Orthopaedic conditions can be painful and debilitating and can affect your dog's mobility. Massage can be beneficial in the management of these conditions. Listed below are some of the most common orthopaedic conditions.
Hip Dysplasia
The hip joint forms the attachment of the hind leg to the dog’s body and is a ball and socket joint. The ball is the head of the femur while the socket (acetabulum) is located on the pelvis. In dogs with hip dysplasia the head of the femur does not articulate correctly with the acetabulum as it is not as tight as it should be. The ball and socket joint is loose and the teres ligament becomes overstretched which then causes the ball and socket to rub against each other.
Hip Dysplasia normally occurs during a young dogs growing stage and it can affect both the left and right hips which causes discomfort to your dog.
Dogs with Hip Dysplasia are able to lead normal lives if the condition is well managed. Some of the ways to manage hip dysplasia is; a good balance of exercise (regular), weight control, hydrotherapy, massage, acupuncture and glucosamine supplement.
The symptoms of hip dysplasia are; resisting movement that requires full extension or flexion of rear legs, running with a bunny hop, difficulty climbing stairs or jumping in a car, stiffness in rear legs after exercising, crying out in pain, wobbly gait as legs cross when walking.
Elbow Dysplasia
The elbow joint is composed of three bones, the radius, ulna and humerus and all three must grow together and fit snugly. When the bones have developed the medial coronoid process of the ulna must sit level with the surface of the radius. If this doesn’t happen and the ulnar sits higher with the radius creating a step then this is a dysplastic elbow. The step can vary in height and it is this that causes pain and lameness in your dog.
Elbow Dysplasia can occur when young dogs are over exercised, diet is poor, an injury has occurred or it is genetic. Elbow Dysplasia can be graded from zero to four, zero being normal to a four which is severe.
In most cases a dog with elbow dysplasia will be able to lead a normal and active life with some changes such as their exercise pattern may need limiting or just made regular. You will need to maintain your dogs weight which will ensure joints are not being strained. In some cases pain-relieving drugs may need to be administered and in severe cases surgery will be needed to remove bits of cartilage or bone that has become loose.
The symptoms of elbow dysplasia are; swelling of the joint, intermittent lameness worse when over exercised, pain, abnormal gait - paddling or flipping of front feet, stiff when rising, tire easily after some exercise.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is also known as degenerative joint disease (DJD) and it is mainly a problem affecting older dogs. This disease is caused by progressive inflammation and deterioration of the cartilage, bone and soft tissues within one or more of the joints. When this cartilage is damaged the joint loses its cushioning. This then causes friction between the bones which then leads to your dog being in pain and having decreased mobility in the affected joints. Although any joint in the dog’s body can be affected by osteoarthritis the most commonly affected joints are the hips, elbows, knees, wrists and lower back.
Also very common is secondary osteoarthritis which tends to occur when your dog has had a problem or injury to a joint such as a fracture, infection or abnormal stress during movement of the joint.
Osteoarthritis cannot be cured but it can be managed which can help minimise any pain and discomfort your dog might be suffering. Some of the ways it can be managed is; weight control, controlled exercise, hydrotherapy and Massage.
The signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis are not always easy to see because dogs react to pain very differently depending on their age and general health.
Some of the symptoms may show in changes in their behaviour such as; stiffness, reluctance to exercise, depressed, lameness / limping, pain, difficulty rising from the floor or walking up the stairs, muscle wastage, cracking sounds during movement, aggressive or defensive reactions when touched.
Luxating Patella
This condition can happen to any breed but is most common in the smaller breeds. The Patella is the dogs kneecap. The two bony ridges that shape a groove called the trochlear grove at the end of the femur allow the patella to slide up and down. When the Patella luxates (shifts) a misalignment of the knee has happened.
When the Patella dislocates the dog may get around on three legs until the Patella has popped back into place. With some dogs this might be straight away with others it may take some time.
Luxating patella can either be a result of a traumatic injury or hereditary deformities. It can also be in just one leg or both. Luxating patella can be graded from one to four. One being the patella can be manually luxated but easily returns to its regular location when released to a four which is permanent luxation of the patella and it cannot be manually repositioned.
Luxating patella rarely needs operating on but it can be managed which can help minimise any pain and discomfort your dog might be suffering. Some of the ways it can be managed is; weight control, massage, moderate exercise and walking up slight inclines which will strengthen the muscle groups around the patella.
