We Help Aging Dogs With Arthritis, Live Their Best Life With Their Owners, Without Pain Meds Or Surgery.
Looking For Dog Physical Therapy for Your Aging Dog with Arthritis Near Salt Lake City?
If You’ve Found Our Site Because You Are Looking To Work With A Dog Physical Therapist In Salt Lake City or the surrounding areas, Or if you are looking for a safer more natural option that works...
Then You Have Come To The Right Place!
“Is Dog Physical Therapy Right For My Dog’s Arthritis?”
This quiz is perfect for you if:
- You simply don’t know if dog physical therapy is right for your dog
- Are unsure, or skeptical about what dog PT can do for your dog
- If you are looking for solutions for your dog’s arthritis
- Or if you are just wondering if your dog is in pain
A Message From Joshua Hall, Owner & Founder of Salt Lake Animal Physical Therapy
- Are you worried about your dog’s arthritis that doesn’t go away no matter how much ice or heat, you do?
- Are you looking for natural pain relief for your dogs’ arthritis?
- Are you frustrated that traditional veterinary treatments haven’t worked?
- Is your dog having trouble keeping up with you and are you missing out on your favorite activity together?
- Are you still looking for a long-term pain relief solution so you can enjoy time with your dog?
If you answered “Yes” to any of these questions, you are in the right place! Dog physical therapy can help!
Many dogs with in Salt Lake City and the surrounding areas suffer unnecessarily with arthritis because they’re told…
- Just “rest it” and it’ll be fine (then months later they’re still suffering…)
- It’s “normal” with your dogs age or breed
- If you give your dog some pills everything will be fine.
- Surgery is the only option.
The Truth Is...
- Resting it doesn’t change anything. Your dog might get a small temporary relief, but then when you get active with them again, they’ll still be suffering from stiffness and pain due to their arthritis (I bet you’ve have experienced it yourself!)
- It’s doesn’t have to be normal for your dog to get arthritis as they get older!
- We offer all natural pain relief for your dogs’ arthritis.
- Surgery or pain medication is not the only option. Dog physical therapy, aka Canine physical therapy, can and will help
At Salt Lake Animal Physical Therapy We Specialize In Helping Aging Dogs With Arthritis, Live Their Best Lives, Without The Need Of Pain Meds Or Surgery
It can be very confusing to decide exactly what you should do if you are looking for pain relief for your dog’s arthritis or OA. You’ve likely heard a lot of options such as…
- A family member tells you to try a natural pain relief remedy for dogs to manage the pain.
- A colleague mentions going to a certain veterinarian.
- The “experts” on YouTube recommend your dog doing a certain exercise
- A friend suggests going to a dog injury specialist.
- All while the veterinarian tells you to try this medication or surgery.
It’s overwhelming to try to make a decision with all these choices…what will happen to your aging dogs’ arthritis, or will your dog get pain relief, if you don’t make the right one?
Most people get stuck trying to make a decision about what to do next. They go days, weeks, months (even years!) without treating their aging dogs’ pain or osteoarthritis.
When It Comes To Solving Something Serious Like Your Aging Dogs Pain or Arthritis …
You must choose the right provider for their health. If you don’t, they could end up getting dangerous surgery (when it was unnecessary) or being dependent on painkillers the rest of their life.
Getting the “least-invasive”, most natural treatment is VITAL to you stopping your dogs arthritis and keeping it from ever coming back.
To do that, you have to not just treat the aging dogs arthritis, but have a provider who is willing to figure out WHY the pain happened in the first place. That’s when you’ll get a PERMANENT solution to your aging dogs’ problems.
Salt Lake City Dog Arthritis Treatment
Just like in humans, arthritis is a condition that can impact the overall health and wellbeing of dogs. Of course, your dog won’t be able to directly tell you that something is wrong, so it’s important to watch for warning signs of arthritis so you can reach out for help when necessary. At Salt Lake Animal Physical Therapy, we are proud to provide a range of treatment options to help your furry best friend feel his or her best once again.
On this page, we’d like to provide you with some basic information on why dogs get arthritis, how you can spot signs of trouble, and manage various treatments for related conditions. If you have any questions, or if you would like to schedule your first appointment, feel free to reach out today. We love caring for the countless beautiful pups that live in Salt Lake City and the surrounding area, and we hope to hear from you soon.
Why Do Dogs Get Arthritis?
