Simple Ways to Improve your Dogs Diet

Adding fresh food to your dog’s meals can give huge health benefits and help in the prevention of many serious diseases .

Not everyone wants to feed raw or home cooked food, and the majority of dogs still eat tinned food or kibble. When manufacturing kibble or muesli-type food, it requires a very high temperature, and many of the nutrients are lost in the cooking process, which are then replaced with synthetic vitamins and mineral supplements.

Adding a few of the following fresh foods at least 3 times a week will supply the dog with vitamins, minerals, omega 3 fatty acids, anti-oxidants, amino acids, glucosamine, and micro nutrients that they can easily absorb and utilise within their body.

Here are a few simple ways to increase the nutritional value of any meals and add variation:

Bone Broth: Packed full of glucosamine, chondroitin, hyaluronic acid, amino acids & minerals. Great for joint and gut health.

Tinned Pilchards or Sardines: Omega 3 fatty acids & DHA for coat and skin health and anti-inflammatory effects. Choose the ones in tomato juice or spring water

Eggs: Either raw or very lightly cooked, provide high-quality protein and fat, and are a good source of biotin.

Medicinal Mushrooms:  Such as Reishi, Chaga, Turkey tail, Shiitake etc, have an abundance of health-giving qualities and are believed to help in cancer prevention and to boost the immunity.

Dandelion leaves: Contain vitamin C, B6, thiamine, calcium, iron, potassium, manganese, copper, and a flavonoid called zeaxanthin, which is crucial for protecting the retina and is an effective antioxidant. Pick from areas free from chemical sprays & pollution.

Berries: Blackberries, when in season, blueberries, and raspberries are packed full of vitamin C and rich in antioxidants.

Fresh leafy greens: Either lightly steam or, as I prefer, make vegetable smoothies for the dogs is a great way to add an abundance of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to their meals. It has also been proven to reduce the risk of some cancers just by adding a small amount of vegetables to processed food. Avoid the starchy veg and go for kale, broccoli, spinach, beet tops, dandelion leaves, Parsley, courgette, etc, plus a few berries.

Herbal Blends:  Hedgerow Hounds offer a range of herbal blends to add valuable nutrition to your dog’s meal times.

www.hedgerowhounds.co.uk

A Dogs Digestive System- Immunity, Emotions and Microbiome

At first glance the digestive system appears to have a very simple task of taking in food, digesting it, absorbing nutrients and then excreting the waste, and while everything is in good working order, we never even give it a second thought. 

It is in fact an incredibly complex structure with a vast number of tasks to undertake. The more the gut is studied the more we realise the vital role it plays in achieving optimum health, disease prevention and stabilising our dogs emotional state.

 Digestive process

Although the teeth are needed to some extent to bite, crush and tear off food the actual process of digestion doesn`t really start until it reaches the stomach. With no digestive enzymes in the saliva to kick start it off, food needs to quickly get where the real work begins, which is in the stomach.

 Oesophagus:

Is a long muscular tube that runs down the neck, passes through the diaphragm and uses strong contractions to push food directly into the stomach.  

 Stomach:

The stomach lies at the front of the abdominal cavity, tucked just behind the liver and acts like a big mixing bowl.  

Any incoming food is first subjected to an acid bath of around ph1, this immediately gets to work breaking down protein and also killing any harmful bacteria.

The walls of the stomach are lined with a thick mucous which provides protection from the strong acid as well as stopping the stomach from literally digesting itself.

As the stomach expands with food, a peptide hormone called gastrin is released, which in turn triggers more hydrochloric acid and digestive enzyme production.

To aid digestion even further the surface of the stomach is a mass of wrinkles and folds which expand and contract to grab food particles and perform a churning or chewing like action.

At this point the thick soup like constancy of partly digested food and secretions is known as chyme.

The food has now been in the dogs stomach for anywhere between five and ten hours and its next destination is the duodenum, the first section of the small intestine.

Pancreas

The pancreas is a small gland, which sits next to the stomach and is attached to the small intestine, here it transports digestive enzymes through two excretory ducts into the duodenum.

The enzymes it produces are amylase to help digest starch , lipase to digest fats and trypsin and chymotrypsin to deal with the protein.

