K9 FitReady

17/10/2022

Evidence based study in the effectiveness of Laser in dogs with Osteoarthritis

Laurie Edge Hughes’ blog on Canine Rehab.

12/06/2022

Great dynamic limb and joint control!

30/05/2022

To neuter or not to...it is important to have all relevant facts in mind

Laurie Edge Hughes’ blog on Canine Rehab.

08/04/2022

Really interesting article about the mechanics of a "prancing/strutting heel", and the correlation to a spike in iliopsoas strain in sports dogs across the board. Super well written and the author makes several really good points. And you know I'm a sucker for an anatomy geek!!

I don't disagree. The repetitive shortening of the muscles on the cranial aspect of the leg (quad, psoas, iliacus) and the repeated over lengthening of the muscles on the caudal aspect of the leg (glutes, hamstrings) is definitely a problem... And definitely sets the dog up to have an increased risk of injury.

One point I might add is... Usually iliopsoas strain is the result of a slip... So excessive force applied at the end range, unexpectedly.

A dog with tighter muscles is going to hit the end range more easily than a dog with more flexible muscles... So a dog with the type of muscle imbalance described in the article, coupled with a slipping experience is most certainly a very high risk candidate for iliopsoas strain.

This totally speaks to the need for cross-training, as well as implementing a formal conditioning program. There's ZERO problem with teaching a prancing heel, or any other sport specific movement. The problem arises when we don't counter those sport specific movements and address the muscle imbalances those movements create.

Implementing a balanced, evidence based program that combines strength, flexibility, and stability is critical for all sports dogs and can help reduce the risk of a career altering or a career ending injury.

An ounce of prevention can make all the difference. Our pups give us everything on the field and in the ring. It's the least we can do.

https://medium.com/.keplerdvm/prancing-heeling-and-the-age-of-amazing-trainers-d3ec8b4e7abf

31/03/2022

18/03/2022

CORRELATION =/= CAUSATION

I wanted to write a response to the graphic that's floating around asserting the various things that INCREASE and DECREASE the risk of CCL rupture. This graphic is an oversimplification of a survey of 1262 AGILITY DOGS with 260 that ruptured their CCL, and 1262 that did not. Owners self-reported the parameters of their pups activity.

It's important to know, this survey-based study determines correlation not causation. This survey-based study is looking at trends and giving researchers a place to start.

Three major factors that were shown to be correlated with an INCREASED risk of CCL rupture are...

1. Female dogs spayed under a year of age seem to be twice as likely to rupture their CCL as those who waited until after a year of age to be spayed.

We know growth plates may not be closed in dogs under a year of age. And hormones are heavily involved in bone growth, and stopping growth of the long bones. So it's not surprising dogs with longer long bones, and the resulting straighter angulation are more at risk for CCL rupture because of the resulting longer lever arm.

2. Dogs participating in agility AND fly ball also seem to have a greater risk of CCL rupture. The researchers didn't postulate why they thought this could be the case.

3. And there seemed to be a data spike around three breeds participating in agility (Australian Shepherds Rottweilers and Labradors). The researchers postulated this may be the result of not having a tail... (Although that interpretation doesn't really fit the data because of course Labradors have a tail). More likely the size/speed of these dogs and the inherent forces that come with increased size/speed and the relationship to agility are the underlying factors that relate increased risk.

The only non-sport related physical activities that showed an increased risk of CCL rupture were short walks / runs over hilly or flat terrain that happened weekly.... But this was shown mostly in young/immature dogs. Researchers postulated that these dogs still lacked coordination and strength, or at times over exercising without appropriate rest days... And as a result the increased risk.

This is a great example of how correlation does not equal causation. It's unlikely the short walks CAUSED the issue... And more likely the population of dogs (young dogs, over aroused, not fully aware of their bodies, etc) is just generally more susceptible to injury. This of course we know, which is why implementing a structured fitness protocol is promoted so heavily by this group... So we can increase core strength, and coordination in young dogs.

What showed a DECREASED risk...

1. Surprisingly, dogs that competed more frequently in agility events and competed at a higher level on more technically rigorous types of courses were shown statistically to rupture the CCL less frequently than those who competed less often.

