Category: Pets

Many of us enjoy a nice relaxing massage. With 5 years experience in small animal physio/rehabilitation. I’m here to give you some tips and tricks How to give your dog a massage and how it can help them.

How to give your dog a massage and how it can help them

When and why should we be massaging our pet?

Why?

Studying the benefits of massage demonstrate that it is an effective treatment for reducing stress, pain and muscle tension. While more research is needed to confirm the benefits of massage, some studies have found massage may also be helpful for: Anxiety. Digestive disorders.

When is massage BENEFICIAL for my dog?
my dog:

1. Is Suffering from arthritis

2. Has an injury.

3. Is a working dog

4. A competition dog eg agility or obedience

5. They are deserving of a treat and would love this!

Also see my other related content:

Ways to help an arthritic pet:
https://furfunme.com/pets/5-ways-to-help-your-arthritic-pet/

Overfeeding in our pets:
https://furfunme.com/pets/are-you-feeding-your-pet-too-much-its-easily-done/

Let’s go over some different types of massages.

Effleurage Massage

Effleurage is a French word meaning “to skim” or “to touch lightly on”, is a series of massage strokes used to warm up the muscle before deep tissue work. This is a soothing, stroking movement used at the beginning and sometimes the end of a session.

Deep tissue massage

Is a type of massage therapy that focuses on realigning deeper layers of muscles and connective tissue. It is especially helpful for chronic aches and pains and contracted areas.
(This type of massage is best performed by a professional on your pet).

Trigger point release

Trigger point release –  Trigger point myotherapy also known as neuromuscular therapy or sometimes massage therapy consists of alternating levels of concentrated pressure on the areas of muscle spasm.
(This type of massage should only be performed by a professional on your pet).

Now that we’ve determined the different types, let us go over how to pamper your pooch with a nice rub down.

1. Setting up a nice place for your pet to lie down, make sure you’re using nice soft cosy bedding.

2. Making sure your dog is in a calm mood. Trying to massage your dog when they are ready for playing and walking is not the right time! Waiting until you are done exercising your dog, or in the evening when everyone is settling in by the fire or in front of the TV.

3. Starting with Effleurage massage – Nice gentle soft stroking (Slightly firmer than a pat). Use the palm of your hands and flats of your fingers, never dig in with the tips of your fingers or nails and avoid bony prominences massaging over bone is not relaxing, stick to the muscle zones and watch your pet melt.

4. Moving into a lighter tissue massage next (Deep tissue is best performed by a trained professional). Using the flats of your fingers try applying slightly more pressure than effleurage. using smaller circles and again avoid the bony prominences.

There is no time limit for either massage, keep going until either you or your pet is over it. Enjoy treating your pet as you would yourself = )
As always thanks for reading.

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Let’s talk arthritis, it is heartbreaking to watch your fur baby struggle to get up in the morning or resist jumping in the car for their daily outing. keep scrolling to see my 5 Ways to help your arthritic pet.

After spending 5 years in the physiotherapy and rehabilitation for small animals I’m here to give you some tips on how to help your best friend with their sore joints.

So first of all let’s talk about arthritis what is it? What causes it? How does it present itself in my pet? And lastly, how can I help them?

Arthritis is a disease-causing painful inflammation and stiffness of the joints.

Arthritis simply means ‘inflammation of the joints‘ and is a common problem for many dogs. … In dogs with arthritis, the cartilage within the joint undergoes change or damage, becoming less smooth and resulting in the bone surfaces rubbing together. This causes discomfort to your dog, as well as further damage to the cartilage.

5 Ways to help your arthritic pet.

Possible causes may include:

Injury, leading to degenerative arthritis

Hip displaysia

Elbow displaysia

Abnormal metabolism, leading to gout and pseudogout

inheritance, such as in osteoarthritis or degenerative joint disease (DJD)

infections

immune system dysfunction

Pain, swelling and stiffness in one or multiple joints

Morning stiffness in and around the affected joints lasting at least one hour.Reduced range of motion

Lameness

Swollen joints

Licking of the joint area

Slow to rise up from a resting position

Unwillingness to walk, jump, or climb stairs

Accidents in the house

Whining, panting, or whimpering

Depression or irritation

Now that we’ve determined the how, why and how it presents itself. How can you help your pet with their arthritis?

Ways your vet can help

1. If your pet is struggling with arthritis your Vet can help by Prescribing medications to help decrease the inflammation in the joint and control the pain. Please if you suspect your animal is struggling or showing signs of Arthritis make them an appointment.

2. Dietary management, if your dog is overweight getting that weight off will help. Talk to your vet clinic staff about the diet options available, there are many options for tailored pet foods to make losing weight easy.

See my post on overfeeding in animals to get more information:
https://furfunme.com/pets/are-you-feeding-your-pet-too-much-its-easily-done/

3. Nutritional supplements proven to help lubricate the joint and help rebuild joint cartilage. Your vet can advise you which supplements are best for your pet.

