World Health Day

In anticipation of World Health Day on April 7th, I wanted to share some thoughts on how physiotherapy can benefit your dog at all stages of its life.. Ultimately leading to a longer and happier partnership for both you and your canine companion.

We often think physiotherapy is only necessary when your dog’s health has declined, but it can also play a key role in injury prevention.

1. Puppies – Understanding how puppies physically develop is crucial. Puppies’ bones are soft and can be easily be damaged, while neurological development can affect their coordination. Tailoring exercises to improve coordination and support the development of their growing bodies and brains can reduce the risk of injury later in life.

2. Adolescence – This is a challenging time for many dog owners, typically starting between 6-9 months and continuing until around 1-2 years of age. Your dog may still be growing, and their bones may not have fully hardened. As the skeleton grows, the muscles may not have caught up, increasing the risk of injury to ligaments. During this period sex hormones like oestrogen and testosterone are vital for brain and body development. Throughout this stage, exercises should focus on balance and strengthening to support healthy growth.

3. Adulthood – We know that maintaining and developing good muscle strength, flexibility, and cardiovascular health in humans will benefit us in our senior years. The same applies to dogs— ensuring they stay strong and flexible in adulthood and ultimately maintaining their best condition for a full and healthy life.

4. Senior Years – In this stage it’s important to maintain your dog’s mobility and range of motion. Other conditions may develop that affect their muscles and movement, so physiotherapy can help keep them comfortable and mobile.

5. Post-Surgery Rehabilitation – Physiotherapy is most well-known for post-surgery rehabilitation, and it is crucial to include it in

your dog’s recovery plan. Proper rehabilitation helps prevent complications and supports the healing process.

6. Neurological Rehabilitation – This can be necessary after surgery or for non-surgical cases. For any neurological condition, rehabilitation is more effective the quicker it starts, often beginning with sensory exercises to support recovery.

7. Other Medical Conditions – Many medical conditions can affect a dog’s muscle health. Conditions such as Cushing’s disease, Addison’s disease, hypothyroidism, or long-term steroid use can all impact muscle function. While physiotherapy won’t treat the primary condition, it can help prevent muscle loss and wastage. I hope you’ve found my thoughts interesting and informative, as you can see your physiotherapist can support every aspect of your dog’s health and wellbeing. Wishing you and your companions a very happy World Health Day! and remember its what you do everyday that matters.