Swim Caps and Broken Toes

This is Woobie — a Bearded Collie/Tibetan Terrier Rescue

She’s a very active girl. She loves to go hiking, she loves to play in the snow, roll around on the beach, and yes, she’s even been known to hang out with me (and my buddy, Rubin) from time to time.

As you can see, she’s lived a very full and enriched life and I’m glad to call her my friend. So when Woobie fractured her toe, I was sad to hear the news and I worried that Woobie’s active life would be painfully curtailed. You may not know this, but when we can’t go on our daily adventures like we normally do, we can get depressed. I feared Woobie might be feeling depressed and a bit bored in her recovery.

That’s when I suggested to her owners that perhaps Woobie would benefit from some swimming and massage. They were all for it and Woobie, who loves swimming, was thrilled!

Woobie’s coat, as you can tell, is long and silky. To help her relax in the pool, she donned our version of a swim cap and walked right into the pool.

“Awwwww,” I heard her sigh, “This is wonderful! Exactly what I need!”

Swimming at Wellsprings K9 is not only a great way to provide non-weight-bearing exercise for dogs who are recovering from injury and/or surgery, but the warm water is an excellent way to help relieve stress and tension from muscles that are over-compensating for the injury.

In Woobie’s case, she must wear a brace on her injured front leg to allow the bones to set properly and give the broken toe time to heal and repair. In addition to the brace, she receives physical therapy and ultrasound treatments at her vet’s office as well as doing daily exercise to help with range of motion.Unfortunately though, her long walks with her family and morning runs by the lake are on hold until the toe heals. As you can imagine, this bums Woobie out.

“I feel as if my life has been put on hold,” Woobie told me. “I’m becoming a couch potato and that’s just not me!”

Swim and massage therapy complement Woobies work with the vet and physical therapist as it provides Woobie with great cardiovascular exercise (she LOVES swimming, I might add), warms up those stiff and sore muscles increasing her range of motion, and relieves tension in the compensatory muscles that are working over time. Furthermore, it helps rebuild atrophied muscles that are, unfortunately, not being used during her recovery.

And most importantly, she can relax and enjoy not only the warm water swimming, but also the therapeutic massage and stretching provided by our licensed massage therapists (in this case, my Mom!) — all a great way to lift her spirits, aid in her healing process, and make her see the light at the end of this long recovery tunnel.

If your dog needs exercise, relief, or recovery from an injury or surgery…or even if you know your dog is feeling a bit down because the weather or human commitments have made it difficult for you to provide them with consistent daily adventures… consider swimming her/him at Wellsprings K9 this winter. Or as Woobie would say, “It’s the life! Every dog should have a chance to swim and get massaged at Wellsprings K9!”

Have a great weekend,

Paige the Doberman

Ouch! The Pain of an Injured Cranial Cruciate Ligament

Written by Paige the Wellsprings K9 Doberman

At Wellsprings K9 one of the most common injuries (and post-surgeries) we see is to a dog’s knee. Cranial Cruciate Ligament (or CCL) injuries are the most frequent orthopedic injuries in dogs

and while some dogs may have a greater risk of tearing the ligament (due to size, weight, genetics, or activities), damage to the CCL is kind of an equal opportunity injury. In other words, we’ve worked with dogs as small as a Pomeranian and as large a Wolfhound with torn or ruptured CCL.

Knees (whether canine or human) are internally stabilized by two ligaments that cross and form a X. In humans, the ligaments are called Anterior Cruciate Ligaments (ACL) and if you watch any human sporting events, you know that ACL tears are also extremely common.

In dogs, the knee is known as the stifle and the ligaments are called CCL. When it tears, the same results happen for canines and humans – OUCH! – A painful and unstable knee/stifle.

Dogs who come to our pool more than likely come because they are either trying to avoid surgery for a CCL injury or recovering from CCL surgery. It’s so common in fact I thought it would be a good idea to explain a bit more about such injuries in my blog.

