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Research shows that despite   our love for our pets, many pet owners cannot tell when their animals are in pain.   Our pets can be experts at hiding pain and often suffer in silence.  Hiding pain is a behaviour animals developed in the evolutionary process to protect themselves from predators during times of injury or sickness. Even though they’ve been domesticated for thousands of years, dogs and cats have preserved this trait to some extent.   As a result, most of the animals that experience pain, don’t receive the treatment they need.

Interview from PD Pet Insurance Animal osteopathy—although lesser known about in New Zealand—is a gentle, drug-free approach to helping animals with stiffness, pain or injury. It works alongside medical vet treatments, and is based on the idea that the body can heal itself when it’s in balance. An Osteopath doesn’t just treat symptoms—they look at your pet’s whole body and how different parts affect each other. We spoke to Julie Garreau, a passionate animal osteopathic practitioner based in Auckland, on the benefits this treatment can have for dogs and cats and how the field is evolving in New Zealand. Hi Julie, thank you so much for speaking to us. First off, what exactly is animal osteopathy? Hi! Osteopathy is a type of healthcare that looks at the whole body to find and treat problems with movement. It uses gentle, hands-on techniques to find what’s causing pain or other health issues. By making careful adjustments, an osteopath helps the body move better, feel better, and heal more quickly on its own. What inspired you to become an animal osteopath? Growing up in the mountainous South of France, my childhood was spent largely surrounded by wonderful companions—a pony, a donkey, two sheep, two goats, guinea pigs, a rabbit, two dogs, and many cats! Their unique personalities and unconditional love showed me the deep bond between humans and animals and the capacity of each to heal. I’ve always been fascinated by medicine and the body’s natural ability to heal, which led me to pursue becoming an animal osteopath. After completing a five-year Master’s degree in France, I worked with pets and high-level competition horses across Germany, Luxembourg, and France. I’m officially registered in France’s National Register of Aptitude (RNA OA1081). It’s recognised by the National Council of the Order of Veterinarians (CNOV). I’m also trained in Dry Needling for animals and currently studying animal acupuncture. Before settling in Auckland, I spent two years in Australia working alongside holistic vets and therapy clinics. Additionally, I have worked with wildlife in Australia. This includes native species such as freshwater crocodiles (check out the video below!), dingoes, razorbacks, and koalas. I’ve also worked with reptiles in France, like boa constrictors, and elephants in Thailand. This diverse experience has given me the opportunity to work with a wide range of animals from all over the world. What are some common issues or conditions you treat in dogs and cats? As an osteopath, I help animals with many different health issues. This includes preventing future injuries, easing long-term pain, and supporting healing. I do treatments for arthritis and joint pain, stiff or tight muscles, spine issues, trouble walking, soft tissue injuries, recovery after surgery, nerve-related conditions, and more. How does animal osteopathy complement vet care? Osteopathy adds extra support on top of their vet care to help animals heal, feel more comfortable, and stay healthy. For example, it can help ease pain and improve movement, which can speed up recovery after surgery or an injury. It can also be useful for long-term problems like arthritis. It helps animals feel more comfortable alongside any medicine or treatments from the vet. I often work closely with vets and other animal health experts to make sure treatment works well. Every animal I see gets a personalised care plan designed just for them, to support their health, happiness, and well-being. Can you walk us through what a typical osteopathic session looks like for a dog or cat? It begins with a thorough review of your pet’s medical history and any current issues. This is followed by a gait analysis—observing how your pet moves to detect pain, limping, or imbalances. A hands-on clinical examination assesses posture, range of motion, and areas of discomfort. If needed, a referral to a vet or specialist may be recommended. Diagnosis considers the whole body to understand how symptoms connect. Each animal osteopathy treatment is tailored to your pet and may include joint mobilisation, muscle tension release, abdominal work, soft tissue techniques, massage, stretching, and craniosacral therapy to support the nervous system. In some cases, dry needling is used to relieve muscle tightness and pain. The goal is not only to ease discomfort and improve mobility but to treat the root cause and help prevent recurrence. After each session, you’ll receive a personalised plan with exercises and lifestyle tips to support healing. Most pets respond positively, often relaxing or sleeping during treatment, and many show noticeable improvement soon after. Mild tiredness or soreness post-treatment is normal and usually resolves within 24 to 72 hours as the body adjusts. Results may appear within days or gradually over a few weeks, depending on your pet’s healing process. Do you have a memorable success story where osteopathy made a significant difference in a pet’s quality of life? One particular fulfilling case was Mollie, a Cavoodle who fractured and displaced her pelvis after being hit by a car. Mollie’s owners were advised by their previous vet to opt for euthanasia due to her severe injuries and poor prognosis. By working closely with a vet and a hydrotherapist, we could effectively combine treatments to help her. This included vet assessments, osteopathic treatments, hydrotherapy sessions, and the attentive care of her owners. And now she’s running again! Of course Molly and her owners were extremely happy with the outcome, as were we. But it did show me the importance of collaborating effectively with other professionals and sharing knowledge in order to achieve what we cared for most—Mollie’s health and happiness. How do you see the field of animal osteopathy evolving in New Zealand? Although I knew animal osteopathy was still becoming known, I was surprised to see just how new it really is in New Zealand and Australia. In France, it’s already a well-established practice. There are strong rules around training and a culture that values animal care and accepts alternative treatments like this. I believe animal osteopathy has a lot of room to grow in New Zealand. As more pet owners learn about the benefits of holistic and natural treatments, I think the demand will increase. It’s an exciting time, because osteopathy is becoming more accepted in regular vet care. It has the potential to really improve animals’ lives—both by treating health issues and helping prevent them. What is the benefit of pet insurance when it comes to animal osteopathy? It can help make osteopathic treatments more affordable and easier to access for pet owners. This is especially helpful for pets with ongoing health issues or those recovering from injuries, as it can ease the cost of care. When some or all of the treatment is covered by insurance, owners are more likely to choose osteopathy for their pets. This can lead to better long-term health, because early treatment and regular care can reduce pain, improve movement, and support overall well-being. It also encourages pet owners to include holistic therapies like osteopathy as part of a full healthcare plan, rather than waiting until a problem becomes more serious. Insurance for the unexpected PD  pet insurance  is a financial safeguard for accidents, illnesses, third party damage and more. We cover animal osteopathic treatments if recommended by your vet. With us, you get total flexibility with our month-to-month policy option AND we contribute a certain amount towards any switching fees your current insurer charges. Best of all, you get ONE MONTH* FREE when you sign up. https://www.pdinsurance.co.nz/blogs/animal-osteopathy/