This is another great example of correlation not causation. Competing at high level events did not cause the dog to be at less risk... But more likely the handlers who compete professionally or semi-professionally at a very high level likely put in more time with risk mitigation modalities like conditioning, body work, frequent rehab professional exam, etc.

Also, to qualify for these high level events, these handlers themselves have to be very skilled. And it was shown in a previous survey study that having a handler with less than 5 years of experience increased dogs risk of CCL rupture.

So please don't assume practicing agility at a high level, on technical courses and national events is going to *cause* your dog to not rupture their CCL. This is absolutely not the case... But instead, implement the same warm-up/cooldown, maintenance and secondary care routines high level handlers do and you'll likely find the decrease risk applied to your own dog.

2. The survey study also showed dog/handler teams who participated in any conditioning programming we're less likely to rupture their CCL. But even when statistically, data aligns with the things we agree with, it's important to hold our confirmation bias up to scrutiny as well.

While human studies have shown increased coordination, muscle balance and strength result in a decrease risk of injury, this data point can also be skewed because dog/handler teams who are willing to put in this type of effort are also likely implementing other types of risk mitigation. So conditioning itself is a component that should be implemented along with other typed of risk mitigation.

Lastly... This one small paragraph really struck me as shocking... And it's another example of how the questionnaire itself can result in skewed data collection. Here's the paragraph.

"While regular activity, like swimming, playing fetch or frisbee, walking or running didn’t increase the risk of injury, it didn’t lower the odds either."

It seems like regular activities like swimming, playing fetch, frisbee walking and running may have been lumped together in the questionnaire... Either formally as a result of poor question wording on the part of the researcher... or equally likely, mentally in the handler/survey taker's mind.

As a result, the data wasn't separated out, resulting in the inability of the researchers to draw conclusions from that information. This is another reason why survey based studies should be seen as data gathering and drawing correlation, but not used to assert causation.

So please don't assume these above to mentiond activities are truly neutral in their impact on the CCL... It's more likely there was simply an error in the data collection and as a result, not enough information speaking to these activities individually.

My main goal in writing this is to highlight the flaws of assuming correlation is the same as causation. It's important to appropriately assess data for what it is... And in this case, it's an awesome starting point for further research!! But drawing absolute conclusions / jumping to causation is premature, and doesn't factor in the highly complicated nature of CCL rupture.

12/02/2022

Interesting read - survey of injury prevalence in flyball dogs: https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2019.00391

Background: Injury risk in canine sprinting sports, such as greyhound racing and agility, have been previously documented through various surveys. Flyball, another sprinting canine sport with similar athletic requirements to agility, has yet to be assessed for factors associated with injury. The aim...

09/01/2022

Clinical reasoning is so important in rehabilitation. Similarly, one should adopt a individualised approach to designing fitness training program for each dog.

Laurie Edge Hughes’ blog on Canine Rehab.

28/12/2021

Exercise as part of a pain management program..
https://youtu.be/xmjK0eowDBQ

11/11/2021

There's still time to register for our updated 8 weeks to TrialFit program incorporating fitness and jumpfit training as an injury prevention measure!

✅ Une étude récente qui intéressera les pratiquants d’Agility ... 🐾

Enquête sur internet portant sur la fréquence, types de troubles orthopédiques et blessures subis par les chiens participant à des compétitions d’agility

« Internet-based survey of the frequency and types of orthopedic conditions and injuries experienced by dogs competing in agility »
[Arielle Pechette Markley dvm Abigail B. Shoben phd
Nina R. Kieves dvm
The Ohio State University
JAVMA 01 nov 2021]

Cette étude toute récente avait pour objectif de révéler quels types de blessures les plus courantes se retrouvent en agility. Les propriétaires de 4701 chiens ont été mis à contribution dans une enquête menée en 2019 et largement partagée sur les réseaux sociaux.

Il est intéressant de noter qu’il n'y a pas eu d'évaluations actualisées de la prévalence et des types de blessures subies par les chiens d'agility ... or ce sport a radicalement évolué au cours de la dernière décennie avec un niveau relativement élevé, des parcours plus difficiles, des exigences physiques accrues requises par le chien. La sécurité des équipements a également évolué parallèlement... persiste toutefois des disparités de parcours et de difficultés suivant les pays, le niveau de compétition, le juge ou encore le site physique de l’événement.

