Easy DIY Dog Arthritis Massage at Home - Marc Smith DVM
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- Опубліковано 25 вер 2014
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DOG ARTHRITIS MASSAGE by Dr. Marc Smith,
Hello ladies and gentlemen! I'm Dr. Marc Smith of Natchez Trace Veterinary Services in Nashville and Franklin, Tennessee, and also the creator of VetCareLibrary.com, a new, all-encompassing website that answers and gives you up-to-date information on any pet healthcare question or topic that you may have.
Today I am here to talk to you about massage for dog arthritis. I get questions all the time "Dr. Smith, how can I help my dog at home with arthritis?" What can I do to alleviate his pain?"
Besides giving a medication that I instruct and tell people to use, and following the techniques I tell people to use, another thing you can do is massage your dog.
Today Becki and I are going to teach you and show you some tips on the best way to alleviate your dog's pain through massage.
All right, meet Stella. Stella is not the prototype that you will be performing the massage on, because Stella is a young dog. However, she is very laid back and she's a great dog to illustrate our point of how to massage your dog.
The first place we are going to focus on is the stifle. The stifle is otherwise known as the knee in the dog. You can see Becki's hands, she's right in the area of the stifle.
The stifle is a common place for arthritis because of cranial cruciate rupture or ACL tears in the dog. Becki is performing a variety of techniques. She is using her fingers to massage the muscles and joints, and now she is using her knuckles to apply pressure over a wider area. She can also use her palm, and Becki can also take that joint through it's full range of motion by flexing and extending the area.
Now occasionally, kind of like Stella--she doesn't like that--and that's OK. So what we do in those situations is that we take the joint right to the point where it hurts and we hold it there. Hold it for 10 seconds, and let it sit there.
What that does is breaks down a lot of the adhesions that form, either from a surgery, from arthritis, from trauma to the leg, or from any other reason that the leg is not utilized and used and extended and flexed through its full range of motion.
So that is the stifle region. The next region we are going to go to is the hip.
The hip is a unique joint in the dog. Becki, show us where the hip is. OK, there's the hip, right in that area. The hip is the place where the femur,which is the long bone of your thigh, attaches to the pelvis). This is kind of a socket joint, where there is a ball that sits in a socket, kind of like where a light bulb sits in a light fixture.
And so there's a couple of different ways to massage this joint. As you'll see Becki doing right now, she is actually using her fingers to massage the whole area of the hip. See it going around and around and around. She's also using her palm to apply pressure evenly over the area.
The hip is unique because it's a joint that moves in 360 degrees. She's now taking that hip through it's full range of motion, and every once in a while this will cause dogs... they'll resent this. Especially an older dog that has hip arthritis. But this is good because it keeps the muscle supple, it keeps the muscles going through their range of motion, and it helps to strengthen the muscles and ultimately alleviate pain.
Now she can do that in that direction, or she can take it and do it in the other direction. She can also do it by flexing it and extending the stifle at the same time. Now this is a little bit more vigorous exercise and can cause more pain or objection, but it's a good exercise to keep that leg rolling and to keep that leg moving, and to hopefully eliminate pain through massage.
The next area we are going to move on to is the back. Becki, can you show us where the back is? The back, if you feel down the center of your dog's back, you will feel some small, little protuberances or little points, and those are the dorsal spinus process of the vertebral bodies. On each side of those little points are two muscles, and lots of times those muscles will get tight, they'll get painful they'll get inflamed when a dog has back arthritis.
So we can actually massage those two areas, and right now Becki is running down the length of those two muscles, putting pressure--about as much pressure you would put if you were trying to draw a line in the sand, let's say, with your fingers.
Read the rest at www.franklintnvet.com - Домашні улюбленці та дикі тварини
That has to be the most calm pup I've ever seen.
She sure is!
14 year old cocker spaniel. He’s limping and has a hard time getting up. His back right leg is really weak and crackly. It’s hard watching him struggle but he’s accepting of the massages I’ve been giving him and I’m glad that I can help in someway
Glad to hear the massages are working.
You can maybe do most of it with a puppy, but a dog with Arthritis pulling and circling the joints... not this way. It is extremely painful and can cause huge damage. People need to understand that they have to start slowly with even massaging the dog, and it is important to do warm up of the muscles first and after you have warmed up the muscles well, you can do direct pressure. The pressure should definitely be light on painful areas. You also want to get your arthritic dog used to be being massaged first and build up slowly. I always cringe when i see these videos, i know the intention of this video is to help, but we really need to make sure that people that have absolutely no experience in massage and bodywork don't go following the video and pulling joints out of place. The whole point is to help the dog and help his pain, rather than causing more especially with these rough joint pulling and circling... and i don't believe that in anytime during these types of treatments dogs need to be in pain.
