Hip pain is a very common complaint in dogs suffering from arthritis or hip dysplasia. The situation usually worsens when the animal avoids using the paw leading to muscle atrophy. This means that there is less muscle mass that can support the joint and thus a vicious circle is triggered, a lameness that gets worse over time. There are many therapeutic techniques that can help your pet experience less pain, including physical therapy, non-medicated pain relievers, and analgesics. Read up on these methods to give your faithful friend some relief.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: The Massage
Step 1. Learn how to massage dogs
This technique relieves the animal from stress, improves blood circulation and reduces pain. It also allows you to strengthen the bond between you and the dog and to promptly identify any wound or disease that needs to be treated.
Massage is a recognized therapy that has beneficial effects, supported and practiced by veterinary physiotherapists
Step 2. Know when massage shouldn't be done
This therapy isn't always the right answer to your dog's problems. In some cases it could even make the pain worse. Do not massage the animal if:
- The hip is dislocated or fractured;
- There is a joint infection;
-
The skin is infected.
If you suspect that your dog is suffering from any of the conditions listed above, take him to the vet immediately, as these are situations that require medical attention
Step 3. Have the dog lie on its side, with the affected hip up
It shouldn't be too complicated, because the animal will instinctively lie down so as not to burden the sore hip with its own weight. When you touch the joint, you will notice that it is stiff and contracted, even if the animal does not use it. This is a sign that the massage may prove to be effective.
If there is no skin lesion, the massage relieves the pain of your wagging friend. However, if you realize there are skin conditions or the dog is complaining at your touch, do not massage him and take him to the vet for a checkup
Step 4. Massage the dog with the palm of your hand
Apply some pressure with the base of the palm by moving it forward, in the direction of the heart. The slow and gentle movements are soothing, while the quick and deep ones are stimulating. To eliminate pain, the ideal rhythm is one movement every five seconds. Massage the affected leg for 10-20 minutes, two or three times a day.
An animal experiencing hip pain has tense and stiff muscles. Muscle tension compresses the joint causing inflammation in the area where the surfaces rub against each other and, as a result, the pain gets worse. The massage not only helps the muscles to relax, but stimulates the release of endorphins, a natural pain reliever whose chemical composition is similar to that of morphine
Step 5. Massage from the tip to the top
To make sure you are doing a massage the right way, imagine that you need to push a fluid towards the heart. If you work in the opposite direction, you encourage blood to pool in the joint, causing swelling and reducing mobility. The dog also experiences a more pleasant sensation when you stretch his muscles upwards instead of forcing them downwards.
Method 2 of 4: Passive Mobilization
Step 1. Consider using the passive mobilization technique
This is a stretching-like therapy that involves gently stretching the affected leg backwards, away from the head. The goal of these gentle movements is to maintain muscle tone and joint mobility.
Passive mobilization is based on the theory that pain limits the movement of the paw but, in this way, the hip becomes stiff, preventing the dog from moving it even more. This is a vicious cycle that causes the hip to be chronically stiff and sore
Step 2. Consider which position to put the dog in
You should have him lie down, but it is also possible to let him stand. If the problem is present in both legs, it is best for the animal to lie down, as it may be painful to put all the weight on one hind leg while the other is being lifted.
To ensure maximum comfort for your faithful friend, place a small pillow between his paws
Step 3. Have him lie down on his sound side
To perform passive range-of-motion exercises with the left paw, have the dog lie on its right side, with the left paw up. If the problem is in the right hip, work exactly the other way around, with the animal lying on the left side and the right paw up.
Most likely this is also the most comfortable position for the dog, as it avoids loading the painful area with its weight
Step 4. Start pushing your thigh back
Slide your left hand across the front of the thigh, midway across the femur, cupping the dog's muscles in the palm. Apply gentle but steady pressure to push the thigh back so that the entire leg extends.