They symptoms of luxating patella are; stiffness in the hind limb, crying in pain, sudden stopping, lameness (holding the leg up but then returning it back after a short period of time), hop hop skip motion
Hip Dysplasia
The hip joint forms the attachment of the hind leg to the dog’s body and is a ball and socket joint. The ball is the head of the femur while the socket (acetabulum) is located on the pelvis. In dogs with hip dysplasia the head of the femur does not articulate correctly with the acetabulum as it is not as tight as it should be. The ball and socket joint is loose and the teres ligament becomes overstretched which then causes the ball and socket to rub against each other.
Hip Dysplasia normally occurs during a young dogs growing stage and it can affect both the left and right hips which causes discomfort to your dog.
Dogs with Hip Dysplasia are able to lead normal lives if the condition is well managed. Some of the ways to manage hip dysplasia is; a good balance of exercise (regular), weight control, hydrotherapy, massage, acupuncture and glucosamine supplement.
The symptoms of hip dysplasia are; resisting movement that requires full extension or flexion of rear legs, running with a bunny hop, difficulty climbing stairs or jumping in a car, stiffness in rear legs after exercising, crying out in pain, wobbly gait as legs cross when walking.
Elbow Dysplasia
The elbow joint is composed of three bones, the radius, ulna and humerus and all three must grow together and fit snugly. When the bones have developed the medial coronoid process of the ulna must sit level with the surface of the radius. If this doesn’t happen and the ulnar sits higher with the radius creating a step then this is a dysplastic elbow. The step can vary in height and it is this that causes pain and lameness in your dog.
Elbow Dysplasia can occur when young dogs are over exercised, diet is poor, an injury has occurred or it is genetic. Elbow Dysplasia can be graded from zero to four, zero being normal to a four which is severe.
In most cases a dog with elbow dysplasia will be able to lead a normal and active life with some changes such as their exercise pattern may need limiting or just made regular. You will need to maintain your dogs weight which will ensure joints are not being strained. In some cases pain-relieving drugs may need to be administered and in severe cases surgery will be needed to remove bits of cartilage or bone that has become loose.
The symptoms of elbow dysplasia are; swelling of the joint, intermittent lameness worse when over exercised, pain, abnormal gait - paddling or flipping of front feet, stiff when rising, tire easily after some exercise.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is also known as degenerative joint disease (DJD) and it is mainly a problem affecting older dogs. This disease is caused by progressive inflammation and deterioration of the cartilage, bone and soft tissues within one or more of the joints. When this cartilage is damaged the joint loses its cushioning. This then causes friction between the bones which then leads to your dog being in pain and having decreased mobility in the affected joints. Although any joint in the dog’s body can be affected by osteoarthritis the most commonly affected joints are the hips, elbows, knees, wrists and lower back.
Also very common is secondary osteoarthritis which tends to occur when your dog has had a problem or injury to a joint such as a fracture, infection or abnormal stress during movement of the joint.
Osteoarthritis cannot be cured but it can be managed which can help minimise any pain and discomfort your dog might be suffering. Some of the ways it can be managed is; weight control, controlled exercise, hydrotherapy and Massage.
The signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis are not always easy to see because dogs react to pain very differently depending on their age and general health.
Some of the symptoms may show in changes in their behaviour such as; stiffness, reluctance to exercise, depressed, lameness / limping, pain, difficulty rising from the floor or walking up the stairs, muscle wastage, cracking sounds during movement, aggressive or defensive reactions when touched.
Luxating Patella
This condition can happen to any breed but is most common in the smaller breeds. The Patella is the dogs kneecap. The two bony ridges that shape a groove called the trochlear grove at the end of the femur allow the patella to slide up and down. When the Patella luxates (shifts) a misalignment of the knee has happened.
When the Patella dislocates the dog may get around on three legs until the Patella has popped back into place. With some dogs this might be straight away with others it may take some time.
Luxating patella can either be a result of a traumatic injury or hereditary deformities. It can also be in just one leg or both. Luxating patella can be graded from one to four. One being the patella can be manually luxated but easily returns to its regular location when released to a four which is permanent luxation of the patella and it cannot be manually repositioned.
Luxating patella rarely needs operating on but it can be managed which can help minimise any pain and discomfort your dog might be suffering. Some of the ways it can be managed is; weight control, massage, moderate exercise and walking up slight inclines which will strengthen the muscle groups around the patella.
They symptoms of luxating patella are; stiffness in the hind limb, crying in pain, sudden stopping, lameness (holding the leg up but then returning it back after a short period of time), hop hop skip motion