Enzymes are needed to break down food into tiny molecules and allow the absorption of nutrients into the cells of the intestines which then go on to be released into the bloodstream. 

It also produces and secretes the hormones insulin and glucagon that regulate blood sugar levels. The higher the concentration of sugar in the diet the more insulin is secreted into the bloodstream and the harder the pancreas has to work.

Liver

The liver is the largest gland in the body and the only organ that has the potential to regenerate after disease or injury.

Its many crucial jobs include producing bile to assist the small intestine in breaking down and absorbing fats and to process the nutrients that are absorbed by the small intestine.

Its other roles include storing vitamins and minerals, acting as a filter for toxins in the bloodstream and as a glycogen store for when extra energy is needed. 

Small intestine

The small intestine is made up of three sections, Duodenum, Jejunum (longest) and the ileum (shortest)

On receiving the nutrient rich chyme from the stomach, it is joined by secretions from the liver, gallbladder and pancreas to further assist in the digestion process.

The small intestine is lined with millions of tiny finger like projections called the Villi, these act to increase the surface area in order to trap and absorb as many nutrients as possible.

Most of the absorption of nutrients takes place in the small intestine, which are then released into the bloodstream to travel throughout the body to be utilised by the cells.

The final and shortest part of the small intestine is called the Ileum, here the food gets broken down even further in preparation to enter the cecum, the first section of the large intestine.

Large intestine :

The large intestine is made up of the cecum, colon and rectum.

Its purpose is to remove water from the faeces, keep electrolytes in balance and to prepare and temporarily store any indigestible matter for excretion.

But there is much more activity going on in the colon than just that and although not a glamorous area of interest, it does deserve our full care and attention.

The large intestine has a high concentration of bacteria referred to as the Microbiome.

Microbiome.

The microbiome is a collection of microbes made up of bacteria, viruses and fungi that we all have in our gut for efficient digestion, absorption of vital nutrients and to build a strong immune system.

Our dogs would have acquired their unique bugs from their mother at birth and developed others depending on the environment they lived in and the food they ate.

The delicate balance of the microbiome can easily be disrupted by medication such as antibiotics, periods of stress and anxiety and a poor, unsuitable diet.

When everything is in balance these good bugs work hard to extract as much nutrition as possible out of the food that is consumed and to ensure the smooth running of the whole gastrointestinal tract.  

The bacteria are also responsible for assisting in hormone production such as serotonin, which occurs in the highest concentration thorough out the lining of the gut. 

A thriving, balanced microbiome is absolutely essential for the dogs ability to resist or fight disease, control inflammation in the body and for a positive influence on their mental wellbeing.

 Rectum and anal glands.

The faeces are then ready to be expelled along with the indigestible matter and dead red blood cells that it contains. 

Ideally the dogs stool will be quite firm, which will press on the anal glands as it is passed, causing the glands to naturally empty.     

Emotions and the Gut

The gut is very sensitive to emotions, and I am sure we have all experienced the butterflies in the stomach, stomach cramps, that tight feeling in our guts or acid indigestion which can come on in a split second when we are nervous, excited, fearful or anticipating a particular event.

If this is a brief episode, it is unlikely to have any lasting health effects, if on the other hand it is a regular occurrence with little respite then the impact on the gut and therefore the health is huge.

There is a major factor in the link between gut health and emotions in the form of the enteric nervous system also referred to as the ENS.  

The ENS consists of millions of nerves lining the gut and specialists often call it the “second brain” as it has complex pathways to relay information back and forth from the gut to the brain as they interact. 

It is capable of shutting down the digestion in times of acute stress such as in a fight or flight situation. 

Stress can be caused by many factors such as separation anxiety, excessive ball throwing so the dog is on a constant adrenaline high, inappropriate exercise for the dogs age or mobility, inability to cope in a stressful household and pain, illness or disease.

Whilst these are mainly emotionally based reactions that can be witnessed as the dog exhibiting certain behaviours, a poor quality, inappropriate diet, exposure to toxins or chemicals can also cause the body stress, which may not show any visible signs immediately but develop over time into disease or outwardly noticeable changes in health and behaviour.

A gut that isn`t functioning correctly can manifest as the dog showing anxious, edgy or reactive behaviour which in turn triggers the release of stress hormones into the blood stream such as adrenalin and in the case of cortisol increase the level of glucose in the blood and will over time adversely affect the adrenal glands. 

