Broadcaster Anna Webb interviews Yasmin Porritt about using Photizo on her Guinea Pigs. This article first appeared in Animal Therapy Magazine and is featured as a case study on the Photizo website.
When Yasmin Porritt of Yorkshire Pooches Therapies was studying at Rose Therapies & Training (www.rose-therapy.co.uk), she first spotted Photizo Vetcare in a free copy of Animal Therapy Magazine at Crufts.
Through her study the name Photizo kept popping up in conversation with fellow students, lecturers and in magazine articles. Once qualified Yaz invested in a Photizo Vetcare to integrate into her practice.
As a specialist in Merishia massage, which is a combination of Swedish and Sports massage techniques, responding to behavioural cues, Yaz explains:
“I couldn’t wait to own my own Vetcare and integrate ‘red light therapy’ into my massage sessions. Being so easy to use and portable it is a great way to prepare a muscle for manual manipulation. Plus I encourage my clients to actively take part in sessions, using the Vetcare with direction from myself ”.
A massive animal lover, Yaz shares her home with her dogs Lily, Rodney, Peggy and Romanian foster dog Tycho, Charlie the rescue Cockatiel and a rescue fish named Gunther. For as long as she can remember, Yaz has been a huge fan of Guinea Pigs. Currently, Yaz is on the waiting list to re-home a suitable Guinea Pig to live with Nancy, her ‘American’ Guinea Pig.
Inspiration
Sadly due to their relatively short lifespans, Yaz’s previous Guinea Pigs Tyrion, Lupin, Rosie and Juno have passed. But it was her tiny favourite Juno who inspired Yaz to use Photizo on her ‘piggies’, and learn more about the device’s flexibility and deep natural healing.
Keeping Juno mobile and boosting her immune system
As Juno began to slow down with old age at around five years, Yaz was determined to keep her mobile, boost her immune system and promote her natural well-being. Desperately fond of these ‘small furries’ Yaz adores their cheeky personalities and proves that animal welfare is most definitely for all creatures great and small!
One day as Yaz was massaging raw coconut oil into Juno’s dry skin, she experimented with some of her Merishia massage techniques. Clearly scaling the movements down in proportion to Juno’s petite body combining effleurage, ROM and paw work, Juno responded immediately. That’s when the lightbulb moment happened, Yaz enthused:
“Why hadn’t I used Photizo on my ‘piggies’? Looking for research on the use of LED therapy and geriatric Guinea pig care, it became clear that I was flying in uncharted territory. However ,Photizo works beneath the mitochondria creating a cascade of biological effects, deep at a cellular level to promote ATP. There are cases of its success on various animals, so why not on a ‘piggie’? I find it’s so easy to use. Also with its pre-programmed evidence-based 30 second doses it makes the Vetcare so easy to monitor the dosing effects.”
Complementary therapies
“Photizo and Merishia massage complement each other so well, aiding in soft tissue preparation before manipulation. Tissue or fascia that has become adhesive causing trigger points can be softened and broken down through manual techniques Photizo can be put straight to work, rejuvenating the cells to begin healing where trigger points have been released. In order to repair and restore muscle health, we must first address the root tension and damage to then go on to build strong muscle foundations. The Photizo is also a great way to get to those small hard to reach areas, where if I attempted deep tissue work it would be too uncomfortable and invasive for the animal”.
Given Juno’s age and deteriorating health, she was suffering with extensive muscle atrophy across her body but still able to move, feed, toilet and groom herself.
“I couldn’t wait to own my own Vetcare and integrate ‘red light therapy’ into my massage sessions. Being so easy to use and portable it is a great way to prepare a muscle for manual manipulation.”
