With the onset of winter and a natural inclination to move less, pets are under real threat of not only weight gain from reduced movement, but also joint problems as their mobility and exercise tends to plummet. When these two elements – weight gain and reduced movement – are combined, it can spell disaster for many pets, with dogs facing the highest risk.
“When we become stiff a nd sore we do less – the same is true with our pets,” explains leading Melbourne Vet, Dr Karen Davies.
“But moving less, especially in winter months is not the answer as it leads to the joints becoming more restricted and stiff, and then this stiffness leads to a reduced desire for exercise which then leads weight gain which in turn, puts more stress on the joints. It’s a vicious and dangerous cycle than can easily creep up on pet owners during winter if they are not careful,” Karen explains.
Karen, who has a special interest in animal hydrotherapy and rehabilitation at her Point Cook clinic says that there are many specific exercises pet owners can do with their pets to help prevent the winter stiffness, and one of her favourites is playing ‘shake hands’ with the dogs.
“Encouraging your dog to shake hands is a fun and easy way to support the delicate elbow and shoulder joints and the best par t is, it can be done inside anytime,” Karen explains.
Karen says that keeping joints mobile is the best way to reduce the effects of arthritis, and the most effective way do to this is through walking, but she does have some other fun tips for pet owners for exercises that can be done inside:
• “Dancing” and squats are great for the hips, supporting the pet but holding up the front legs and getting them to stand upright (like a human) then encouraging movement back and forth, side-to-side and in gentle circles. Squats can be done by getting the pet to sit and then stand, sit then stand repeat until your pet thinks your nuts or they have done a series of 10. These exercises are also great for cats.
• Hill climb is great for strengthening hips and knees and increasing “range of motion”, in the case of small dogs making a ramp up onto the couch can be a great option, otherwise ramps at the skate park can come in handy of you don’t have a local hill to climb.
• Hydrotherapy (exercise in water) will help support the body and provide resistance improving the benefit of the work out
• Natural supplements found in most homes such as Turmeric, Fish oil, Flax seed oil which all have natural anti-inflammatory properties can be used to make pets more comfortable.
• Pets should undergo a basic health check prior to commencing new exercise to ensure the exercises are appropriate to their needs and to minimize the risk of injuries.
Whilst Karen concedes that not every house has the ability to put their dog in a heated pool, there are specialist hydrotherapy units that enable owners and vets to tailor an aqua-based exercise program for even the stiffest of dogs, one of them located less than 30kms from Melbourne at Direct Vet Services Clinic in Point Cook.
Sometimes, a pet will need a bit of additional support over and above exerc ise, but Karen believes owners should take heart in the fact that keeping up the movement during winter will stave off many diseases.
Karen stresses though that many owners and vets wait till there are very obvious signs of joint degeneration before they take action, and her view is that the more owners can do to support their pets prior to serious joint problems taking hold, the happier their pets will be.
For more information on how owners can help their pets avoid the onset of early arthritis and other joint related problems this winter, contact Karen Davies 03 9369-1822
No comments:
Post a Comment