Lifestyle
Ideal Body Condition
Your pet needs to stay within an ideal body condition to help minimize the load on their joints and to reduce their overall inflammation. We recommend discussing a weight loss plan with us, or your primary veterinarian, including weight loss diets, appropriate activity, and regular weigh-ins. Some quick tricks are replacing treats with safe fruits and vegetables (avoiding raisins, grapes, macadamia nuts, onions, chocolate, corn cobs, and pits), gradually cutting back on amount of food offered, feeding low-fat food, and regular low-impact exercise.
Reduce slips and trips
Ramps, yoga mats, rugs, slings, Dr. Buzby’s Toegrips, or Pawfriction adhesives are ways you can prevent your pet from slipping and help them have an easier time getting up. Help ’em Up harnesses are another a great option to easily assist your pet getting up and down, in and out, while maintaining some independence. Get creative with rug placement in your pet’s environment, particularly in high activity places. We suggest areas such as entry ways, stairs, where they eat and drink, and both sides of doorways. Yoga Accessories has rolls of colored mats. Pet Loader has ramps or loaders for in and out of vehicles or patios.
Exercise
Low impact, regular, quality exercise is ideal. We recommend walking, hiking, swimming, or wading, and following our home exercise plans.
Joint Support, Slowing the Progression
Glycosaminoglycans; Glucosamine, Chondroitin, MSM, Hyaluronic Acid
These molecules concentrate in the joints and have lubricating and shock absorbing properties. They help reduce inflammation and improve the health and mobility within the joints. These supplements may take several weeks to reach therapeutic levels and are considered a lifelong foundation for any arthritis treatment. Dasuquin Advanced, Synovi G4, Phycox, Trixsyn, and Connectin are a few of the recommended brands that can be purchased through us or a pet supplier.
Adequan
This is the only FDA approved disease modifying drug for osteoarthritis. Adequan is an injectable form of glycosaminoglycans that can be incorporated in addition to the daily joint supports discussed above, or as a standalone joint support. Adequan requires an initial loading dose of 8 injections that can be done once a week for eight weeks or twice a week for four weeks, decreasing to monthly injections thereafter. The injections can be done in clinic or we can teach you to administer them at home.
Nutraceuticals
There are a variety of whole food supplements that provide nutrients, vitamins, and enzymes to help restore malfunctioning musculoskeletal systems. Collagen, Perna canaliculus (Green lipped mussel), Omega 3 Fatty Acids, and Myos Fortetropin are just a few examples. We also work with Standard Process, a company that offers musculoskeletal, ligament, whole body, and anti-inflammatory formulations that may be a good addition to your pet’s diet and overall health.
Pain and Inflammation
Anti-inflammatory
The appropriate use of anti-inflammatories can help slow the progression of osteoarthritis. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) like Rimadyl, Meloxicam, Vetprofen, Carprofen, and others are commonly prescribed and can be used as needed. There are many effective herbal anti-inflammatories including curcumin and Boswellia based blends. Traumeel, or T-Relief, is a homeopathic anti-inflammatory that is supported by a clinical trial to be as effective as Carprofen, but without the potential side effects. There are a variety of safe essential oils for both topical and oral application that have marked anti-inflammatory properties. Cannabinoids have also been shown to be effective at reducing pain and inflammation. We carry, and can discuss, a variety of herbal anti-inflammatories such as Boswellia Complex, Resources Pain Plus, Canine Musculoskeletal Complex, Curcuvet, or Ligaplex formulas.
Pain Medications
There are a variety of pain medications that may be recommended to aid in your companion’s treatment. Our goal is to be sure they are comfortable enough to move well, so they can get stronger. Without pain control, we cannot ask them to move well.
Manual Therapy, Improving Body Mechanics
Acupuncture
Insertion of thin, sterile needles into precise anatomical locations throughout the body that correspond with nerve and vascular endings that can help increase blood flow, stimulate healing, boost the immune system, and provide analgesia. We may also recommend electro-acupuncture or aquapuncture to augment treatments.
Laser Therapy
A non-invasive technique using light frequency to stimulate cells to increase blood flow, aid in healing, and decrease oxidative damage. Laser therapy is optimal for acute injuries, sites of active inflammation, and to aide in tissue repair.
Pulsed Electromagnetic Frequency
A non-invasive technique using magnetic frequency to stimulate cells and promote cell efficiency, restoration, and repair. We use and sell Assisi Loops. We also work with a practitioner that has a large bed and loops for full body treatments.
Massage and Manual Therapy
We perform a variety of techniques to reduce muscle spasms, improve joint range of motion, and promote normal body mechanics. We can instruct you on techniques to perform at home and encourage you to massage your companion(s) daily. Long gentle strokes down the back, or doing a simple technique called ‘skin rolling’ can really help promote muscle and nerve relaxation.
Temperature Therapy
Warm compresses to muscles prior to or during massage can help to loosen the muscles and increase blood flow. Cool compresses can help reduce inflammation in recently sore or strained areas.
Hydrotherapy
We utilize an underwater treadmill to help patients with arthritis achieve normal body mechanics, improve range of motion, and maintain muscle strength. Hydrotherapy helps to warm the tissues, provides compression to sore joints and allows us to offload the injured joints, while encouraging the patient to go through a full exercise.
Look at these four categories: Lifestyle, Joint Support, Pain and Inflammation, and Manual Therapies as pieces of a pie that must equal 100%. If we are lacking in any one piece, then we must fill that gap with another category. Our goal is to develop a personalized plan specific to you and your companion’s needs to achieve an equally represented pie. Depending on how severe their discomfort is we typically recommend starting therapy weekly. Once the body is relaxed and moving correctly, we can space out treatments as they dictate to a maintenance level.
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