+Awesome4108: 100% agree. I am certified in canine therapeutic massage (sounds as though you are as well) and this was pretty intense and aggressive treatment in this video. Definitely not anything I would suggest an owner to try to take on, on their own especially without a true understanding of canine anatomy, etc. There are some very basic techniques and massage sequences that can be done at home, safely, to help with inflammation and to help encourage circulation/increased mobility that are light and healing for the dog. Plus I would never suggest doing any sort of massage on a dog with rings on.
+Stephanie Nelson Thank you for your caring comment. I am from France and I am looking for serious canine therapeutic massage schools. Even in England. Would you be ok to give me some names ? TX !
Hi Kheglen, ONCORE offer a 2 week online module giving you an intro to physio in the geriatric patient, and we cover effleurage and petrissage techniques as part of that. Tutored by a veterinary physiotherapist. More info here: www.oncoreepd.co.uk/Veterinary-Physiotherapy-An-introduction_A1YN0N.aspx?nh=231739
Stephanie Nelson hi Stephanie, could I get in touch with you please? I want to massage my 8 years old Doberman girl who seems to have muscular pain in her lumbar spine region. I thought this was quite rough so I would like to see how better to do it. Pretty please.
Awesome4108 I give my dogs Movoflex. They respond to it very well. I just rub my dogs with some pressure.
I give the following supplements to my dog who has an arthritic hip: glucosamine, fish oil, collagen, Serrapeptase, and hemp oil. I also give fresh chicken and beef (including chicken broth and beef broth) with his food. I pray over his hip too.
I found it strangely relaxing to watch this pup get a massage and the vet's voice was nice to listen too as well.
Unintentional ASMR😊
I just tried this massage on my dog and he falls asleep like a baby 🥰 gave us a really wonderful time together, thank you!!!
today I found out that my 7yrs and a half dog got beginning of arthritis in his right leg and I can't even believe till now the poor old chap's pain and the future pain to come. this video was very helpful. thank you so much
Wow. I was doing it as I was watching it and my dog changed drastically. He was whining from pain and now he stopped completely. Thank you for this video
How's your dog now..
@@abhisheksoni5582 dead
@@Dido_Gamer800 sorry to hear that.
@@abhisheksoni5582 its been 10 month now we have another dog
I just did this to my 13 old lab with arthritis. She loved it, especially the hip area.
God bless you for making this video! The most comprehensive and instructive that I've seen to help my dog with her arthritis. Thank you!!
aww you could not have picked a better dog to demonstrate! what a good temperament. i'll try these with my lab and hope she doesn't get mad at me!
I hope people following these instructions will keep in mind that it is indeed VERY possible to hurt a dog with massage like this IF you're not paying attention to what they have to say about it. With my 15 yrs experience as a bodyworker, I'd say the massage seen here is better for prevention than for treatment of arthritis. Many arthritic dogs will have more harm than good done by applying these techniques AS APPLIED in this demo. HOW any technique is applied, and how it is adapted/adjusted for each individual's needs, is generally much more important than exactly which technique or another you're choosing. I did prefer, and tried, to send a private message via your website, but fyi my computer blocked it as "an attack" page, blocked by my computer's security settings.
Thanks, great point. My dog suffers from arthritis in rear legs, I would agree with u that u have to be very gentle if it's advanced and even avoid this technique in the vid. but gentle rubbing/ massaging of the joint can be done, I wouldn't risk yanking the joint in circular motions like in this vid.
Im so glad you said this. I just commented myself. I've been a bodyworker & watched this hoping to gain more tips bc we never stop learning. But dear lord this could cause severe damage to joints & tissue. I honestly feel like any video showing techniques on a dog needs to have huge disclaimers (older dogs = this, younger= that) & as rule of thumb to show ppl light strokes. It's just too risky to try & ensure ppl are following precautions correctly
@@MelissaJoyArtistry You arent helping. Its clear hes not hurting the dog, why dont you go away if you take issue with others helping out. Idk whats wrong with some of you people. Always gotta say something.
@@jonathansoko1085
It's clear he is not hurting this dog, but our Senior dog has lost a lot of muscle mass due to age and if I rotated her hips like that I could do serious damage,
Massage is not one size fits all, they need to be tailored and adjusted for each individual dogs needs
Lovely video! My sweet and old dog has arthritis and is in severe pain sometimes. It's nice to see how I can massage her better, so I can try and help her out more. Thanks
My dog enjoyed that! Thank you!