Pour cette étude menée en 2019, il a été demandé aux participants si leur chien avait déjà eu une blessure l'empêchant de participer à cette discipline pendant plus 1 semaine et, si oui, d'identifier la localisation et le type de blessure.

Les résultats :

* Les propriétaires de 1 958 (41,7%) chiens ont déclaré que leurs chiens avaient subi une blessure.
* Les blessures les plus fréquentes se situaient sur la région de l'épaule ( 30,1 % de tous les chiens blessés) Venait en seconde position le muscle psoas-iliaque (19,4 % de tous les chiens blessés)
* Le pourcentage de Border Collies ayant subi une blessure (51,9%) était significativement plus élevé que les pourcentages des autres races.
* Enfin, le pourcentage de chiens ayant subi une blessure variait selon les pays, le pourcentage le plus élevé étant signalé en Australie (53,5%) et le pourcentage le plus faible signalé aux États-Unis (39,8 %). Pour l’Europe, le pourcentage de chiens ayant subi une blessure était de 46 %

▶️ Pour les blessures les plus rapportées , celles de l’épaule .. les tendinites bicipitales arrivent en premier, suivies des instabilités / instabilité du ligament gléno huméral médial puis des tendinopathies du supraépineux .

▶️ Concernant les lésions musculaires du psoas-iliaque, le nombre élevé de lésions observé sur ce muscle dans la présente étude suggère que des recherches supplémentaires sont nécessaires pour évaluer la biomécanique de ce muscle, la physiopathologie des lésions et les stratégies de traitement et de prévention [en effet, peu d’études et de recherches existent sur les lésions de ce muscle].

▶️ Il est également intéressant de noter dans cette étude les différences de types de blessures en fonction des régions géographiques des pratiquants... ainsi les variations de la hauteur de saut, les exigences d'espacement des parcours pourraient contribuer à la variation de la fréquence des lésions de la région lombo-sacrée et lombaire [les hauteurs de parcours et espacement entre obstacles influaient significativement l'extension de la zone sacro-iliaque des chiens ainsi que la flexion / extension de la région lombaire de la colonne du chien et donc la charge mécanique sur ces zones].

▶️ Les variations dans les méthodes d'entraînement, l'âge auquel l'entraînement commence, et la fréquence ou la répétition de l'entraînement à des obstacles particuliers pourraient également avoir une influence sur l’occurrence des blessures liées à des charges mécaniques modifiées.

La prévalence globale des blessures dans la présente enquête était de 41,7 % ... ce qui était considérablement plus élevé que les 32 % signalés il y a dix ans! Outre l’évolution du niveau et des difficultés de parcours augmentées, la médecine vétérinaire dans le domaine du sport canin et de la physiothérapie a largement évolué depuis 10 ans ... d’où des diagnostics plus nombreux et plus précis en blessures du chien de sport et donc probablement une augmentation de la fréquence des blessures dans cette étude.

Les limites de cette étude restent les inexactitudes possibles liées au questionnaire car les blessures signalées par les propriétaires participants pourraient ne pas avoir été confirmées par un vétérinaire et l’échantillonnage n’était peut être pas représentatif de la population totale de chiens d'agility.
Par ailleurs, les blessures signalées dans l’enquête n'étaient pas nécessairement directement liées à l’agilty.

De quoi intéresser nos pratiquants, vétérinaires, confrères ostéopathes et physiothérapeutes. L’étude complète nous apporte de nombreux éléments intéressants sur la palissade notamment !

