Canine physical rehab can help your dog with a lot of different medical issues due to a medical condition or an injury. Incorporating rehab into the healing process safely promotes a faster return to health for your dog.
The goal of canine physical rehab is to help your dog live a better life. By improving mobility and decreasing their pain, we can help your dog by improving their quality of life, and sometimes even help them live longer. Here are some of the most common conditions I see in my practice that have great results with rehab.
Hip Dysplasia and Elbow Dysplasia
Hip dysplasia is a genetic condition where the head of the femur (thigh bone) and the socket in the pelvis (the “ball and socket” of the hip joint) don’t grow uniformly. This causes looseness in the joint and eventually degenerative joint disease (DJD) or osteoarthritis (OA). Elbow dysplasia is similar and occurs in the elbow of the front leg instead of in the hip.
Dogs are born with this condition and though it tends to be more common in large-breed dogs (50 pounds or more), it can happen in any dog. Symptoms can present as young as four months of age though most show signs as they age due to osteoarthritis in the affected joint(s).
Symptoms to look out for:
There are several things we can do to help your dog. First, it’s helpful if a dog with dysplasia doesn’t carry extra weight. We can determine your dog’s ideal weight and work together to reduce it if needed.
We can also discuss the supplements your dog can take and if medications like NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) may be appropriate. We can create an exercise regime to help improve mobility and muscle tone. And, we can also work to manage pain with treatments like cold-laser therapy, and others. If your dog does need surgery, we can work to rehab your dog to get him back to health as quickly as possible while helping to manage pain.
ACL Injuries
The cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) is a ligament in the knee that attaches to the femur (thigh bone), runs across the knee, and attaches to the tibia (shin bone). Its purpose is to hold the tibia in place, preventing hyperextension and internal rotation. This ligament is called the ACL, or anterior cruciate ligament in humans.
CCL ruptures are most common in large and giant dogs, however, they can happen to dogs of any size. They are the most commonly seen orthopedic injury in dogs. These injuries are often due to overexertion during high-impact activities, though that’s not always the case. Even a partial tear is extremely painful and a serious injury.
Symptoms to look out for:
Physical rehab may be an appropriate course of treatment in some cases. The ligament cannot grow back together, however, the dog can build up scar tissue to stabilize the joint to return to normal activity over time.
Treatment will depend on the level of injury and the dog’s condition, but it generally includes rest, anti-inflammatories, cold-laser therapy, and an Assisi loop. We start slowly with short walks and then work up to exercises to strengthen the muscles around the knee. It’s a long and slow process but in some cases, we can avoid surgery. Should your dog require surgery, we can certainly work together to help your dog with healing and improving mobility and strength.
Back Pain and Disc Disease
There are a number of different medical conditions that can cause back pain in dogs as well as nerve-induced weakness in the back legs. These include spinal arthritis, degenerative myelopathy, and disc disease (also known as degenerative disc disease or intervertebral disc disease, or IVDD).
In the case of arthritis, inflammation or a bone spur in the spine puts pressure on the spinal cord. Degenerative myelopathy (DM) is a genetic disease affecting the spinal cord that results in slowly progressive hind limb weakness and paralysis in older dogs. And degenerative disc disease or IVDD are where the vertebrae bulge or burst into the spinal cord space, causing pain, nerve damage, and sometimes paralysis.
Each of these conditions is different, however, many of the symptoms and treatments are similar. The causes can range from genetics to an injury to aging.
Symptoms to look out for:
The treatment will very much depend on the cause of the symptoms. Pain management is a very important part of treatment as well as trying to keep these issues from progressing further. Managing weight to reduce its impact and helping the dog build strength and muscle to counteract these issues are also important.
Osteoarthritis (OA)Osteoarthritis is a progressively worsening inflammation of a joint that is caused by a deterioration of cartilage (also known as DJD, or degenerative joint disease). The cartilage acts to cushion joints allowing a smooth and full range of motion. The loss of cartilage causes inflammation, pain, and a decreased range of motion.
