If your dog has arthritis, they do not need to suffer! Canine arthritis is a painful, debilitating condition, but it can be treated. At East Valley Animal Hospital, we offer physical therapy for dogs with arthritis to help reduce chronic pain and improve their quality of life. Starting in December, we will be adding water treadmill therapy services as well. If your dog has arthritis, keep reading to learn more about how physical therapy can help.
Arthritis Treatments for Dogs
Treating canine arthritis starts at home, but you’ll need some help from a veterinary specialist as well. Together, a healthy lifestyle and rehabilitation treatments will help relieve the pain and prevent your dog’s condition from growing worse.
There are three main types of arthritis treatments:
- Lifestyle: nutrition and exercise to relieve inflammation and maintain a healthy weight
- Prescriptions: anti-inflammatory medications, vitamin supplements, and topical lotions with CBD
- Physical Therapy: rehabilitation treatments to ease pain and increase range of movement
How does physical therapy help treat arthritis in dogs?
Physical therapy helps ease the pain of chronic joint diseases, improves mobility, and makes walking easier. Rehabilitation specialists can treat canine arthritis with hot and cold therapy, massage, stretching, and therapeutic exercises. They can also use techniques like ultrasound, laser therapy, and hydrotherapy, according to the specific needs of the affected dog.
Hydrotherapy—swimming or walking on a water treadmill in a heated pool—is one of the best arthritis treatments for dogs. The warmth of the water relaxes tense joints and muscles, allows for deeper stretching, and eases aches and pains. Because the water takes most of the weight off of a dog’s legs, it also allows for easier movement and stress-free exercise.
Get Treatment for Canine Arthritis in Gilbert, Arizona
If your dog suffers from arthritis, they don’t have to live in pain! East Valley Animal Hospital offers a variety of treatments, including physical therapy for dogs with arthritis. Our canine rehabilitation specialists will work together with you to develop a personalized pain management plan. If you are interested in learning more about how physical therapy can help your dog, give us a call at 480-568-2462.
Photo by Jairo Alzate on Unsplash used with permission under the Creative Commons license for commercial use 11/15/2021.