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Is there a certain area on the body that is itchier than others? Does your pet lick his feet, under his tail or along his belly? The most common areas of irritation for allergic dogs are around the back and tail, the abdomen, and the legs and paws. It can be common that your dog’s itching is so severe that he chews his skin to the point of creating a “hot spot”. This skin lesion can develop overnight and can get very large very quickly. The skin is pink, moist, hot and painful. You may even see sticky material oozing from the wound created. These are infected open wounds and need veterinary intervention to give your pet relief.  Chronic cases of itching might result in the thickening and roughening of the skin so that it looks like elephant hide. Hot spots are often the symptom of allergies to fleas, foods, grass, mold or other environmental substances. There may be more complicated underlying conditions such as low thyroid (hypothyroidism) levels or Cushing’s disease (hyperadrenocorticism).  Secondary bacterial and yeast (malassezia) infections are not uncommon and will require specially tailored treatment. There might be a particular time of year that your dog is itchier. Perhaps he is itchy after being on the lawn or after eating a certain food. By noticing patterns, you will help to narrow the focus of your pet’s treatment to help with the itching. If your dog has a really strong body odor, seems excessively thirsty or does not seem as lively as usual, you should take your pet to the veterinarian. Your veterinarian will need to do blood tests and evaluate swabs from the skin surface to get more information to help define appropriate treatment. Whenever you notice your dog itching, write down the circumstances, including where your dog has been, what he’s been eating and what part of his body is itchy. This will be extremely useful for your veterinarian, who will rely on this information to narrow down the possible causes for your pet’s itching and skin lesions.

summary: Pay attention to which parts of your dog's body are itchy. Look for hot spots on your dog’s skin. Consider the timing. Check on your dog’s overall health. Take notes when you notice the itching.


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Physiotherapy is the treatment of pain based on physical manipulation and non-pharmaceutical means. Massage, passive exercise, transdermal electrical stimulation (TNS), and heat therapy are all physiotherapy techniques that can be used at home. Massage therapy stimulates the muscles around an arthritic joint and increases pressure within the tissue. This pushes fluid out into the blood and lymph vessels, and replacement interstitial fluid is drawn into the vacuum.  This helps remove toxic irritants to the nerve endings that have built up as a result of injury and inflammation. In return, new nutrients soak the area and encourage repair of inflamed joints and sprained muscles. An animal with sore joints has tense, stiff muscles and the tension in the muscles further compresses the joint, making inflamed surfaces rub together, and causing more pain. Massage helps the muscles to relax and stimulates the release of endorphins - a natural painkiller with a similar chemical composition to morphine. If, for example, the hip joint is painful, to massage the hip you should work from the extremity upwards (imagine massaging fluid back towards the heart).  Move the flat of your palm in a rocking motion, applying pressure with the heel of the hand to the thigh muscles, working upwards towards the heart. Slow and gentle movements are soothing, whilst hard and fast movements are stimulating, so for pain relief, one motion every five seconds is ideal. Massage the affected limb for 10-20 minutes, two to three times a day. Mobilization is the act of passively extending a limb with the aim of keeping the muscle conditioned, and the joint mobile. The theory behind mobilization is to stop the cycle of pain that restricts joint movement, which leads to a further loss of movement, and a downward cycle of limb under-use.  Again, taking the example of an arthritic hip, passive mobilization involves gently stretching the affected hind leg backward, away from the head. The owner can do this with the dog in a standing or lying position. If both hips are sore, it is better to lie the dog down since it will be uncomfortable taking extra weight on the opposite hip when one leg is raised. To passively stretch the left hip, lay the dog on its right side, with the left leg uppermost. Slide the left hand in front of the thigh halfway down the thigh bone, and cup the cranial muscles in the left palm. Apply gentle but firm pressure in order to push the thigh backward so that the dog's paw moves backward. Do not force the movement, and stop if the dog gets uncomfortable. Hold this extended position for around 40 seconds and then release. Try to do a 10 minute session twice a day. This helps to keep the joints supple and is pain relieving. The application of heat helps to dilate blood vessels and stimulate the circulation. In turn, this helps to remove noxious toxins that irritate pain receptor nerves.  A simple method is to use a wheat bag, the sort you heat up in a microwave. Follow the manufacturer's instructions to heat the bag, and with the dog lying down with the arthritic joint exposed, rest the warmed wheat bag over the joint. Leave it there for 10-15 minutes, and then follow with some passive movement exercises. Transcutaneous nerve stimulation (TNS) can be performed at home by an owner, provided they have access to basic training and the appropriate equipment.  This involves the application of a small electrical current to the skin in order to numb sensory nerves and block pain transmission. This is achieved by stimulating delta fibers which release enkephalin in the spinal cord, which in turn reduces sensitivity to pain. One 20 minute session can reduce pain for up to 24 hours. The TNS machine is a small handheld battery-powered box attached to two electrodes, which are placed in contact with the dog's skin. Pain is blocked downstream from the electrodes, so to treat hip pain, place one electrode either side of the spine approximately 15 cm (5.9 in) higher than the pelvis.

summary: Understand what physiotherapy refers to. Massage your dog to help relieve pain caused by arthritis. Learn some specific massage techniques. Try passive mobilization. Apply heat to your dog’s arthritic limbs. Talk to your vet about transcutaneous nerve stimulation (TNS).


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You can learn exercises to improve the strength and flexibility in your injured foot and help prevent further injury. Start with a few minutes of light exercise, such as walking or riding a stationary bike. This will loosen your muscles and get blood flowing. Stretching exercises are a key step to restoring flexibility and range of motion. Following your doctor or therapist's recommended exercises, stretch the muscles and tendons in the injured foot. If you feel any pain during stretching, consult your doctor. A good example of a stretch is the towel stretch. Sitting on the floor with one leg straightened, loop a towel around the ball of your foot. Hold on to the ends of the towel and pull the top of your foot towards you. You should feel the stretch in your calf and down into the heel. Hold the stretch for 30 seconds, and then rest for 30 seconds. Repeat the exercise 3 times. When done properly, strength exercises should help return the strength and endurance required for everyday activities to the injured foot. If you experience any pain during these exercises, consult your physical therapist or doctor. An example of a strength exercise is the marble pickup. Sit in a chair with both feet flat on the ground and put 20 marbles on the ground in front of you. Place a bowl near the marbles. Pick up the marbles one by one with your injured foot and place them into the bowl. You should feel the exercise on the top of your foot. It is important to keep up with your physical therapy to help you return to daily activities and reduce your chances of re-injury.
summary: Go to physical therapy after the cast is removed, as advised by your doctor. Warm up at the beginning of each session. Stretch. Perform the appropriate strengthening exercises. Regularly perform the prescribed exercises.