Acute vs. Chronic

Some CCL injuries happen quickly, while others develop over time. Acute injuries, for example, develop because of sudden trauma – like jumping up to catch a ball or stepping in a hole – an action that causes hyperextension or improper rotation of the knee.

Chronic injuries, on the other hand, are associated with disease, degenerative issues, obesity, and a dog’s conformation (how a dog’s legs are positioned to the rest of his/her body). Over time, the CCL weakens or wears down from overuse, misalignment or gradual deterioration as the dog ages or the disease progresses.

As I’ve stated above, it doesn’t matter the breed, age, size, or genetic predisposition of your dog – ANY DOG CAN INJURE THEIR KNEE. True, certain breeds are at a higher risk for CCL injuries (Newfoundlands, Labradors, and Rottweilers to name a few) and overweight dogs increase their chances of knee damage as well, but if your dog is active, they can injure their knee – playing fetch, participating in agility competitions, herding sheep, or romping in the snow.

Which means that preventing such an injury is a top priority, but how?

Weight management is important. Keep your dog trim. A heavy dog puts more strain on the knee and even five extra pounds can put unneeded pressure in the wrong place.

Next, don’t overwork your dog especially a young dog. Your dog isn’t finished developing (depending on your breed of dog) until they are approximately 12 to18 months old. Therefore, if you ask your dog to go with you on your five-mile run or participate in an athletic activity like herding or agility before her/his bones and joints have fully matured and developed, you’ve increased the risk of knee injury (among other conditions) in your dog. Think of it this way, would you ask your 5 year old child to run 10 miles or hike up a 4,000 foot mountain? Hopefully not, so you shouldn’t ask your dog (no matter

how willing s/he may seem) to do the same.

If your dog is older or suffers from degenerative conditions you can do things to help reduce the stress on the knee like provide ramps so your dog doesn’t jump up or down from the car or the couch or your bed, and limit (if not cease) games that increase your dog’s vulnerability like fetch or any activity that requires sudden twists, turns, or jumping.

Of course, one of the best activities for all dogs – old, young, active or sedentary – is swimming and swimming in a warm water environment is ideal since it warms up the muscles and provides great non-weight bearing, low-impact, and cardiovascular exercise. But I’ll come back to this topic in a moment.

“I think my dog may have hurt his knee,” you say, “How do I know for sure?”

The Cranial Cruciate Ligament is kind of like a rubber band that helps keep the femur bone from pressing into the tibia bone – it “stretches” them apart. When it tears or ruptures, those two bones come in contact and the sliding nature of the stifle is lost making for a very painful joint.

Whether acute or chronic, dogs will vary in the severity of their symptoms. For instance, a completely torn CCL might show as a slight limp in one dog while cause another dog to not bear any weight on the effected leg at all. Still, there are some signs to watch for:

• Decreased or limited range of motion and/or mobility
• Crepitus in the stifle join – a crunching noise of bones rubbing together
• The effected limb extending out when the dog sits
• Signs of pain when the knee is touched
• Stiffness, limping or unwillingness to use the leg during or after exercise
• The knee feels warm or hot and/or swollen to the touch
• Thick, tight, hard, and/or firm feel to the knee
• Unbalanced stance – bearing weight only on the tip of the toe or shifting the weight to the good leg

And of course, if you suspect that your dog has injured his/her knee, see your vet for a full assessment to make certain.

There are many surgical and non-surgical options available to help a dog with a CCL injury. We encourage you to do your research on all the options available to figure out what’s best for your dog and his/her condition as well as talking with your vet.

Non-Surgical or Conservative Management includes:

• Rest, supplements, anti-inflammatories, homeopathy, herbal medicine, nutritional supplements, and weight control
• Physical therapy, acupuncture/acupressue, osteopathy, chiropractic treatments, and massage (and yes, swimming!)

