Complementary therapies
TOD SAYS...
Complementary therapy is often used alongside conventional treatment to help control arthritis.
There are more interventions that are incorporated into arthritis management plans. When there
is no cure for a disease, there will always be many interventions available. As in human medicine deciphering which of those interventions may be beneficial can be very difficult as many rely on anecdotal stories and opinions. Trying to employ an “evidence-based” approach when deciding what to “trial” is a sensible way to keep your dog safe and reserve funds for treatments which are more likely to bring benefit.
Physical therapies are an important part of a comprehensive arthritis treatment plan for dogs. They help to rebuild or maintain muscle strength, aid flexibility, maintain normal sensation in the legs and ultimately to manage pain.
In order for you to see the maximum benefit, therapy should be started at an early stage in disease management. However, choosing the right type of rehabilitation or complementary therapy at the right time is equally important. The wrong choice of therapy, the right therapy at the wrong time, or a certain therapy in the wrong hands can lead to little or no improvement, and could even result in a deterioration of your dog’s condition.
In order to access most rehabilitation treatments, your dog will need to be referred to a specialist by your vet after they have physically examined your pet and provided a diagnosis. These therapies should be combined with other elements of the multimodal treatment plan to gain the largest benefit for your dog. This may include pain relief, weight management, home adaptations and supplements.
WHAT Therapies are AVAILABLE?
Physiotherapy uses physical means to restore movement and function following injury or during the treatment of chronic conditions such as arthritis. It can help to relieve pain, improve physical activity and reduce the risk of future injury. A holistic approach is taken, which means that as well as attending appointments, you are often taught exercises to complete at home with your dog between sessions. These exercises aim to strengthen specific parts of the body. The body is considered as a whole, much like in human physiotherapy.
The Register of Animal Musculoskeletal Practitioners (RAMP) is a new initiative by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons to promote public confidence to use therapists such as physiotherapists, osteopaths, and chiropractors. ACPAT and NAVP also have useful tools to find qualified animal physiotherapists.
Hydrotherapy is a popular choice for rehabilitation following injury or surgery, or for dogs with chronic conditions such as hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia or arthritis. It is a water-based therapy that uses key properties of water to support the dog’s weight, which in turn reduces pressure on joints and encourages an increased range of movement.
This therapy should be given by trained professionals. In the wrong hands it can be very dangerous and do more harm than good. When looking for a hydrotherapist, check they are a member of the National Association of Registered Canine Hydrotherapists or the Canine Hydrotherapy Association.
Laser therapy, or “photobiomodulation”, is a non-invasive, fast-acting and versatile treatment. It has been effectively used to treat a wide variety of conditions, including pre-surgical and post-surgical patients and those with both acute and chronic disease states. Treatment is quick, so multiple areas can be treated in a single session, often making it a cost-effective and accessible treatment option.
Laser therapy can be used alongside other treatments such as physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, massage and prescribed analgesics from a vet.
Acupuncture is seen as a complementary therapy, with its origins rooted in ancient Chinese medicine. It has been practiced in Chinese and Eastern cultures for thousands of years. It involves the insertion of thin needles through the skin in specific anatomical points, to various depths, for therapeutic benefit. More recently, acupuncture has been utilised in Western medicine for its pain relieving properties. The Western medicine approach takes a more scientific form of the practice when compared to the traditional Chinese medicine practice.
If you are interested in using acupuncture on your dog, you can find out more from the Association of British Veterinary Acupuncturists www.abva.co.uk.
Using magnetic fields in therapy, especially in arthritis management, has a long history, stemming back to ancient Chinese medicine. However, there is still a lot of confusion about how it works and the best way to deliver it.
It can be effective but is dependent on magnet power, duration of application, and the individual. Don’t stop monitoring your dog’s chronic pain status in the belief that once a collar is put on or a bed is bought your dog will definitely improve.
Magnetic Field Therapy can be a safe and cost-effective treatment in combination with other treatments, but it is not a substitute for full veterinary assessment and advice.
Chiropractic is a manual therapy concerned with the treatment and prevention of mechanical disorders of bones, muscles and joints. Chiropractors tend to focus on the spine and feel that establishing good function through the spine will improve bio-mechanical and general health.
The manual therapies involved are considered dynamic and high velocity to re-establish good function.
There is good evidence in human medicine that it is effective in relieving persistent lower back pain.
If considering a chiropractor for your dog, first seek the advice of your own vet. The Register of Animal Musculoskeletal Practitioners (RAMP) is a new initiative by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons to promote public confidence to use therapists such as physiotherapists, osteopaths, and chiropractors. You might also like to take a look at the BVCA’s website.
Osteopathy promotes looking at the body as a whole, assessing the underlying problem. It uses manual techniques to promote healthy functioning, by correcting mechanical imbalances within and between the structures (muscles, bones, ligaments, organs and fascia) of the body.
Some of the manual techniques are similar to chiropractic; direct and high velocity movements. Some are considered more indirect, involving massage and myofascial release techniques.
It is a recognised treatment for pain control for lower back problems in humans, and the principles and techniques used in dogs follow tried and tested techniques use on humans.
If considering using osteopathy on your dog, first seek the advice of your own vet. The Register of Animal Musculoskeletal Practitioners (RAMP) is a new initiative by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons to promote public confidence to use therapists such as physiotherapists, osteopaths, and chiropractors. You might also want to take a look at the EVSO website.