What a gorgeous chilled puppa 🥰
So clear and thorough! Thanks so much.
Awesome video thank you for the valuable information. My doggy will appreciate it!
Thanks for helping me understand this condition.
Thank you for your video watched it several times to try to understand where and how to apply the massage the more you look the more you see, My boxer has arthritus and was feeling down, she over did it yesterday playing with younger dogs. She was struggling to get up from laying down. Massaged her and an instant transformation, watched each area in detail and applied the techniques, more improvement. Next thing she brings her toys to me to play with her what a difference. This will be part of her routine before and a few hours after a walk from now on. We limit her walks now but she has only just learnt to socialise at 8 years old (We have had her 2 years). Didn't have the heart nor want to discourage her from what she has missed for 8 years yesterday, we worked so hard to get her socialised only for her to be too old to enjoy it. I felt guilty that she was in pain today, but feel better that I could take that pain away. Finding the balance of what she can manage will come but this is now there to help her.
I hope Stella got lots of treats after her A+ performance. She was such a good girl!
Thank you so much for this video
This video helped so much! could you do a separate video of one for knee & hips massages? I also found that my dog objected to most of these exercises, i was only massaging very gently aswell. Thanks very much!
Thank you so much Dr Smith. This was just what I was searching for. By the way I really like your accent.
Thanks so much for your wonderful video.
Very Grateful, thanks for making this video. It would be nice if our pets didn't get this condition when they got older, but now I understand it better.
My dog Zac has recently had Cruciate surgery about 3 weeks ago. I have been given advise to massage, and walk him but never shown how. His back left leg has withered , something I now believe I can reverse. I have also seen your video on Rehabilitation for Cruciate surgery. Now I believe he will recover. His Miniscus was damaged also. Thank you from Zac in Australia.
This is very timely ...thank you so much my dog is suffering now frm arthritis
Now i will try this massage to my Rusty
Thank you so much🙏😀
I love this video, it’s so helpful
Thank you so much .
Thank you!
Thank you!! Kirsten!!
Use pot
Very helpful!
This was very easy to follow.
super information! the dog was clearly going off into Lala Land she enjoyed it so much!
Thank you so much for sharing, doctor. I tried this on my 9 year old Yorkshire terrier and she seems to really like it
Thanks!!
Your videos are wonderful!
Best one I have seen on arthritis massaging for a dog. That little pup although only there for show was in heaven LOL
Merci beaucoup
Thank you
That puppy was like 😴😴😴. Thanks for the video...my pit had elbow arthritis. She was put on Rymadil 3 weeks ago, but still has severe limp on that leg. Going to try the massage.
Thank y
My dog thanks you!
Thanks so much
You're welcome!
Excellent job
Thanks!
I have been giving my pomchi leg/back massages for years! I had no idea it helped. My fur bb loves them so much the moment I start on her leg she stretches it super far out and loves it.
I've noticed she limps sometimes after long walks, she is 10 with cushings, Enlarged heart and CHF. I was just looking up how to help and found this video. I will deff try adding in the stretches with the massages, anything to help. Thank you for this video.
Happy to help!
Thank you!!!
You're welcome!
Great video! Do you think itd be ok to use vibrating massager, hot and/or cold packs on a senior dog(almost 16)?
Macy chasey doesn't want to chase anymore. Now has new nickname Granny May. Thank u for video very helpful.
What a lucky pup! ❤
It's so relaxing for the dog.
I did the full thing on my uncles dog and he really seemed to like it
Nice dog❤️❤️❤️
What's your opinion on electrical massagers for dogs,
If we give massage using viberation massage machine will that be helpful in case of spine arthritis dog
Anything for paws please?! 🙏❤️
This is bit aggressive compared to what I learned in my classes. The arthritic dog would have to be warmed up more before taking him through such extensive range of motion exercises. If you're demonstrating arthritis massage use a arthritic dog to better demonstrate technique. Also I would use a towel between the limbs to keep the limb more parallel to the floor during the massage decreasing strain on an arthritic joints.
Nice Video!!
You know!!! In the most countries the dogs are mostly used for the racing and the winner gets the heavy price. Therefore, this the dream of the every owner of a dog to win the price. They pay very high prices to the Dog’s experts to train their dogs, but they don’t know that the joint pain is the worst enemy for this purpose, but I found the miracle solution from the site ow.ly/FpmnG for this purpose. Thanks!!
