J.A.k Pet Arthritis Therapy

25/05/2022

Exciting news, we have now started our own online pet boutique aiming to sell specificly selected items that can help your pets live their best life.

Have a look and message us for more details.

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057613622515

24/12/2021

05/03/2021

I had the lovely pleasure of treating Bella yesterday. She has not had the best if luck as she is only 4 years old and already had a hip replacement and surgery for her luxating patella. However the surgery for her patella did not work and she will need another one. She is currently waiting on Noel Fitzpatric to come up with a new knee implant.

In the mean time we are making sure she is comfortable and in good health. Seeing her move you would not know that she has had a lot of problems.

I treated her with some laser & PEMF therapy as well as some massage and stretching for her tight muscles. Although a nervous dog she was very accepting and very well behaved. As you can see from the video which was taken just after I had gone, she was very relaxed after the session.

If you think your pet could benefit like Bella is then feel free to message to see if we can help.

02/02/2021

90% of lame cases we see occur during exercise appose to traumatic injury. A lot of these could be prevented with proper exercise programs, warm ups/cool downs and stretches. Warming up activates the muscles and gets them ready to be worked, it loosens them ready to be stretched and pushed. Cooling down helps get rid of the lactic acid, helps lower the heart rate and regulate the breathing and prevent DOMS the next day.

✅ Before exercise warm your pets up and perform stretches (you may look weird to other owners doing this but, you'll get the last laugh when you arent paying out expensive vet bills)
✅ Use heat pads to warm up the muscles
✅ Ice is good after exercise to reduce inflammation of tendons and ligaments
✅ Know your pet and go at their pace, know when to stop
✅ Older pets will benefit from more shorter walks than less long walks. It gives them time to recover and shorter walks means they wont be over doing it (Quantity not Quality)
❌ Dont be a weekend warrior. Most people do short walks during the week and a bug long walk on weekends but, your pets arent used to this keep exercise consistent
❌ Be consistent with the terrain. Dont just do long walks through the hills or on the beach if they atemt used to it. This will west them out more. You need to build them up to the harder terrain.

13/01/2021

Our lovely practice cat receiving some early morning physiotherapy, it's so stressful for them isnt it?

Routine is important for our older animals. It helps them know when feeding time is, what they are doing and also helps keep them pain free. This is becoming a daily thing for Fatty now (spoilt I know).

Benefits of laser therapy include:

🐾Anti-inflammatory effect.

🐾Mild pain relief.

🐾Accelerated tissue repair.

🐾Soothing muscle tension.

🐾Faster wound healing.

🐾Reduction of scar tissue.

🐾Improved nerve function

As well as the calming effect of it as well and the release of endorphins, what better way is there to start the day?

06/01/2021

Which picture looks more comfortable for the cat?

Floor level picture:
😿 Hind limbs spread far apart, creating a wider base for stability (think of their hips and stiffles)
😿 Squat posistion with stifles bent putting excess strain on joints and muscles (time under tension, try holding a squat posistion and you will wonder how the cat manages to eat like that)
😿 Neck bent right down to the floor straining muscles across the neck back and shoulders
😿 Naturally the forelimb support 60% of the body weight and hind limbs 40%however, with the bending down that weight is greatly shifted to the front end (Try going on all 4's with hind legs bent 90 degrees, then slowly shift your weight onto your shoulders.....ouchie)

Raised feeder
😻 Can stand more comfortably in natural standing posistion (60/40 weight distribution)
😻 Neck isnt bent at all for feeding and little strain on muscles
😻 Hind limbs can be squarely spread (hed just got to the food bowl so was still getting comfortable)

Over all you can see a lot more comfortable. It's very common older animals start to eat less and drink less, maybe this has something todo with it. They take a quick 'deep dive' into the eating stance and then dont go back again until physically have to.

Raised feeders dont have to be fancy or expensive they can be a simple box or stool but yet, can make a world of difference.

You can even experiment with different heights to see which your cat prefers the best.

16/10/2020

Therapy doesn't have to be a bad experience for our pets. Nemo didn't even know that he was having anything done besides his favourite time of day (dinner time).

Here Nemo is having some special pulsed electro magnetic field therapy (PEMF therapy). This acts a brilliant type of pain relief and anti inflammatory. Its particularly good as unlike tradition medication they can take this has no side effects and minimal contraindications. We felt a bit bad after giving Nemo this as he was like a new cat and we hadent noticed how bad his pain may have been (being a stray we sont know his 'normal' behaviour). After this he was running round, playing chase and very very affectionate.

