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What you need to know about laser therapy for dogs...

6/11/2020

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Laser Therapy is a painless modality used in rehabilitation to help the healing process & decrease pain. It uses different wavelengths of light to help improve and speed up the body's natural recovery processes. Sort of like plants, the living tissues and cells absorb the different wavelengths of light and use it as stimulation to regenerate more efficiently. 
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One of the most positive features of Laser Therapy is that there are no side effects, as long as it's applied by a professional trained in the proper use of the laser and at the appropriate dosages. The lack of side effects and its efficiency make it so that, sometimes, Laser Therapy can be a great substitute to pharmaceutical interventions to reduce pain in patients with long-term, degenerative conditions. 

Laser Therapy has been studied in depth and the many benefits of its use been documented extensively; to the point of laser therapy being approved by the FDA for use in humans in the US and many countries around the world. 

So, you may be wondering... what conditions does Laser Therapy help with? 

Laser Therapy has proven to be effective with conditions that cause pain and/or inflammation, including but not limited to:
Arthritis
IVDD (Intervertebral Disc Disease)
CCL tears (as well as CCL surgical repair)
Soft tissue injuries like muscle and tendon tears 
Wounds
Nerve pain
And much more...

Though laser therapy can be very effective and helpful in managing the conditions mentioned above and many more, it is not intended to be a stand-alone approach to any condition. As a modality, laser therapy is meant to be yet another tool that certified canine therapists & veterinarians may use, in conjunction with other rehab methods to enhance the quality of life of your beloved dog by controlling pain & inflammation. 

If you feel your dog may benefit from laser therapy or have any questions about rehab and the use of therapeutic laser light as a modality, please reach out to us! We are happy to answer your questions! ​
We understand that you may want to learn more about cost, availability, & what exactly is it that we do BEFORE scheduling an appointment. For more information, please fill out a short form (click on the box below). The more we know, the better we can meet your & your dog's specific needs! We'll bark back to you as soon as possible! ​
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How do you know if your dog has torn their CCL?

3/31/2020

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Some of the signs & symptoms of a CCL tear may be one sided or happen on both sides at the same time; they include:
  • Limping or reluctance to use one or both hind legs
  • Limping or avoiding putting weight through the affected hind limb
  • Lameness or weakness in the back leg(s)
  • Limping that worsens with exercise and often improves with rest
  • Abnormal posture, especially over the back and hip areas
  • Reluctance to get up, jump, walk, run or go up and down stairs
  • Stiffness and difficulty getting up in morning or after a prolonged period of rest. 
  • Sitting at an odd angle, with the affected hind leg slanted outward, off to one side
  • Swelling around the knee joint, usually in the front
  • Muscular atrophy in the affected limb
  • Difficulty with common transitions such as sit to/from stand, down to/from stand
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If you observe the above signs in your dog, it is advisable to have them be evaluated by a veterinarian or a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Therapist. Rehabilitation therapists and veterinarians use specific manual special testing to determine if the CCL has torn completely, partially, or at all. 

Depending on many different factors (another blog to come about this) surgery may or may not be advised. 

Whether you and your veterinarian go the surgical or the conservative route, canine physical rehabilitation has been proven extremely beneficial in the full recovery of dogs with CCL tears.

If your dog has any difficulty standing, walking, running or playing, 
physical rehabilitation could be the key to their return to full function and improved quality of life. A Certified Canine Rehabilitation Therapist can help you improve your dog’s quality of life through education, manual therapy, and properly graded exercises specific to your dog’s condition.
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We understand that you may want to learn more about cost, availability, & what exactly is it that we do BEFORE scheduling an appointment. For more information, please fill out a short form (click on the box below). The more we know, the better we can meet your & your dog's specific needs! We'll bark back to you as soon as possible! ​
Inquire About Cost & Availability
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My dog has a ccl tear... What is that?

2/20/2020

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Let's start by explaining what the CCL is...

