QUATTRO ANIMAL PHYSIOTHERAPY

The degeneration of tissues in the joints over time leads to inflammation and pain in these areas. Not only the joint surface is affected, but tendons, ligaments and muscles surrounding the inflamed joints struggle as they try to compensate for the discomfort in the joints. Gentle exercise, LASER treatments and soft tissue massage and stretching can be very beneficial to pet comfort, and maintaining as much healthy flexibility as possible. 

Trauma, genetic, or developmental problems with the elbow joint lead to painful degeneration. This hinge joint becomes unable to articulate comfortably with each other, and as the majority of 4-legged animal’s weight is carried by the front end, the pain implications of this disease are high. Veterinary intervention is possible, but working alongside a physio who can guide you through the exercises and manual treatments that would maintain the muscles and ligaments in as healthy a way as possible is highly recommended.

Trauma or developmental problems with hips leads to the hip joint degenerating. The “ball” of the hip no longer effectively sits in the “socket” of the pelvis, and as such instability in the hind end happens. This can be very painful, with loss of muscle and function of the hind end occurring over time, sometimes quite quickly. Many surgical options are available to treat this problem, but all require management of the body to reduce risk of re-injury and gentle re-introduction of exercise to control the pain and re-educate the body to move properly again. Physiotherapy is vital to the success of a lot of these cases. 

Some dogs are highly pre-disposed to this painful and damaging disease. The squishy material that sits in between the vertebrae of their backs can become damaged in multiple ways. Usually, neurological damage and loss of hindlimb function to varying degrees occurs. Options for treatment include surgery to stabilise the problem. Following this, or if conservative management is chosen, movement re-education and owner education on how to support their dog for the first 6-8 weeks post-op, which are often crucial is advised. LASER therapy can help nerve regeneration and growth, which aims to have your dog feeling their bodies and moving more comfortably again. 

The cranial cruciate ligament in the dog is highly prone to injury, especially in some dogs with straighter limb conformation. Some activities, sadly those like chasing a ball, can also trigger rupture of this ligament, which is not dissimilar to ACL injury in humans. Several surgical interventions are possible, as is conservative management. Because of the complex structure of the knee joint that this injury affects, lifelong compensations can present following injury. Client education and guidance through the rehabilitation process can increase the likelihood of return to former work, as well as monitor pain levels throughout the rehabilitation process. Both are crucial components to monitor during rehabilitation processes.