Joint and gait problems.
Some dogs suffer from hip or elbow dysplasia,
a condition that often doesn’t surface till the
dog gets a little older. The muscles have been
keeping the joint in place and once they start to
weaken due to age, the problems start to show.
Besides weight management, keeping the dog’s
muscles toned is an important factor. It can be
done by swimming, gentle exercise and massage.
Younger dogs with gait problems can also greatly
benefit from the added mobility, putting less
stress on the compensating muscles.
I have worked with dogs hardly able to walk at their
first appointment and after three visits they were trying
to play with the other dogs. Some respond very quickly
and for others it takes a couple of visits to see an improvement.
Injuries, surgery and recovery.
If your dog is awaiting orthopedic surgery, gentle
massage can help make the operation less stressful.
By keeping the muscle tone and flexibility at their
best, the healing process often goes more smoothly.
The massage should be administered in cooperation
with your vet, both prior to and after surgery.
Rehabilitation can often take a long time and
massage helps reduce the formation of scar tissues,
decrease pain, prevent muscle atrophy and speed
up recovery.
Please remember that massage is never a substitute for veterinary care.
To see the dogs that are up for adoption at Heart of Texas Lab Rescue, click here.