Immunity and the Gut

The gut forms between 70 - 80% of the immune system and has a vital role in regulating immunity, protecting our bodies from invaders such as allergens and pathogens and controlling inflammation.   

The food we choose for our dogs and the lifestyle choices we make for them will have either a negative or positive effect on their overall gut health, ability to utilise the nutrients in the food they eat, the essential fuel to grow and repair their body and to thrive well into their senior years.

Caroline Hearn MICHT. Dip. ICAT MIAAT- Canine & Equine sports & holistic therapist

www.hedgerowhounds.co.uk                                       

Teaching Your Dog to Use a Car Ramp.

Teaching your dog to calmly use a ramp to get in and out of the car is time well spent.

Sooner or later owners of medium or large dogs that cannot be lifted in and out of the car will need some assistance due to old age, injury, recovery after surgery or mobility problems.

Jumping out of the boot of cars, even for fit healthy dogs puts a huge strain on their shoulders and forelimb joints, so it is a good idea to get dogs used to using a ramp early on before they are actually needed. For dogs that have to regularly jump out of a high vehicle such as a 4×4  a ramp can save a lot of wear and tear to joints and prevent future injury . This is as important for young dogs with fragile, growing joints as it is for seniors with signs of arthritis. As the saying goes “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”

Where many people encounter problems is when the dog, that has never been introduced to a ramp before is suddenly presented with it at a step angle propped up against a car bumper. Then either the dog rushes and tries to jump it or flatly refuses to go up it, they will also often launch themselves out of the car rather than calmly come down the ramp. This is particularly unhelpful if you dog is recovering from an injury or operation.

To get your dog calmly and confidentiality using a ramp it is best to go back to basics and get them to walk along the ramp while it is flat on the ground and even asking for sit half way across it. Then slightly incline one end by propping up on a step to give them the sensation of transferring weight onto their rear quarters and walking up an incline.

Whatever you use must create a firm base that does not move and wobble around when your dog walks on it.

At this point add an audible cue such as “step” as soon as the dog is about to place a paw on the ramp. For dogs that have limited or no vision this is invaluable as you can say the word all the way up and down the ramp and stop the second they reach the top or the bottom which gives them an idea of where they are and a feeling of safety. After a while they get to know how many steps it takes to get to the end.

Treats can be a great help by either sprinkling a few along the ramp or have someone at the other end of the ramp to offer encouragement and a very tasty treat as a reward.

With dogs that rush at the ramp or elderly dogs that have limited body strength I have found a harness really helpful to steady them and give a feeling of safety. One hand on the harness and the other cradling their bottom can help no end. With regards to the surface of the ramp, make sure it is sturdy and non slip with a defined raised edge.

Once the dog is totally comfortable going up and down the ramp on a flat surface followed by raising one end, progress to placing it on the bumper of the car. Use you chosen cue word as the dog approaches the ramp and encourage them to calmly climb,  tapping the ramp lightly with your fingers at first can sometimes help as can a treat placed at the end of their nose to guide them into the car.

A dog that waits as the boot is open is also going to make life easier for unloading them safely down the ramp so maybe some work is required with the wait command for the best results.

If the ramp is introduced carefully then should a time come when it is regularly needed it will be hassle free and such a help to your dog and also save any strain on your back if you have been attempting to lift them in and out of the car.

Caroline Hearn - Sports & Holistic Therapist MICHT. Dip.ICAT. MIAAT

www.hedgerowhounds.co.uk      

Top 5 Herbs for Your Dog

For centuries animals have relied upon the medicinal powers of plants to assist in the healing of many aliments. They were instinctively drawn to herbs, grasses, seeds and roots in woodland and open ground to help everything from parasite control to intestinal discomfort.

Adding fresh, homegrown herbs to your dog’s meals can provide many benefits. They offer a gentle, cleansing and balancing effect to the body, provide phytonutrients and fibre, which in turn benefit the gut bacteria and add moisture to the diet of dogs that are fed dried food.

If you can pick a few herbs then immediately prepare and add them to your dog’s food, the nutritional benefits will be at their peak. Fed like this even a little goes a long way.

