Osteoarthritis is a low grade inflammatory process which can occur in any joint. It is the thickening of the joint capsule with alterations in the synovial fluid. Osteoarthritis is characterized by the progressive loss of articular cartilage. There is an increased density of the sub-chondral bone, and all of these changes will cause a progressive change in joint structure and function.

The cartilage covers the ends of the bones. This acts as a shock absorber and allows the movement of the bones against each other without causing damage by rubbing together. Cartilage withstands an enormous amount of impact and therefore has no supply of blood. All the nourishment comes from the synovial fluid around the joint.

Within a joint capsule the synovial fluid is housed. With disuse this fluid thickens, and so movement is important to keep it liquefied. Osteoarthritis usually comes about secondary to the following:

Osteochondrosis in the dog

Legg Perthes Calve disease in the canine

Joint luxation in the dog

Age, genetics, conformation, obesity

Repeated stress on the dog's joint

Surgical interventions on the dog

Hip or elbow dysplasia in the dog

Articular fractures

Chronic joint instability in the dog

Osteoarthritis is not an "old dog" condition and the process in dogs can start very young in life. A normal load on an abnormal joint can start the process as can an abnormal load on a normal joint. Environmental elements and medical or systemic problems, as well as breed factors can all play a role. Arthritis in dogs can occur at anytime.

There are a number of management options for a dog with osteoarthritis. The following list provides some to be explored:

Hot and cold therapy treatments

NSAID's or steroids

Nutritional supplements for the canine

Exercise management for the canine

Weight loss for the dog

Hydrotherapy for the dog

Physiotherapy for the dog

Acupuncture for the dog

Surgical procedures for the dog

Canine hydrotherapy is one of the best treatments for dogs suffering from osteoarthritis or any other form of arthritis. The hydrotherapy reduces pain and inflammation, increases their range of motion, which in turn has a pump action on the synovial fluid - increasing nutrients in the joint capsule and reducing toxins. The warm water increases blood supply to the surrounding soft tissues, which relieves stiffness and spasms. The dog experiences a greater sense of well-being.

In an osteoarthritis study, dogs with hip OA that were fed 60% of their current calorie intake lost 11 - 18% of their body weight. These identical dogs discovered a profound decrease in hind limb lameness (Impellizeri et al. 2000). They need to be kept lean to prevent or delay the onset of osteoarthritis.

It was found that lifelong exercise did not cause cartilage erosion, osteophytes or meniscal injuries, in another study that was done. Dogs that worked out 4km/day x 5 days/week x 40 weeks had a boost in cartilage thickness, proteoglycan content and indentation stiffness (Newton et al. 1997). Canines need to be exercised regularly on surfaces which reduce joint impact and torsions.

There are many therapeutic modalities available for dogs suffering with osteoarthritis. I encourage you to explore which ones work best with your dog.

Helga Schmitt has been avidly studying and researching dog health, physiotherapy and rehabilitation hands on for the past 20 years. She is a Registered Hydrotherapist, Chartered Herbalist, Holistic Nutritionist, and holds a Certificate in Homeopathy. She endeavors to advise dog owners about healthy choices. Get your free Aging Dog Health Guide and read more on arthritis in dogs at www.health-for-dogs.com.

The most suitable type of hydrotherapy for the dog will be determined in the initial assessment and a regime will be planned. Hydrotherapy can be performed in a multitude of ways, each having their own advantages, and the following are some of those ways:

In a Sink

In a Bathtub

Whirlpool

In the Swim-spa

In a Children's wading pool

At the Beach

At the Dam

At a Lake

River

Using above-ground or in-ground human swimming pools

Dog pools

Underwater treadmills

Hydrotherapy in a pool is a non-weight bearing form of exercise for dogs. In an underwater treadmill the level of water controls how much weight is being borne by them. Hydrotherapy is an astounding form of rehabilitation and helps our companion pets enormously! The dog's pain and inflammation is decreased while the dog's sense of well-being is increased. This works wonders to help heal and recover from illness or injury.

There are pros and cons with essentially with every form of hydrotherapy available from small dog pools, large dog pools, to underwater treadmills. It is important to have knowledge about what is best suited for your dog's condition for the proper level of care.

Smaller pools could pose a challenge with nervous or anxious dogs. A large dog may have trouble moving about in them, or maneuvering even to get in them. Many of these smaller pools use a hoist instead of a ramp for entering or exiting. A dog would need to be comfortable with that setting.

A larger type of pool enables dogs to swim more naturally in them. For more nervous dogs this is very good and it helps to motivate them. Hydro-therapists and physiotherapists can be "hands on" with the dog which is a huge advantage.

Sensory awareness and the reflex swimming response is greatly promoted from anti-swim jets which some pools have. These are very beneficial for dogs with neurological disorders. For a high level of fitness and strength, these jets are great for conditioning the working dogs. Overusing swim jets can sometimes occur and caution is advised in this regard.

Underwater treadmills allow precise settings for active time, rest time, speed and water height for total control in a session. The hydro-therapist or physiotherapist works "hands on" with the dog in the treadmill to feel the gait movement and provide support where necessary. By being "hands on" in the treadmill, the smallest of improvements in gait can be seen and documented. Canine gaits can be assessed and retrained by working so closely with the patient.

