Muscle therapy provides relief from pain and discomfort. It is a natural treatment option to improve mobility without drugs or surgery.
Every dog is a candidate for muscular injuries. Dogs may injure themselves doing everyday activities such as slipping, sliding and playing. But those at special risk include :
1. ACTIVE PUPPIES
Puppies often play roughly. They have delicate bones and soft muscles that injure easily. Regular muscle therapy sessions will detect any muscular imbalances. Don’t wait until your puppy shows obvious signs of lameness. Instead attend to any muscular issues before they cause a permanent imbalance.
2. ARTHRITIC DOGS AND DOGS WITH HIP & ELBOW DYSPLASIA
About 80 percent of a joint’s protection comes from the stabilizing muscles around it. It is thus imperative that your dog’s muscles are in good condition. This will help support the degeneration and inflammation in their joints. Unfortunately modern science has yet to come up with a cure for arthritis and dysplastic joints. By targeting the stiff muscles that place pressure on joints, muscle therapy can provide relief from pain and discomfort.
3. ATHLETIC DOGS COMPETING IN CANINE SPORTS
The bodies of dogs in competitive sports must function at peak level like an elite human athlete. Tune-ups and conditioning exercises will help keep their bodies fit and less prone to injuries.
Warming up the muscles before competition will optimise a dog's performance. This increases blood supply to tissues which help the muscles perform at peak levels. Pre-event warm-ups with massages and heat therapy are effective for this purpose.
4. SENIOR DOGS
Without the ability to move around, exercise and explore the world , the quality of your dog’s life suffers. By monitoring their mobility through regular muscular therapy it will reduce pain and discomfort.
5. POST-PARTUM BITCHES (Bitches who recently whelped a litter)
After whelping a litter, bitches often suffer from altered posture, weak core muscles and shortened muscles. During this period, physical and hormonal changes often affect their musculoskeletal system. Muscle therapy and conditioning will whip that post-puppy body back into shape and help her return to competition faster.
6. OBESE DOGS
Many obese dogs suffer from joint pain and muscle injuries. Weight loss will reduce pressure on their joints. And conditioning exercises to build stronger muscles will stabilize and protect those joints. It can be a vicious cycle because if they are in pain they won't exercise. Help your obese dogs lose weight by combining low-impact exercises and a strict diet with pain management. There are many pain relief options available such as acupuncture and muscular therapy.
7. WEEKEND WARRIORS
These are dogs who engage in bursts of sporting activities on weekends despite minimal physical activity during the week. So weekend warriors may not be in the best physical shape. Engaging in intermittent strenuous activity can increase their risk of injury. Muscle sprains and strains are common injuries in weekend warriors. To prevent this, it’s important to exercise your dogs regularly. Muscles and soft tissues need gradual conditioning to perform at their best.