DOGS:WHEN IS HYDROTHERAPY USEFUL?

DOGS:WHEN IS HYDROTHERAPY USEFUL?
 
Canine hydrotherapy is the most effective when it is used for some specific causes. These health issues and problems are meant to be treated with canine water therapy and the result, therefore, is commendable. Let’s look into some of these specific use cases of hydrotherapy for dogs.

     

Dogs with hip dysplasia

Hydrotherapy is an ideal treatment for hip and elbow dysplasia. Hip dysplasia is a chronic and degenerative condition in which your dog has developed the hip or elbow joints abnormally. Basically, the head of the dog’s femur bone fails to completely fit into the hip’s socket. When this condition affects your dog, their ligaments become weaker and the joints get misaligned and inflamed. As a result, walking seems to be extremely painful and difficult. There is also stiffness all over.

Hydrotherapy for dogs uses the controlled aquatic exercise to build the weakened muscle in the hind legs. The mobility and endurance of the joints of your dog increases and this happen without putting excessive pressure on your dog’s lower body. Gentle and regular swimming is the key to manage hip dysplasia and these water therapies are suitable for other degenerative joint conditions as well.

How does hydrotherapy for dogs work?

How does hydrotherapy for dogs work?

   Hydrotherapy for dogs can be performed using different types of equipment. They each serve a specific purpose.

  

Underwater treadmills

An underwater treadmill is the most common form of hydrotherapy for dogs. They are quite effective for dogs with joint problems. It is basically a treadmill that comes in a glass or plastic enclosed chamber. As you help your dog enter the chamber or tank, the doors are shut and the water fills up the tank with the level being just above the dog’s legs.

Now, the dog gradually begins to walk on the treadmill and faces the resistance that the water creates to strengthen his muscles in a low-impact environment. The speed of the treadmill is usually medium though it can vary depending upon the dog’s injuries and ability to walk fast.

As a result of this specific type of hydrotherapy for dogs, there is an improvement in blood circulation, an increase in joint flexibility and reduction in joint pain. Some of the additional benefits include cardiorespiratory endurance, agility and muscle strength. Get the guide Hydrotherapy in dogs.

Dogs with noise sensitivity should be routinely assessed for pain by veterinarians.

Dogs with noise sensitivity should be routinely assessed for pain by veterrinariians.Dogs which show fear or anxiety when faced with loud or sudden noises should be routinely assessed for pain by veterinarians, according to new research. Researchers believe that pain, which could be undiagnosed, could be exacerbated when a noise makes the dogs tense up or 'start', putting extra stress on muscles or joints which are already inflamed leading to and associated with a loud or startling noise. Animal behavioural scientists from the UK and Brazil examined cases of dogs which had developed a sensitivity to either loudness, different pitches, or sudden noises, and found that those which also had associated musculoskeletal pain formed a greater sensitivity to noise. The study suggested that that fear or anxiety about noise could be association between a fear of noises and underlying pain.

Moments of intense joy can damage your heart.

Even in heartbreak, pain, misery and ennui, brief episodes of happiness can buoy us, inspire us and give our lives meaning. They can also, according to a new study, cause the left ventricle of the heart to suddenly weaken. Unfortunately for fans of joy, a report from the University of Zurich has found that moments of intense happiness can cause breathlessness and chest pains. This is because they can induce takotsubo cardiomyopathy, a heart condition that causes the left ventricle to temporarily weaken. It's normally caused by stress, anger, grief or fear -- around 75 percent of reported cases come from strong negative feelings. According to the study, around one in twenty cases are caused by joy. Problematic incidents included birthday parties, weddings, a reunion between two long-estranged friends, winning a jackpot and an all-clear from a CT scan and 95 percent of the patients were post menopausal women. Findings from the study were published in the European Heart Journal. "We've shown that the triggers for takotsubo syndrome can be more varied than previously thought," said Dr Jelena Ghadri, who worked on the report. "A takotsubo syndrome patient is no longer the classic 'broken-hearted' patient, and the disease can be preceded by positive emotions too." "Clinicians should be aware of this and also consider that patients who arrive in the emergency department with signs of heart attacks, such as chest pain and breathlessness, but after a happy event or emotion, could be suffering from takotsubo syndrome just as much as a similar patient presenting after a negative emotional event," Ghadri added. Luckily for victims of the syndrome, it's only temporary -- after treatment is given, the heart returns to normal after a few weeks. culled from wired.co.uk

SAND COLIC IN HORSES.