It’s natural to wonder why your dog is having to go through the struggle of arthritis and the discomfort and pain that it can cause. Seeking a root cause is natural, but it is often an exercise in frustration. There isn’t always an obvious factor that has led to this condition, or it could be a combination of factors. Some of the possibilities include –
- Aging. As your dog's age increases, it will become more and more likely that your dog will deal with some degree of arthritis.
- Obesity. Carrying excess weight is associated with many negative health outcomes, including an increased potential for arthritis problems.
- High level of activity. While keeping your dog active is a great thing for their overall happiness, all those play sessions and runs can take a toll. Putting repeated stress on joints day after day may increase the chances of arthritis developing at some point in the future.
- Lingering issues. Even if your dog has recovered from a past injury, the trauma associated with that injury could cause arthritis to develop in related joints.
In the end, it’s not particularly important where the arthritis came from – once it arrives, it needs to be managed so your pet can be as comfortable and happy as possible. That’s where the professionals at Salt Lake Animal Physical Therapy come into the picture. We’ll work with your dog to determine where the arthritis is located, how severe it is, and which treatment options are likely to be most effective.
Signs of Arthritis in Dogs
As a pet owner, you likely notice any change in behavior that your canine exhibits from day to day. It can be tough to spot the signs of arthritis, however, as this condition can come on slowly and gradually change your dog’s behavior. With changes that happen slowly, it’s harder to notice that something is wrong. To keep an eye out for signs of potential arthritis in your canine, keep these issues in mind.
- Sensitivity to touch. This is a warning sign that will grab your attention immediately, as your canine will likely make a pained noise when picked up or even petted in the wrong spot. If you touch the area around an arthritic joint, that touch could be painful for your dog – and a yelp is likely to follow. While this isn’t a guaranteed sign that arthritis is the problem, it’s certainly cause for concern and a reason to seek assistance to get to the root of the problem.
- Limited activity. Much like a human, a dog that is experiencing significant pain simply isn’t going to want to do much. If your once energetic dog starts to lose interest in running around, jumping, and playing, it’s likely that something is wrong. Also, if you usually allow your dog to jump up on the couch or bed, but they no longer want to do so, that’s a potential warning sign, as well.
- A new limp. If the arthritis is affecting one specific joint or limb, the dog will start to favor that limb to take pressure off the joint and reduce the pain. Of course, limping could be a sign of another type of injury, so it will require further inspection to determine if arthritis is truly to blame for the altered gait.
- General fatigue. When the pain your dog is experiencing from arthritis gets too severe, your dog may simply be tired all the time. Dealing with pain can be an exhausting experience, so you may find that your pet starts to retreat to quiet parts of the house just to hide out and relax. As with many of the points we’ve listed in this section, fatigue can also be an indicator for other maladies, so turn to a trusted professional for a thorough examination.
One of the best things you can do as a caring dog owner is to watch your canine’s health carefully and note anything that seems off. You are the one that sees your dog every day, so you’ll likely be the first to spot signs of pain, discomfort, fatigue, and more. Don’t hesitate to reach out for help if you suspect something is wrong so the right treatment can be provided as soon as possible.
A Range of Dog Arthritis Treatment Options
Once it is determined that arthritis is present in one or more of your dog’s joints, it will be necessary to create a treatment plan for that condition. The plan will be customized to perfectly meet the needs of your pet, but some of the possibilities are listed below –
- Medications. In many cases, medications will be called for to treat canine arthritis effectively. We should note here that it is not appropriate to give your dog any arthritis medication that is intended for humans. Any medication provided to your dog should be intended specifically for canines and be prescribed based on the condition that your pet is facing, along with any other relevant health conditions.
- Weight loss. As noted previously, carrying too much weight can lead to arthritis issues. Also, a dog that is overweight may experience more pain from arthritis than a dog at a healthy weight, simply because those arthritic joints will experience less pressure. It can be challenging to help your dog lose weight, but we will help you understand the process and determine what weight to target as a healthy point for your pet.
- Physical therapy. Of course, we believe strongly in the power of physical therapy for dogs, and this tool can be a great aid in the effort to find relief from arthritis pain. Choosing the right physical therapy methods is an important piece of the puzzle and should be left to a trained professional.
Managing Arthritis Pain for Your Dog
While you will want to seek treatment for your pet to address the pain and problems associated with arthritis, there are steps you can take in the meantime to make your dog more comfortable. You’ll struggle to relax while your pet is in pain, so finding ways to reduce their discomfort is an important task to tackle.