CCL tears are likely the most common orthopedic condition dogs face. However, most dog owners don't even know what the CCL is... 

Today's blog is simply to help dog owners understand what a CCL is in order to understand what a CCL tear implies. 

​CCL stands for Cranial Cruciate Ligament, and it's the equivalent of an ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) in humans. 
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The CCL has a crucial role in providing stability to the knee joint (called stifle in dogs). It prevents the lower leg bone (tibia) from traveling too far forward in relation to the upper leg bone (femur). There is a natural and normal amount of forward glide of the tibia onto the femur during knee movement; the CCL is there to prevent the tibia from going too far forward.
While older dogs and some breeds, such as Newfoundlands and Rottweilers, are at much higher risk of a CCL tear, any dog of any size, breed, and age could suffer an injury to their CCL.

CCL tears can be gradual and occur without apparent reason or sudden and trauma induced.
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​A CCL tear could be due to slow wearing down of the ligament,  happening overtime, gradually, and fully rupturing when it may seem like the dog wasn't doing anything to warrant the tear. However, there are instances where trauma and high forces traveling through the limb may be too great for even a healthy CCL to sustain and a rupture occurs. In these cases, the mechanism of injury is usually obvious (if witnessed) & the dog shows very obvious signs of a tear.

CCL tears lead to knee (stifle) instability and ultimately speed up the arthritic process in the affected joint. Dogs with untreated CCL tears are affected & limited by pain, arthritis, swelling, and difficulty doing all the things a dog should be able to do to live happy and healthy. 

Research shows that physical rehabilitation is very successful in the management of CCL tears. If you suspect your dog has a CCL tear or have a confirm medical diagnosis, we can help you & your dog return to the activities you both love, thus improving your dog's quality of life.
We understand that you may want to learn more about cost, availability, & what exactly is it that we do BEFORE scheduling an appointment. For more information, please fill out a short form (click on the box below). The more we know, the better we can meet your & your dog's specific needs! We'll bark back to you as soon as possible! ​
Contact Us For More Information
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What You Need To Know About Dogs, Arthritis, & Rehabilitation Therapy

1/10/2020

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In humans and animals, the aging process is very similar. The body endures a series of changes as time goes by, these changes can be influenced by many factors (job, sports, sedentary lifestyle, trauma, etc), but overall time puts us all, humans & animals, through similar changes. 
The World Health Organization considers humans aged 65 and older as elderly (Beaglehole et al., 2001), so it’s safe to assume that at this age, most humans are facing similar aging changes such as arthritis. Dogs also face the same changes but at a much faster rate; unfortunately no dog has ever lived to be 65 years old, they sure miss out on the senior citizen discounts.

Dog Years vs Human Years
Surely you’ve heard the theory that states that 1 year of a dog’s life is equivalent to 7 human years; so your 3 year old beagle is finally of legal age huh? Wrong!
There are over 340 dog breeds known throughout the world, though the American Kennel Club recognizes 193 breeds. With as many breeds come just as many differences in the size and body mass of dogs, both of which greatly affect how fast a dog ages. Larger dogs typically have much shorter lifespans than the small breed dogs. This means that a 10 year old, 8 lbs Chihuahua would not necessarily be considered to be elderly, while a 10 year old, 165 lbs Great Dane would certainly be. This makes the “7 year rule” completely inaccurate.

At what age is my dog considered to be geriatric? 
Differences in size and body mass in dog breeds make it very difficult to specifically pin point when a dog becomes elderly. This table was adapted by Dr. Christine Zink & Dr. Janet VanDyke (from Goldston - 1995) to help us better understand when our dogs may be considered elderly. This allows us to better prepare for and readily address the changes our dogs may face as they age. 

