Dog Physical Therapy for Dog Arthritis: An Introduction

The main goal of dog physical therapy is to maintain or improve a dog's quality of life by making sure that the mobility of the dog is not hampered by any disease or injury. Therefore, methods used in dog physical therapy are for prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation.

Physical Therapy for Dog Arthritis

Studies have shown that one in five dogs over seven have arthritis. Although it is quite prevalent, most dog owners are prepared to deal with the disease. Furthermore, since our dog cannot tell us that they are in pain, most dogs suffer the symptoms of the disease in silence. Dog arthritis is hard to detect in its early stages, and in some cases the dog is only given treatment when the disease is already in its advanced stage.

There many factors which affect the development of dog arthritis such as age, weight, size, and breed. However, why the debilitating disease occurs and what triggers it is still mystery to be solved both in human and veterinary medicine. As a result, there is no cure for arthritis. The only way to approach the disease is by managing the symptoms.

Dog arthritis works by destroying cartilage tissue in joints faster than the body is able to produce new cartilage. When cartilage is damaged, the motion of an affected joint is compromised. Joints in the body work because the parts of bones that are in contact with other bones are lined with the perfectly smooth cartilage tissue. Cartilage and joint fluid, therefore, are like oil in moving gears.

With cartilage damage caused by arthritis, the dog would experience pain when the animal uses the joint when attempting to move. Hence, dog arthritis treatment is often composed of medications that alleviate any pain or inflammation related to the debilitating disease. Drugs like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and painkillers are used.

However, proper treatment does not stop with these medications. As mentioned earlier, weight can be factor in the development of the disease. It is here that physical therapy becomes very important. For dogs suffering from arthritis, weight management is crucial. Techniques in physical therapy will not only help a dog shed some unnecessary pounds, but they will aid in strengthening the dogs muscles placing less strain on the bone.

Active Therapy for Dogs

One aspect of physical therapy uses equipment or employs certain movements so that the state of the dog's musculoskeletal system is improved. The main objectives of active therapy in dogs are to strengthen muscles, improve balance and proprioception, and to encourage weight bearing.

The following are some of the techniques or methods used in active therapy:

* Aquatic Therapy. The method usually requires an underwater treadmill, but the core of the therapy is water. The liquid works in two ways. First, it provides buoyancy. Almost half of the dog's weight is displaced which lessens significantly the strain on the animal's joints. Second, the water provides resistance. This forces the dog lengthen their stride. An additional benefit is that when warm water is used, it helps alleviate the pain at the same time helps promote blood flow to the joints.

* Dry Treadmill. Although it does not have the added benefits of water, dry treadmills are still effective for dog physical therapy. Just like its aquatic counterpart, the dry treadmill is used for muscle strengthening and post surgery or injury rehabilitation. It is helpful if the treadmill being is used is specifically designed for dogs.

* Therapy Ball. Most people are intimidated with the dog therapy ball, but it is actually simple to use. All one needs is some patience. Here are some simple instructions: (1) place your dog's front legs on the ball, you can hold your dog until the animal finds its balance; (2) move the ball from side ten times, make sure to do it slowly; (3) as your dog becomes more familiar, you extend the exercise for several minutes.

* Resistance Bands.

* Sit-Stand / Assisted Standing/Walking. The previous techniques require the use of equipment, and some of them can be very expensive. Nevertheless, there are exercises easy to do and does not require to invest in some dog exercise equipment. The simplest example is walking. Walking your dog twice a day will do wonders for your animal's condition. You can even increase the intensity of the workout by walking uphill or walking on a series of steps. Walking through an obstacle course is also helpful. The assisted standing is another fun way for dogs to get their need physical therapy. Assisted standing is a fancy word for dog dancing. What you need to do is lift the legs of your dog and then slowly move from one direction to another. Last example is the sit-stand. This is much recommended for dogs that have undergone obedience training. The owner repetitively gives the command to sit and then stand.

Visit my blog for more information on dog arthritis and the many ways you can help to control this disease.