N.Arcamone Canémotion





✅ Lien vers l’étude complète :

https://avmajournals.avma.org/downloadpdf/journals/javma/259/9/javma.259.9.1001.pdf

03/11/2021

8 weeks Trialfit online fitness course for the Agility dog is now open for registration. Course commence 22nd Nov
For further details and to register your place, please follow this link.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeh5T8pcZWwxTRknypTX7IH_GzUPWcOzm8H76n5pcuOPBe50A/viewform?usp=pp_url

For Agility dogs, JUMP and other obstacle skills training are integral to INJURY prevention and FITNESS training. If a dog does not use proper and safe techniques in their jumping and other obstacle performance, no amount of fitness training can mitigate the damage caused by the repetitive stress to joints and soft tissues created by poor techniques and movement patterns.
As a certified professional fitness trainer and an agility enthusiast of over a decade, I have formulated a K9 FITREADY FITNESS PROGRAM for our agility dogs to improve not only their fitness but also their jumping skills as an injury prevention measure. This program combines carefully selected K9 strength exercises with jump grids designed specifically for jump fitness and for improving jumping skills.
Additionally, for the first time ever, this program will include a separate bonus module of targeted functional exercises for improving your dog’s motor control, movement patterns & strength to safely contact obstacles and weaves.
This course will commence 22nd Nov with at least a 1 week break over Christmas to allow you time to complete all the exercises. Whilst there are some staple exercises from the previous TrialFit program that cannot be omitted, there will be several new fitness exercises and jump grids presented in a new format.

23/10/2021

Riveting read!

According to Dr Celeste Clements DVM DACVIM in an article on Pet Health Network, there's a one in ten chance your dog will be affected by kidney disease

23/08/2021

Using tips for Return to Function program!

Laurie Edge Hughes’ blog on Canine Rehab.

20/08/2021

Making lemonade out of lemons - with extension of the Lockdown, I would like to relaunch my 6 weeks fitness courses for senior sports dogs. FREE as a tribute to all the retired sports dogs for their loyal companionship and service. Course is for dogs 10 years and over with no active injuries. To commence Monday 23rd Aug. Please email me at [email protected] to register your interest.🙂

30/07/2021

22/07/2021

12/07/2021

Having a PMT (Percussive Massge tool) myself that I use on my dogs, I was keen to read this article!

Laurie Edge Hughes’ blog on Canine Rehab.

30/06/2021

Relevant for dogs of all ages!

𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗿 𝗱𝗼𝗴...𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂! .

Over the past few months, I've had an above average number of senior dog owners contact me in the hope that I can work with their dog who has been diagnosed with osteoarthritis. Many of them are desperate to do anything they possibly can to improve their senior dog's quality of life. Their commitment to their dogs reaffirms my belief in the inherent goodness of humans, but I feel so bad because many of them are at a loss in terms of next steps...so hopefully this helps.

𝐌𝐨𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬. A dog who can move comfortably is able to participate in family life, access various areas of the house and back yard, defecate independently, walk, and play. But what can be done to establish and maintain mobility?

𝟏. 𝐄𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
I'm a huge advocate of recognizing and addressing mobility issues early, but too often early signs of discomfort are dismissed simply because dogs communicate and provide feedback differently than humans do. Typical signs of pain I ask my clients to watch for include:

a) 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐭. You may notice that your dog has slowed down, or is limping or bunny hopping.

b) 𝐃𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬. For example, they may be slow to get up from laying down, or hesitant to sit.

c) 𝐀𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞. This is one of the biggest ways that dogs communicate with us, but it's often dismissed as stubbornness. You may find your dog avoiding specific parts of your house, such as the stairs or slippery floors. You may find that they start to avoid jumping on furniture or into the car, or hide when it's time to go for a walk. They may choose not to participate in activities like playing fetch or going for walks. They may avoid the family in general, and hide in quiet rooms.

d) 𝐁𝐞𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬. You may notice your dog sleeping more, and possibly either ignoring or growling at family members (canine and human). Your dog may lick their joints obsessively, or start trembling or shaking unexpectedly. They may vocalize unexpectedly, for example, when changing position.

e) 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬. You may notice changes in your dog's stance, or a change in muscle mass. Unfortunately when we see a dog every day, it can be really difficult to notice these changes. It can be helpful to look at pictures from the past to compare, or ask a friend/dog trainer/groomer etc. if they have noticed any changes.

f) 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐫 𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬. You may notice your dog struggling to defecate or urinate, especially with squatting or leg lifting. Your dog may start having accidents in the house, or need to go to the washroom more frequently.

g) 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐛𝐞𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐝𝐨𝐠𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝. This is really important to watch, especially if the behaviour change results in aggressive behaviour toward the senior dog.

h) 𝐈𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐠𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞’𝐬 𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐞? This is by no means an exhaustive list, but it's a starting point. If your gut is telling you there's an issue - listen and make the vet appointment. Recognize and react early.