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Inquire About Cost and AvailabilityWhy does arthritis often come with aging?
Arthritis or Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) is the one of the most common conditions affecting the aging population, both human and canine. Changes in metabolism as we age causes our muscles to lose fibers, which leads to less muscle mass. In turn, less muscle mass leads to loss of strength. Having weak muscles allows the surfaces of the joints to have more friction leading to their wear and tear. The cartilage covering the joints also degrades as we age; add more friction and the degeneration process also known as osteoarthritis or DJD has begun. The same concept applies to dogs.
There are ways to delay or slow down the arthritic process, some suggest that there are ways to avoid it altogether. What we know for certain is that rehabilitation, meaning therapeutic exercise, massage & pain management modalities, is greatly beneficial to the arthritic patient.


How do I know if my dog has arthritis?
Here are some signs & symptoms that may indicate your dog has arthritis or DJD: 
  • Limping or completely avoiding the use of a limb
  • Difficulty standing from a laid down position
  • Difficulty, or complete inability to get on the couch, get in the car, or in bed
  • Decreased willingness and joy when going for walks
  • Visible stiffness; your dog just doesn’t seem to be as flexible as before.
  • Guarding or other signs of pain when touching a particular joint

Some signs & symptoms that may indicate your dog is in pain are: 
  • Constant or frequent pacing around the room; restlessness
  • Lack of appetite or not wanting to drink water 
  • Avoiding contact, isolating themselves, or becoming unusually aggressive or “nippy” 
  • Changes in body position or posture. Curved posture, head down, lying down more than usual
  • Limping, avoiding use of a limb, avoiding activities that they normally do like chase a toy, jump on couch, etc
  • Changes in breathing pattern like panting without having exercised or shallow/short quick breaths
  • Excessive paw licking or licking the area of pain 
  • Whimpering, crying, unusual barking, yelping
  • Shaking or trembling without apparent reason
If you suspect your dog is in pain or has arthritis, you should always consult your veterinarian. Their clinical judgment, special tests, & examination will help rule out any serious health issues. Regular vet checks are highly recommended for senior dogs as arthritis is only one of the many conditions commonly affecting the aging canine.
 

How does rehabilitation help my dog with arthritis? 
  • Therapeutic exercise, when graded appropriately, helps maintain the joints’ ability to move freely, improves strength & joint stability, leading to less joint friction. 
  • Soft tissue massage helps maintain the extensibility of the muscles, ligaments, and other soft tissue structures that can restrict movement if they become taught. 
  • Laser therapy can be beneficial in managing pain, reducing inflammation & swelling, and improving circulation.
  • A Certified Canine Rehabilitation Therapist (CCRT) is also able to guide you in implementing some home environment modifications to allow your dog to have an obstacle-free space to move around in and better traction while walking. They can also help you in finding products such as bedding, ramps, steps, harnesses, and even doggie wheel chairs to better meet the mobility needs of your dog. 
  • Canine rehabilitation has proven to be immensely effective in improving and preserving quality of life by improving mobility and decreasing pain. 

At Unleashed Rehab - Canine Rehabilitation & Wellness we specialize in helping the aging dog, especially those suffering from arthritis, improve and maintain their quality of life through the use of graded therapeutic exercises, soft tissue massage, and pain relieving modalities within the comfort of your home. We excel in giving dog parents the tools & knowledge necessary to ensure their dogs enjoy their golden years without the need for pain medication.

We understand you may want to learn more about how we can help your dog BEFORE setting up an appointment. We would love to get on the phone with you and answer your questions. To chat with us, please fill out a short form by clicking here.
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References: 
BEAGLEHOLE, R., LUNENFELD, B., KALACHE, A. 2001. Men, Ageing and Achieving Health Across the Life Span. Geneva: World Health Organization, 63.

Zink, M.C., VanDyke, J.B. (2013) Canine Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation. Ames, Iowa: John Wiley & Sons, Inc
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All information on this website is intended for instruction and informational purposes only. The authors are not responsible for any harm or injury that may result. Significant risk of injury is possible if you do not follow due diligence and seek suitable professional advice about your dog's injury. No guarantees of specific results are expressly made or implied on this website.

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