Do not force the movement and stop if the animal shows signs of pain. Your goal is not to improve joint flexibility, but to stretch tight, stiff muscles
Step 5. Hold the extended position for about 40 seconds and then release
Do this exercise twice a day in 10-minute sessions. This way you promote joint agility and relieve pain.
Mobilization consists of passively lengthening a limb to maintain muscle tone and joint motility. It is based on the theory that pain limits the movement of the paw but, in this way, the hip joint stiffens, causing you to lose further movement capacity, in a vicious circle that feeds the inactivity of the limb
Method 3 of 4: Medical Therapy
Step 1. Submit your dog to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory therapy
NSAIDs are prescription pain relievers that reduce inflammation. Their action is to inhibit the "bad" COX-2 enzymes that mediate inflammation in the joint; however, they also act slightly on the "good" COX-1 enzymes that ensure blood flow to the kidneys and gastric lining. In other words, their function is to reduce inflammation.
- These medicines have a high margin of safety when administered safely and carry a lower risk of stomach ulcers and bleeding disorders than other pain relievers. The most prescribed NSAIDs by veterinarians are meloxicam, carprofen and robenacoxib.
- The maintenance dose of meloxicam is 0.05 mg / kg, taken orally with food, once daily. The suspension formulation contains 1.5 mg / mL, so a typical 30 kg Labrador should take 1 mL of suspension with food.
Step 2. Give him the aspirin
Acetylsalicylic acid provides mild and moderate pain relief. If you don't have another pain reliever available, be aware that a healthy dog can take a dose of 10 mg / kg of aspirin twice a day, with food. This drug is typically sold in 300mg tablets, so a 30kg Labrador should take one tablet twice a day with food.
- However, prolonged use of aspirin has been associated with the development of stomach ulcers, especially when taken on an empty stomach. This happens because it reduces the blood supply to the intestinal lining, the stomach lining and the kidneys. Buffered aspirin might help avoid this problem, but you should still only use it occasionally in dogs.
- If your pet needs very frequent doses to control pain, ask your vet to see him and prescribe a safer NSAID.
- Never give aspirin concomitantly with another NSAID. When the two drugs are combined, the risk of gastric ulcer rises dangerously, causing serious consequences, even the sudden death of the animal.
Step 3. Evaluate the acetaminophen
Dogs can also be given this medicine, but you have to pay close attention to the dosage, as an overdose could overload the liver with a toxic metabolite, called N-acetyl-p-benzoquinoneimine (NAPQI), which causes liver damage and even liver damage. organ failure.
- The dose is 10 mg / kg to be taken by mouth, twice a day with or after meals. Most tablets are 500mg, so a 30kg Labrador should take a maximum of three fifths of a tablet twice a day. If in doubt, always stick to a lower dosage.
- If the dog is small, use the pediatric suspension formulation to avoid overdosing the animal.
Method 4 of 4: Physiotherapy
Step 1. Apply heat
This way the blood vessels dilate and stimulate blood circulation in the hip. All this allows the outflow of harmful toxins that irritate the nerve pain receptors. Be very careful not to burn your dog, always check the temperature of the device to make sure it is safe.
A very simple method of applying heat therapy is to use a bag of cereal, the kind that can be heated in the microwave. Follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully for warming up and then have your dog lie down. The diseased paw should be facing up so that it is easily accessible, so place the warm bag on top of it. Let the heat work for 10-15 minutes and then do some passive range-of-motion exercises
Step 2. Ask your vet for advice on TENS
This is a treatment in which a gentle electric current is applied to the skin to numb the sensory nerves and block the transmission of pain. This is possible thanks to the stimulation of the delta fibers that release the enkephalins in the spinal cord, thus reducing pain.
Veterinarians often use this technique in post-operative treatments to control pain; however, its effect is only temporary and lasts about an hour
Step 3. Find an acupuncturist veterinarian
Some doctors have gone into this kind of research and can do laser acupuncture treatments on your dog to give him some pain relief. The laser stimulates the animal to release natural painkillers. Ask your vet to recommend a professional if you are interested in this kind of treatment.
