Introducing myotherapy, a complimentary treatment for dogs and cats to put the spring back into your dogs’ step!
Sarah Curtis, one of our RVN’s, is a Registered Galen Myotherapist and uses specialised therapeutic massage techniques on pets suffering from degenerative joint disease such as osteoarthritis, hip or elbow dysplasia, cruciate disease and spondylosis. It can also be used post orthopaedic surgery as part of a rehabilitation programme, to aid healing in cases of a muscular injury or to enhance the performance of a working or athletic dog who may be doing canicross or agility.
Myotherapy can be really effective at improving the overall mobility and therefore quality of life for arthritic pets who struggle to move and exercise because joints are stiff. We all know that if we have a painful joint ourselves, we will change the way in which we walk and load that joint to ease discomfort. If a dog did this over a long period of time, the muscles surrounding the painful joint become weak and others are recruited to compensate. It is these recruited muscles that become tense and sore and the dog becomes more and more immobile or stiff and the ability to exercise, play and interact with people and dogs is effected. Weak muscles deteriorate further as they are not being used.
Myotherapy is designed to return muscle and allied tissue back to good health whereby improving joint range of motion, the ability to exercise and move and provide pain relief.
In addition to performing myotherapy, Sarah can offer advice on weight management, nutrition, supplementation, therapeutic exercise and environmental adaptations to ensure the best possible outcome for your pet.
In the first instance, if you suspect that your pet is suffering from joint disease such as osteoarthritis, it is crucial that you arrange an examination by a veterinary surgeon and then if appropriate, your vet can refer your pet to Sarah for a myotherapy assessment and a course of treatment.
If you have any queries regarding myotherapy, please feel free to talk to one of our vets or talk to Sarah directly at our Stubbington branch on 01329 667551 or go to www.caninetherapy.co.uk for more information regarding myotherapy.
