Pain-Free Paws: Osteopathy for happy, healthy senior dogs
Preventative care for older pups to help them move freely and comfortably without pain or discomfort.
Canine Osteopathic Manual Therapy (OMT) is gentle manual therapy focusing on improving a dog’s range of motion, circulation, and homeostatic mechanisms. Specialized techniques can be done on dogs to help with musculoskeletal aspects of aging.
Pain can be hard to spot in dogs because it is their natural instinct to hide their pain. A great way to ensure your dog is not in pain, is to take preventative measures. Osteopathic treatment is at the top of my list for my dog (but I’m very biased).
Most of us know that if we want to feel good in our bodies, we’ve got to move! This is the same for our dogs. But as our dogs age, they can experience hip pain, back pain, and joint stiffness. Luckily there is something we can do to improve their quality of life.
Understanding Senior Dogs Health
Dogs experience much of what we do as we age. Just like us they have to contend with arthritis, joint pain, degenerative joint disease, muscle injury or muscle loss, and joint stiffness which can all lead to decreased activity and decreased quality of life.
Joints are made up of 2 or more bones connected by a joint capsule. On the inside of the joint capsule the ends of the bones are covered in articular cartilage. Between the joint capsule and the bones is synovial fluid.
Outside the joint are muscles and ligaments, these play an important role in stabilizing the joint. Surrounding each joint are protective ligaments. They connect with the nervous system to make sure our pets don’t take the joint past its range of motion. Typically the more ligaments a joint has the stronger it is.
Muscles also play a role in joint health. Muscle tendons are the part of the muscle that crosses a joint. Healthy muscle tone will ensure the correct tension in the tendon. Too lax, and the joint will lose stability, too tight and the joint will lose mobility. There needs to be a balance between stability and mobility.
As our dogs age, these elements stop functioning optimally. This can be purely from age, or it can be from wear and tear.
Things that cause damage to our dog’s joints are traumatic or acute injuries, and bad habits. Dogs typically have fewer bad habits than humans (no computer work, no cell phones), but they still have some. Carrying extra weight, sports, jumping.
For example consistent excess tension placed on a joint will stretch a ligament. An over stretched ligament will contribute to joint destabilization, and neurological reflexes that could trigger more irritation.
Factors affecting quality of life in senior dogs
The 3 main factors that affect quality of life for dogs are their size, their muscle tone, and their lifestyle.
It has been shown that dogs with “life-long maintenance of lean body mass … [achieve] a longer lifespan” (here). We also see the opposite, dogs with obesity have shorter lifespans. (Here, here). In some of these studies we see that weight gain can make osteoarthritis in dogs worse (here).
Making sure our dogs have an ideal body condition score is vital to their quality of life. It can improve their joint health, ease movements, and relieve discomfort. As pet care takers we can do this through proper nutrition and exercise.
Muscle tone or muscle mass is another key indicator of a healthy dog. Sarcopenia is the loss of muscle, this can happen through illness, hormonal changes, or not enough exercise (here). The good news is that making sure our dogs get age appropriate exercise is an easy thing we can control. It makes such an impact on their quality of life.
If we address the above two factors, a sedentary lifestyle shouldn’t be an issue!
Osteopathy For Dogs
An Osteopathic Manual Practitioner (OMP) will approach your dog by looking at them as a whole being. They are so much more than their pain! First a quick mobility assessment, and pain assessment to see how they are moving and if they are feeling any pain.
Osteopathic Manual Therapy encourages the body to self heal and self regulate, which dogs are particularly good at. Your OMP will just help things along by improving circulation, reducing inflammation, and enhancing mobility.
The techniques your OMP will use on your senior dog are non-invasive and exceedingly gentle, making it well suited for senior dogs. If a dog does have pain sensitive, gentle treatments may be more appropriate than aggressive treatments.
One technique your OMP will use is soft tissue manipulation, which is gently working with muscles, tendons and ligaments to help release tension. Soft tissue manipulation also targets the nervous system, and the circulatory system. This has the effect of calming your dog, and reducing inflammation.
These techniques have the benefit of pain relief, improved mobility, enhanced circulation, and stress reduction. Each senior pup is unique and your OMP will tailor each treatment to what your dog needs on that day.
At home tips for senior dogs
There is a lot you can do to support your senior dog at home. Focus on reducing your dogs' high impact activities, keeping them moving, and eliminating slippery surfaces. Here are 8 suggestions for supporting you senior dog:
Low Impact Activities:
Daily gentle walks are a great way to maintain a dog’s mobility.
Swimming or water play takes the pressure off their joints while letting them be active and have fun. In Toronto we have a few off-leash beaches! In the East end of the city we’ve got Cherry beach, Kew Gardens, and Silver Birch. In the west end we’ve got Humber Bay Park West.
Keep their mind active with puzzles, sniff walks, and teaching them new obedience skills
Functional Anatomy:
Dog ramps help them avoid big jumps which can exacerbate joint pain. Make sure the ramp has a gentle slope and is carpeted or anti-slip.
Non-slip pads and carpeting on floors can make it easier for your dog to safely walk around your home. Hardwood floors are particularly slippery for paws, and can be difficult for dogs to walk on. Non-slip pads and carpeting help reduce the risk of slips and falls when getting up off the floor or while walking.
A memory foam dog bed will ease the pressure on their joints, ensuring they get the rest they need. We all do our best healing when we are sleeping.
Elevated water and food bowls makes sure they are properly aligned when eating. In their spines, and in the weight distribution on their paws.
A proper fitting harness is essential for shoulder joint health. Not all harnesses are created equal. Some harnesses that are meant to control your dog do so by limiting mobility and put added strain on their shoulder joints.
Be attentive to any changes in your dog's behaviour or mobility. If you notice changes in your dog, seek care sooner rather than later. Getting care promptly can make a big difference in their recovery and prognosis.
Prioritizing the well-being of your senior dog through preventative care and osteopathic therapy can significantly enhance their quality of life.With preventative care, you can help your dog move freely and comfortably as they age. Together, we can ensure that your senior dog enjoys a pain-free, happy, and healthy life for years to come.
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