Category: Health

Hip Dysplasia is a common complaint in dogs, and usually occurs when the joint has not developed perfectly, so the ball and socket do not match up in joints.

It is often associated with large breeds of dogs and typically starts to become noticed when they are only a few months old. The ligaments and joint capsule that normally stabilise the hip joint become loose within the first few weeks of life and therefore the ball and socket hip joint that normally aligns with each other lacks alignment and harmonious fit. Any non-alignment will result in abnormal wear, and can lead to osteoarthritis.

This condition is primarily of genetic cause, although environmental factors such as obesity during puppyhood may influence whether an animal with the genes coding for hip dysplasia will develop a clinical problem. Current estimates show that there are more than one hundred genes code for hip dysplasia.

When your dog visits our resident Canine Physiotherapist for a clinical assessment you’ll benefit from accessing the only objective stance analyzer for dogs in Hampshire.

The Stance Analyzer offers our physiotherapists the objectivity needed to draw up the most appropriate game plan for our patients.  The platform allows us to quickly evaluate the way your dog is standing and shifting weight to identify if there is a lameness issue and where to look for it. 

The Stance Analyzer is an integral part of every patient that visits our clinic including wellness exams, limping evaluations, and treatment plan re-checks.  Collecting a standing weight bearing assessment removes subjectivity and gives a simple report that makes it easy to discuss the status of the patient with your client.

The cranial cruciate ligament in dogs is the same as the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in humans. It is a band of tough fibrous tissue that attaches the femur (thigh bone) to the tibia (shin bone), preventing the tibia from shifting forward relative to the femur. It also helps to prevent the stifle (knee) joint from over-extending or rotating.

In the vast majority of dogs, the cranial cruciate ligament ruptures as a result of long-term degeneration, whereby the fibres within the ligament weaken over time. It is not known what the precise cause of this, but genetic factors are thought to be the most important, with certain breeds being predisposed (including Labradors, Rottweilers, Boxers, West Highland White Terriers and Newfoundlands).

Cruciate injuries can be managed surgically or non-surgically.

In August we took the rare opportunity to open our doors to Maggie ‘the wonder dog’ and her human companion Logan to help teach him to swim.

Logan, aged 5, has Sensory Processing Disorder and has been pre-diagnosed with Autism but that doesn’t hold him back from his swimming lessons with his teacher Helen Page at Energique Health Club in Alton. 

Sensory Processing Disorder means Logan processes his senses differently. Sounds, bright lights, sensations etc can overwhelm him so he finds it difficult to hear and follow requests etc. He finds social situations difficult to understand. 

Logan finds the sensation of water particularly calming and is progressing his swimming at each session however he was yet to confidently swim with his head lowered in the water.

Pip Elphee, Logan’s mother, is a Canine Behaviourist who has trained their working cocker spaniel, Maggie, as an assistance dog for Logan. Together with Logan’s swim teacher they devised a plan to encourage Logan to copy Maggie in the pool and approached the Canine Fitness Centre in Froxfield to help.

Tom Worman, Managing Director and Hydrotherapist at the Canine Fitness Centre said:

“Pip approached us with a brilliant plan and we just couldn’t say no. We’ve seen the impact of therapy dogs with a wide spectrum of children and adults through our work at the Canine Fitness Centre and this seemed like a great opportunity to put a theory into practice”

“We don’t normally let owners in the pool, but on this occasion working with Pip and Helen, we were able to create a safe environment for Logan and Maggie to swim together.”

“It was a joyous experience and something I couldn’t be prouder to have been part of”

Helen Page devised a variety of dynamic swimming games that logan could participate in with Maggie under the watchful eye of Tom Worman to ensure Maggie’s wellbeing and safety was also considered.

Logan and Maggie had swimming races, obstacle courses and a bit of safe play time in the shallows. 

Not only did the session start some of the work towards improving Logan’s swimming style Mrs Elphee commented that: 

“Logi found the latter stages of term really hard and has been quite ‘disregulated’, having had his swim with his dog this morning he also seems much calmer”

Shortly after the session Pip took to Facebook to write:

What a fantastic set up Tom has at the Canine Fitness Centre – a truly lovely way with both dog and owner. Maggie had a fare bit to deal with looking after her small person, working for me and being handled by Tom. But she clearly felt safe and happy in Tom’s capable hands. I can’t recommend this centre more highly!

Maggie, the working cocker spaniel, is an owner trained Autism Assistance Dog. Maggie helps him with his anxiety and confidence, helping him to stay calm and signalling to Logan’s mother when he is feeling anxious before she might have noticed. She is registered with Pawsable a company that assesses and then provides assistance with training and insurance for public access.