If you think your pet could benefit from this, get in contact today

10/10/2020

One of our patients that came to the vets was not eating and a bit of colour. She started off rather unhappy which is very unusual for her. After examination it was found she had a very sore back (as you can see from the flinching back muscles).

We used a combination of laser therapy and electromagnetic therapy to provide pain relief and help release the tight muscles. After this she then had some massage therapy as well. We saw some great improvement straight away as you can see in the video.

Sometimes we forget that cats can just as easily suffer with arthritis and other conditions as they get older. Although it is harder to pick up as they seam to carry on a lot more. We have to look out for the subtle signs of change. Early intervention is always better.

Have a look at the page below for some of the signs of arthritis and you can also take the test to see if your pets may be suffering with it.

https://passeyplacevets.co.uk/arthritis-clinics/

14/09/2020

We've managed to get a special discount code from the makers of the Pitpat. The code offers you £5 off one of their devices.

Pitpat is a dog activity monitor which can track their activity including: playing and sleeping. It's a great way to ensure your dogs are getting enough exercise and very useful in weight loss and rehabilitation patients. We've been using one for our Jack Russell and its excellent. Very accurate and helpful ti see how active, and sometimes how lazy he is.

Use the code VNS-PASSEYPLACEVET at checkout to get £5 off.

12/09/2020

Muscular/ soft tissue pain (nociceptive) is seen commonly in arthritis as the dog tries to compensate for pain in the joints by shifting their weight therefore using their muscles abnormally.

You might see muscle fasciculations (twitches) when a painful area is touched or notice areas of tension.
Massage and acupuncture can be particularly helpful in treating areas of tension or trigger points and physiotherapy and hydrotherapy really important for helping to prevent them.

04/07/2020

Why are Xrays important even if we suspect arthritis?

Vets will always offer Xrays for an artheitis/lame leg case as it's the only way to confirm a diagnosis. If we dont conform a diagnosis we could miss something that could potentially cause bigger problems.

This is an xray of a clients dog from the other day. He was brought to us as he was slowing down and struggling to get up the stairs. On examination we noticed he had a few neurological signs as well. When his hind feet were curled over he was not putting them the correct way, called the 'knocking test'. This tells us that the nerves in his hind legs are not sending the signals through correctly. He also had very painful hips.

Xrays were performed to rule out more serious conditions e.g. a slipped disk which can be very serious (and painful). The xrays shows that he has mild hip dysplasia on the right side. And very bad arthritis as a result of this. You can see (1) the femoral head does not sit comfortably in the pelvis (2). It should be a smooth joint fitting comfortable.

This could be the reson that he has the pain and bad hind legs. He now has some strong pain relief and some exercises to perform at home as well as some home adjustment ideas to help him cope more comfortable.

30/06/2020

The Veterinary Osteoarthritis Aliance have now added an option to search for veterinary professionals who have completed their Osteoarthritis course. This course provides in depth knowledge in the subject and shows that they have a true passion for helping pets with arthritis.

I am lucky enough to have complete this course and now have my self and my practice listed on their website. This will allow us to help those who suffer with arthritis try and live a more normal life.

Our Interactive VOA Map is now Live!
Clients and Veterinary Professionals can now search for Vets, Vet Nurses and Veterinary Therapists in their area who have an extra interest in Canine OA Management. These individuals have spent a lot of time completing the VOA Academy and 1 Paw Exam.
Click here to find out who is in in your area:
http://www.vet-oa.com/accredited-practice-finder/

21/06/2020

🐕Tracker loved his make shift hydrotherapy session the other day. Hydrotherapy is an excellent form of exercise for dogs of all ages. The water helps support their body weight and take the strain off their joints for moving. We found a lovely shallow stream and take Tracker there for some fun.

●The deeper the water the easier the exercise is as it supports more of their body weight.

●Only go as deep as safe for your dog and never force the exercise

●If they are young and you wnat to help strengthen their muscles then you can get them to go against the flow for added difficulty and more work

●They tire easily as it is such hard work, dont do longer than 10 minutes and stop sooner if they are tired

💦Be safe and have fun. A brilliant way to help.build their muscles if they suffer from Osteoarthritis or to help shifts few pounds if needed

05/06/2020

Grass seeds, why do vets hate them so much?
If your unlucky enough that your dog has had them before you will know why. If you are a lucky owner then watch the video and you will see why vets hate them.

Imagine the swabs represent your pets skin maybe between the toes or in the armpits or anywhere. A grass seed gets caught in your pets fur whilst they are out and about. The movement of their body moves the grass seed to their skin. Once the tip is embedded in the skin the friction and movement of our pets moving then helps the grass seed migrate into their body.