4. Referral to a certified animal physio/rehabilitation clinic.

5. Surgery for the various dysplasias, as outlined earlier.

Ways you can help your pet at home.

1. Book an appointment with your vet first, please if your animal is struggling pain management is of the utmost importance first.

2. Swimming! This is especially effective for dogs. It allows the animal to exercise without putting force through their sore joints. This means they can maintain muscle mass and even gain some overtime.

You can choose to take your pet to a pool facility or swim them locally.
However, avoid the beach as soft sand and gravel is hard for them to walk on and can cause more harm than good.

3. Heat – keeping your pet warm at night especially in the winter can make a big difference. You can buy specially designed heat discs, blankets and beds to help.

However, just making sure they have a comfy bed inside with a nice blanket makes a difference.
Use wheat packs over a sore joint, we do it for ourselves when we are uncomfortable and stiff, so why not your fur baby too.

4. Short walks rather than long – If swimming isn’t an option then short more frequent walks are better than long.

5. Massage – The same as we all enjoy a nice rub for our aches and pains it works for animals too. If your animal is particularly sore of has had a big swim that day consider giving them a heat treatment (with a wheat pack) followed by and nice massage on their sore limbs.

See my post on how to massage your dog:
http://furfunme.com/uncategorized/how-to-give-your-dog-a-massage/

That concludes ‘5 Ways to help your arthritic pet’.

As always Thanks for reading.

• Dog Hopping – What Does it mean when your dog is hopping on 3 legs?
• Are Ginger Cats Always Male?
• Bengal Cat Breed, Personality Traits, Information, And Facts.
• Christmas Gift Ideas For A Dog Lover You Know
• Bedside Table Dog Beds

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So you’re looking at getting a new puppy or have just recently brought your new bundle of cuteness home.
What are the first things you should be thinking about setting up for the new love of your life?
Check out these 6 Things to consider when getting a new puppy.

New Puppy? What you need to know.

Still deciding on what breed? Check out these posts to help with your decision.
Best dog for your star sign:
https://furfunme.com/pets/best-dog-breed-for-your-star-sign/
2020’s Most Popular Dog Breeds:
https://furfunme.com/pets/2020s-most-popular-dog-breeds-and-why-they-are-so-loved/

1. Nutrition

What will you be feeding your puppy? What you choose to feed them now will lay the foundations for their health.
Their diet from now to 24 months old will determine how their muscle-skeletal development forms, so it is an important decision to make.
Please consider a science-based veterinary recommended puppy/growth food.
Contacting your chosen vet clinic for advice on this is a great idea.
Even before you get your new puppy.

2. Insurance

Is always a good idea, especially for puppies. Veterinary care can be expensive and a good insurance plan can make all the difference.
Especially when deciding what your potentially sick pet might need.
I strongly recommend getting insurance for a new puppy, as they might develop a health condition you wish you had insurance for!
Here is a good company I strongly recommend if you haven’t already found one at the price you can afford! Pet Assure makes it easy. Learn More

3. Toilet Training

How, when? Toilet training can be frustrating, here is a good video on how to get started with your new furball.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpzjtHPQpOk

4. Crate Training

Having a crate trained puppy is very handy. Puppies tend to be mischievous so when your leaving them in the house, being able to secure them in a safe place is ideal.
See this video on crate training to help you get started.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hesi8WxLWVE

5. Vaccinations

100% puppies need to be vaccinated! There is nothing worse than watching a puppy die from a preventable disease. Please, don’t hesitate in taking your new puppy for all its vaccinations.
If you need more information contact your vet about when and what is best for your area.

6. Puppy School

Consider signing up for your local puppy preschool. Once your pup has had all of its vaccinations, you can book them in for their first class.
Not only are these sessions adorable, but they are great for socialization and basic training!
They are a great starting foundation for, behaviour and training for your new fur baby.

Here are some of my posts related to training.

Train your new puppy to sit in easy steps:
https://furfunme.com/dog/tips-and-tricks-on-how-to-train-your-puppy-to-sit-in-minutes/

Want to stop your dog barking at guests?
https://furfunme.com/pets/how-to-train-your-dog/

Last but not least, Love! Give that puppy endless cuddles and kisses.
They’re only this small once so take endless selfies, videos and snuggles!
That concludes 6 Things to consider when getting a new puppy.
As always thanks for reading.

Want email updates on my new posts the MINUTE there PUBLISHED? Sign up below

• Dog Hopping – What Does it mean when your dog is hopping on 3 legs?
• Are Ginger Cats Always Male?
• Bengal Cat Breed, Personality Traits, Information, And Facts.
• Christmas Gift Ideas For A Dog Lover You Know
• Bedside Table Dog Beds

Overfeeding! Or as I like to call it, killing your pet with kindness.
That may sound harsh but it couldn’t be more true.
A lot of owners are over-feeding their pets, and this is leading to high numbers of obese pets across the globe.
Are you overfeeding your pet? See my tips on how to prevent it.

Are you feeding your pet too much? See my tips on how to prevent it.