Surgical Options (with links attached to each explaining the procedure):

• Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy (TPLO)
• Tibial Tuberosity Advancement (TTA)
•  Lateral Suture Stabilization which includes Tightrope or Traditional procedures
• Triple Tibial Osteotomy (TTO)

It’s important to remember that surgeries will vary in both their invasiveness and rehabilitation time. Thoroughly discuss all aspects of each surgery with your vet so you fully understand the extent of the impact on you and your dog.

Where does swimming and massage fit into all of this?

Warm water offers a perfect way to work the leg without putting undue stress on the stifle whether you choose a non-surgical or surgical option. In fact, if you choose a surgical option, swimming your dog pre-surgery is a great way to help maintain muscle tone and strength, and limit the amount of atrophy they will experience during recovery.

Massage and passive range of motion (PROM) stretches help relieve the compensation stress felt in the rest of the body especially the “good” leg, which is now bearing more-than-normal weight. Research suggests that dogs who suffer a CCL injury on one leg are 50-70% more likely to suffer a similarly injury within 18 months to the other, healthy leg. Massage and swim therapy can help relieve this stress and tension and hopefully prevent a similar injury occurring in the other leg.

Exercise without impact is another benefit of warm water therapy.  If you choose a non-surgical route for your dog’s knee injury, land exercise will be curtailed. Swimming is a great way to maintain cardiovascular fitness and muscle strength as well as burn off energy especially in younger dogs.

Swim and massage therapy can also:

• Maintain an optimum body weight
• Support reeducation (or use) of the effected limb
  

  Buddy's swim and massage sessions at Wellsprings K9 help him enjoy his beloved beach adventures!

• Reduce swelling and inflammation
• Provide relief for developing arthritis
• Relieve muscle tension
• Increase mobility
• Offer pre-surgery support and post-operative recovery
• Oh and most importantly, provide a fun and safe way to exercise!

We sure hope your dog never suffers from an injury to his/her knee, but if they do our licensed swim and massage therapists are here to help. Give us a call (206-935-8299) or email us (info@wellspringsk9.com) to set up an assessment and appointment.

Here are some links that you might find helpful:

http://www.ehow.com/way_5185297_dog-acl-rehabilitation-exercises.html#ixzz1cxHFowLx

http://dogkneeinjury.com/cruciate-ligament-injury-in-dogs/

http://www.pethealth101.com/Working_dogs/WorkingKnee.shtml

http://dogkneeinjury.com/category/owner-experiences/dog-knee-alternative-treatment/

http://dogkneeinjury.com/category/video/

 

 

Winter Swimming

The temperatures are getting cold outside and since we live in the Northwest, the rain makes walking the dog a wet endeavor. Lots of dogs come to Wellsprings K9 for winter exercise. Here are but a few…

Buddy the Lab Mix

During the summer, Buddy had knee surgery. He started swimming to help him recover muscle tone and use of his injured leg, but now swims to burn off energy! He’s a powerful swimmer, but thinks massage is about the best way to spend his time in the pool!

 

Abby the Golden Retriever

Abby has been coming to Wellsprings K9 for many years. She suffers from hip dysplasia, but finds relief in the warm waters of our pool and from the relaxing massage.

Buddy the Dachshund

Buddy is a senior citizen and is therefore wise enough to know that time in the pool with therapist Emily is exactly how he wants to spend an hour on a cold, blustery day.

Roxy the Labrador Retriever

Ironically, when Roxy first came to Wellsprings K9 she didn’t like swimming. Now you can’t stop her! She walks right into the pool and fetches her toy like a pro!

Phoenix the Doberman Pincher

Phoenix recently underwent neck surgery and swims at the pool to help him rebuild muscle strength and relieve muscle tension through massage and gentle passive range of motion stretches.

If your dog needs some winter relief please contact us. We’d love to provide your dog with the swim and massage therapy s/he desires. Call us today at 206-935-8299 or contact us via email at info@wellspringsk9.com!

