Pain management
Chronic pain can be a challenge to manage and often requires more than one approach. At Greyfriars our primary goal is to improve quality of life for our patients whether they are younger patients requiring long term management of osteoarthritis, patients recovering from orthopaedic or spinal disease or older patients who may be struggling with multiple problems including mobility.
Our primary goal is to reduce pain and improve quality of life for our patients. The initial consultation involves a behavioural questionnaire which looks at how your dog may behave when affected by pain, a questionnaire about physical difficulties and the home environment which may allow us to manage daily life, and a physical examination which gives us information about the source and degree of pain or mobility problem. Taking in all this information we then formulate a plan to target pain, improve mobility and thereby improve quality of life.
The care plan may include pharmacological pain management advice which can then be taken on by your first opinion practice. Advice about weight management, nutraceuticals, environmental adaptation and exercise and acupuncture treatment may also be included.
Acupuncture works in several different ways but essentially it provides another stimulus which detracts the nervous system’s attention away from chronic pain. It also helps release muscle tension, improves blood flow, and causes a release of chemicals in the brain which are the body’s natural pain killers. Acupuncture is normally assessed over four treatments, usually attended weekly, to see if this is going to be of benefit to the patient. If so, treatments are then spaced out according to each patient’s individual response. It is often used alongside medication management but can be used instead of medication management if other medical conditions prohibit the use of medication for pain relief.
We aim to provide support and advice for care of geriatric patients who often have multiple conditions and require complex plans. Working together we can help to give your pet the best quality of life.
Pain management lead
Susanna Alwen
GP Cert Western Veterinary Acupuncture and Chronic Pain Management, Certified Canine Rehabilitation Therapist, Diploma in Hydrotherapy for Small Animals
Dr Susanna Alwen MA VetMB MRCVS
Susanna qualified from Cambridge Vet School in 2002 and since then has worked in a variety of veterinary roles from general practice to industry and then moved on to referral practice. Susanna's main interests are improving the quality of life of dogs and cats with osteoarthritis and neurological conditions and providing palliative care for geriatric patients. Since 2012 Susanna has worked exclusively in this field and gained qualifications in hydrotherapy, rehabilitation, pain management and Western Veterinary Acupuncture.
In March 2024 Susanna was nominated for PetPlan Vet of the Year award and was selected as one of the three finalists from the thousands of nominations.
Susanna works with dogs who may have pain and mobility issues as a result of osteoarthritis, back pain, spinal disease, cancer or other orthopaedic and neurological diseases which impact mobility. The clinic aims to work alongside your first opinion vet and can also incorporate the other services offered at Greyfriars such as physiotherapy and hydrotherapy.
Contact us:
For enquiries regarding treatment for your pet contact:
reception@greyfriarsrehab.co.uk
Mobile: 07840 825316
Landline: 01483 811172
Please leave a clear message if the call goes to answerphone or send us an email and we will get back to you as soon as we are able. When we are busy with clients we may be unable to answer immediately.
For all training enquiries email: training@greyfriarsrehab.co.uk
Address:
Greyfriars Veterinary Rehabilitation and Hydrotherapy Referrals
The Veterinary Centre
Hogs Back
Guildford
Surrey
GU3 1AG
HOW TO FIND US :
Our postcode is shared by several local properties and SatNav will direct you to the wrong address! Once you are in our area follow the directions below.
From M25 London Orbital – exit the motorway at junction 10 and follow the A3 south towards Guildford. Stay on the A3 past all the Guildford exits. The road rises uphill as you leave Guildford’s outskirts – get into left hand lane. At the brow of the hill (where a bridge crosses) is the exit to the A31 towards Farnham. You are now on a slip road that joins the A31 dual carriageway. Now follow directions from Guildford
From Guildford – Join the A31 (dual carriageway) towards Farnham. You will shortly see a sign for Greyfriars House – DO NOT TAKE THIS TURNING! Beyond the Greyfriars House turning you will see a verge side sign for a Veterinary Centre.
Move into the left hand lane and slow down. 250m further is the entrance to the Veterinary Centre and the Vineyard. Follow the track down – drive slowly – there are speed bumps and the track is single lane with passing places. Drive past the Vineyard office and the Equine Centre. The pool and physiotherapy centre is on the left hand side. There is some parking for clients there with dedicated parking for disabled clients/dogs (clearly signposted) If these car parks are full, drive a few yards further down the track and turn left into our lower car park.
From the M3 – exit the motorway at junction 4 and take the A331 link road towards Farnham and at the final roundabout turn left onto the slip road that takes you onto the A31. Then follow directions as if from Farnham
From Farnham – Take the A31 towards Guildford. At the end of the dual carriageway section the road splits to Guildford town centre and the A3 towards London. Get into right hand lane signposted A 31 Farnham which allows you to return on the opposite carriageway. Then follow directions as from Guildford
If you miss our turning! – take the next exit 150m past us signposted B3000 towards Puttenham. Turn left at the bottom of the slip road and go down the hill. On the right is a Harvester Inn. Opposite is a rough track past the golf club which rises uphill. Keep on the track bearing left and you will arrive at our Centre with the lower car park on your right and the hydrotherapy pool on the left. DRIVE SLOWLY – THE TRACK IS UNEVEN, SINGLE LANE WITH PASSING PLACES AND YOU MAY MEET OTHER VEHICLES OR PEOPLE WALKING WITH DOGS.
What3Words location – https://w3w.co/canines.stamp.soones