The herbs and wild ingredients mentioned below can be brought as young plants, sown as seeds, or foraged for.  

Even a sunny windowsill or balcony can be used to grow a few herbs. They just need a little well drained soil, water, some sun and a bit of care to give you a huge amount back.

Here are some of my favourites, which you can enjoy yourself and share with your dog.  

Parsley

If you only have room for one herb, then parsley would be the one.

The most common varieties are curly and flat leaf, and the leaf, stem and root can be used. The flat leaf parsley is more closely related to the wild species.

It is traditionally used to support digestive and urinary tract issues and as a breath freshener. It is high in antioxidants such as beta-carotene and lycopene which help fight inflammation and used to support arthritic conditions.

Parsley is rich in vitamin A, C, B1, B2, K, calcium, riboflavin, potassium, iron, magnesium, manganese, niacin, phosphorous, fibre and chlorophyll.

Very finely chop the leaves and stalks or add into a blender with your dog’s normal vegetables. As a rough guide my Labradors would have a heaped tablespoon each, added in with their vegetables most days over the Summer.

 Thyme

Thyme has antimicrobial, expectorant and astringent qualities and can help soothe a cough or cold by loosening mucus.

Thyme has quite a strong flavour and aroma compared with the other herbs listed, so would be used a little more sparingly. This is one to introduce initially in tiny amounts to see if your dog likes the taste. They may however just enjoy the scent if you crush a few leaves and then offer your hand to sniff if they wish. The stems are generally too woody to use so just pick off a few of the tiny leaves instead.  

Dandelion

The humble dandelion is not only a friend to pollinators it is also a very good addition to our own and our dog’s diet.

The leaf has affinities with the liver, gall bladder and kidneys and act as a gentle blood cleanser, laxative and bitter tonic. Bitter tasting ingredients promote salivation which in turn improves digestion. Traditionally dandelion would be used alongside burdock root for a powerful combination.

The leaves are a rich source of vitamin A, D, K, B complex, Iron, Manganese, Phosphorous, Potassium and the flowers are a good source of Lecithin.

We can add the leaves and petals to salads or use in the same way as spinach. In spring and early summer, I pick and wash dandelion leaves and add to the dog’s vegetable blend, along with parsley, courgette, chard and a few lettuce leaves. This is all put in the blender with a tiny splash of water and whizzed to a thick smoothie consistency and makes up to 15% of the meal.

Nettle

The nettle is seen as “the enemy” to many gardeners, yet it not only provides a haven for wildlife it is also packed with nutrition and makes fantastic teas, soups, and pesto.

Rich in Iron, vitamin A, C, D and B complex, Silica, Calcium, Phosphorous, Magnesium, Beta-carotene and Potassium.

Only the tops of the nettles should be picked and used from early spring to around the end of May. As the plant matures it develops tiny crystalline particles which irritate the urinary tract and kidneys.

Nettles have natural antihistamine properties and can also be used as a coat rinse.

The process of drying or cooking the nettles neutralises their sting, although you will need gloves in order to pick them or they will definitely fight back!

Picked nettles can be dried for a couple of days on paper in the sun or if the whole stem is cut, hang upside down to dry in small bundles and just use the leaves from the tips. Once dried you can crumble them easily with your fingers.

 Fennel

Fennel is similar to dill in its appearance but has a strong aniseed scent and grows large fennel bulbs. The delicate, feathery leaves, seeds and root can be used and primarily taken to improve digestion, ease bloating, reflux, mild tummy ache and increase milk flow in nursing mothers. It is rich in vitamin C, A, calcium, iron and potassium. 

 Safety:

When harvesting any herb or wild ingredient there are a few things to consider so you can safely use them.

Firstly, it is essential to be able to accurately identify what you are picking. This can take a little time and the use of a good identification book is extremely helpful.

Always forage away from roadsides and arable crops, which will no doubt have been sprayed with chemicals or exposed to pollutants.

Caroline Hearn MICHT. Dip ICAT. MIAAT

Canine & Equine Sports & Remedial Massage and Holistic Therapist

www.hedgerowhounds.co.uk

Fascia- What is it and why is it so important?

Fascinating Fascia

 Within the therapeutic massage and bodywork industry fascia is becoming the hottest of topics and with so many discoveries as to its influence on the whole body, it is a therapy that can bring about huge benefits to those experiencing pain and loss of mobility.

