Arthritis

This page explains the difference between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis and how massage may be used alongside other natural treatments as well as those prescribed by your vet to help your dog.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis may be supported with the use of remedial massage. Extreme care and light pressure is used in the area of the affected joint.

Massage can help osteoarthritis by:

Helping warm surrounding muscles making them more supple
Helping to relax stiff muscles/overcompensating muscle groups
Promotes good range of motion in joints
Improving mobility & flexibility
Reducing pain & inflammation
Improving circulation to affected areas
Relieving muscle tension
Break pain tension pain cycle
Soothes the overcompensating limbsMay help to slow the degeneration process

What is Osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease that produces an inflammation (itis) that results in pain of the joints and is often referred to as the wear and tear disease from constant use, yet it is in fact the cartilage within the joint that acts as cushion that is worn down.

Normal cartilage is smooth, white and translucent but as the cartilage ages it begins to wear down and become yellow with areas of roughened and softened surface. As the edge of the joint thickens, osteophytes or bony spurs are formed and the joint begins to swell as the synovium produces extra synovial fluid. The joint capsule and ligaments attempt to overcompensate for the swelling and they begin to change shape by thickening and contracting.

Cartilage is unable to repair itself to the level needed and has no nerve endings to pre-warn the dog of degeneration. In severe cases of osteoarthritis, the cartilage becomes so thin that the bones begin to rub against one another and gradually wear each other down; this combined with the development of osteophytes can lead to pain and the deformation of the joint.

Osteoarthritis may occur as a result of another condition which affects the joint, for example a luxating patella or hip dysplasia and when this happens it is referred to as secondary joint disease.

Symptoms of Osteoarthritis in the Dog

Difficulty in getting up from a lying position
Difficulty in getting up and down stairs
Unable to jump
Less mobile
Depressed
Anxious
Muscle spasms
Fluid on the joint
Crepitus (creaking of the joint)
Difficulty in urinating/defecatingLoss of proprioception in limbs

The dog will have an altered gait as it tries to compensate for the pain it is feeling by adjusting its weight to fall on the unaffected limbs as the less weight bore on the affected limb, the less painful it is for the dog.

The dog may have problems in getting up from a lying position
Difficulty in getting up and down stairs
Unable to jump from the car as there is not enough cartilage to soften the blow without pain being felt.
A change in appetite and behavior may be seen
The dog may feel an increase of pain in humid or cold weather and will seek a warm, dry, soft place to sleep
General slowing down and stiffness
Proper diet, exercise, supplementation and prescriptive anti inflammatory`s are used and the dogs weight should be managed as extra weight will increase pressure on the joint and in turn increase pain

DONT JUST TAKE FOR GRANTED THAT YOUR DOG IS GETTING OLD AND THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE! The Canine Massage Therapy Centre sees many many dogs with arthritis and with a few sessions of Canine Massage Therapy owners report seeing a bounce back in their dogs step, more active on walks, reduced and alleviated stiffness and a generally happier, more comfortable dog. Bottom line; Massage Therapy WORKS for the Arthritic Dog.

"The ultimate outcome of these factors is a joint that simply isn`t working properly and where the sensory nerve endings in the supporting joint structures are irritated. These irritated nerve endings in the stressed joint tissues send pain and discomfort signals to the brain. The result is a dog that limps, rests often and is reluctant to move in a normal fashion. Since there are no nerve cells in articular cartilage, when pain is present, it is coming from the joint capsule, ligaments and supporting tissues (ie: muslces)."(http://www.ivis.org/special_books/ortho/chapter_61/61mast.asp)

Treatment

Regular exercise to help build strong muscle around joints to absorb the shock the cartilage cannot take. Little walks and often is best.

Things that can help your arthritic dog

-Canine Massage Therapy - if you cant have a clinical session for your dog then why attend a workshop to learn how to use professional massage techniques at home to help your own dog? See Courses page for further details.
Pet sweater in cold weather
Regular small walks rather than irregular long walks
Swimming
Slow jogging/trot
Appropriate rest - if they are struggling that day don`t force them to go out; rest is as just as important as exercise
Appropriate Bed - Get rid of that curved plastic bed immediately and get them some flat, soft bedding with lumbar support
Support devices e.g.: car ramp
High impact exercise should be avoided e.g.: fly ball, agility, Frisbee, ball catching
Orthopaedic bed/warm sleeping area with no draughts
Glucosamine supplement - building block for cartilage synthesis, try GO4 for the ultimate
Glucosamine supplement, the only one I recommend
Chodroitin enhances Glucosamine synthesis and inhibits damaging enzymes
Buffered Vitamin C
Back On Track Mesh Sheet Around House
Omega 3 Oil
Add oily fish eg: tinned or fresh, ie: Mackeral, Tuna, Salmon, Pilchards/Sardines but NOT in oil and especially not sunflower oil

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid Arthritis is an over reaction of the immune system. As the body mistakes its own protein for foreign protein (eg: bacterial) it starts to produce antibodies which are deposited in the joint. This process then triggers inflammation as the body tries to rid itself of these protein complexes. As is does so it creates more damage to the join and s the process continues, gradually wearing away cartilage and bone.

Signs

Lameness (mild to severe)
Weight shifting from leg to leg
Stiffness
Fever
Loss of appetite
Loss of muscle
Painful swollen joints emitting heat
Joints affected on one side rather than both
Tends to affect smaller joints eg: wrist whereas osteoarthritis tends to affect weight bearing joints eg: shoulder, elbow, hip, stifle

Massage

Can help to decrease painful swelling around the joints
Eases areas of overcompensation and pain referral
Increases circulation
Increases flexibility and mobility
Decreases pain and inflammation
Relieves sore and aching muscles
Relieves stiffness
Provides a sense of wellbeing to your dog

Diagnosis

Your vet can x ray to determine Rheumatoid Arthritis, Blood tests, synovial fluid analysis and tissue biopsies can also be used.

WARNING

If you supplement your dogs diet with oil

STOP!

You should only be using specific blends of Omega 3 to 6.
Never ever just pour on sunflower, vegetable, rapeseed or olive oil
(although small amounts of olive oil have been suggested to be beneficial).

Why?

Because too much Omega 6 is a pro-flammatory composite.

Omega 3 (found naturally in fish) is an anti inflammatory and more beneficial to your dogs condition. It can be found in oily fish (pilchards, tuna, mackerel, salmon) but only but it either in spring water or brine (you can wash of the excess salt from the brine). As Omega 3 is more difficult to obtain that Omega 6 you need to really watch what your dog is eating and the quantities.