What is Arthritis?

Arthritis is a general term for abnormal changes in a joint. These changes occur when cartilage is worn away faster than it can be replaced. Cartilage acts as a cushion to protect the bones. When it wears away, joints become swollen and painful.

What causes arthritis in dogs?

Physical Therapy For Arthritic Dogs

Life with a dog with mobility issues is a challenge and it would be wonderful if there was a magic pill that could be gives to make a stiff older dog as supple as a youngster. Unfortunately, despite advances in arthritis medications for dogs, there is more to therapy than giving pills. The more advanced the mobility problems are, the more important physical therapy becomes in maintaining function.

Arthritic joints rely on strong muscles for support yet arthritis pain leads to disuse and poor muscle conditioning. For this reason, regular exercise is an important foundation. Short walks or swims which do not leave the pet unduly sore the next day should be part of the daily exercise routine. Exercise helps reduce excess weight and keeps joints flexible.

• If the pet is sore after exercise, do not exercise until the pain seems to be resolved. Re-start the exercise at 50% of the duration. Fifteen minutes of ice packing can be applied to an acutely painful joint.

• If one wants to try increasing the exercise, a 20% increase in exercise time should be affective.

The Cool Down

At the end of the exercise period, a reduced pace of exercise is done as a “cool down.” Ideally, a 5 minute slower pace of the exercise is followed by 5 minutes of massage.

What is Passive Range of Motion Exercise?

During warm-up and cool down, one of the techniques that can be used to assist flexibility is Passive Flexion/Extension exercise, also called “passive range of motion.” Here the patient lies on his or her side with the side to be exercised up. Starting with the foot, the joints are flexed and extended through their natural range of motion moving up the leg all the way to the shoulder/hip. If the exercise causes discomfort, do not continue to a painful point. Ideally 15-20 flex/extensions are performed on each joint and this is done twice daily.

How to do Massage

There are many hand motions that can be used in massage:

• Stroking
  This is done with the palm of the hand on the pet moving from head to tail or from shoulder/hip down to toe.

• Effleurage
  This is also done with the hand on the pet and even pressure on the hand. Effleurage follows the opposite direction of stroking (toe to body). Over- lapping strokes are used to cover the entire body area.

• Percussion
  This involves tapping of the body with a cupped hand with light brisk contact. The “karate chop” position of the hand can also be used for percussion.

• Friction
  This uses the tip of the fingers to make small rotary motions.

There are, of course, many other techniques that can be used. Benefits of massage include increased circulation to the area, increased lymphatic flow, improved mobility of tissues, and relaxation. Any combination of these techniques can be used on the pet as time allows.

We hope these tips are helpful in keeping the poorly mobile pet functional. If your pet seems unduly painful or is not responding as expected, please contact your veterinarian.