry. 

My Average Day as an Animal Osteopath

For me personally, I have a deep love for horses and came into Osteopathy from a previous career in riding instruction and horse training. Therefore, my career has been focused on the treatment of horses, although I do still treat a few canine patients too. 

I also work for the London College of Animal Osteopathy, so I split my time between that and clinical practice. Education is another interesting area of work that may open up when one qualifies. I previously taught Human Osteopathy in University after I trained as a Human Osteopath, so the transition into work for an Animal Osteopathy college was smooth. 

First thing after I’ve had some light breakfast is to check my diary for the locations I am visiting that day. Usually, the planning of bookings is such that my locations are close to one another, although that might not always be possible. Something to remember when you choose to specialise in equine treatment is that there will be a lot of driving involved. 

I like to keep my radius local and then will charge an extra fee on top if I have to travel outside that radius. I like to check online for any traffic problems such as roadworks, closures, or accidents so I can avoid them and alert my clients if there are going to be any delays. 

I have a small car as this costs less on fuel and other bills, but it does have a capacity for carrying my equipment and necessities. I think that it's good practice to keep your equipment in a box or bag within the car; it just looks more professional and means you can remove it from the car when not working. 

I don't provide any electrotherapies or other adjuncts that require machines or heavy equipment, but I do have a set of things I like to keep with me. These are:

• Antibacterial handwash
• Towels (clean!)
• Alcohol hand steriliser 
• Spare jacket and or top (depending on the season)
• Spare boots for wet or muddy locations 
• Spare socks - in case I get wet 
• A bottle of water for hand washing 
• A bottle of water for drinking (not to be confused with the hand-washing bottle!)
• Cereal bar or snack 
• Long lead rope - You would be surprised how many people don't have safe lead ropes. 
• First aid kit - for people 
• Note pad - separate from case notes 
• Spare pens 
• And of course, your case history notes. 

To be professionally compliant, it is a good idea to have a lock box in which you keep the case notes for your clients within your car. This ensures privacy and legal compliance. These can be easily purchased from stationery stores and can have alphabetical compartments in them. 

Once I have made sure I have everything in my car, I will make my way to my first location. I always drive carefully onto the property and park so as not to inconvenience any other people there. 

I actually find a lot of places will offer for you to park in pride of place near the stables or barn. It's always good to remember that although you are being hired for your services and knowledge, you must remain humble and walk and talk with respect. My clients often keep an eye out for me arriving and will come out to meet me once they see my car pulling up. 

Something I really love about the job is the social aspect of it, we often talk about all sorts when I first turn up and there is much to be gained professionally by being open to pleasant conversation. People really begin to trust you and enjoy your visits when you spend the time to communicate well and form rapport. 

I realise that some people want to get into working with animals because they are not keen on people but remember that with every animal comes an owner or keeper so we deal with people a lot too. However, it's important to remember that you will attract the people to you who are “your people” by simply being who you are, so you should find yourself working with people that suit your vibe. 

Of course you are at that location to do a job and be professional but I still find myself time at each visit to enjoy the moment of where I am and what I’m doing. I find that maintaining this gratitude and mindfulness throughout the work day (and all the time really) is both self healing and makes you a better practitioner. 

By being “in the moment” you are going to fully absorb all the information that the owner and animal provide you and perform your palpation and treatment much more efficiently. 

First visit done, it's then important to ensure that your clinical forms and records are complete and signed before leaving. I know some people will wait until later to finalise their records but I find that this risks me forgetting something important. 

I also include owner/keeper signature lines in my records to show I obtained informed consent prior to assessment and treatment and this shouldn't really be back dated so I always like to get it all completed before I leave. 

Forms all safely filed and locked away in my portable lock box, I head off to the next location. Oh, don't forget to get paid! My clients usually pay me either by cash or card at each visit so I carry a card machine that I always ensure is charged up. Some people like to set up payment plans or invoice later and that is fine too, but make sure this is agreed and recorded. 

One of the really pleasant things for me about being an Animal Osteopath is the places I get to visit. I drive through some very picturesque places and enjoying this part of the job is a good way to maintain that gratitude and mindfulness I was talking about. 

