The Tellington TTouch is a great modality for any mindful animal guardian, one that can be easily integrated into everyday handling. But did you know that it is also an incredible asset to reducing fear and stress and improving overall well-being and husbandry in the Veterinarian practice as well?
Over the decades we have had countless veterinarians incorporate and endorse the Tellington TTouch Method into their practices, helping animals, staff members and guardians have an easier, less stressful and more successful visit to the clinic. In fact, several of our Instructors and Practitioners from around the world are practicing veterinarians.
Long time Tellington TTouch Instructor, and practicing veterinarian, Daniela Zurr DVM, has written an informative booklet about “Tellington TTouch in the Veterinarian Practice“, available in print of PDF download.
Lindy Dekker, Tellington TTouch Instructor, has been introducing the Tellington TTouch to her local veterinary practice for years and she asked them to write a bit about the benefits they have seen. Thanks to Dr. Lynne Hepplestone at the Blue Hills Veterinary Hospital in a suburb of Johannesburg, South Africa.
“Lindy Dekker has been our veterinary client for many years, and in our interactions, we have been privileged to benefit from the TTouch courses she has offered to our staff, and the voluntary TTouch Tuesdays that offer our hospital patients supportive therapy. TTouch Tuesdays have been in place since July 2014, and we can see the clear benefits that this modality offers.
Mouth TTouches on pets with a lack of appetite has encouraged these sick animals to eat almost as soon as the mouth work has been done, and the habitus of these patients visibly improves after therapy.
Probably the most used and highly effective practice we have implemented in the hospital has been the TTouch Quarter Wrap. Pets can be stressed, anxious, fear-driven aggression or aggressive-by-temperament, when they enter the hospital facility, and this wrap is often used before a state of wind-up occurs, to facilitate a softer, less stressful by the pet. Our support staff are trained to recognize the early signs of fear and aggression, and the wrap is an extremely useful tool, which we greatly appreciate being taught.
Another well-used technique taught to us is Ear TTouch, especially for Critical Care / Emergency patients, and for those patients undergoing anesthesia, or those exhibiting nausea.
Beyond the comfort offered with these techniques, there is a noticeable improvement in habitus in almost all the patients offered TTouch sessions. It has been a very welcome therapeutic technique / modality to facilitate return to optimal health and wellness in our patients and is an asset to any veterinary facility.”
Dr. Lynne Hepplestone at the Blue Hills Veterinary Hospital in a suburb of Johannesburg, South Africa.
Dr. Tom Beckett DVM, was a long time proponent of the Tellington TTouch Method (formerly known as TTEAM) and used it in his daily practice with horses.
Below is a summary of his introduction and application of the method.
As a veterinarian I am better grounded in the physical and biological sciences than in the behavioral ones. I reject the dichotomy implied by the labels “holistic” and “non-holistic” medicine as though these were rival clubs to arbitrarily choose. Obviously, the appropriate paradigm for the next century is not either or, but a paradigm large enough to embrace the truths from both present orientations. Not so much paradigm shift as paradigm expansion. TTEAM (now known as the Tellington TTouch Method) is one of the things which stretched my paradigm.
Because Linda’s methods are right brained, intuitive and process oriented and their proofs largely empirical and anecdotal, TTEAM encounters resistance with those who equate science with graphs, tables, isolated variables, in vitro and statistical analysis. it offends equally those traditional horseman and animal handlers who consider training to be a matter of force, endless repetition, and domination.
The truth is that as Linda has synthesized eclectically and added creative leaps of her own, she has evaluated her methods and results critically and sought as much objective outside validation as possible. The work rests on a base extrapolated from human mind body workers, notable Moshe Feldenkrais.
Data on electroencephalographic changes has been obtained. The anecdotal evidence is massive, and while some of it may be invalid because misinterpreted by over enthusiastic TTEAM members, a large body remains irrefutable.
For me the most telling proof of TTEAM’s efficacy is personal. Marnie Reeder, who usually assists me while treating horses, is a TTEAM Practitioner. My drug bill for chemical restraint agents is negligible and I haven’t used my twitch in so long I have forgotten where I left it. In addition to specific benefits to the animals, TTEAM saves my back and builds my practice because horses love it and owners appreciate how gently and calmly treatments etc. are accomplished.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Dr. Tom Beckett was a practicing veterinary medicine for over 30 years at his Camino Viego Equine Clinic in Austin, Texas. His assistant, Marnie Reeder, is a Tellington TTouch Practitioner, who has been a professional in the horse business for many years. ~ Marnie organized the syndicate who purchased the Olympic dressage horse Romantico, ridden by Robert Dover. Dr. Beckett was Romantico’s veterinarian.”