Hello my dog is 16 years old and she can put pressure on her right hind leg however she still wants to go out for a walk! How many times a week should I do this massage and should I still take her out for her walk 3 times a day? She does her business at home on the wee wee pad all she does outside is smell.
Could you please do a demonstration on a dog with arthritis so I can get a better idea on how to do this especially the hip area I would love to try this but worried I'm going to cause more pain to my chocolate labrador.
Do. You give regular. Fish. Oil over the counter and. How. Much please for. .my CHIWAWAH for. Weak .back .legs. 11 years old ,this. Is the best video i have. Ever seen .THANK .YOU .DR. ❤❤❤❤😊🐾🐾🐾🐾
So glad you like this video. It's an oldie, but a goodie! I hope the massage helps your Chihuahua have a larger range of motion. Regarding fish oil type and dosage, it is best to check in with your regular vet. He/She will know your pet's history, weight, lifestyle, etc.
Its every informative I am worried that I will inflict pain or induced arm at my dog Labrador who had injury (major /knee, scarfs etc) any advice ?
Try using a warm compress to relax the muscles before the massage, then use less pressure and go slow. Watch for your dog's response and take breaks as necessary.
my dog is nine years old and she in a pretty good shape, she runs and jumps like a puppy, even though i give hef massages as frequently as I can
my dog has arthritis in her shoulder , you demonstrate how to massage it but you didn't say for how long. can you please tell me , thanks
Wonderful information and informative techniques. I will definetly utilize this. Thank you! Yeah, but the rings gotta go. I can just imagine my massage therapy teachers in the lounge goin to town with jokes and crititiques on this one.
Why ? How do the rings affect ? Please elaborate. Thank you 🙏🏾
Thanks, this helps me with my older dog that has severe muscle tightening.
You are welcome!
came for the massage techniques
stayed for the QTs
I just want to tell you thank you and I've read a couple of these articles on here people need to know and I'm sure they're not stupid that you can massage softly and I feel like I just did exactly what he did and the girl did on here and my dog is 13 and he enjoyed it do you know the best supplement for my dog with arthritis in his legs he's 13 I appreciate your time
Thank you Maryann. We are happy to hear that our videos are informative. We recommend this supplement for arthritic dogs, tcvmpet.com/products/pet-tao-harmonize-joint-html?variant=14813870784561. It is PET | TAO Harmonize Joint Supplement tablets.
That is the best dog ever 🤣
OMG my dog has anxiety so he got so happy he licked me to death after I tried this video lol
my dog he is 8 and the past 2 days he has been mopey and walking with less pep in his step his back is hunching a bit more than usual I hear cracking most of the time when he gets up
i prefer natural how much fish oil should i give a 55 pound pit bull? any natural things I can give my dog...
Your technician is massaging with her rings on?!!! How valuable your information can be, if you as DVM are so clumsy in your training?!
+thedeathofbirth 07 get lost freak
My dog is a 9yr old Terrier Mix, but people always think he’s way younger. I’ve noticed occasionally, when he first gets up after a long sleep, his back legs sometimes almost buckle if he tries to run up a big flight of stairs right away. Is this good to start doing just for preventative measures?
I’ve also started him on “green lipped mussel” powder in his food daily.
I love green lippid mussel supplement. Be careful of source.
Anyway, a morning massage is always a great way to start the day with your dog. Started on day one with my pup and is now 10. Great for health, bonding and mood booster.
YAY SAVE THE DOGS
can you do this if your not sure if dog cud hurt leg from like jumping of furniture? 2 yrs ago i was told arthritis. tht. it setting in hips
Sure! Should be no problem.
What if the legs a frozen cuz of arthritis and u cant do the motions
that puppy was marvelous! ;-)
you are massaging a cute sleeping puppy
how long and how often should you do this?
Hi Leslie, thanks for writing! The frequency of massages for a dog with arthritis depends on the severity of the condition and the dog's individual needs. It's always best to to talk with your veterinarina before starting any massage program for your dog. Your vet can give you specific areas to focus on to help your dog more, too.
That being said, gentle massage techniques are great for dogs with arthritis, and it's generally recommended to perform massages on a regular basis to help alleviate discomfort, improve circulation, and reduce inflammation.
For mild arthritis, once or twice a week may be sufficient, while for more severe cases, daily massages may be necessary. However, it's important to pay attention to your dog's body language and adjust the frequency of massages accordingly. If your dog seems uncomfortable or shows signs of pain during or after the massage, reduce the frequency or intensity of the massages, and consult with your vet for further guidance.
