Dog Arthritis Therapy Part 2: Basics in Weight-Bearing Exercises

Dog arthritis causes pain in the joints, which makes it very difficult for your pet to move. When your dog becomes immobile, this will lead to other ailments. That is why it is important find ways to keep your pet active. Of course, this will not be a simple task. Nonetheless, with the correct application of dog physical therapy and arthritis pain exercises for dogs, your pet’s arthritis symptoms may be reduced and recovery from an invasive surgical treatment can be both improved and shortened.

There are two main objectives in dog arthritis treatment. First, symptoms such as pain and inflammation must be lowered. Second, muscle atrophy must be prevented. In the first stages of the treatment, massage and passive flexibility exercises are utilized. 

When your dog is able to stand and walk without much difficulty, you may want to help him along by utilizing weight-bearing exercises. As with any dog physical therapy and dog arthritis remedies you need to be mindful not to overdo these exercises as it can undermine the recovery of your dog. Listed below are great examples of weight-bearing activities:

• Platform feeding. This aims in strengthening the muscles in the hind legs.
• Assisted standing and walking is a fun way to strengthen your dog’s hind legs. Hold up your dog’s front limbs and dance away.
• Aversion techniques. Attach weights to one of your dog’s legs. The animal will naturally try to fling the weight off. Add heavier weights as your dog gets stronger.
• Manual unloading. You raise your dogs opposite or diagonal leg. This places more weight on the leg that needs to heal
• Therapy ball exercises. Either the front or back legs are supported on a therapy ball so the legs on the ground get to carry the majority of your dog’s body weight.
• Treadmill. A good activity and you can control the speed.
• Water therapy. The water provides the needed resistance at the same time the buoyancy helps to reduce the load on the legs

These routines are effective ways of increasing the weight-bearing capacity of your dog’s limbs.  They also aid in the improvement of your dog’s muscle strength, limb function, joint range of motion, as well as coordination.

Under the guidance of your vet or a licensed dog therapist, you can carry out these exercises correctly. With that, you are reducing the pain related to dog arthritis and having a considerable positive effect for both you and your dogs physical and psychological wellbeing.

Weight-Bearing Exercises (PDF)