HOW CAM CAN HELP YOU
We believe that dog trainers and behaviourists are in a powerful position to spot early signs of pain and advocate for appropriate veterinary assessment. CAM can provide you with evidence-based information, practical tools, and resources to help you recognise the subtle signs of pain, communicate them clearly to clients, and collaborate more effectively with veterinary teams.
Canine Arthritis Management
UNDERSTAND PAIN. ADAPT TRAINING. PROTECT WELFARE.
Behaviour change is often one of the earliest indicators that a dog may be experiencing chronic pain. Avoidance, resistance to handling, reduced movement, or unexpected reactivity are frequently treated as training issues, when pain may be the underlying cause.
At Canine Arthritis Management, we support dog trainers and behaviourists through evidence-based CAM Advocate courses, helping you recognise pain-related red flags, adapt training plans safely, and work collaboratively with vets.
We also know that trainers can’t - and shouldn’t - carry this responsibility alone. That’s why you can confidently refer your clients to the CAM Member Zone, ensuring dog guardians receive trusted education and ongoing support beyond the training session. By understanding the link between pain and behaviour, we can deliver training that is safer, more effective, and truly centred on the dog’s long-term welfare.
Resources for you
Our Best Tool for Trainers & Behaviourists — The Lifestyle Tool
As training and behaviour professionals, you’re perfectly placed to help guardians implement lifestyle adjustments that support comfort, confidence, and freedom of movement for their arthritis dogs.
The lifestyle tool recommends simple adaptations and changes to help a dog with arthritis navigate daily life, from home layouts and flooring choices to outdoor activities and exercise routines, this tool proposes simple accessible solutions.
CAM Interactive lifestyle Tool
This interactive lifestyle tool highlights hazards for your dog both in the home and outside, from exercise and play to eating, drinking and even going to the toilet.
Suspicion of Chronic Pain
This diagram has transformed communication with caregivers - making them part of the decision-making process and helping all involved reflect on each dog's unique needs.
The Recently Diagnosed Toolkit
This practical and easy-to-use guide is perfect to share with caregivers. It brings clarity and confidence by outlining what to do next, what to look out for, and how to build a successful management plan.
HOME ASSESSMENT
Checklist
We know the profound impact that home adaptions can have on a dog’s daily life. A simple slip on a wooden floor, or a fall from the sofa can undo weeks of therapeutic progress, or even trigger a painful flare.
Interviews
with Experts
A huge library containing hundreds of hours of talks covering all aspects of arthritis management with specialist vets, therapists, and paraprofessionals.
ACUTE FLARE KIT PROFESSIONALS
Acute flares are common but often not discussed. The Acute Flare Kit for professionals provides more finormation and guidance on management strategies. This can be combined with signposting caregivers to the Acute Flare Kit for caregivers
HOME ASSESSMENT
Checklist
We know the profound impact that home adaptions can have on a dog’s daily life. A simple slip on a wooden floor, or a fall from the sofa can undo weeks of therapeutic progress, or even trigger a painful flare.
Interviews
with Experts
A huge library containing hundreds of hours of talks covering all aspects of arthritis management with specialist vets, therapists, and paraprofessionals.
ACUTE FLARE KIT PROFESSIONALS
If a dog in your care is experiencing an acute flare or a sudden deterioration, the Acute Flare Kit has been tailored to support professionals and outline management strategies. This can be combined with signposting caregivers to the Acute Flare Kit for caregivers
These are just a few of the many tools available inside the CAM Member Zone. Designed to help you and your clients better understand, manage, and support dogs living with arthritis and chronic pain.
A Shared Approach to Chronic Pain Education
Supporting dog trainers and behaviourists.
When working with clients, there are often multiple priorities competing for your time. This is where CAM’s resources can provide valuable support.
Designed for training and behaviour professionals and caregivers, the Member Zone offers clear, evidence-based information that builds on your guidance and covers areas you may not have time to explore fully during sessions.
Inside the Member Zone:
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Expert-led videos on arthritis and chronic pain
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The CAM Arthritis Management Course for caregivers.
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Bite-sized learning to make education quick and accessible
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Evidence-based articles written by industry experts
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Practical tools and printable booklets for everyday decision-making
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A warm, supportive community
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Live Tea & Chat sessions
By connecting caregivers to these trusted resources, you help them make informed, positive changes while reinforcing your role as a compassionate, pain-aware training or behaviour professional.
THE PAIN VET REFERRALS
When you suspect pain is influencing behaviour or limiting progress, you can seek the support of a team of vets dedicated to pain management. The Pain Vet team will work collaboratively with you, the dog's primary vet, and the dog’s caregivers to ensure all concerns are heard, and that the care plan supports both welfare and training goals.
You can:
- Refer clients for comprehensive virtual pain assessments.
- Combine your observations with those of the caregiver to support the veterinary evaluation.
- Receive a detailed report outlining findings and management recommendations.
- Collaborate with The Pain Vet team to align training strategies with pain-management goals.
By recognising when pain might be part of the picture, you strengthen your professional credibility and safeguard the dog’s welfare.
Learn more or refer a case at thepainvet.co.uk.
COURSES
CAMadvocate Level 1
The CAMadvocate Level 1 Course gives you the confidence to integrate arthritis awareness into your professional practice. You’ll learn:
- How to identify subtle indicators of pain in movement and behaviour.
- How to discuss your observations with clients and vets respectfully and effectively.
- Practical adjustments to training plans for dogs living with chronic pain.
This course enhances your professional credibility, strengthens your welfare-first approach, and deepens your impact as a trusted advisor to caregivers.
CAMadvocate Level 2
The canine professional’s guide to the role of rehab in multimodal care plans for osteoarthritis.
Interested in integrative and rehab therapies, but unsure what role they play in managing OA? This course is for you! Our aim with CAMadvocate Level 2 is to transform your understanding of how rehabilitation fits into multimodal care plans for arthritic dogs and enable you to become an integral part of the care team working alongside veterinary and rehab professionals
CPD EVENTS
CAM PODCAST: The Intersection of Pain and Behaviour in Dogs
Tune into Episode 59: The Intersection of Pain and Behaviour in Dogs with Dr. Sarah Heath- this episode dives into how chronic pain subtly reshapes behaviour, learning patterns, emotional state, and motivation in dogs.
This is just a stepping stone into the richer, evidence-based tools you’ll find inside the CAM Member Zone.