It's also important to note that massage should be used in combination with other forms of treatment, such as medication and physical therapy, as part of a comprehensive care plan for dogs with arthritis. Best of luck with helping your dog feel better! And I'd love to hear your results as you continue with massage on your dog.
Ok I have a big old dog with hip arthritis...I'm kinda scared to do the hip rotation on him...yikes.
My 10 year old Chihuahua also has hip dysplasia. Will any massaging bother that?it doesn't really seem to affect him much,but I wanted to ask anyway
Thanks for writing! With small dogs like Chihuahuas, it's crucial to ensure you are very gentle with your massage. Massage will help! Gentle massage techniques focusing on the affected area can help alleviate discomfort, improve circulation, and reduce inflammation. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:
- Start with slow, gentle strokes around the hip and thigh muscles, gradually increasing pressure as your dog becomes more comfortable with the touch.
- Use circular motions with your fingertips, applying gentle pressure to stimulate blood flow to the area.
- Avoid applying direct pressure to the hip joint, as this can cause pain and discomfort.
- Pay attention to your dog's body language and stop if they show discomfort or pain.
I hope your dog feels better! And I'd love to hear the results you get from this technique.
I want Stella!!!
I have a 16-year-old shih Tzu that has bad arthritis and I know that there's no way I could pull and rotate on her joints like that. I could see it causing some major damage. I definitely appreciate the video and realize the intent was good But it was way too rough in my opinion... I hope some people understand they need to assess their own dogs condition before doing something like this. .. 😳
This video's demo is totally unsuitable for an elderly, arthritic dog. Far too aggressive.
And you got your medical degree where?
Marc smith how often should I be massaging my girl, she's 12 yrs old I can tell she starting to have trouble squatting to pee, and some days has trouble going upstairs???
Hey Anthony, you can massage her whenever you want. Start with the knees and hips. once or twice weekly would also help.
Aware this video is 9 years old but in case you are still checking comments: What would be the best timing to do this? In the morning when they get up? In the evening before sleep? Before a walk? After the walk? As a break in the middle of the day after they have been sedentary for a few hours? ...
In the morning after they wake up (this is when they are most stiff due to laying down all night) and then at night (to promote a comfortable, restful sleep). Either/or/or both would benefit a dog suffering from arthritis.
@@MarcSmithveterinarian Brilliant, thanks so much! There is so very little on what owners can do at home to help their dogs feel better, and most vets where I am go straight to pills, injections, supplements and various expensive long term treatments and therapies, but don't have much to offer in the way of simple advice for daily management and care. Extremely appreciative of your video and your prompt response.
@@SmirkyWaters You're welcome. I hope your dog gets relief from this. Follow us on FB, IG, and LI for more pet healthcare tips.
Learn to help your old dog feel better with Dog Arthritis Massage
Marc Smith Great informative video! I have a 14-16 year old Shepard/Lab mix with very bad arthritis in his hind legs. I also give him liquid glucosamine to try and help ease his joint pain but I'm not sure if it's working. Can you recommend a product that is good for a very senior dog with arthritis?
This is great technique as far as her massage stroke..but her other hand not keeping leg in straight plane is soooo bad. The area she's holding & how it's being held along with area she's pushing will surely cause strain to the joints. She's young so it's more tolerable, but this would be detrimental to older dog. I reccomend lifting legto be parallel to floor & supporting enough that when pressure is applied it stays parallel to other leg
Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right. -Henry Ford
Please, don't do this on a arthritic dog! Massage is a wonderful technique for dogs, but.... not this painful way. I totally agree with the carefully comment by Awesome4108 bellow.
TY from www.PoshDogKneeBrace.com - we will use these techniques on our beloved 13 YO Golden, Pasha
Seriously, Dr. Smith really needs to revise this so people will not harm their dogs!!! It’s a great idea but if I did this to my elderly arthritic dog she would end up in the hospital! Too much - WAY TOO MUCH manipulation for a dog who is already in pain. And the rings? C’mon you guys.. really? Let’s update this video!
Your Kevin James and Chris Pratt mixed
This makes me nervous. The average person can’t figure how to use a kiask to order a sandwich, I don’t think this info will be handled correctly
what is that dog breed!
you look like the yelolowstone guy lol
That does not seem gently...
He is helping this dog. What are you doing for it?
+Walou3 If it wasn't gentile and hurt the dog, the dog would have yelped
*gentle
I think it painful 😣
Use pot
Just like massaging humans, take off your jewelry.
I thought arthritis was a contraindication