Celebrating Canine Fitness Month

April marks the beginning of Canine Fitness Month, a time dedicated to promoting the health and wellness of our beloved four-legged friends. Just like humans, dogs need regular exercise to stay fit, happy, and healthy. From energetic puppies to seasoned seniors, every dog can benefit from incorporating fitness into their daily routine. So, let's embark on a journey to unleash the full potential of our canine companions!

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My dog is becoming aggressive....could it be pain?

Dogs bring joy, love, and laughter into our lives. However, beneath their wagging tails and playful demeanour, dogs may sometimes conceal feelings of discomfort or distress, particularly when experiencing pain. The correlation between dog aggression and pain is a topic of growing interest among veterinarians, behaviourists, and dog owners alike. In this blog, we delve deeper into the relationship between aggression and pain, with a particular focus on recognizing the subtle signs of pain in our canine companions.

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Harnessing healing powers: platelet-rich plasma therapy for canine osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a prevalent disease affecting not only humans but also our four-legged companions. As dogs age, the wear and tear on their joints often lead to pain, inflammation, and restricted mobility. In the realm of veterinary medicine, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy has emerged as a promising solution to address the challenges posed by canine osteoarthritis.

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Unleashing wellness: the pawsitive benefits of hydrotherapy for canine fitness and conditioning

As responsible pet owners, ensuring the overall well-being of our furry friends is a top priority. While regular walks and playtime are essential components of a healthy lifestyle for dogs, incorporating hydrotherapy into their fitness routine can take their physical and mental wellness to a whole new level. Hydrotherapy, the therapeutic use of water, offers a range of benefits for canine fitness and conditioning, promoting strength, flexibility, and overall vitality.

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Exploring the link between chronic pain and canine cognitive dysfunction

Our canine companions bring immeasurable joy and companionship to our lives. As they age, however, they may face health challenges that impact their overall well-being. Two prevalent issues in senior dogs are chronic pain and canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD). While these conditions may seem unrelated at first glance, emerging research suggests a significant association between them. In this blog post, we'll delve into the connection between chronic pain and CCD, shedding light on the implications for our beloved furry friends.

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Maintaining senior pet mobility: a guide to keeping your furry friend active

As our beloved pets age, they may begin to face challenges with mobility. Just like humans, senior pets can experience joint pain, stiffness, and decreased energy. However, there are several ways you can help your furry friend maintain their mobility and enjoy their golden years to the fullest. In this blog post, we'll explore various tips and strategies to keep your senior pet active and comfortable.

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Identifying and treating chronic pain in pets

September is Animal Pain Awareness Month and we, along with other members of the International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management (IVAPM), want to help spread the word that living with chronic pain sucks for animals just as much as it does for humans. The good news is that there are more options now to treat chronic pain in pets than there ever have been before.

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Knee injuries in dogs

Rehabilitation is a great treatment option for reducing pain, decreasing inflammation and reducing the time that it takes to get your pet back to their regular level of activity in both surgical and non-surgical CCL rupture cases.

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Stretching for seniors

Imagine how you would feel if you only dedicated 10 minutes every day to stretching….

We all know that we should do it, but how many of us actually do? A quick literature review reveals no shortage of human studies touting the benefits of regular exercise, including stretching, and this is particularly important as we age. And the same holds true for our pets as they age. A regular program including heat, massage and stretching can help to relieve muscle tension and improve overall mobility in senior pets.

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April showers bring May....injuries?

As we move into the month of April, we are all eager to leave behind the chilly temperatures and slippery walking conditions. Just like us, our pets have likely been less active throughout the winter months and may require a bit of “getting into shape” before being able to do what they could last summer. A safe and gradual return to activity is essential to appropriately enhance muscle and cardiovascular endurance and prevent springtime injuries. We’ve got all the tips and tricks you need to know to ensure your pup has a safe and active spring! Prevention is the best medicine!

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Neurorehabilitation

A comprehensive neurologic rehabilitation program should utilize a multimodal approach to treatment that may include therapeutic modalities, acupuncture, pharmaceuticals and physical exercise. Neurorehabilitation techniques can be used to treat any condition that affects the brain, spinal cord or peripheral nerves, in order to restore or improve sensory and/or motor function.

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Rehabilitation: Mobility Matters!

Physical rehabilitation uses an integrative approach to comprehensively treat physical injuries, mobility impairments and promote functional mobility. Rehabilitation can optimize the recovery of these patients by improving pain, decreasing the recovery timeline, and improving their quality of life. In this blog we discuss the goals of a rehabilitation program, common conditions that can benefit from rehab, and some of the modalities used in rehabilitation therapy.

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Recognizing and treating signs of arthritis in your pet at home

Although some of the older statistics indicate that arthritis will affect 1 in 5 older pets, most veterinarians would agree that the numbers are likely higher than that, and arthritis can affect younger pets as well.  The earlier that signs of arthritis are identified in our pets, the more options we have for treating them and even delaying the progression of arthritis in some cases.

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January is National Walk Your Dog Month.....is your dog winter ready?

January is National Walk Your Dog Month, so what better time to commit to an exercise program that will benefit both you and your trusted companion in 2020?

Regular, controlled leash walks continue to be one of the best and safest forms of exercise to keep your dog in tip top shape (or lose those left over holiday pounds!), and are a great way for you to spend quality time together.

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