Any joint can develop osteoarthritis though it’s most commonly the lower spine and limbs. Any dog can develop osteoarthritis, and though it’s more common in aging dogs, young dogs may also have an issue with it. Large or giant breed dogs are more prone to osteoarthritis.
Other risk factors include genetics, obesity, improper nutrition, injuries or conditions like fractures, ligament tears, hip or elbow dysplasia, and age. It’s also fairly common in athletic dogs due to repetitive stress to the joint(s) from things like agility and flyball.
Symptoms to look out for:
We’ll first evaluate your dog’s mobility, weight, supplements, and medications to make adjustments as needed to help improve your dog’s quality of life. We can’t reverse osteoarthritis, but we can try to help it from getting worse quickly and can manage pain.
Then, we’ll work on an exercise plan to strengthen the muscles around the impacted joints. While we do this, we’ll incorporate treatments to help with pain management like cold-laser therapy, and an Assisi loop.
What You Can Do About These Common Conditions
Though I see a wide range of mobility issues in my private practice, these four are what I see most often. If your dog is showing any of the symptoms mentioned, know that there’s hope. As a rehab vet, I have a lot of tools in my arsenal to help your dog live a happier and healthier life. Generally speaking, the earlier you begin treatment, the better off your dog will be. Though many of these issues aren’t curable, they certainly are treatable.
The goal of canine physical rehab is to help your dog live a better life. By improving mobility and decreasing their pain, we can help your dog by improving their quality of life, and sometimes even help them live longer. Here are some of the most common conditions I see in my practice that have great results with rehab.
Hip Dysplasia and Elbow Dysplasia
Hip dysplasia is a genetic condition where the head of the femur (thigh bone) and the socket in the pelvis (the “ball and socket” of the hip joint) don’t grow uniformly. This causes looseness in the joint and eventually degenerative joint disease (DJD) or osteoarthritis (OA). Elbow dysplasia is similar and occurs in the elbow of the front leg instead of in the hip.
Dogs are born with this condition and though it tends to be more common in large-breed dogs (50 pounds or more), it can happen in any dog. Symptoms can present as young as four months of age though most show signs as they age due to osteoarthritis in the affected joint(s).
Symptoms to look out for:
- Decreased activity
- Lameness in the hind end (or in the case of elbow dysplasia, a front leg)
- Decreased range of motion
- Reluctance or difficulty rising, running, or jumping
- Pain, stiffness, or limping
- Swaying “bunny hop” gait
- Loss of thigh muscle mass and enlargement of shoulder muscles due to compensation
- A grating sound in the joint
There are several things we can do to help your dog. First, it’s helpful if a dog with dysplasia doesn’t carry extra weight. We can determine your dog’s ideal weight and work together to reduce it if needed.
We can also discuss the supplements your dog can take and if medications like NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) may be appropriate. We can create an exercise regime to help improve mobility and muscle tone. And, we can also work to manage pain with treatments like cold-laser therapy, and others. If your dog does need surgery, we can work to rehab your dog to get him back to health as quickly as possible while helping to manage pain.
ACL Injuries
The cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) is a ligament in the knee that attaches to the femur (thigh bone), runs across the knee, and attaches to the tibia (shin bone). Its purpose is to hold the tibia in place, preventing hyperextension and internal rotation. This ligament is called the ACL, or anterior cruciate ligament in humans.
CCL ruptures are most common in large and giant dogs, however, they can happen to dogs of any size. They are the most commonly seen orthopedic injury in dogs. These injuries are often due to overexertion during high-impact activities, though that’s not always the case. Even a partial tear is extremely painful and a serious injury.
Symptoms to look out for:
- Lameness or limping on one rear leg
- Inability to bear weight on the leg
- Swelling around the inside of the knee
- Difficulty laying down or getting up
- Tenderness near the knee
Physical rehab may be an appropriate course of treatment in some cases. The ligament cannot grow back together, however, the dog can build up scar tissue to stabilize the joint to return to normal activity over time.
