Canine Physical Therapy
There are many types of non-traditional therapies that benefit dogs! Canine sports medicine and rehabilitation is a relatively new specialty in veterinary medicine. Physical therapy (also called physiotherapy) has long been used for humans to help preserve, enhance or restore physical function impaired by disease, surgery or aging. What many people don’t realize is that physical therapy and rehabilitation can also enhance and restore function for our dogs. The dogs...
HYDROTHERAPY FOR DOGS – GUIDE, COST, BENEFITS
Hydrotherapy for dogs is a medical practice that uses water to relieve dogs of certain joint and bone pains and problems. Hydrotherapy or more specifically, canine hydrotherapy basically uses the main properties of the water namely buoyancy, viscosity, hydrostatic pressure and resistance. Buoyancy is the ability or tendency of a body to stay afloat or rise to the top of a liquid or gas. Such properties of water enable dogs...
Arthritis Management
MANAGING OSTEOARTHRITIS Osteoarthritis is common amongst both dogs and people—it’s one of the things about which we can commiserate with our furry companions. Put simply, “osteoarthritis” means “bony joint inflammation.” That’s an oversimplified representation of a complex degenerative process, but that’s the basic idea. Just like in people, arthritis is the result of bony changes within joints; once the cartilaginous “brake pads” have worn down, bone grinds on bone, resulting...
EVERYDAY ACTIVITIES THAT CAN DAMAGE YOUR DOG – PART 2
We all want to keep our dogs as fit and healthy as possible throughout their lives and well into their golden years. There are certain activities that, especially if indulged in repeatedly, do unnecessary damage to your dog. More and more we are recognising that repetition strain injuries, rather than one major event, are the underlying cause of many mobility problems. Many dogs like to do the same activity over...
Beyond Bloodwork: Advanced Senior Wellness Pet Care
Advancements in veterinary medicine have helped to increase longevity and enhance the quality of life of cats, dogs, and other animal companions. And, when it comes to our geriatric fur pals, one of the best ways we can keep them at their healthiest – while slowing down some of the impact of aging – is through senior wellness pet care. When is my pet considered a senior? As you may...
At Aqua Paws, we LOVE our Super Seniors! Nothing Is More Rewarding Than Helping Improve Their Quality of Life.
Rocky Buhl So, a boxer with a “black eye” named Rocky? How fitting! This little fighter came to see us initially for hip dysplasia, arthritis in the knee and muscle atrophy in the rear legs. What else would you expect from a retired “boxer”, right? There were a lot of things he used to do that he just wasn’t doing anymore. We started out slow with him with some massage...
WHERE DOES IT HURT? Thermography Can Shine the Light on Your Pet’s Pain
Our practice is alternative in many ways. At Sleepy Dog, we practice alternative medicine for small animals. We use acupuncture, acupressure, chiropractic, herbal medicine, massage, physical rehabilitation, Reiki, and traditional Chinese veterinary medical nutrition to treat our patients. The majority of our patients come to us with a chronic challenge, something such as arthritis, cancer, kidney disease, allergies, gastrointestinal complaints and more. We use conventional diagnostics like blood work and...
CASE STUDY OF THE WEEK: Matilda, The Senior Labrador with Arthritis
CASE STUDY: MATILDA, THE SENIOR LAB WITH ARTHRITIS Looking at the Whole Picture Means Listening to the Family When I look at my schedule on the computer for any given day, there will be a variety of patients and ailments. Peppers the poodle for vaccines, Momma Kitty for “limping on and off for 6 months.” Some just say “2nd opinion having issues – wants to talk to doctor”. This was...