Brief History:

The early discoveries of myofascial techniques started in the 1920s with connective tissue massage (CTM) developed by Elizabeth Dicke.

In the 1960s a technique called Rolfing was developed by Ida Rolfe. Rolfing seeks to re-establish vertical alignment in the body by manipulating the tissues to encourage the fascia to elongate and slide rather than to adhere.

The 1980s brought the term Myofascial Release (MFR), which was used by the therapist John Barnes. His method aimed to free any restrictions in the fascial system in order to relieve pain, restore function and mobility and to release emotional trauma.

In 2001 Thomas Myers released a book called Anatomy Trains, showing how the muscles are functionally linked in “myofascial meridians” throughout the body. This is still regarded by many therapists as the bible of myofascial work.

Dr. Pischinger book (2004) The Extracellular Matrix, is based on his 30-year study of fascia, where he states that fascia is the largest single organ in the body.    

When I started my training as a massage therapist in 2000 there was little mention of the fascial system and it was regarded as of minor importance. Thankfully it is now a recognised treatment and fast becoming very popular in treating canine and equine patients who benefit from it in just the same way as we do.

So, what is Fascia?

The fascia is the tough, fibrous, sticky connective tissue that literally holds us together.

If we were able to magically dissolve all our muscles and bones, leaving the fascia intact, we would still have a complete three-dimensional representation of our bodily form, a little like wearing a 3D mesh body suit that would show off our bad postural habits in all their glory!

All body parts are interconnected by this continuous, vast silken web like structure, and we could travel from any chosen place in the body to another without ever leaving the fascia.

Fascia envelopes each and every structure of the body, from the tiniest nerve with its own fascial sheath, all our organs, muscles and bone and even the brain. So, you can see the potential for an injury or restriction in one part of the body to greatly impact on others.

Fascia is composed of two types of fibres called elastin and collagen. Elastin has the ability to stretch and has a “memory” ie: the tissues go back to its original state after stretching. Collagen fibres give strength but have no “memory” ie: they are unable to spring back after stretching.

A key role of fascia is to enable the gliding of adjacent tissues over each other, any restriction and loss of the gliding capability will resort in pain and loss of the range of movement. The musculoskeletal system is basically a system of pulleys and levers with the muscles and fascia pulling on the bones to produce movement.

Because fascia is a continuous fibrous sheet, restrictions and pain can be referred to other parts of the body. If you can imagine fascia as wearing a loose knit jumper and pulling one corner of it down, you will see that the snag in the jumper will distort the overall shape and travel to other areas, in this case as far as the neck area of the jumper, and this is how fascia responds and reacts. If one area is tight or injured, it will have a direct influence on the tissues around it.

The fascia is the richest sensory organ in the body with 10 times more sensory nerve receptors than muscle, the brain communicates far more with fascia than it does muscles. It also holds patterns of past emotional stresses and trauma and is considered as the second nervous system.

Many people report an emotional release and initially feeling very tearful after a session of myofascial release, so it must be something to be mindful of when treating animals also, especially those that have a history of emotional stress and trauma and be aware that they may require extra support after early treatments.

Superficial fascia lies directly under the skin, and you may have noticed this slightly opaque slippery substance when preparing raw meat such as chicken or in between separate muscles on a large joint of meat, such as a leg of lamb.

The deep fascia stabilizes, supports and maintains the dog’s posture during movement and is particularly important when travelling at speed and over uneven terrain. It is essential that working or competing dogs are kept adequately hydrated as dehydration can cause the fascia to become tight and inflexible, therefore making injury more likely.  When injured, fascia can form adhesions, become inflamed and painful and with a poorer blood supply than many other tissues, this can lead to slow healing.  

With the advancement of ultrasound imaging, Langevin et al (2011) showed that patients with long term low back pain have marked thickening and less sliding capabilities of the fascia in the lumbar area, so this would also apply to our dogs.

What symptoms of fascial pain might we see in our dogs?  

Skin twitching, juddering or flinching, even with the lightest touch.

Subtle or marked changes in the coat direction such as the appearance of new swirls, waves and flicks.

