Timeline Photos😲 Did you know that boredom is really bad for pain?!
Human patients living with diseases like arthritis that cause chronic pain are encouraged to take up a hobby because doing something you enjoy can distract you from feeling pain and also release endorphins, which can temporarily damped pain signals. 👍
The same is true for our dogs!
A lot of older dogs may be left to sit at home in their bed with little to occupy them and this boredom leads to feeling more pain!! 😢
Something as simple as an enrichment or feeding toy can make a big difference to these dogs.
Check out a few ideas we have for canine enrichment here: bit.ly/2AFWDKS ... See MoreSee Less
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Laser is one of the modalities I offer in my treatments𝗟𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗽𝘆 𝗮𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗲𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗲𝘀, because it:
🔸 Relieves pain
🔸 Reduces inflammation
🔸 Increases micro-circulation
➡️ And therefore accelerates healing.
𝗟𝗲𝘁’𝘀 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗶𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀!
The effect of laser radiation on tissues is called photobiomodulation. In translation - photons (light) activate a chain of biochemical responses in target cells, stimulating tissue cell activity and improving cell metabolism!
Laser therapy helps reduce inflammation and edema by reducing certain inflammatory markers and activating moderate vasodilatation ➡️ which will increase tissue repair and aid in pain management!
Local analgesic effect is achieved both by reduced edema and neural pain-inhibition.
𝗜𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗳𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗼𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵:
🔸 A state that requires boost in regeneration, healing and pain relief (after injury, surgery): wounds, muscle strains, joint sprains (ligament injuries), tendon injuries, as well as in bone healing (fractures, surgical interventions, etc)
🔸Chronic pain due to degenerative joint diseases (arthritis), muscle contractures, back pain
🔸Reduced neural activity in neurologic cases (intervertebral disc disease, nerve damages, etc)
But we use it often also after manual therapy in healthy sporting dogs! We especially like to apply it to trigger points and areas of increased muscle tensions to accelerate regeneration after our work. And our clients really enjoy their laser session, too! 🙂 🐾
#klasercubevetperformance30
Semos
K-Laser ... See MoreSee Less
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A guide when to use cold and heat𝗪𝗔𝗥𝗠 🔥 𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗢𝗟𝗗 ❄️𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀?
☀️ 𝗛𝗼𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 is indicated when dealing with chronic degenerative diseases such as arthritis and spondylosis. It is also useful when muscle tension is present as well as before massage and therapeutic exercises. Heat increases blood circulation, extensibility of fibrous tissue, reduces muscle tension, increases nerve conduction velocity and slightly reduces pain.
Using heat packs is most common with duration of 15-20 minutes, and can be used 2-3 times a day.
☃️ When dealing with acute inflammation, open wounds and other trauma, arthritis flare ups and postoperative care, the 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 comes in use. Cold will cause constriction of blood vessels, decrease cell metabolism, reduce pain as a result of slower nerve conduction and decreased production of pain mediators. Cold packs or ice packs (these need to be wrapped in a towel) can be applied for 10-20 minutes, 2-3 times a day. ... See MoreSee Less
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🐾🧥 D O G C O A T S 🧥🐾
Silly? Sensible? Scientific?
Look at the photo below..... what do you see? (besides five gorgeous cocker spaniels!)
Do you see silliness? Do you see sense? Do you see science?
I have been pondering different attitudes to 'dog clothes' after seeing some frankly brutal personal attacks on people querying about their use and others admitting to using them. There seems to be a camp that believes anyone using them is 'babying' their dog and using something not needed...... well, it got me thinking....why do I use them?
🤓 The silly.......
They are cute. I love my dogs and acknowledge the bond I have with them as their caregiver (anthrozoologically speaking, I consider them more than a working tool, but not child substitutes - on an attachment scale). I enjoy getting them nice things - their fleece 'jumpers' here are cute and make me smile 😊
🤓 The sensible........
We have just been out walking and #canicrossing. We got caught in a huge downpour and were ALL soaked and filthy by the time we got home. I was shivering, they were shivering and we were going into my house. Now, I'm certainly NOT the most house proud person ever (!) but I don't want even more cleaning to do! The sensible part of 'dog clothes' means they dry off and warm up wearing these and not all over my walls/floors etc. For my older girl Molly, I'm aware I don't want her (or indeed any of them!) sitting cold, especially as that is less than ideal for muscles and joints that have been warm from exercise. Sensible is looking after them physically and permitting appropriate "warming down" (as well as "warming up"!)
🤓 The science.....
Shivering is a sign that the body is expending energy to maintain a constant body temperature. This is a great mechanism to keep the body in safe limits. Shivering is what happens below the 'Thermoneutral Zone (TNZ)' - this zone is the temperatures at which an animal doesn't expend energy to keep warm (by shivering) or to cool down (by sweating or panting). By popping coats on (especially as one of mine has a very fine coat and basically NO protection) I help them limit the need to shiver and expend energy on keeping warm. Instead, that energy can be used for repair, regeneration and recovery - cost effective too 😉. Interestingly, the TNZ is much broader for animals who are mature, healthy and acclimatised. Young, old, ill or poorly acclimated animals have much more restricted TNZs - worth remembering.
In the horse world, the use of 'rugs' is standard (but granted, not always necessary). After exercise they are especially important - do you remember the tale in 'Black Beauty' where the groom didn't put a rug on after a mercy dash and Black Beauty sweated up?
Dog 'coats' have a place - sometimes silly, sometimes sensible, sometimes scientific. Quick to dismiss and critique their use might need thought too 😉
Your thoughts and experiences??
Please share too! ... See MoreSee Less
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