MANAGING YOUR HOUND'S ARTHRITIS during PET ARTHRITIS AWARENESS MONTH️
May is Pet Arthritis Awareness Month - a greyt reminder to evaluate your home set-up, your hound's diet, length of nails, taking your hound for their annual vet check and booking a remedial canine massage. Mary-Anne Smith from Greyt Touch Canine Massage shares these top tips to help keep your hound comfortable during these colder months:
1. What food & supplements are you feeding your senior hound?
Evaluate your hound's diet and portion size. Avoid food/ treats that create inflammation and keep excess weight off their arthritic joints.
2. Clickety-clack… How long are your hound’s nails?
Long nails are painful and force your hound to alter their gait, exacerbating their arthritis in their toes, wrists (carpus), elbows and shoulders. If you can hear your dog’s nails clicking on the floor when they walk, trim them ASAP.
3. How much is too much exercise?
Be cautious of excessively long walks. Two 15-minute walks a day are far more beneficial and manageable than an hour’s walk once a day.
4. Do you use a harness?
Avoid harnesses that impede your dog’s range of motion – these will create shoulder issues, changes in gait patterns and exacerbate your dog’s arthritis.
The Y-shaped harness available from the Greyt Stuff allows free range of movement. Click here to view our collection of Ruffwear harnesses
5. Keep your hounds snug and warm
Sit on the floor with them for 10-15min, do you feel an icy draft? Pop a towel or draft stopper along your doors to minimise icy drafts and elevate their beds a few centimetres off the floor, or provide a cot mattress for comfort and support.
6. Raise food and water bowls
This will help alleviate pressure in arthritic shoulders, elbows, wrists and neck.
7. Non-slip mats
Place these on laminated and tiled floors to prevent your hounds from slipping (yoga mats are great!)
8. Book a regular canine massage and red light therapy session
Complementary therapies are safe, non-invasive and work hand-in-hand supporting your hounds regular vet care. The benefits of massage and PBM Red Light Therapy include:
- Reduces anxiety
- Eases arthritis
- Reduces inflammation & pain
- Improves circulation
- Boosts immune system
- Supports injury and post-surgery recovery
Greyt Touch Canine Massage is fundraising during May - $10 from every 1hr massage booked in May is donated to GAP to help support the foster hounds awaiting their furever homes. Treat your hound to a well deserved massage - mobile in-home service is available in Auckland, as well as remedial massage sessions available at Kiwi Vet Behaviour (Ellerslie), Pet Doctors West Harbour vet clinic (Hobsonville) and Pets in the City (Wairau & Silverdale, North Shore) on dedicated days. To book, email: info@greytresults.co.nz or call Mary-Anne on 021 256 5868.
For more information check out www.GreytResults.co.nz ** If you have any concerns about the health of your animals, please always seek advice and a diagnosis from your veterinarian. Only a licensed veterinarian can diagnose a health condition or disease