Noticeable hot and cold areas on the body

Developing strange postures when lying down in order to get comfortable. This can be suddenly choosing to lay upside down or twisting in unnatural positions.

 What appears as arthritic pain but does not respond to normal pain relief for arthritis such as anti- inflammatory medication, may instead be myofascial pain.

Triggers points, which are painful areas within a muscle that can often cause pain in seemingly unrelated parts of the body. This is known as referred pain.  

Myofascial Release treatment (MFR)

Fascia displays a special characteristic called thixotrophy. This means that it has the ability to change from a solid to a more liquid gel like consistency, therefore becoming more pliable with movement and temperature. This is something a trained therapist can use to their advantage when carrying out a treatment through massage techniques, application of heat and therapeutic exercises.

Myofascial work can be deeper than the traditional therapeutic massage techniques so it is important to find a therapist that is qualified in this particular area and can adapt the treatment accordingly. This is essential if your dog has a painful medical condition, as overzealous manipulation of tissues can aggravate an existing problem. 

Caroline Hearn MICHT. Dip ICAT. MIAAT.

ADDING FRESH FOOD TO THE BOWL

 It is important to have fresh food in our diets in order to reach optimal health and the same goes for our dogs too.

There are a number of ways you can increase the nutritional value of the food you are feeding your dog. It is also an ideal way of starting to introduce fresh food if you are thinking of changing over to either a raw or home cooked diet.

Starting from the top left photo (clockwise) shows homemade Bone Broth which can be frozen in ice cube trays. It is a great source of glucosamine and chondroitin for joint health and very soothing for the gut.

The Hedgerow Hounds herbal blends are a quick and easy way to add a vast array of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fibre. They are of the highest quality and have been approved by our holistic vet. There is a blend to suit every dog and every season throughout the year. They can be fed dry, re-hydrated or as a tea. Great to use in your treat recipes or in a vegetable smoothie.

Oily fish is a real treat for some dogs but others are not so keen. If they don't like raw or lightly cooked fish then tinned mackerel or sardines will still provide a good source of Omega 3 fatty acids. Most dogs love these and they are perfect to have in the store cupboard.  

Throughout the year there are a number of wild growing ingredients you can pick for your dog such as a few dandelion leaves, cleavers, chickweed, rosehips and blackberries. These can be added to their vegetables or treat recipes. Just make sure you always know exactly what you are picking and it is from an area free of traffic pollution and agricultural sprays.   

Eggs - Either raw or very lightly cooked will provide a huge range of nutrients all in one perfect package. Talking of the shell, the inner opaque membrane can be removed and fed, providing extra nutrition for joints and ligaments.                  

If you want to add vegetables and berries to your dogs meals then a good way to do it is by making a smoothie which will assist the digestion of vegetables by breaking down the tough cellulose wall that plants naturally have. The ingredients shown are packed full of anti-oxidants for a real boost to health and the immune system. Make a tea with one of the Hedgerow Hounds herbal blends and add that to the veg before blitzing in a blender. The inclusion of pulped vegetables also adds welcome moisture to dry food.

You can set aside some vegetables when you are preparing your dinner and either blend or steam them to add to you dogs meals. Broccoli stalks, green beans, courgette, kale are all good choices rather than starchy root veg. Rotate the vegetables fed and include seasonal variations.

In Autumn you can pick your own blackberries or my dogs actually help themselves from the low branches. Freeze some for later in the year or you can add a few blueberries or raspberries for a vitamin C boost.      

Medicinal mushrooms such as Reishii, Shiitake, Chaga, Coriolus have immune bosting and anti inflammatory properties and recent studies have shown them to have positive anti- tumour benefits. If you cant find fresh then the dried versions can be re-hydrated with hot water.

Kibble, tinned and home cooked meals can be improved on by adding a few berries, soaked seeds, Hedgerow Hounds Herbal Blends and vegetables. Little changes at the speed your dog can easily adjust to is a big step in improving the health and wellbeing of our dogs.

www.hedgerowhounds.co.uk

Canine Hydrotherapy, Underwater Treadmill verses Swimming

Hydrotherapy for Dogs

What is Hydrotherapy?

