Moist heat therapy will help to:
What’s more, moist heat therapy will help prevent your dog from falling into a vicious cycle due to joint pain and stiffness. The cycle looks like this:
Luckily moist heat therapy is a simple (and cheap!) way to break the cycle and prevent your pup from a load of unnecessary pain.
It is not unusual for your dog to fall asleep during the heat therapy process, which shows how soothing this treatment can be. If your dog displays any signs of discomfort during the therapy such as excessive movement, growling or biting, stop the treatment immediately and contact your veterinarian. Heat therapy is a simple, yet effective way to help your dog feel better after an injury, surgery or exercise. At the same time, it will increase comfort, relaxation, and happiness for both your dog and yourself. Questions to ask your veterinarian
Dr. Phil Zeltzman is a traveling, board-certified surgeon in Allentown, PA. His website is www.DrPhilZeltzman.com. He is the co-author of “Walk a Hound, Lose a Pound” (www.amazon.com).
If you have any questions or concerns, you should always visit or call your veterinarian — they are your best resource to ensure the health and well-being of your pets.
Zee Mahmood, a veterinary technician in Reading, PA, contributed to this article. Heat therapy is an easy and effective way to make your dog feel happier while relieving pain associated with injury, surgery, exercise or even arthritis. Concept of heat therapy The application of heat is used to reduce stiffness and muscle spasms, increase blood flow and relieve pain. Unlike cold therapy, heat therapy is applied after the initial swelling and inflammation (a.k.a. irritation) stage of an injury. Typically, cold therapy is used for the initial 72 hours. Heat therapy can also be used for ongoing conditions such as arthritis. Click here to learn more about arthritis if your dog is having a hard time getting around. By reducing stiffness, heat therapy helps to improve joint range of motion during and after exercise. In addition to these healing benefits, heat therapy provides comfort, relaxation and anxiety reduction. Location of heat therapy Heat therapy is most commonly applied to joints: shoulders, elbows and wrists in the front legs; and hips, knees and ankles in the back legs. It can be used on any part of your dogs body where muscle damage, strain or spasm occurs. For example, a dog with a disc problem in the spine (neck or back) may have muscle spasms, which heat therapy can relieve. Technique when using heat therapy Many forms of commercial heating devices, wraps and electrical heating blankets are available in sporting goods stores and pharmacies. Instructions on the packaging should be carefully followed to avoid burning your dog’s skin. Alternatively, a simple homemade heating device consists of a tube sock filled with uncooked rice and tied at the open end. This “rice sock” can then be microwaved to the desired temperature. How long you need to warm it up will depend on your microwave. Before applying the rice sock on your dog’s skin, shake it a few times to make sure the heat is distributed evenly. [Editor’s Note: Check with your veterinarian before using any kind of heat therapy on your pet.] Danger of heat therapy Burning the skin is probably the biggest risk of applying heat therapy to a pet. Your heating device should be warm, never hot. Don’t apply the device directly to your pet’s skin. Padding, such as a thin towel, should always be used between the heating device and your dogs skin to avoid burning. Always test the temperature of the heating device on your inner wrist (similar to testing the temperature of a babys bottle) before applying it to your dogs skin. Test it on your skin for about 30 seconds before using it on your dog. Appropriate heat therapy usage After your dog has surgery, an injury, or goes through any strenuous physical activity, heat therapy may be an option. It is important however to wait for 72 hours before applying heat to the affected area: remember, cold therapy is applied for the first 3 days following surgery or an injury. If your veterinarian has recommended heat therapy he may suggest this course of action or something similar:
How Do I Perform Moist Heat Therapy on My Dog?
Moist heat therapy is by no means rocket science, but there are some basic guidelines you should know to prevent injury to your dog and ensure the most benefits:
Favor moist heat:
Moist heat penetrates the tissues better and is, therefore, more effective than dry heat. Several types of moist heat are available in most drugs stores: examples include gel packs, beads, rice, etc. Another way to provide moist heat is to take a washcloth and wet it with warm water. (Hint: We also show you how to make your own DIY heating pad at the end of this article)
Hold the pack in place:
For the heat to be effective, hold the pack over the affected area for about 15 minutes, or until your pup’s skin feels warm to the touch.
Focus on the affected areas:
On arthritic dogs, you can apply heat to help soothe their achy joints: shoulders, elbows, and wrists in the front legs, and hips, knees, and ankles in the back legs. For dogs with an injury or recovering from surgery, it can be used on any part of their body that has been affected.
Let your pup relax:
It’s easiest to perform heat therapy while your dog is lying down and relaxing. It’s not unusual for your dog to fall asleep during the heat therapy process, which shows just how soothing this treatment can be.
Test the temp:
The heat should be warm enough to the touch but not so hot that it burns you – test it out by first holding it to your skin for 20 seconds. If your dog displays any signs of discomfort such as excessive movement, growling, or biting, stop the treatment immediately.
Treat Your Dog’s Pain and Arthritis Without Drugs – Veterinarian explains
Its always tough to watch your dog age. While getting older is fact of life, seeing your arthritic dog unable to move as easily, or unable to do the things they used to do all the time can be a sad situation. Not every condition is going to have a solution, but here are some ways that you can help to alleviate the symptoms of arthritis in your elderly pup.