Arthritis & Geriatric Care

Arthritis (also known as osteoarthritis or OA) can affect dogs of any age. Our physiotherapy service is of benefit to dogs with any arthritic condition. Physiotherapy treatment combined with our home care advice will greatly benefit geriatric dogs and help maintain quality life in older age.

Physiotherapy can also improve the following;

  • Comfort throughout whole body by addressing any compensations
  • Suppleness
  • Strength
  • Joint range of movement
  • Ability to perform activities of daily living
  • Overall quality of life
  • Performance where appropriate

Which treatments are beneficial for arthritis?

Our most beneficial treatments are;

  • Gentle massage to improve whole body comfort
  • Pulsed electromagnetic field therapy aiming to reduce pain
  • Laser (LLLT) improve cellular activity and reduce joint pain
  • Gentle exercises to reduce stiffness and improve strength and mobility

If you are interested in the specific treatments we have available please take a look at our ‘Services’ page

What happens in a physiotherapy session?

Each session comprises of an update from the owner, a static and dynamic assessment, treatment, exercises, and home care advice. Treatment will address any compensatory issues as well as directly treating the primary issue when appropriate.

A home care plan will be designed for each dog according to his individual circumstances.

Home care advice

We include home care advice within each session. We will demonstrate relevant physiotherapy care and exercises for you to perform with you dog at home.

Alongside this we are happy to discuss your home environment which may help to improve your dogs comfort and mobility.

This includes;

  • Making your home as suitable as you can to help your arthritic dog
  • Bedding
  • Feeding and drinking areas
  • Flooring and mats
  • Access and managing stairs
  • Managing your dog over steps and doorways
  • Assisting your dog to rise and move around if he’s struggling
  • Appropriate games to play
  • Enrichment activities

If you are interested in the specific treatments we have available please take a look at our Services page.

If you are unsure whether your dog may benefit from physiotherapy please feel free to call us to discuss