As a vet nurse, this is a battle we face on a daily basis.
The hours spent educating what a healthy pet should look like, and then trying to convince, or motivate owners to help their pet lose weight.
It can be a very sensitive subject for owners, and needs a gentle approach.
All of which can be time-consuming.

How do we fall into an overfeeding trap?

Owners love spoiling their pets with the latest chewy toys, and delicious treats.
However, they also fall into the trap of over humanising their fur babies and feeding them foods they like to eat themselves. We do this without thinking about how many calories we are allowing our pets to consume.
Of course, most pets are more than willing to gobble up whatever you offer them and they are adorably unaware of the consequences of overeating.
In-fact they will do everything possible to convince you otherwise.
This is how we fall into “killing with kindness”. We feel kind for feeding them what they want, however, the overeating is slowly killing them.

What are the consequences of overfeeding my pet?

An obese animal is more susceptible to so many health issues.
For example diabetes, Heart issues and arthritis are just some of the many conditions that can be caused by or made worse by excess fat on an animal.

How will I know if I’m overfeeding my pet?

We feel good for treating our pets with the various food items that we enjoy. However, our pets don’t need these foods and the consequences of these treats is much higher for our beloved best friends.
If you’re wanting more detail on the calorie needs for your dog or cat.
I have provided links for a dog calories per day calculator. These give you an idea of how many calories your dog or cat should be having per day. https://wsava.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Calorie-Needs-for-Healthy-Adult-Dogs.pdf
Cat- https://wsava.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Calorie-Needs-for-Healthy-Adult-Cats.pdf

Please also be aware most vet recommended diets will have a how much food should I feed my dog chart on the back of the bag. This is also the same for cat and other pet foods too.

For example, if an average-sized dog is fed a small biscuit, that is equal to a human eating a whole cheeseburger! So you can see how easy it is to overfeed.

There are so many great vet recommended dog foods on the market.
Veterinary clinic staff are your best dog food advisor, not only can they point you in the direction of great diets, they can teach you which dog food brands to avoid and of course all other household pets too.
Veterinary recommended science-based pet food is designed to give your pet everything they need, in the right amounts, and its the healthiest way to feed your dog or pet.
Please talk to your vet about diets available for your fur child = )

How can I prevent overfeeding?

Instead of giving your pet that crust off your toast in the morning or the sausage off the BBQ, here are some tips to avoid overfeeding.

• Instead of using higher-calorie foods like meat, sausage and cheese. Try Using, diet biscuits, and small amounts of boiled pumpkin for training.
  
• Save some of their daily food allowance in a bag. Every time you feel they need a treat and you can’t bear not giving them something, you now have a stash of, perfectly proportioned, suitable food there and waiting.
  
• Tell friends and family not to feed your pet at gatherings like BBQs.
  It’s very easy for someone to slip your pet a cheeky piece from the grill.
  In reality, its just encouraging begging and overfeeding. In my house, it’s a big no-no and I make it clear when my friends and family are around not to feed my fur babies.
  
• Lastly, if you really feel your pet needs something else in their day that’s different from their Am + PM meals. You can make your own healthy treats from their regular dry food.

These are all great ways to avoid overfeeding and giving your pet unhealthy foods.

While we are on this subject.

It can be hard for owners to notice or determine if their pet even has a weight issue let alone if they’re overfeeding.
Here are some links to body condition score videos to help you determine what body score your pet is.
Dogs – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7lHRRbmpBQ
Cats – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14hfMgyDl44

Frequently asked questions answered

• What time of day should I feed my dog
  Its recommended to feed your pet twice daily Once in the morning and once in the evening. Generally spacing the meals out 10-12 hours is good.
  
• What is the best food to feed my dog
  This is something you need to discuss with your Vet! Every pets needs are different, and depending on their life stage or even breed different diets can be required. Please talk to your Vet clinic staff about which diet they recommend for your pet.
  
• How to measure dog food portions
  Most bagged food will come with a measuring cup and have a ‘how much should I feed my dog chart’ on the back. However, if you are struggling the Vet clinic staff will be able to show you how to measure dog food portions, Just ask them = )
  
• Home cooked dog food
  Now most of us in the Veterinary industry don’t recommend this. No, it is not because were money-hungry salespeople trying to sell you expensive dog food.
  The reason is 9/10 home-made food just isn’t balanced nutritionally and we see the consequences of this on a daily basis in the clinic. The reason we recommend science-based food is because it truly is balanced for your pets nutritional needs.
  
• Can I feed my dog 3 times a day
  Adult dogs generally only need to be feed twice daily. Puppy however often require more meals as they are growing.
  If you are wanting to feed your pet more than the recommended twice daily, please make sure you are splitting their daily allowance by 3 and not adding in an extra meal of its own.

As always, Thanks for reading = )

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• Dog Hopping – What Does it mean when your dog is hopping on 3 legs?
• Are Ginger Cats Always Male?
• Bengal Cat Breed, Personality Traits, Information, And Facts.
• Christmas Gift Ideas For A Dog Lover You Know
• Bedside Table Dog Beds