Helping you to help your dog

 

As a Canine Physical Therapist with over 8 years of experience treating our own dogs and, as a successful business, hundreds of other dogs, I have discovered that, where seeing a professional undoubtedly helps, that isn't the whole story.

The therapist can't always be on hand 24/7 but you, their carer, on the other hand, are more likely to be.  By teaching you a regular massage and exercise regime that, together with a personalised workbook with illustrations of the techniques applicable to your dog, you will be able to support your dog.  This applies equally whether that’s an agility dog with warm-up and cool-down routines, a less able dog through disease or recovery from surgery, or an older dog needing help with mobility and arthritis.

With this focus towards helping you help your dog, I have found my regular dogs benefiting far more from this regime than just the therapist's visit.

The dogs get a massage whenever they need it rather than when it fits the diary - even daily if necessary.  They get their stretches, their exercises, their rehabilitation whenever is convenient. 

In addition, we can discuss easing access for your dog - flooring and non-slip surface adjustments, ramps to ease passage up/down steps and refer back to your vet for issues that may require further investigation.  Lifestyle changes like this, will help all day long and every day.

A famous person once said “The way you protect your power is not to hoard it, but to pass it on”…well actually it was Buffy in Season 7 but you get the idea.  Rather than just showing you a couple of massage strokes, which might mean you having to go back to the therapist time and again, we help you develop your own skills and empower you with a full physical therapy routine that you can apply regularly with your dog.  But we will still be there for help should you need further assistance.

Give me a call or drop me an email if you’d like to have a 1 to 1 session where we help you to help your dog.   Sessions will be held here at AchyPaw HQ in Saltdean.

 

Sometimes....

 

Sometimes you don’t need words to explain the benefits of our canine physical therapy or to describe how well a dog feels during a session.  Sometimes their face says it all.

So here is Archie and his face……

 

Canine Osteopathy

Our Sam and Sarah have been prime examples of the benefits of the multi-modal approach to treatment plans since they were first diagnosed with arthritis. They were the reason I started AchyPaw and then Chris qualified too. I’ve always referred to this as a jigsaw with bits being added to strengthen the whole picture. But this is a jigsaw with many interlocking pieces which can change.

As well as conventional medication and massage from us, Sarah has acupuncture from Eili (which works on energy levels as well as pain relief), hydrotherapy with Abi (for cardiovascular work and joint mobilisation) and osteopathy with Mandy Fischer, Canine Osteopath at Cliffe Osteopaths Lewes.   Osteopathy in dogs and people, can be effective in the treatment of a range of musculoskeletal conditions. With our Sarah it is a vital piece of her therapeutic jigsaw. She comes out from the session smoother.

Recently, Mr Sam has started to show signs of arthritic flare-ups in his left shoulder and also his hips. So far, he has just been on medication and massage. But now we have started to add him to Sarah’s existing regime.


He’s always adored his massage sessions – naturally. Now he has found that Aculaser time is falling asleep time.

When Mandy re-opened her services for dogs, we managed to swap one of Sarah’s sessions for Sam as soon as we obtained vet approval. His first session made noticeable differences to his gait almost immediately. On his second session, he already behaved like an ace. Just lay there with a daft grin letting Mandy ease out his mobility issues. On the way back, we stopped off for their lunchtime walk and he had his swagger back. He even attempted a run.

Such a joy to see how all these treatments work together to help and benefit the whole body.