One easy way to make your dog more comfortable is to make sure a soft, comfortable place to lay down is always available. If your dog doesn’t already have a soft bed to use for sleep or just for a break from walking around, add one to your home as soon as possible. Try to position this bed in a place in your home that you know the dog likes and will be motivated to visit frequently.
Also, another modification you can make is limiting how many places in the house that your dog needs to jump up or down. Those jumps can be extremely painful while dealing with arthritis. For example, if your dog sleeps in your bed with you, jumping all the way up to the top of the mattress may be too much to ask. Add a ramp or some stairs so the dog can easily get up and down without the jarring shock of a landing after a big jump. This will not only limit the pain experienced by the dog each day, but it also may serve to slow down the worsening of their arthritis.
Finally, a modest amount of exercise can also help the dog stay as healthy as possible, as long as the exercise isn’t too strenuous or painful. For example, you might take your dog on a gentle walk to the mailbox each day. Don’t rush the walk, and make sure the dog doesn’t have to navigate any difficult terrain along the way. Even a short walk will provide a benefit, but monitor your dog’s approach to the walk and discontinue if there is noticeable pain or discomfort.
Contact Salt Lake Animal Physical Therapy Today
At Salt Lake Animal Physical Therapy we’ve created a 3-step process to get rid of your dogs pain AND make sure it doesn’t come back again.
Step #1 - We Want To Listen To You and Your Dogs Story
Getting pain relief for your aging dog can be frustrating. You wait weeks, sometimes months, for an appointment, only to get to talk to the specialist for 10 minutes before they have to run to the next client and you’re left sitting there wondering, “What just happened?”
Even most dog physical therapy clinics operate this way. They’re not attentive, they’re fast-paced, and your therapist doesn’t have time to actually touch your dog where they hurt.
This is why our first step is to listen to your story.
After working with lots of dogs with osteoarthritis, we know that no two dogs are alike. Each dog has a different body, a different history, and different types of pain.
That is why our first step is to have an open conversation and time for you to tell your aging dog’s story. That way we get a deep understanding of what’s going on not just with your dogs’ body, but also how it’s impacting your life together.
Step #2 - FIND OUT WHY YOUR DOGS’ ARTHRITIS STARTED
Many people have a diagnosis, or medical term for what’s going on with their aging dogs’ body. Maybe their vet gave it to them, maybe tests showed the diagnosis, or maybe you found it online.
You could have been told that your only choice was to use pain medications or opt for surgery.
Sometimes, those things bring temporarily relief, but they’re not addressing what CAUSED the problem in the first place.
Every dogs’ cause of osteoarthritis is different. No dog has the exact same problem caused by the exact same thing as another dog.
Our goal at Salt Lake Animal Physical Therapy is to find that original cause of your dogs’ arthritis, so not only does your dogs’ pain go away, it STAYS AWAY!
We understand that you still might be skeptical or unsure if dog physical therapy is right for your dog. That’s why we created a free discovery session. (Yes! That means the first session is ON US!)
Our Discovery Sessions are meant specifically for those people who are skeptical, unsure, or have even been let down in the past. During the Discovery Session you’ll find out what’s wrong with your dog, how long it’s going to take to fix it, and give you peace of mind that your dogs’ problem can be fixed naturally!
Step #3 - GET RID OF YOUR DOGS’ PAIN AND STIFFNESS FROM OA & KEEP IT FROM COMING BACK
This is when the big transformations occur. We develop a personalized plan that allows your dog to…
…Get back to exercising with you without you having to fear them living with pain and stiffness from osteoarthritis
…Be able to go for long walks, run, hike, play and just be a dog again
…Get back to their pre-injury lifestyle they love
….Get back to chasing cats
…And much more…
Our best clients are those who are motivated, ready to overcome their dogs’ arthritis, and ready to win back their active lifestyle with their dog. (Even if they feel stuck right now!)
Want to know more about our availability and costs before making any commitment to coming in?
You don’t have to sacrifice your active lifestyle and happiness with your dog over problems that can be fixed.
Sincerely,
Joshua L. Hall,
DPT, OCS
What Other People Just Like You Are Saying About Salt Lake Animal Physical Therapy in Salt Lake City, UT...
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Owner: Terelle
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Cookie is a 4 year old Shih Tzu-chihuhua mix with a disc injury. He was given a 5% chance to walk again. Hear how dog physical therapy literally saved his life!