Dog health problems; what to do when exercise isn’t an option.

When diagnosing common dog health problems vets will often recommend regular exercise and activity. This recommendation is in many cases vital and is the best way to ensure vitality and quality of life when working through various health issues and conditions. But as many of you know, the weather and the dog don’t always cooperate. In addition to rainy days and snow storms, some dogs due to their condition are unable or are less than enthused to move about. This is especially true for arthritic, obese or elderly dogs. So what can you, the dog owner do to promote healthy joints and muscles when walks around the block and runs in the dog park are not possible?

Well, the truth is you have quite a few options!
One of the best ways to keep your dog’s bones, joints and muscles healthy is to integrate alternative methods such as Ttouch, massage and passive manipulation into your daily routine. Here is a brief description of each and how they can help to promote healing when struggling with common dog health problems.

Passive manipulation:
Passive manipulation is a technique used to break away adhesions in an animal’s joints and bones. To perform passive manipulation a pet owner should slowly and gently move a dog’s limbs through a series of natural and comfortable motions. For example, if treating a dog with a joint related condition such as arthritis, an owner would gently hold their dog’s paw, then bend and straighten the leg until all of his joints have been worked. If you feel that this may be the right choice for your pet, visit your vet for a thorough explanation and demonstration.

Massage:
The massage used when treating dog health problems is very similar to the types of massages given to their owners while visiting a spa. The technique involves the rubbing, pressing and kneading of tired, worn or pulled muscle regions. If you feel that a massage may help your precious pooch begin with a tender tummy rub and slowly begin to apply more pressure gradually moving around to the different parts of your dog’s body. If you are unsure about canine massage call your vet for some helpful hints.

Ttouch:
Ttouch was created by Linda Tellington-Jones in 1978 and has since become an incredibly popular technique used by countless animal professionals from shelter staff to emergency veterinarians. Ttouch is a technique involving gently rubbing an animal’s fur in a series of small circular motions with only the finger tips. Unlike massage which treats deeper muscle tissue, Ttouch only manipulates a dog’s skin and is used to promote relaxation, bonding and peace. Though used to treat a variety of dog health problems, Ttouch is best for anxiety, depression and tension related conditions.