 

Atrophy: Building Strong Muscles Through Swimming and Massage

 

Many of the dogs who come to swim at Wellsprings K9 suffer from muscle atrophy. Often owners will ask, “How long will it take to rebuild my dog’s muscles?” This is a difficult question to answer, but as a well-read Doberman, I’m going to do my best to answer it.

First, you need to know that atrophy (or muscle wasting) is the loss of muscle tissue and is categorized by the Maryland Medical Center in two different ways – Disuse and Neurogenic. Disuse atrophy is pretty self-explanatory as it describes the loss of muscle tissue because the muscles are not used. It has many causes, but the end result is that the dog refuses to use the effected limb.

For instance, Rosie the Boxer was hit by a car in her first year of life and while the surgeons at the Washington State School of Veterinarian Medicine did a great job reconstructing her leg, she doesn’t use her right rear leg as much as she would if it hadn’t been injured. Now at six years old, with the onset of arthritis in the effected limb and years of limited use of her leg, the atrophy is evident.

Saber’s (the Labrador) atrophy, on the other hand, is a result of the early onset of hip dysplasia caused by congenital malformation. Hip dysplasia is caused by a loose fit of the hip bone in its socket. According to the American College of Veterinary Surgeons, hip dysplasia is a result of “…the abnormal motion of the hip stretching the fibrous joint capsule and ligament connecting the head of the femur to the pelvis, producing pain and lameness.  The acetabulum (the hip socket) is easily deformed by continual movement of the femoral head.  Micro fractures of the acetabular bone may occur, causing further pain and lameness in the immature dog.”

Hip dysplasia results in crippling lameness and painful arthritis of the joints and while much can be done to slow down the progression of the condition, it is degenerative and irreversible. While Saber is still in the early stages of hip dysplasia, he will often not use his left rear leg as he would if he didn’t suffer from dysplasia.

While atrophy from disuse can have many causes (injury, degenerative conditions, surgery, age, etc.), neurogenic atrophy is caused by nerve damage. The nerves can be damaged for many reasons (even some of the same reasons that cause disuse atrophy) and nerve damage can also cause disuse, but the damage to the nerve is the root cause of neurogenic muscle wasting.

Henry the Dachshund is an example of neurogenic atrophy. After a spinal injury, the nerves in his back were so damaged that Henry lost complete use of his rear legs. Again, the nerve damage made it so that Henry could not use his back legs and as a result the disuse resulted in atrophy.

In all of these cases, muscle atrophy results. But here’s the tricky part: While a dog may have muscle atrophy evident two weeks after surgery, for example, the time it will take to rebuild the muscle tissue will take much longer than two weeks. Some research shows that for every one day of non-use, it takes three days of use to compensate. Therefore, if a dog doesn’t use her back leg for two weeks (14 days) it will take six weeks (or 42 days) of use to see the muscle mass increase. To complicate matters even more, if a post-operative dog was in top muscle tone before surgery then muscle mass returns more quickly as the muscle memory is more readily available. But if the post-operative dog had poor tone prior to surgery, then it will take even longer to build muscle after surgery or injury. What took two weeks to atrophy may take three months to rebuild.

Wow! That’s a long time indeed, but luckily there are things you can do to help your dog build his muscles. It’s important to remember, though that the underlying cause of atrophy will determine the rate and possibilities of recovery. But all things being equal, muscle can rebuild through exercise, massage, stretching, and diet.

Leashed walks can be beneficial but it’s important to walk slowly making certain that the effected limb is used. Dogs have a tendency to just pick up the limb since three legs work just as well as four in our minds. This is why swimming is so beneficial. Most dogs, even dogs who don’t use their limb much on land, will use it or begin to use it in the water. Exercise increases circulation and atrophied muscles need blood flow to help in the rebuilding process so non-weight-bearing exercise such as swimming is a great way to encourage your dog to engage those muscles!