Treatment will depend on the level of injury and the dog’s condition, but it generally includes rest, anti-inflammatories, cold-laser therapy, and an Assisi loop. We start slowly with short walks and then work up to exercises to strengthen the muscles around the knee. It’s a long and slow process but in some cases, we can avoid surgery. Should your dog require surgery, we can certainly work together to help your dog with healing and improving mobility and strength.
Back Pain and Disc Disease
There are a number of different medical conditions that can cause back pain in dogs as well as nerve-induced weakness in the back legs. These include spinal arthritis, degenerative myelopathy, and disc disease (also known as degenerative disc disease or intervertebral disc disease, or IVDD).
In the case of arthritis, inflammation or a bone spur in the spine puts pressure on the spinal cord. Degenerative myelopathy (DM) is a genetic disease affecting the spinal cord that results in slowly progressive hind limb weakness and paralysis in older dogs. And degenerative disc disease or IVDD are where the vertebrae bulge or burst into the spinal cord space, causing pain, nerve damage, and sometimes paralysis.
Each of these conditions is different, however, many of the symptoms and treatments are similar. The causes can range from genetics to an injury to aging.
Symptoms to look out for:
- Abnormal gait
- Paralysis, “knuckling,” where the hind paws turn under, or the dog’s hindquarters seem to sway when standing still
- Difficulty getting up from a lying position
- Unwillingness to play or jump
- Reduced activity
- Pain and weakness in rear legs
- Crying out in pain
- Anxious behavior
- The dog falls over easily when pushed from the side
- Loss of bladder and/or bowel control or inability to posture properly to eliminate
The treatment will very much depend on the cause of the symptoms. Pain management is a very important part of treatment as well as trying to keep these issues from progressing further. Managing weight to reduce its impact and helping the dog build strength and muscle to counteract these issues are also important.
Osteoarthritis (OA)Osteoarthritis is a progressively worsening inflammation of a joint that is caused by a deterioration of cartilage (also known as DJD, or degenerative joint disease). The cartilage acts to cushion joints allowing a smooth and full range of motion. The loss of cartilage causes inflammation, pain, and a decreased range of motion.
Any joint can develop osteoarthritis though it’s most commonly the lower spine and limbs. Any dog can develop osteoarthritis, and though it’s more common in aging dogs, young dogs may also have an issue with it. Large or giant breed dogs are more prone to osteoarthritis.
Other risk factors include genetics, obesity, improper nutrition, injuries or conditions like fractures, ligament tears, hip or elbow dysplasia, and age. It’s also fairly common in athletic dogs due to repetitive stress to the joint(s) from things like agility and flyball.
Symptoms to look out for:
- Reluctance to play, run, and jump
- Weight gain
- Lethargy
- Pain when being touched
- Stiffness, difficulty getting up, lameness, or limping
- Loss of muscle mass around the spine and limbs
- Accidents in the house or difficulty getting positioned to urinate or defecate
- Changes in behavior or irritability
We’ll first evaluate your dog’s mobility, weight, supplements, and medications to make adjustments as needed to help improve your dog’s quality of life. We can’t reverse osteoarthritis, but we can try to help it from getting worse quickly and can manage pain.
Then, we’ll work on an exercise plan to strengthen the muscles around the impacted joints. While we do this, we’ll incorporate treatments to help with pain management like cold-laser therapy, and an Assisi loop.
What You Can Do About These Common Conditions
Though I see a wide range of mobility issues in my private practice, these four are what I see most often. If your dog is showing any of the symptoms mentioned, know that there’s hope. As a rehab vet, I have a lot of tools in my arsenal to help your dog live a happier and healthier life. Generally speaking, the earlier you begin treatment, the better off your dog will be. Though many of these issues aren’t curable, they certainly are treatable.