Hydrotherapy is a water-based therapy that provides prescriptive exercise which is functional without being painful. It can be used as a means of supporting dogs in a non weight bearing or partially weight bearing environment to allow movements that would not be possible on land, perhaps because of weakness or injury. To facilitate rehabilitation and conditioning, hydrotherapy uses key water properties, including:

Buoyancy: reduces the weight and concussion going through the limbs and makes movement easier

Hydrostatic Pressure: increases circulation and reduces inflammation, swelling and pain

Resistance: assists in restoring muscle strength, endurance, and cardiovascular fitness

Turbulence: the movement of the water which can create a more challenging environment – ideal for fitness patients.

Specific gravity: The ratio of body weight compared to the ratio of water; this helps with buoyancy.

Temperature: The warmth of the water helps in reducing swelling, inflammation, and pain, increasing blood flow, reducing muscle tension and spasms, increasing tissue extensibility, and promoting relaxation.

Underwater Treadmill Versus Swimming

Hydrotherapy typically involves either swimming in a pool or exercising on an underwater treadmill (UWTM). Both of which can be effective for increasing strength, joint range of motion, muscular endurance, cardiovascular endurance, and flexibility as well as reducing pain and effusion, and promoting psychological well-being. The decision about whether an UWTM or pool is most suitable for your dog is an important one that should be made on a case-by-case basis by a qualified Veterinary Physiotherapist or Hydrotherapist. Here are a few reasons why we may recommend one over the other:

Advantages: Underwater Treadmill

·         Allows for earlier rehabilitation following injury or surgery

·         Ideal for gait training and speeding up gait retraining – particularly useful for neurological patients to help with gait patterning with the support of the water. Interestingly, many neurological patients walk in water before they do on land.

·         Improved balance whilst walking

·         More suitable for certain clinical conditions and injuries that require more controlled movement versus swimming.

·         Ideal for dogs that are nervous about swimming – dogs often feel more relaxed when they can touch the floor so are less likely to panic

·         More natural gait pattern

·         Joint extension is more complete compared to swimming. This can be helpful in conditions such as hip dysplasia or hip arthritis whereby limb extension is often difficult for the dog.

·         Encourages equal weight bearing

·         Functional carry over to land is often quicker

·         The water height can be adjusted to decrease/increase weight bearing and achieve movements and muscle activation that we are targeting

·         Based on Wolf’s Law, weight bearing on the UWTM may encourage increased bone strength over swimming alone.

·         Allows observation from all sides

·         We can be more hands on to aid the dog’s gait and movement patterns

·         Speed, incline, and duration can be adjusted to suit the dog

·         More targeted muscle development

Disadvantages: Underwater Treadmill

·         Can strengthen gait abnormalities if not properly corrected by the Hydrotherapist

·         Not as suitable for amputees

·         Some dogs may be unsure about the movement of the belt or being confined in a smallish space

·         The retraction of the belt may cause too much strain on certain tissues if the Hydrotherapist does not provide appropriate support

Advantages: Swimming

·         Enables the dog to be completely non weight bearing - this removes all the forces and concussion through the joints which is useful when weight bearing is painful.

·         Great for core strengthening

·         Greater cardiovascular strengthening, weight loss and increasing overall fitness

·         Potentially more suitable for amputees and dogs unable to bear any weight of their own

 Disadvantages: Swimming

·         Not suitable for fearful or nervous swimmers

·         Unsuitable for many injuries in the early stages of rehabilitation. For example, in dogs who have recently had surgery for a cranial cruciate ligament injury, swimming could place too much twisting, torque and pressure through the joint and potentially lead to further damage.

·         Not as effective for improving joint extension

·         Can cause dogs to hollow through the neck and back causing too much strain on these areas

 Most dogs will benefit greatly from hydrotherapy; however, remember it is not a stand-alone treatment and should always be combined with physiotherapy and lifestyle/environmental changes. Lastly, always get advice from your Veterinary Surgeon before taking your animal for treatment.

 Danielle Everett, PgD, BSc

Veterinary Physiotherapist & Canine Hydrotherapist

Member of NAVP, NARCH & AHPR Tel: 01932 574300 Mobile: 07824552033

Email:     physiohydro@wearecoa.com Web: www.companyofanimals.com

 Company of Animals Pet Centre

Ruxbury Farm, St Ann’s Hill Road, Chertsey, Surrey, KT16 9NL