Juno’s treatment begins
Yaz began with the Photizo on roughly an inch of the skin to gauge Juno’s reaction – the beep of the Photizo caused a flicker of the ear before she went back to munching on her veggies. Due to the muscle atrophy and Juno’s size, the dosage she used was one preprogrammed dose per area once a day:
- One dose administered lateral of median plane per limb
- One dose administered dorsal of each paw
- One dose administered to the base of the skull and dorsal of cervical vertebrae
- One dose administered dorsal of the thoracic vertebrae
- One dose administered dorsel of the lumbar vertebrae
- One dose administered dorsal of the sacral vertebrae, covering the left and right iliac crest of pelvis
- One dose administered dorsal of the coccygeal vertebrae, covering the left and right ischium point of pelvis
- One dose administered ventral of entire pelvis
Popcorns!!
Juno was completely receptive to Photizo being used and purring happily with the odd yawn and stretch thrown in. It was after the 2nd session with Juno Yaz noticed that during her floor time she was more active with longer bursts of running and even the odd popcorn!
Palliative care
Yaz continued:
“As Juno moved into her palliative care phase, Photizo was upped to twice a day with the same doses, to best manage pain and discomfort. When Juno passed our household was devastated, for something so little she still holds a huge place in our hearts and I’m glad that Photizo was able to make her last months with us more comfortable.”
Nancy
“Nancy has no current health complaints but I use Photizo on her three times a week, same doses, just to work pre-emptively, supporting her active lifestyle and longevity of her overall musculoskeletal health.”
Photizo is multi-species
Ruth Milner, MD, Danetre Health products added:
“We’re so delighted to hear that Yaz has been one of the first to use the Vetcare on Guinea Pigs. The device is completely ‘multi-species and not limited to dogs, cats and horses. We’ve seen Tigers, Pangolins, Squirrels, Hedgehogs, birds of Prey all treated successfully with Photizo’s Vetcare. In fact, the latest CE approved range for people including Pain Relief, Sports, and the beauty tool, Blush prove the generic effects of Photobiomodulation – the official term for the systemic effects of red and near Infrared light. The Photizo range has been delivered after years of research and using the latest LED (Light Emitting Diodes) technology. Making the range safe to use without cumbersome eyewear sets the range apart as easy and safe to use not just in practice, but at home too.”
Photizo special offer & useful links
Photizo have very generously given CAM4animals supporters a special offer of £25 off their Vetcare handset. Please use CAM4animals25 as your special discount code. When you do, they will also make a donation to CAM4animals for each handset sold using this code. You can see the sort of things this donation will be spent on here, and find out how to support us in other ways.
We’d like to thank Photizo for this specical offer.
Other blogs about Photizo can be found here
Animal Therapy Magazine
Animal Therapy Magazine was created by professionals working in the field of animal therapy. There was a general feeling that the industry lacked an open publication where professionals and owners could learn, companies could share their research and development and associations could keep everyone abreast of progress. It’s published quarterly and distributed directly to Veterinary Surgeries, Therapy clinics, colleges and universities, conferences, events and an extensive list of subscribers.
More information about the health care that Molly, Prudence and Mr Binks have had are to be found in Anna’s book, Manage Canine Arthritis Naturally. This covers a multidisciplinary approach involving a raw diet, supplements, acupuncture, massage, homeopathy, a careful exercise and rest regime, and of course, Photizo. Wound treatment is also highlighted. Not just for dogs, she also includes her cat Gremlin. The ethos behind the book is that every animal is an individual and should be treated as such.
Disclaimer – Where blogs have been created by a guest author, CAM4Animals has reproduced this in good faith but cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies of information in it or any use you make of this information.
This blog may also contain an element of consumer opinion. Whilst CAM4animals welcomes positive recommendations for holistic healthcare products, we don’t necessarily endorse the product or the author’s opinion. We acknowledge that each animal is an individual and may react differently to the highlighted product/s. There may also be other products available that produce similarly positive results.
The veterinary Surgeon’s Act 1966 restricts the treatment of animals (usually other than your own*) by anyone other than a qualified vet. Always consult a veterinary surgeon if you are concerned about your animal’s health. *For full details visit the RCVS website