“You hear about people having complete life changes, but you never think it will happen to you,” says a smiling Barbara Schneider as we sit in the shade at Jardi d’Or in the north of the island. Born in Augsburg, Germany, Barbara has lived in Ibiza for 20 years, most of which she spent as co-owner of a successful construction company. Today things are a little different. Gone are the days of dealing with contractors and planning departments. Instead, she wakes up to days of improving muscle movement, soft tissue therapy and decreasing join stiffness… in dogs.
“I was lucky enough to have dogs in my life from childhood and, as all dog owners know, most reach a ripe old age. But sometimes we sadly lose our beloved pets early due to illness or accidents. When my last dog Coco reached middle age, I decided I wanted to do everything in my power to help her live out her years as healthily as possible. And so I trained to be a dog physiotherapist.”
Due to advances in veterinary procedures, dogs are now receiving far more complicated surgeries than in the past. Significant nutritional and medical advancements have also led to a dramatic increase in canine life expectancy. This, in turn, has led to a greater interest in physiotherapy treatments, as dog owners hope to maintain and continue their pet’s quality of life. Treatments today include pulse electromagnetic field therapy, hydrotherapy, ultrasound, TENs, laser neuromuscular stimulation, exercise, several types of massage and even acupuncture.
“Dog physiotherapy can offer pain relief and pain prevention in so many ways” says Barbara. “Like humans, as dogs get older, they are more likely to suffer from osteoarthritis, hip and elbow dysplasia, ligament injuries and spinal injuries. The only difference is that the dogs can’t tell us where it hurts, but they try in their own way!”
Of course, a dog’s injuries aren’t restricted to physical pains. Mental health also plays a huge part in a canine’s life on planet earth. “Things have improved a lot since I came here, but you still see a lot of dog abuse. Laws have changed for the better and we are all more vigilant, but we can still do better. And that’s why I work closely with the vets and the excellent dog psychologist Steffi Werner here in Ibiza. We owe it to man’s best friend to keep them happy. There is a famous motivational quote, ‘Find a job you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life’. I think of these words every day, because it has happened to me!”
