Dogs can experience soreness, discomfort, pain etc at any age, just like us. Young dogs can have’growing pains’ as their body develops. Dogs can have sore areas from banging into furniture, during play or simply jumping off the sofa repeatedly causing strains etc.
There are so many ways now that we can offer relief for our dogs and even speed up the recovery without being invasive. Vet visits can still be important to pinpoint an ongoing issue or if there is obvious pain or injury, but having ways to help our dogs avoid discomfort or recover from overdoing things holistically can help with maintenance.
I’ve put together a wealth of information to help your dog thrive based on my own research and use of Holistic Treatments and Therapies!!
I’m a big believer in ‘multi modal approaches’, which just means I use various therapies and ways to help my dogs rather then just one. So if my dog is in discomfort, stiff, in pain, recovering from injury etc I won’t just stick with one way to help. Instead I’ll look for multiple ways that compliment each other and work together for better results.
Utilise holistic and alternative therapies for health and comfort: Here are some of the more popular types of holistic treatment or therapy which include some of my preferences too. Please note this list does not contain every available therapy or treatment and it’s worth checking what’s available near you.
Holistic Treatments:
Hands on or off: Galen Myotherapy, Canine Flow / Spirals, TTouch – all are gentle and soothing ways to provide calm overall and reduce discomfort for dogs. This is through natural flow, calming energy, touch where needed / accepted and more. Practitioners in these areas will have had relevant training and assessments to be able to be considered a practitioner. You can also learn many of these to do yourself which can be a lovely way to spend time with your dog.
Canine massage – Massage with a qualified practitioner can increase mobility and movement, reduce pain and discomfort, and promote improved resting which in turn helps the body’s natural healing processes. There are different levels of Massage Therapy so look for recommendations from dog owners with dogs who have similar needs to your dog.
Photobiomodulation: Using red light and infra-red light therapy these devices target specific areas to promote natural healing, reduce pain and inflammation, speed up recovery and more. There are devices that owners can use at home so you can continue to give your dog pain relief between official sessions. I am certified in this and use a handheld Photizo device, the Photizo Mat, the HeaLED Jandheld Pad and the HeaLED Jacket but there are many types available. Please note they are not all the same and different prices equate to different strengths and frequencies. Some devices may need one dose a day while lower frequencies may require two or three doses a day for affect.
Acupuncture: Acupuncture is done by a trained Therapist and doesn’t hurt the dog typically. However it’s worth noting that when a needle is placed in an area that is sore a dog may notice that the area of the body that is tender is being touched and so can cause an initial response. The needles are kept in place for several minutes then removed. Acupuncture helps pain relief and healing through clearing the energy flow within the body, reducing nerve activity that creates pain signals and helps towards the release of endorphins.
Hydrotherapy / Underwater Treadmill: Water therapies help with reducing pressure on the body while promoting strengthening, movement & relieving some discomfort. There are hydrotherapy practitioners who understand the needs of each dog, then there are dog pools for fitness but not for recovery etc and won’t have the same level of experience or knowledge so do bear this in mind; a dog pool often isn’t the temperature needed to help healing, the exercises dogs do in a dog pool will not be tailored to each dog’s health needs but are more for having some fun in water.
Likewise taking your dog swimming in the sea or streams can be great exercise and enrichment but won’t be helping the body recover and heal from injury or illness the way a trained hydrotherapist in a temperature controlled pool or treadmill can. You’ll need a vet referral to book your dog into Hydrotherapy which involves a vet check and asking for referral during the consult.
Physiotherapy / Chiropractic Work: This is always started via vet referral so if you want to start this with your dog you’ll need a vet appointment to check your dog, confirm with you that your dog may benefit and then the referral goes through. Your dog will receive specific support and exercises to practise to gain mobility, proprioception & comfort after a thorough examination – being checked by a pain specialist like a physio is much more in depth than a general wellness check at the vets. Physiotherapists and Chiropractors will check over the body for subtle signs of discomfort, tenderness, the body reactions to touch and also look at where the primary cause is, not just treat the physical symptom.
For example a dog may present with an on/off limp on the front left leg. Vet checks but can’t find the issue as when checking the leg the dog doesn’t yelp, pull away etc. Physio checked the whole body, knowing that there’s often going to be an issue elsewhere causing the dog to compensate. So the dog with the front left leg limp might actually have an issue with their rear right leg and to avoid putting weight on it and making it sore they transfer the weight to the front left, which after time causes muscle fatigue in the front, strains on the front, more weight on the front etc.