𝟐. 𝐕𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬
Your veterinarian can be a fantastic source of information when it comes to “next steps.” I strongly suggest walking in with a list of talking points in hand, and doing your research in advance. This will ensure all your concerns are addressed, but will also ensure you are being respectful of the vet’s time.

Subjects to discuss include:

a) 𝐍𝐮𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. There are foods specifically designed to improve mobility, such as Hills J/D. Some vets’ offices also have qualified nutritionists on site who can provide appropriate advice.

b) 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬: There are a lot of supplements on the market that cost a lot of money, but have absolutely no proven impact on osteoarthritis. Two interesting supplements that I’m currently following the science on (studies posted below, but more are available through Google Scholar) are Green Lipped Mussel (available in supplements like YuMOVE), which improve the mobility of osteoarthric dogs, and Fortetropin (available in supplements like Myos Canine Muscle Formula), which can reduce muscle atrophy. Your vet is more likely to be up to date on the current science than I am, and will likely have other suggestions which would be appropriate for your dog.

c) 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Before attending the appointment with your vet, I suggest doing some research on available medication for canine osteoarthritis. There are quite a few options available, and if one doesn’t work for your dog, talk to your vet about trying an alternative approach. Knowledge is power, and if you can walk into your vet’s office with a basic understanding of potential medications, their likely benefits, and potential side effects, it’s easier to have a fruitful discussion regarding next steps.

d) 𝐀𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬: Depending on your location and the amenities available to you, you may also want to discuss resources such as laser therapy, hydrotherapy, acupuncture, a referral to a CCRP/CCRT, or any other resource available to you. Again, I suggest doing your research in advance on Google Scholar to find reliable information about the efficacy of various treatment options so that your conversation with your vet is as productive as possible.

𝟑. 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬
Complementary care integrates with conventional medicine, but it’s important to note that it does not replace conventional medicine. Examples of complementary care services that may be helpful for a dog with osteoarthritis include massage, conditioning, chiropractic care, and hydrotherapy.

As a complementary care provider focused on conditioning and massage, I can tell you that massage can reduce stiffness and compensatory stress while improving range of motion, which positively impacts mobility. Conditioning can improve proprioception, balance, and flexibility, and reduce muscle atrophy, thereby improving functional wellness. The really nice thing about an effective conditioning plan is that it can build muscle more effectively and comfortably than a traditional walk - the dogs truly enjoy it. When pursuing complementary care modalities, it’s important to ensure that the people who are working with your dog have the appropriate qualifications and experience. Depending on your location and other circumstances, a veterinary referral may be necessary.

4. 𝐃𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 - and not just with words - consider photos and videos as well. Watch for changes in your dog’s mobility - what makes it worse? What makes it better? This documentation will provide a path forward and can be a very helpful resource when talking to your vet. It may take multiple vet appointments to find a combination of medication/food/supplements/complementary care/treatment that works for your dog - and that’s okay. You and your vet are collaborators, and the more information you can provide to your vet, the better they can adjust their approach to meet your dog’s needs.

𝟓. 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐌𝐨𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬
Your senior dog likely spends the vast majority of their time in the house or yard, and there is SO MUCH that can be done to make their lives more comfortable.

a) If you have laminate flooring, hardwood, tiles, vinyl, or any other type of slippery flooring, consider laying down rugs or yoga mats. Even if you think your senior dog is fine on the slippery surfaces, try laying down some rugs - you may be shocked at how much your dog gravitates to the textured surface.

b) Consider trying an elevated food and water bowls. As each of my dogs has aged, I’ve found that they appreciate an elevated food bowl. When a dog’s head is lowered, the weight shifts to their front assembly (which already bears approximately 60% of their weight). If any of the joints in the front assembly are sore, lowering the head to eat can increase that discomfort.