Horses pick up sand as they eat hay fed from the ground or graze short grass in pastures. The sand then settles at the bottom of the large colon. The sand irritates the intestinal lining,resulting in severe colic, weight loss,diarrhoea and severe metabolic disorder. When the sand colic is mild , its often accompanied by diarrhea but when the sand accumulate the result is severe,with discomfort. In extreme cases , the intestines may become twisted or displaced or even rupture. Preventing sand colic is far more better than treatment,and the prevention strategies include 1) the use of rubber mats under feeding troughs/pails.2)feed on top of shavings or straw.3) give grass to prevent licking up of feed from the ground. Diagnosis will include 1) fecal flotation 2) rectal palpation 3) abdominal x-ray 4) listening to abdominal sound using stethoscope. Treatment is usually by using a laxative mixed with a probiotic that binds the sand with fecal waste and gently moves it along the tract to the anus.2) surgery is done in extreme cases. (sand in intestine)

FACTS ABOUT ZIKA VIRUS.

An RNA virus of flaviviridae family and genus flavi virus.Transmission is through the bite of an infected Aedes aegypti mosquito.The mosquitoes are urban dwellers and aggressive day time feeders,feeding both in door and outdoor.The zika virus infection is an emerging mosquito borne illness,1st identified in Uganda in 1947. 1 in every 5 people infected with the zika virus become ill,and the common symptoms of zika are 1) fever 2)rash 3)joint pain 4)red eyes,while other signs include muscle pain and headache.The illness is usually mild with symptoms lasting for several days to weeks. Pregnant women infected with the virus have babies with small brains,resulting in delayed development. The symptoms of the zika virus are similar to that of dengue and chikungunya. The zika virus remains in the blood of an infected person for 2-7 days but can be longer in some people. There are no vaccines or medication to prevent the zika virus infection,rather symptoms are treated symptomatically following these steps 1) get plenty of rest. 2) drink plenty of fluid to prevent dehydration and 3) use acetaminophen to relieve fever and pain. An infected mosquito can spread virus to other people.People living in areas with high mosquito population should protect themselves by using screened doors,windows ,insecticides and insect repellent. # stay safe # insecticides # treated nets

THE THREAT OF LYME DISEASE.

Lyme disease, a tick-borne illness that in its most serious form can result in chronic fatigue, pain, confusion, depression-like symptoms and memory loss. The number of cases appear to be rising include a growing number of ticks in some weather conditions; more wild mammals that host them; an increase in the number of visitors to areas where they live; and greater awareness leading to more diagnosis. The disease is spreading through the population of ticks and animals are picking it up thus so more and more people are contracting the disease. Britain has recorded a rise this summer , a case scenario; Laura ;One patient who had to wait more than three years for treatment was Laura, who has asked that only her first name be used.In January 2012 she noticed a red bullseye rash on her right shin. The rash is the most distinctive feature of Lyme disease, but Laura was not aware of that. A couple of months later, she said, she began to feel “foggy, confused, forgetful”, and it was “hard to make decisions, hard to think, hard to read, hard – pretty much – to use my brain”.Despite living close to Richmond Park in west London, where Lyme disease is known to exist, Doctors thought the most likely cause was chronic fatigue. Months passed during which Laura gave up her job as a civil servant to focus what energy she had on her two primary school age children.The turning point was when Laura read an article about Lyme disease and recognized a picture of the erythema migrans rash. A blood test came back negative, but this was not decisive: medics test not for the bacterial infection but for the anti-bodies that the body makes to fight it, so patients tested too soon or too late will often not record a positive result. A specialist was “confident” it was Lyme disease, though cautioned it was too late to treat it with antibiotics. Laura pressed for a lumbar puncture, which showed she had an inflamation of the brain - another indicator she possibly had the illness.This summer she was finally given antibiotics, which she said “seemed to help”. She is now working in a local school. story credit; the guardian.

EBOLA COMPLICATIONS!!!

. Ebola survivors have been noted to have complications ,usually relating to vision.The major complications are loss of vision, redness of eyes, , swollen eyes, pain and severe sensitivity to light. This is a pointer that the virus has a residual bank in some organs exhibiting various signs and probably a point of new infection. The virus is known to be present in semen of survivors, indicating some grey areas in the Ebola saga .Read the story of 2 survivors here;http://www.livescience.com/52902-ebola-survivor-eye-problems-sacra.html

Colic: First Things First

Colic: First Things First

Foot Pain in Horses: More Than Meets the Hoof

Foot Pain in Horses: More Than Meets the Hoof