PEMF / Magnetic Therapy: Known as pulsating electrical magnetic therapy, using a PEMF device can target a bigger area in less time than some therapies. Helping pain relief and natural healing. You can use these devices at home but it’s definitely worth starting with a practitioner to learn what is needed before going down the home route.
Indiba Therapy: Radiofrequency energy stimulating healing and reducing inflammation. Promotes tissue repair, reduces pain and increases deep blood flow. This is a machine that you’ll need to take your dog to rather than have it brought to the home and treatments can show benefits in a few minutes.
Holistic Pain Relief / Recovery Aids:
Back On Track Coats / Mats: This range contains a special ceramic infused material to aid healing and are popular for sports dogs as well as older dogs. They have coats, jackets, mats and more so you can choose what you feel your dog will prefer. They can be used after activity, after you suspect a dog has done too much or has an injury or just to offer in case your dog needs it.
Streamz Collars: Different to traditional magnetic collars, Streamz Collars promote natural healing by the dog’s body and are recommended to be worn overnight while the dog is sleeping and utilise the body’s natural healing processes. I have a Streamz ankle cuff for humans and I honestly know in the morning if I forgot to put it on overnight as my hips are so sore!
Healing: Non invasive therapies providing calm and relaxation plus promoting healing and well being. These can include Reiki, Rahanni and more. Often can be done without needing to touch the dog or even be close up which means the healing can be used for dogs who are nervous of people.
Conditioning: Conditioning work involves tailored movements and exercises that build muscle to support the body, aid recovery after exercise and prevent injuries. Conditioning work helps dogs to be stronger, more body aware, more confident and have less injuries or accidents as well as finding some pain or discomfort can reduce or go completely such as joint issues due to the stronger muscles etc supporting the body better.
Holistic – Oral:
CBD Oil – Using CBD can help with pain or discomfort as well as any underlying anxiety or worry. There are various types of CBD but more commonly seen for dogs are drops. Giving this up to 2-3 times a day can show you a new lease on life from your dog. Look at Simply CBD for their info on choosing the right CBD and more. Please note CBD is not a miracle cure, it is legal in U.K. and won’t get your dog ‘high’ but can promote better comfort as well as helping many symptoms seen in illness.
Supplements – we have a separate supplement blog if you’d like to read it!
Supplements Blog
Zeel Tablets – one of several holistic style pain relief tablets and there are a few others that are worth researching. Zeel for dogs unfortunately isn’t easy to get hold of in the UK but it’s worth looking into and there is a human version in UK with slightly different ingredients. Zeel provides pain relief for several hours via tablet and can help alongside other treatments to management discomfort.
Relief liquid – relieves stiffness – I haven’t used this for a dog but it was given to me and the information all sounds very productive. I have it ready to add to Merlin’s food if I feel he needs it.
Merlin Example (13 1/2 at time of writing) currently has:
💟 Photizo red light therapy on targeted areas when needed for healing and pain relief
💟 Acupuncture, PEMF, Underwater Treadmill and sometimes Indiba therapy all at the same place once a month at @svrc_suffolk
💟 Conditioning at least 4 times a week with me to help him stay strong
💟 Rahanni Healing here and there – not as often as I perhaps should!
💟 Massage after a busy day by me, taught to me by the lovely Sarah @k9gaitmassage
💟 He’s used a Streamz collar overnight for many years to help his bi-lateral luxating patella – to help his body recover from the days’ stressors!
He now also has CBD oil, I ensure his weight is low and healthy, have no slippery floor surfaces to make his body work extra hard and warm him up before walks, using the stairs etc.
Ways to help prevent pain via lifestyle:
Environment – non slip floors, not landing on hard floors or jumping off surfaces repetitively eg sofa, lots of stairs etc.
Warm your dog up before activity – low level movements such as walking before having an off lead run, stepping over some items on the floor before agility or going up and down some low ramps before a hike can make the difference.
Keep your dog’s weight down – many vets have weight clubs where you can receive help with reducing your dog’s weight if needed. Weigh your dog every few weeks to keep an eye on their weight especially if they become neutered, change their food or change their exercise.
Observe – take videos of your dog moving and in static poses every few months and compare to see if there are any changes. You can start learning how to spot your dog giving subtle signs they have discomfort so are avoiding a position, or adjust their walking gait due to something being sore.
There are many more options out there just ask friends and family if they use anything for their dog, ask your trainer or dog professional and enjoy your dog for more years #yourdogmoreyears
Thankyou for reading – why not check out our other blogs and published articles?
Joe Nutkins
Dog Training for Essex & Suffolk
