As your dog matures, the repetitive, normal daily movements of walking, running and playing start to take its toll on the body in turn affecting the muscles and joints which reduces mobility and flexibility. As these changes happen gradually over a period of time and as dogs will instinctively hide any aches and pains from us, we as owners tend not to notice them at first until one day we see that they are struggling with the usual activities of daily living (ADL’s) which can be seen as;
- Walking or running slower
- Reluctance to go for a walk
- General grumpiness, especially with other dogs
- Difficulty jumping in and out of the car or conquering stairs
- Difficulty settling
- Pain & Stiffness
- Going off their food
- Arthritis
- An increase in NSAID’s
Once we notice these changes we are able to adjust these activities of daily living such as taking our dog for a shorter walk or lifting them in and out of the car. Some breeds will have obvious genetic influences which limit life expectancy but every dog is different and sometimes we can opt for an alternative method to improve the ageing process. One of these methods is massage and in exactly the same way it benefits us humans physically and mentally, it is also very beneficial to your dog throughout its life as an effective way to prevent injury, but particularly as it gets older to maintain its health in ways such as;
- Improving blood and lymph circulation to the muscles, by manipulating the soft tissue and blood vessels. As the muscles are worked on and areas of tension are released, the blood vessels are able to circulate blood more freely, thereby enhancing the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the muscles whilst removing toxins from the body.
- Improving flexibility, as muscle fibres are stretched, increasing the elasticity of the muscle, allowing the body to move more freely. You will notice this change in your dog’s gait.
- Bringing about a feeling of deep relaxation and calm to your dog due to the releases of endorphins (neurotransmitters). Stress hormones such as Cortisol or Adrenaline are greatly reduced improving your dog’s general well being, so he may appear happier and livelier with a new zest for life.
- Taut bands of muscle fibres known as ‘knots’ can develop in the body due to muscles remaining in a state of contraction through overuse or injury, hindering flexibility and motion. Massage relaxes these tight muscles, releasing tension, spasms and discomfort, which in turn improves movement and flexibility. Compressed nerves will be released, which aids the transmission of messages to the brain, assisting with the function of the muscles and organs.
- Massage is beneficial to treat old or pre existing injuries and orthopaedic conditions such as Arthritis. The muscles protecting an arthritic joint come under considerable stress as they work much harder than usual to protect the joint. Pressure builds up and the muscles will shorten, tighten and stiffen to protect the joint, greatly impeding its flexibility and movement. Massage will effectively lengthen and loosen the muscles, allowing the joint to move more freely, improving the pain and discomfort.
A dog is classed as senior from around the age of 9. Often an owner will make the mistake of waiting too long to address the issue, so if you wish to help your dog you should ensure that you make the necessary adjustments to their activities of daily living and if you are willing to, seek alternative methods such as massage as soon as you notice any of these changes to assist with the ageing process.
In the case of Poppy a 10 year old Jack Russell X, her owners told me she had slowed down considerably and they had reached the stage of carrying her upstairs at night as she was no longer able to climb the stairs herself. After just one massage therapy session they told me that Poppy seemed like a new dog, running around full of energy with a new lease of life. By the end of three sessions she was able to climb the stairs quite happily unaided. This is just one of many success stories involving senior dogs who are lucky enough to have owners willing to go that extra mile to provide their dog with improved comfort in their senior years.