Overall opinions feel that better flexion can be achieved in a pool, while better extension of a joint is achieved in an underwater treadmill. However, it has been shown that the same degree of extension can be achieved in a dog pool with "hands on" therapy.

There are the select dog spas or hot tubs and are usually provided as an add-on service. Larger breeds of dogs usually are not easily accommodated in these spa tubs. The temperature of the water is usually hotter in these, and some provide jets. These tubs assist in the dog's relaxation and sense of well-being. The blood flow to the peripheral areas is increased and the dog's level of pain is reduced.

There are limited advantages over the disadvantages in swimming in ponds, rivers or oceans. Even though the dog can be free and sociable, the following need also to be considered:

Blood will move away from the peripheral limbs from cold temperatures

Increased stiffness in the dog's osteoarthritis will happen in cold temperatures

Lack of control with swimming can allow for an accident

Risk of waterborne diseases

Risk of drowning

The water can be really cold even in summer

Hydrotherapy for dogs can be achieved in a multitude of ways. The underwater treadmill and the pool are the most common methods for assisted hydrotherapy. However you decide to perform hydrotherapy, be sure to not re-injure the dog if it is recovering from surgery. In a couple of seconds you could undo a surgical procedure, if your dog has not got total supervision and hands on care when rehabilitating.

Helga Schmitt has been eagerly studying and researching dog health, physiotherapy and rehabilitation hands on for the past 20 years. She is a Registered Hydrotherapist, Chartered Herbalist, Holistic Nutritionist, and holds a Certificate in Homeopathy. She strives to inform dog owners about healthy choices. Read more on Hydrotherapy for Dogs and get your free Aging Dog Tips Guide.

All patients attending hydrotherapy should have a veterinary clearance before doing so. Not all dogs are suitable candidates and there are a host of factors to consider. The treating veterinarian will do an assessment as well as the hydro-therapist.

The hydro-therapist will need to know certain information about your dog. Some of the questions they will ask are:

The last vaccination date of your dog?

Previous level of fitness or exercise?

Has your dog swum in the past and if so where and when?

Are there any ear problems or incontinence?

Have they been toileted prior to arriving?

When they were last fed?

A veterinary clearance is needed to perform hydro-therapy. Have you received one?

A dog's past good or bad experiences as well as their current medical or physical condition, are a few of the factors to consider with their hydrotherapy program. The current handler and their degree of experience in hydrotherapy will greatly influence how much anxiety the dog has if any at all.

After the first few visits, many of the animals become adjusted. To help ease the nervousness, there are buoyancy vests, equipment and staff to help with the overall experience. The first few sessions will be shorter to help with this.

There are a number of things the therapist will check the dog for before permitting it to go into the pool. Some of them are: the ears for problems, open sores, torn nails, the dog's heart rate and respiratory rate at rest, and any skin condition.

For any of the following conditions hydrotherapy is contraindicated:

Open wounds

Infections that are at the surface

Skeletal External fixators

If the canine has diarrhoea or incontinence

If the dog is vomiting

Suffering from contagious disease (kennel cough, parvovirus, ringworm, mange)

Certain different spinal conditions

Dysfunctions of the respiratory and cardiac processes

Epilepsy (if dog has had one or more seizures one week prior to hydrotherapy)

Blood supply compromises to peripheral areas

Panic caused by water phobia

Vestibular Syndrome in dogs

All animals partaking in hydrotherapy should never be left unattended. To leave any dog alone in an underwater treadmill or dog pool is extremely unsafe and dangerous. Accidents can happen very quickly and all animals need to be supervised.

The following dogs need to be cautious when participating in hydrotherapy:

Dogs that are obese

Dogs with a heart murmur

Brachycephalic breeds (Bulldog, Boxer, Pug, Pekinese, Pug, Shih Tzu) these breeds have small nasal openings which limits the amount of airflow. They are not efficient at panting so they tend to overheat and need to work much harder when exercising to get enough oxygen.

An elongated soft palate can cause laryngeal collapse. This is from a flap of tissue that closes off the airway.

A canine with Cushing's or Addison's disease

Dogs with Diabetes

Laryngeal paralysis (a reduction in heat tolerance and raspy or loud breathing)

Spinal injuries

Very hot days or possible heatstroke

Forelimb lameness that is undiagnosed

Extreme laxity of joints or hyperextension injuries

A programme or treatment plan will be discussed with the owner and written down. The expectations for improvement and their time frames are part of this treatment plan. There are a number of goals as to why a dog is receiving hydrotherapy and they range from just being able to walk again to returning to agility or hunting sports. For any canine attending a dog pool, dog hydrotherapy is one of the best choices for rehabilitating them. It is the ultimate in conditioning dogs prior to surgery, post surgery, or from an injury.

Helga Schmitt has been avidly studying and researching dog health, physiotherapy and rehabilitation hands on for the past 20 years. She is a Registered Hydrotherapist, Chartered Herbalist, Holistic Nutritionist, and holds a Certificate in Homeopathy. She strives to enlighten dog owners about healthy choices. Get a free Older Dog Tips guide and read more on Hydrotherapy for Dogs.