c) Changes in elevation can be particularly challenging for a dog with osteoarthritis. Whether it’s the steps to go from the deck to the lawn, the stairs to go from the rec room to the kitchen, or the leap required to move from the floor to the couch, bed or vehicle, these changes in elevation can provide painful challenges to dogs with osteoarthritis. Consider the mental impact this can have on a dog as well, if the dog can’t accompany family members as they move to different areas of the household, or struggle to sit beside you on the couch as you watch TV. If you have a small dog, you can often carry them (just make sure they don’t fall or jump off furniture), but for larger dogs more innovation is required. Some of my clients have built long ramps with a gradual slope, others have changed their stairs to decrease the rise and increase the run. Others have changed where they let their dog out, bringing them out through a door that leads directly to the ground. I’ve had clients think outside the box, and simply change how they use their living space, using the living room on the main floor as a rec room so their dog doesn’t feel left out when the family is watching a movie or playing a video game. Other clients have changed their bedroom to the main floor for the same reason. Many clients have incorporated pieces of furniture that allow for easier transitions between the floor and beds or couches, such as ottomans with varied heights. I don’t generally recommend the commercially designed pet stairs for any dogs except for the smallest, due to the steep slope and limited depth of the runner. However, there are talented builders on Etsy and in towns everywhere who have the ability to build furniture that will work well for your pets.

d) A comfortable bed is also important for a dog with osteoarthritis. Many prefer bolstered, supportive beds that area easy to get onto and off of, but ultimately listen to your dog. If they like firm, bolstered beds - great. If they like softer, flat beds, also great!

𝟔. 𝐏𝐡𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐌𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞
It’s important to maintain you dog’s nails and coat in their senior years. Long nails can further impact their stance and gait, and matted hair can pull on skin that may already be extremely sensitive. Regular dental care will ensure they can continue to eat comfortably, which is important for proper nutrition. Maintaining an appropriate weight is also important - as weight decreases, the pressure placed on joints also decreases, You can find multiple studies on the impact of weight loss on osteoarthritis in humans on Google Scholar.

𝟕. 𝐌𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡
One of my clients’ biggest concerns when I talk to them about their senior dogs is their mental health. They often feel guilt because their dogs can’t accompany them to certain areas of the house, or go on car rides, or enjoy long walks. Household adaptations resolve some of those concerns, but what else can be done?

I encourage my clients to incorporate sensory walks instead of always going on purposeful/destination walks. If they have the ability to put their dog in the car and drive to the destination, I encourage that approach instead of walking to the destination since it will preserve energy. Otherwise I ask them to choose a park or trail close to home. On these sensory walks, the sole goal is to enjoy your time with your dog. Use a long line if possible, and allow your dog to walk at the speed they want, sniff what they to sniff, and rest when they want to rest.

A piece of equipment that can be helpful for transporting dogs to various locations is a pet trailer. These trailers can be attached to a bike, or pushed while walking or jogging. It’s a great way of allowing your dog to spend time with you, see the outside world, and get them to a destination where you will both enjoy walking.

Look for classes in your area that cater to senior dogs. Locally, Pawsitively Social offers a class specifically designed for seniors called “Senior Moments”. If you can’t find a class offered for seniors, contact the class organizer and ask if they have classes that would be ideal for your dog - options may include trick, nosework, or conditioning classes. This will allow you to continue to bond with your pet and stimulate them mentally, while working within their capabilities.

If you live in a household with multiple dogs, it can be easy to forget the seniors. Please don’t. Set aside time for them, even if that time consists of you petting them and telling them how much you love them, or laying beside them in the back yard. These seniors have given us their time, patience and adoration for years and years - now it’s time to pay it back.

𝟖. 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬
Here are a few resources that clients have found to be incredibly helpful:

a) Canine Arthritis Management: https://www.facebook.com/CAMarthritis

b) Holly’s Army: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2161091580843717

c) Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/
**I’m including this here because there is so much information available - all you have to do is research.

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𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿: 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗼𝗴'𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗼𝗴'𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿.

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A few interesting links to get you started on your research:
**This is just a starting point - there are many more excellent resources available.
https://todaysveterinarypractice.com/laser-therapy-for-treatment-of-joint-disease-in-dogs-and-cats/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3525174/
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0231306
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32598445/
https://journals.co.za/doi/abs/10.10520/EJC99151