Monthly Newsletter March 2015
(970) 206 206--1868
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Pet Physical Therapy From the “downward-dog” pose to the “cat-cow” stretch, human physical therapy borrows many euphemisms from our pet friends. For good reason too, cats and dogs need to stretch their muscles, rehabilitate from injuries and train their bodies to recover just like we do. These days, veterinary medicine has a plethora of options and research-based treatments to assist our critters in these therapy efforts. Aquatic therapy, massage, pain management, orthopedic, prosthetic and sports medicine rehabilitation area all specialized therapy areas. Aquatic therapy uses heated spas and motion machines to build strength and endurance while increasing mobility and function. In doing this, hydrotherapy minimalizes the impact and acute pressure placed on the body.
In this issue: Pet Physical Therapy The 411 on Fleas & Ticks Staff Spotlight Our newest Client Care Provider, Hannah Coming up Music for Mutts! The Buzz on Bee Stings
Pet massage therapy benefits parallel those for humans. Massage releases toxins from the muscles and also loosens musculature while removing metabolic waste. Currently, research is being done with animals to track the ions involved in the biological process of touch/massage. In orthopedic, prosthetic and sports medicine therapies, as with most rehabilitation, the modalities are prescribed specific to the patient’s ailments. For some, range of motion exercises in which steady pressure is applied for 15 to 30 seconds at the end of flexion and extension helps to stretch and increase range of motion that may have become limited by soft tissue injury. Typically in motion-based therapy, a gradual change or increase in motion is preferred as to slowly acclimate muscles to the movement. Have you ever used a medicine ball at your gym? Pet therapists are using them as well as they come in various sizes which can contour to an animals shape. Medicine balls are commonly used to challenge patients in weight-shifting and weight-bearing exercises. Again, starting slow and gradually increasing the challenge and/or length of time for the patience is key in these therapies. Have you ever thought about taking your dog on the treadmill with you? It’s been done by Pet Physical Therapy specialists! Variable incline and speed controls on the machine allow the therapist to adapt the session to the patient’s needs. Incline walking provides low-impact strengthening for the gluteal muscles as well as the cranial and thigh muscles. Conversely, decline walking is beneficial to strengthen forelimb muscles, increase hock and hip flexion. Veterinary medicine has made large strides in therapeutic technologies. Along with the aforementioned massage and aquatic therapies, acupuncture, laser therapy, electrical stimulation and therapeutic ultrasound are all specialties on the rise in the industry. These increased options provide more alternatives for veterinarians to aide their patients.
Information from http://www.massagetherapy.com/articles/index.php/article_id/409/Animals-Massage and http://veterinarymedicine.dvm360.com/physical-rehabilitation-improving-outcome-dogs-with-orthopedic-problems?id=&sk=&date=&%0A%09%09%
The 411 on Fleas & Ticks
Employee Spotlight Meet Hannah Oliver, your Client Care Provider!
Hi, my name is Hannah and I am a Client Care Provider. Originally from Wyoming, my husband Brian and I moved here to start my long journey to becoming a Physical Therapist for animals. I have always been passionate about animals but my two Whippets, Mayla and Keira, and my cat Penelope are my favorite. Growing up I have homed many insects, cats, dogs, rabbits, hamsters, an iguana, and a ferret. My future goals are to help in the efforts of saving the homeless dogs of Mexico and the Spanish Galgos of Spain and one day own a farm to provide a sanctuary for animals in need.
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Bug season is upon us! We discussed the dangers of heartworm disease which is transmitted by mosquitos in last month’s newsletter but you should also know about fleas and ticks. In Colorado, flea and tick season begins in March and usually peaks in May but lasts all throughout the warmer season. Ticks are very common in Colorado, especially in areas where there is a lot of brush. So whether you go hiking with your dog, your cat occasionally heads outdoors or even you and your family are around bushes, ticks can be picked up. There are 30 species of ticks reported in Colorado and, different kinds of ticks have tendencies towards different mammals. Despite its name, Rocky Mountain spotted fever is very uncommon. Rather, Colorado tick fever is the most common transmitted disease by ticks in our state. Though rare, other tick-borne, zoonotic diseases include Lyme disease, Babesiosis and Ehrlichiosis—all can affect humans, our pets and wild animals. While a “bull’s eye” rash at the site of the tick bite is common with human Lyme disease infection, this does not happen with dogs and cats. Lyme disease signs in dogs and cats can include, spontaneous leg lameness accompanied by a loss of appetite, depression and fatigue. Similar symptoms occur with Ehrilichiosis with additional symptoms of bruising on gums and belly, spontaneous nose bleeds, eye and nose discharge. After you or your pet are outside, be sure to check the body for ticks that may have latched on (ears, armpits and heads are common areas). The best way to remove a tick is to grasp it firmly with tweezers as close to the skin as possible. Then, pull the tick straight out of the skin. When pulling try to also get the head/mouthparts of the tick as if they remain in/under the skin, there is an increased risk of infection. The tick biting its host is what transmits disease. Both fleas and ticks need a blood host. Therefore they will feed off of pets and humans both. A flea infestation starts with just 2 fleas laying hundreds of flea eggs within a
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matter of days. An infestation can take place on your cat or dog, in your carpet, in your vacuum and anywhere they can lay eggs and have a blood meal. Fleas undergo a complete metamorphosis with four stages: egg, larva, pupa and adult. Their environmental variables dictate the length of each stage. They prefer a warm, humid environment with temperatures between 70 and 90 degrees F. Under these ideal conditions, the life cycle takes 18 days from egg to adult. Once formed, an adult flea can sit inside its cocoon for a year waiting for host—they sense vibrations and increased presence of carbon dioxide signaling that a host is nearby. Thus, even if the pet has been removed or treated, it is important to treat the environment as well. To treat an environment with a flea infestation, purchase an environmental flea killing product from your pet store containing insect growth regulators (IGRs). The best way to ward against both ticks and fleas is to prevent them by proactively treating your pet. Both dogs and cats are susceptible therefore Friendship Hospital for Animals Veterinarians recommend Frontline Plus for both cats and dogs (treats ticks and fleas in one product!). Frontline Plus is dosed by your animal’s weight. As a topical treatment, you apply Frontline to the nape of the pet’s neck once a month. Unlike some preventatives which simply repel the parasite, Frontline Plus works non-stop for a full 30 days to prevent all flea stages from developing and will kill any existing adult fleas within 12 hours of application. In other words, any fleas that do hop on your pet cannot lay new eggs. Fipronil is the active ingredient in Frontline Plus used to control the fleas—it is mixed with an oil carrier which collects on the hair follicles from which it is slowly released throughout the month. This also makes it water-resistant. The fipronil compounds block the passage of chlorine through cells in the flea and tick nervous system. Additionally, Frontline Plus contains an insect growth regulator which targets the juvenile growth hormone in the flea eggs and keeps them from developing. Keep your pet safe from these parasites with proactive prevention today!
Visit us online at http://friendshiphospitalforanimals.com/
Information from About.com Education: “The Flea Life Cycle”. Hadley, D. http://insects.about.com/od/fleas/qt/Flea-Life-Cycle.htm. Website accessed11 Mar. 2015.