Massage is well recognised in human medicine for restoring muscular and allied soft tissue health, as well as preventing injury and trauma. It promotes physical and mental well-being and is considered as part of a holistic approach to healthcare.
Massage is commonly used in companion animals to improve physical, physiological and psychological health. It can positively influence the body and all of its complex interlinked systems, such as the muscular, circulatory, nervous, digestive, urinary, respiratory, lymphatic and endocrine systems.
Manual therapies include disciplines such as massage, Galen myotherapy and myofascial release. Massage is an umbrella term that encompasses a huge array of overlapping manual techniques such as effleurage (long, gliding strokes), petrissage (lifting and kneading the muscles), friction (firm, deep, circular rubbing movements), tapotement (brisk tapping or percussive movements) and vibration (rapidly shaking or vibrating specific muscles).
Massage can be provided by a qualified professional dedicated exclusively to manual work, such as a canine body worker. It can also be provided as one of an array of interventions by a qualified veterinary physiotherapist or rehabilitation professional. Some owners see such huge improvement in their dog that they undergo training themselves in order to be able to competently massage their own dog.
Massage and other manual therapies continue to grow and expand into many different forms. CAM founder, Hannah, was trained in Galen Myotherapy, which led to her establishing CAM.
Galen Myotherapy is a unique and highly specialised manual therapy and exercise management. It uses appropriate and targeted specialised massage techniques and exercise management to manage the chronic muscular pain and inflammation that is caused from many different conditions including arthritis. CAM has first-hand experience of how effectively it treats chronic muscular pain and the improvement that can be achieved through physical and behavioural changes.
It falls into the wider category of manual therapies, which are considered mainstream in human medicine. Galen Myotherapy adds observations of behaviour, posture, muscle balance and gait into the assessment before treatment, thus targeting attention to the areas of the body that require it.
What makes Galen different from other organisations. Galen follows these guiding principles.
High level of specialist knowledge and training
All Galen Canine Myotherapists® are qualified to a high level. The anatomy and physiology learning is directed at functional application. They understand the dog’s anatomy in terms of movement, how the dog’s body works and how physical stress can be reflected through behaviour. This knowledge is then directed into a dog-centric application of choice-led treatment.
Behavioural Understanding
We were the first therapy organisation to discuss the direct connection between muscle pain and specific behaviour patterns. We guide owners and handlers in understanding how muscle pain can be reflected in their dog’s behaviour. This information and knowledge is also invaluable when assessing and detecting changes.
Sharing of knowledge
The welfare of dogs is our primary concern, and this takes priority over all other considerations. Therefore, we believe in sharing knowledge through training, workshops, symposiums and events all over the world. We truly believe that what we do improves the health and wellbeing of dogs and encourages our associates to share this in the most appropriate and far reaching ways.
Choice led treatment
It is vital for the dog being treated that they feel they have a choice in the treatment. We never use forced restraint, and treatment will always take place on the floor or on a low level, where a dog is most comfortable. The practice of choice is one that has now become main-stream with many top trainers and behaviourists using the term.
Owner empowerment
We recognise that owners want to help with their dog’s treatment. We always include the owners in their dog’s recovery plan, imparting techniques that are safe to use, along with exercise planning and environment management.
Continual Development
Much of our course content has changed radically over the years due to our discoveries, our science led studies and our research in understanding the behaviour and physical changes of dogs with muscular issues. We ensure we keep up to date with the latest evidence and findings and modify our treatment and teaching to incorporate this. Like any science, there are new discoveries constantly, and it is vital for animal welfare that we remain at the forefront of current understanding.
Please visit www.galenmyotherapy.co.uk to find out more about our courses, workshops and treatments.
The Tellington TTouch is a unique way of working with animals to help them overcome a variety of health and behavioural issues. It is a truly holistic therapy, taking into account the whole dog. It recognises a link between posture and behaviour and uses body work, ground work exercises and specific equipment to release tension and to promote a feeling of calm and wellbeing.
Observational work is an important part of TTouch. Practitioners note the animal’s responses to stimuli, the posture, balance, movement and muscle development, heart rate and respiration, the texture and appearance of the coat and so on. They feel for temperature changes, coarse or dry hair, tension in the tail, ears, legs and the mobility of the skin. They also pay close attention to the animal’s responses to contact on the body and his ability to negotiate the groundwork. They detect areas of tension and pain in a dog’s body and using hands-on gentle techniques elicit subtle local changes which appear to have unravelling effects elsewhere in the body.
The core belief of homeopathy is that ‘like cures like’; a substance that causes certain symptoms can also help to remove those symptoms. The scientific plausibility of homeopathic remedies is hotly disputed. There is no legal regulation of homeopathic practitioners in the UK. This means that anyone can practise as a homeopath, even if they have no qualifications or experience.
If you want to try homeopathy, CAM advises using a vet who offers homeopathy in addition to conventional veterinary practice. It is our duty is to relive a pet’s pain as quickly as possible. It is not acceptable to use on its own a therapy that may not take effect for some time.
CAM HAS A BOOKLET DESIGNED TO HELP!
You can purchase CAM’s ‘All Those Other Therapies - What, Why, When?‘ booklet from the CAM online Shop in print format.
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