I remember clearly only last year going to a lovely area in Surrey (where I live and do a lot of my work) but on route to the stables I was attending the owner called me to say she was running late and could I come 30 minutes later to give her a chance to get the stable duties done. 

It was my last location that day and so it would not cause problems for anyone else and of course I said yes. I had a snack and a drink in my car (as listed earlier) so I stopped at a very nice countryside car park that looked out over National Trust land. I sat there just soaking up the views and recharging my metaphorical battery. Many people will get quiet times or breaks at work but few get to enjoy the peace and tranquility that came with this vista. 

I’m talking about an “average day” but there really isn't such a thing in therapeutics as each animal is unique and their presentation will be different every time. That is one of the most enjoyable things about the work as it is never boring or mundane. If one works with different species then this again adds variation to the work just as much as combining human work if qualified to do so. 

Returning home, I will re-locate the completed patient forms and records to the filing cabinet and lock them appropriately away. I will complete any administration tasks I have from the day so nothing is carried over to the next day.

I like to give myself time at the end of the day to write any notes and reflections on the visits as this forms continued professional development and allows me to plan my continued training focus and areas for improvement. 

All this note taking is recorded electronically so that I can create a portfolio of evidence of my development for annual review. Sometimes I might be attending a webinar or meeting for continued training too. All practitioners must understand that completing your course to practice is never the end, learning is continuous. The true master is one who knows they will always be a student. 

Is There Anything Bad About a Job as an Equine Osteopath?

Honestly I wouldn't change anything about the career of Animal Osteopathy. One thing that people need to be aware of though is that it can be physically demanding. The manual practice of Osteopathy on people or animals requires a level of fitness and dexterity. 

If one chooses to work with horses or other large animals then this can be even more intense. However, this is not a draw back, this is a positive in my book. I like the fact that my job motivates me to look after my own body. Many jobs require little to no physical activity and this leads to all kinds of health problems due to the sedentary lifestyle. 

I see it all the time in my Human Osteopathy work. A physical job like Osteopathy puts you in touch with your own body and motivates you to work on your health, fitness and mobility. 

This brings all sorts of other benefits to your life outside of work too. I recommend focussing on keeping your back healthy and your arms and wrists mobile and strong. I have a regular Yoga practice into which I integrate pilates and calisthenics and I find this combined with regular walking keeps me fit enough for the work. 

Combining Work With Animal Osteopathy

Many people will come to train in Animal Osteopathy after working in another therapeutic discipline or from human therapy/Osteopathy. Animal work is such a great addition to human practice because it teaches you to read between the lines and pick up in non-verbal cues due to animal communication being so different. 

I also find that comparative anatomy teaches me to palpate and visualise a variety of different structures which avoids me falling into the habit of assumption. It can be easy to assume a typical presentation of a certain anatomical location when working only with humans. The palpation of different animals and understanding alternative anatomy and biomechanics really engages your analytical skills and forces you to investigate deeper. 

As the Animal Paraprofessional industry gets bigger and more recognised, there will be greater demand for tutors, assessors and mentors. When picking a training course, look for the high standards and experienced tutors who will develop you into a high level practitioner that could potentially step into the world of education if they wanted. 

I have been working for the London College of Animal Osteopathy (LCAO) for some years now and I am excited by the developments we are making. I dedicate about 40% of my time to LCAO developing the courses, networking and working with validators and professional associations and creating new projects to further the profession. Personally, I feel that all practitioners should give back to their profession when they can as this forms a stronger industry with more recognition and reliability. 

Conclusion 

So I think it's pretty obvious that I love Animal Osteopathy and with good reason. No other career offers me the flexibility, freedom and fascination that this does. If you can take a career that makes you want to get up each day and head out to work then why wouldn't you? 

Yes, there is a lot of study and work to get the qualifications to practice and it's not a job you can coast in because there are animals whose welfare depends on you. But everything you put into Animal Osteopathy gives you equal back. This industry is growing and now is an exciting time to become part of it. No course of training or career change should be taken lightly, but if you found what I was discussing appealing then you might just fit the role well.

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