They leave tiny holes and so, once inside they are very hard to find and hard to identify. Common signs include
•Sudden onset lamness
•Licking the area e.g. paws
•Small pin prick wound (entry point)
•Pain
•Scratching ears

It is vital this time of year to check your pet thoroughly after each walk, especially around the feet and in between the toes, and around their ears. The longer the hair the harder they are to spot and the more prone they are to getting them.

If they are embedded they often need investigation under anaesthetic and removing (although it can be like finding a needle in a hay stack). If you are concerned your pet may have any of these signs please contact your vet.

04/06/2020

Tracker loves hopping like a bunny rabbit through the long grass.

For our young health dogs walking them in the long grass and on uneven terrain like this can be brilliant for building and maintaining their muscles. They have to move their body differently, constantly re adjust for the uneven surface. This can be brilliant conditioning for them.

For our older animals slow walks on hilly terrain can have the same benefits without the 'jarring' effect to the joints. Try taking them in some gradual hills and slowly build them up, it greatly helps define their quadriceps and build them up

31/05/2020

Home adaptations are an easy way to make your pets life easier. These can be simple little tweaks or complicated DIY projects.

Simple things like making steps for your cat to get to a higher space or rugs on laminate flooring to stop them skidding can make such a difference.

30/05/2020

Warm up & cool down isnt something we often associate with our pets, but why not? If you were to go out for a jog, go for a ride or participate in a sport the first thing we do Is warm up. It could be stretching out our calf muscles, a few jumping Jack's or a jog on the spot.

However most of us are guilty of not giving our pets this opportunity. Have you ever suited up for a run clipped their lead on and off you go?
Grabbed the tennis ball and start playing fetch in the garden?

Often this can lead to serious injury as they are not ready for that level of exercise.

Try doing a simple warm up next time you do this and see if it makes a difference.

29/05/2020

Over weight animals are at much greater risk of developing arthritis and becoming lame. A decrease of greater than 6.1% body weight in over weight animals can make them significantly more comfortable.

Weight loss is not as easy as just feeding less. It had to be a gradual loss and sometimes special diets have to be used to help.

Have a look at some body condition scores and see where your pet is on them. If they need to have some loss speak to us or your vet today.

28/05/2020

The terrain you walk your dog on has a great impact on their joints. Plan your walks carefully depending on how old your dog is and how badly they are affected by arthritis.

Flat level terrain will be much easier for them and nice on their joints. It provides equal weight bearing on all 4 limbs.

Hilly bumpy terrain is more strenuous for their muscles but, can also be very good to help build up their hind limb muscles. However it can tire them quickly so dont be doing big mountain climbs if they cant handle it.

Bumpy terrain like a pebble beach is very high impact for them. They have to constantly shift their weight between their legs to counteract the uneven terrain. Also it is high impact for their joints when they run as it is such hard ground.

27/05/2020

Fact: All dogs need exercise no matter the breed or age.

Exercise needs to be modified depending on the breed and age but, not eliminated. An older dog should have shorter walks a few times a day where as a younger dog will be better suited to longer more energetic walks.

24/05/2020

There is no 'one size fits all' plan for dealing with arthritis, every animal is different, plans must be adapted

23/05/2020

This is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to help your pet cope with the effects if arthritis. It costs nothing to reduce your pets food (if not can save some money by making the food last a little longer)

If your pet needs to lose some weight then make sure it is done safely and efficiently, to much to fast can have very bad effects on your pet. The best way is to speak to a veterinary professional who can help work out a diet plan to shift those pounds.

For more help on how to help your pet with arthritis message us today.

22/05/2020

Hi Im Jack, and I am a Registered Veterinary Nurse (RVN) & also run the facebook group 'Ask a London Vet'. I have a passion for pain management and arthritis care.

Arthritis is a crippling disease that has no known cure and no way to prevent it from happening. Often it's just accepted that is how they are. But, that doesnt have to be the case. With proper assessments and a tailored treatment plan, we can help slow the progression and keep our pets smilling for longer.

After having an older dog who unfortunately had to go cruciate surgery a few years back did I truly see the benefits of arthritis care. I explored every Avenue to help her recover, and put in place a multimodal treatment plan. It was after this I realised how well our pets can do with the proper treatment plan. She became like a puppy again and it was only then we realised how bad she had been.

That's when I decided to set up this page to help provide arthritis care to our pets. As humans we would have access to specialised doctors, aneasthesist, pain clinics, nutritionists, physiotherapists and so on. Where as our pets often do not get this care. I proved full assessment (with veterinary referal) and help put in place a tailored treatment plan to help your pets. Message today to find out how we can help.