When a limb is not used, stiffness and poor range of motion result. When muscles are injured or inactive, scar tissue forms that can severely limit flexibility. Massage and gentle range of motion

exercises are extremely beneficial because it not only increases the blood flow to the muscles, but it offers a safe way to stretch the muscle, remove stagnant waste products, and break down scar tissue, which in turn, increases flexibility.

In addition, the warm water of the pool and the motion of swimming loosens up the muscles and can improve range of motion and flexibility especially in conjunction with skilled massage. As the muscles loosen and range of motion increases, muscles will begin to rebuild. From what I’ve seen in our clients from my perch in the backyard is that at first, there might be increased use of the leg, but the muscles don’t show improved bulk or mass. Then as the dog uses the leg more and more through gentle exercise on land and weekly swim and massage sessions, there’s marked improvement after about 8-10 weeks.

Diet is also a key component in muscle atrophy recovery. Your veterinarian can discuss options with you to help your dog build strong muscles with a nutrition plan. In combination with exercise and massage, specific diets can supply the raw materials needed to help muscle tissue regenerate.

 

Of course, all of this depends on the cause of the muscle atrophy. Henry, for example, still has limited use of his rear legs but weekly swimming and massage have kept his back legs much stronger than they would have been if he’d done nothing. He can now push himself up and stand on all four legs and while it’s taken a lot of hard work on his part and a lot of dedication by his family, Henry’s atrophied muscles have really benefitted from his time at Wellsprings K9.

Saber, too, is showing improvement in that his hasn’t lost anymore muscle mass, he’s using his effected limb more, and has more pain-free days than he did before he started swim and massage therapy at Wellsprings K9. While his hip dysplasia cannot be cured, he’s receiving everything he needs (massage, exercise, and nutrition) to help him remain active, mobile and as pain-free for as long as possible.

Same with Rosie. While she will never regain all that’s she’s lost, the quality of her life has greatly improved because she is receiving low-impact cardio-vascular exercise as well as stretching and massage to help keep her limber and mobile as she ages.

So, how long does it take to rebuild muscles? Not to sound like a trite Doberman the truthful answer is – it depends. All the factors we’ve discussed above determine the rate at which your dog will regain muscle mass as well as use of the effected limb(s). The bottom line though is that swimming and massage can help with muscle atrophy. If you have any questions about this topic or any other concern, please give us a call (206-935-8299) or email us (info@wellspringsk9.com) and we’ll be more than happy to answer your questions and start an exercise and massage plan for your dog.

Not Just Old Dogs

Written by Paige, the resident Doberman of Wellsprings K9

It’s pretty clear that how humans are structured and how dogs are structured is very different. We’re quadrupeds, walking on all fours. Our spines are horizontal and not vertical. We walk on our toes, not our feet. We have tails (or the memories of them). Yes, we’re different, but we’re also a lot alike. One of the ways we are alike is that our anatomies (bones, joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and surrounding tissues) can suffer from a number of injuries, ailments, and degenerative conditions causing us both discomfort, pain, and a lack of mobility.

Arthritis is inflammation of one or more joints, which results in pain, stiffness, swelling, and limited movement, and because of our anatomical similarities, effects both humans and canines. There are many types of arthritis and while the symptoms can vary with each, arthritis makes it painful and difficult for dogs (and humans) to do all the activities they like to do. Symptoms to watch for are stiffness while walking or post exercise, difficulty rising, and pain or discomfort at various times throughout the day.

Though we might think of arthritis as a condition that only effects older dogs (and humans), it’s important to know that your puppy, and all ages in between, can be as equally afflicted as your senior dog. It’s also important to know that, unfortunately, just as with humans, arthritis has no cure and therefore medical treatment focuses on providing comfort, relieving pain, and slowing down the degenerative process.  In extreme cases, however, surgery can be performed to remove the damaged bone and surrounding joint tissue. Sometimes just the damaged part of the bone and tissue is removed, as in a femoral head osteotomy (FHO) leaving the surrounding healthy tissue to act as a joint. Other times an artificial joint replacement is performed, which involves cutting off the damaged bone and fashioning a new articulation with the new artificial joint.

