Today’s topic is the General Adaptation Syndrome. I know it’s exciting. I could barely sit still too when I learned about it, but please, take your seat. Thank you. Shall we continue, class?

Okay, the general adaptation syndrome, or as it is more commonly known on the streets, the “use it or lose it” principle, essentially describes how the body responds and adapts to stress. Some form of adaptation is the goal of most fitness, conditioning, weight loss, or physical rehabilitation programs. I want your dog’s body to adapt to the good stress of the exercise and increased demands placed on it. I want to induce an increase in strength, an increase in muscle size, an increase in muscular endurance, an increase in stability, an increase in flexibility, or an increase in power.  Many times a combination of these is my goal when I design your dog’s specific rehab plan following injury or illness. These same rules are used for designing programs to improve athletic conditioning for dog sports like dockdiving, flyball, agility, and more!  What dog, athlete or senior, doesn't benefit from being faster, stronger and having better balance and flexibility?
 
Your dog’s body (and yours too) is amazing in its ability to respond and adapt to the stresses placed on it. Ask your dog’s body to do more and you will get more!The same is true in reverse too, . Slack off, for even as few as 2 weeks, and you will see the body start to regress. It’s simply not efficient to maintain something that’s not being used. Get back at it and the body will adapt again. Incredible! I love it! Using this idea, you can see that it’s never too late to improve your dog’s overall health and fitness! 

 So, you are wondering if dear Fluffy might benefit from some steps to help her get onto the bed at night. Or maybe Fido seems to have some trouble getting in the car now and you can't really lite all 100 pounds of him. When should you invest in getting a ramp or steps? Ramps and stairs are helpful as a means of regaining strength, balance and mobility for many dogs. There are three main reasons where you might consider getting a ramp or stairs for your dog.

One, your dog recently had surgery. Post-operative rehabilitation using a ramp or stairs is commonly prescribed for
dogs recovering from ligament ruptures, sprains and tears. Dogs recovering from fracture repair surgery or spinal surgery because of disc disease benefit as well. Two, your dog has an ongoing medical condition. Chronic pain associated with arthritis, long term knee problems, chronic disc disease, and others can be better managed through specific exercises using ramps or stairs. The exercises help strengthen which in the long run reduces pain and helps keep your pet mobile  Three, dogs that participate in sports like agility or flyball, and dogs that work in search and rescue or law enforcement benefit from the ongoing training on a ramp to strengthen muscles and improve balance.

While ramps and stairs are helpful to strengthen muscles, manage pain and rehabilitate dogs after surgery they can also be helpful mobility tools for the disabled or old dog too. Ramps can make it safer and easier to get around and help prevent injuries. Ramps or stairs should be sturdy and have nonslip surfaces such as carpet. Be sure to use lots of positive reinforcement (read the word “treats” there) when first introducing the ramp to make it a success!

Rehabilitation therapists like myself love a challenge! Our goal in life is to improve your dog's quality of life so nothing is better than sending us those dogs that others have written off as hopeless. With us, there is always hope of improvement. (And every one can improve - any human physical therapist worth his salt will tell you there's not a person out there who wouldn't benefit from physical therapy!) We have dedicated our lives to improvement and we are eager to help.

So, I ask of all of you, give me the tired - I will retrain endurance. Give me the old - I will keep your dog youthful, and renew energy. Give me the weak  - I will retrain neuromuscular pathways to increase strength and tone. I will help all those dogs whose vets are frustrated because they don't know what to do with them. I will take the dogs with torn cruciate ligaments but they can't have surgery. I will take the ancient dog whose arthritis is so severe and who can't handle pain meds. I will take the  paralyzed dog who was told he would never walk again. When it seems you are out of options- I will be that last option before having to make a life or death  decision.

When choices are limited, money is limited ("physical rehabilitation is a conservative dollar well spent" I was taught!) and hope is limited, call me. No, not every paralyzed dachsund will walk again, but is there any harm in trying? What if there is a small chance?  Would you be willing to give it a shot? How committed to your pet are you really? 

For years, the question I have sought the answer to is "Do you want THIS dog, or do you want A dog?"   The answer is a degree of committment.

A number of years have gone by since the dog training world touted the dominance theory as a technique to acheive good behavior in your dog by instilling fear and using force. Training is certainly more progressive now and more aware of how dog's communicate, a refreshingly pleasant change from how I was taught to handle dogs many years ago.

For instance, today, any trainer who says "We don't use food!" is probably using negative reinforcement, not positive. 
As it is for many of us, food is a strong motivator for behavior! Yes, you can use other things to motivate but why take away one of the strongest! Soft treats, such as tiny bits of diced chicken or peanut butter, work better than dry. My rehab room is well stocked with a variety of tasty tidbits, including freeze dried liver, to encourage my patients to participate in their own rehab program.

The other theory that should be put to rest permanently is that you have to show the dog who is boss. The "I must win" attitude is a tough one to get rid of but its more about your ego than anything else. Once your dog's level of arousal is up and the epinephinephrine is flowing, it takes time for that to return to normal, so the tiniest little thing could trigger an even bigger response from the dog. And when it comes to physical rehab, forcing a dog to do something is not only counterproductive to what I am trying to achieve, it puts the pet at risk for further injury!