If you are concerned that your dog may be suffering from arthritis, the first step will be to contact your regular veterinarian for a check up. Your veterinarian may take x-rays and/or refer you to an orthopedic vet for a consult. If you want to learn more about arthritis, there are many resources available online as well. The resources vary from very traditional approaches to more holistic methods. Whichever route you choose, consulting with your veterinarian can provide you with a number of options.

One option veterinarians will pursue is to prescribe pain medications, anti-inflammatories, herbal or homeopathic remedies, acupuncture, massage, and/or swimming (depending on their approach). There are many good articles available on all methodologies and we invite you to read more about them. Here are two helpful articles on the various approaches — holistic and traditional — and each provides a good description of symptoms to watch for as well as explanations of what is happening medically to a dog with arthritis.

“Stop the Pain! Arthritis and Your Animal Friend” by Lena McCullough DVM (located in West Seattle)

“Medications for Degenerative Arthritis” by Wendy Brooks DVM (located in Los Angles, California)

Another option will be reviewing your dog’s diet. While the quality of food is important, a veterinarian can also recommend vitamin and mineral supplements to keep your dog healthy and slow down the degenerative process. There are a lot of good books out there as well as on-line articles reviewing supplements that are important for all dogs not just those with arthritic conditions.

When a dog is overweight it can also put a lot more stress on already painfully inflamed joints so keeping your dog at a healthy weight will be imperative. Again, diet is key in helping your dog stay fit and trim and understanding all the information on the labels of different foods will take time, but is worth the effort. Your vet will also have information you can read to help you figure out the best food for your pooch.

Make certain your dog has somewhere supportive and comfortable to rest or sleep on. Frankly, I prefer my mom’s tempur-pedic bed, but your favorite pet store will have orthopedic and tempur-pedic beds made especially for dogs. Again, there are a variety of choices for comfortable beds that can help reduce discomfort from stiff, painful joints and bones and the surrounding tissues involved.

Your veterinarian will also talk with you about your dog’s exercise routines. Longer walks can put more strain on arthritic joints and in turn, cause more pain and inflammation. Shorter walks throughout the day versus one long walk a day can reduce the strain and therefore reduce the pain associated with arthritis. Activities such as playing fetch or tug-of-war may no longer be options and since keeping your dog at an optimum weight will be important, finding a low-impact exercise routine will be helpful.

This is why swimming (combined with massage) is an excellent option because it can benefit an arthritic dog in many ways. Supervised swimming offers non-weight-bearing exercise, allows the dog relief from joint discomfort while being buoyant in the warm water, and the hydrostatic pressure supports stiff joints providing needed relief from the constant discomfort of arthritis.

Both massage and supervised swimming help increase range of motion and improve circulation, reduce inflammation and muscle tension, and help alleviate overall stress. In addition, monitored swim sessions can keep your dog in cardiovascular and muscular shape — something she or he may not be able to do with shorter, less frequent exercise sessions. And as I can tell you from experience, a well-exercised dog is a happy dog who is less likely to feel depressed (also something both humans and canines can experience).

At Wellsprings K9 we like to say that “IT’S MORE THAN JUST SWIMMING…” because we offer focused exercise and massage plans that not only help maintain a dog’s overall health and well-being, but also provide needed therapy for those of who suffer from ailments like arthritis. If you are concerned that arthritis may be the case with your dog, we invite you to contact us to discuss massage and swim therapy options though we encourage you to consult with your preferred veterinarian before pursuing any exercise or therapy plan.

Yes, we may walk on all fours with our tails (whatever length they are) wagging our emotions, we’re really a lot like our human companions — when we hurt, we want relief. Unfortunately, unlike humans, we’re not very good at dialing the phone to make an appointment at Wellsprings K9.

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