Making visits to the vet less stressful include altering the exam room to reduce fear and stress. That's why my rehab room doesn't look like the average vet exam room.  I have the scent of lavenders in the air, a padded floor for better traction, calming music playing softly in the background, and my exams are done on the floor. With a fridge full of treats, a fresh bowl of water nearby for a quick doggie drink, and a drawer with toys in it, coming to rehab should be fun for you and your dog!

My laser arrived last week and I have to say I'm very excited about it! Many of you have asked what exactly the laser does (and no, I don't do laser hair removal for dogs!)  So, how can low level laser therapy or cold laser therapy help your dog recover from injury and illness? 

Laser stands for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. My laser is a class 3b cold laser, as are many used in dog rehab. That means I can't use it to cut or burn tissue (or to take over the world like any of those notorious movie bad guys try to do.) The classification is really regarding its handling and what safety precautions must be taken. The red light emitted by the laser is absorbed by the cells and used for energy production. This in turn stimulates the tissues. As a result we see increased blood flow to the tissues, improved drainage and decreased swelling, increased collagen production, and the production of endorphins (natural pain killers). Overall an acceleration in the healing process is the goal.

Laser therapy can be used for many conditions in physical rehabilitation. It is commonly used for biceps tendinitis,  arthritis and stiff, achey joints, ACL/cruciate ligament tears, medial shoulder instability, bone healing after fractures, panosteitis ( sometimes called growing pains), bursitis, muscle spasms, muscle trigger points and knots, and wound healing. While the cold laser is extremely helpful in canine rehab, it is not "a magic wand" to cure all that ails your dog. It should be used as part of a comprehensive and individualized treatment plan.
 

I have to admit that, until recently, my exposure to physical therapists, occupational therapists, functional trainers, and the like in the human world has been limited. But those that I have encountered during my personal journey to help dogs live a better, more mobile and pain free life have really impacted me, and in a positive way.

It started with a personal trainer, specializing in functional training, teaching me that form is everything. Change position an inch here, adjust the angle here, and wow, what a huge difference in the "efficiency" of the movement. Perform the reps with the proper form to get the desired results, don't just rush through it. The goal is not just to complete the set, but to train the targeted muscles. Don't overlook the smaller muscles, those that contribute to function more than looks. Be careful as the body fatigues. Watch for compensation. Maintain balance.

Then I met a physical therapist, specializing in orthorpedics and sports medicine. What an amazing discovery I made about myself- hypermobile joints! Apparently I "bend" more than most, a sort of human Gumby if you will. The lesson learned is that genetics play a role and excessive movement in a joint can be just as bad as restricted movement.  Strengthen, strengthen, strengthen to support and protect those joints!

I have met a series of physical therapists, hand therapists, and other such human professionals since. Each one has  taught me something. Animal Physical Rehabilitation is an evolving field and for it to grow, we must not overlook the contributions of those trained to work on humans. Its a partnership, a collaboration of learning. So, thanks to those who have taught me something, and I look forward to learning more!

When I ask the owners of older pets how the pets are doing, I often hear in reply "He’s getting old. He’s slowing down and not very active anymore."  I have  to remind them that old age is not a disease. This "slowing down" that they are  referring to is usually a sign of a chronic disease that is painful but has gone undetected. Old age is blamed for this disease, and so the pet suffers, usually  in silence, not knowing that things could be different. (Excuse me while I step onto my soapbox for a moment then.)

And haven’t they earned the right to be cared for properly in their golden years? Didn’t they entertain us when they were puppies (even if they did chew up a few of our favorite shoes)! Didn’t they alert us when strangers approached the house? Didn’t they sleep near us, comfort us, and otherwise show us unconditional love? Don’t we owe it to them, for all those good years, to care for them in their old age as best we can?

I’ve heard it referred to as "old dog-itis" but old age is not a disease.Many diseaseas can cause your pet to "slow down" as he ages, but the aches and pains associated with deteriorating joints are from arthritis, not "old age". Arthritis can happen at nearly any age and 1 out of every 5 dogs has it. And there are so many things we can do to ease those aches and pains! There are a variety of pain medications, proper nutrition, joint supplements, weight loss, acupuncture, and physical rehabilitation to name a few. Don’t let your old dog suffer another day just because he’s old. Old dogs are the best, and they have earned the right to live as pain free as possible!

Physical therapy, or physiotherapy, deals with the improvement of  function, quality of life and promotion of movement in people through physical means. People have been enjoying the benefits of physical therapy for a long time.  Physical therapy is completely integrated into human medicine so that physical therapists and doctors work together to achieve the best results for the patient. 

Veterinary physical rehabilitation (physical therapy refers exclusively to human patients) uses these same techniques on animals for the same benefits. The techniques are adjusted for animals. Despite the differences in technique, the one thing that remains the same is that physical rehabilitation helps patients get better, feel better and move better. It reduces pain, improves function, restores movement, increases athletic performance, reduces risk of injury, and maximizes physical potential.

The veterinary medical community is starting to recognize these same benefits for animals. Educational programs, like the Canine Rehabilitation Institute, have been touting the benefits for years while teaching physical therapists and veterinarians in using these techniques on dogs. But its only been since 2011 that it has become an officially recognized specialty. More and more, veterinarians are understanding the importance of rehabilitation. Ultimately the goal is to integrate physical rehabilitation completely with traditional veterinary medicine. Rehabilitation therapists will work along side family veterinarians and surgeons to provide the best possible care for pets.