Chilterns Clinical Canine Massage

22/10/2026

Week 43 - Mobility Aids

Apologies! This week is a little late.

As some of my followers know, my elderly mother is very troubled by severe osteoarthritis in her knees and spine. Last weekend I took her to purchase a new set of wheels - not the motor variety but the ones that you see elderly people use to aid their mobility and give them some independence.

It got me thinking about mobility aids for our elderly, arthritic dogs and if there is anything that can help them.

When we think of wheels for dogs, its usually for breeds such as Dachshunds who are paralysed through intervertebral disc disease. Wheels give these dogs a much better quality of life. Rarely do dogs with osteoarthritis need wheels but there are other aids that can help them.

As osteoarthritis progresses, some dogs need a little extra help to remain comfortable, confident and independent in their daily lives. Mobility aids can make a real difference, helping dogs move around more safely and reducing the physical demands placed on their joints.

There are several options worth considering:

🐾 Harnesses and support slings – Specially designed harnesses can help support a dog's weight when getting up, climbing steps, getting out of the car or going outside. Rear-end support can be particularly helpful for dogs struggling with their hindlimbs. Many of these harnesses have a handle allowing the owner to take the dogs weight.

🐾 Ramps and steps – Ramps can help dogs get in and out of the car or access favourite resting places without repeatedly jumping, which can place additional strain on their joints. Choose a ramp with a non-slip surface and a gentle incline.

🐾 Joint supports. There is a whole host of joint supports that can be used from simple wrap around, Velcro neoprene supports, to custom made orthoses. They help to support and protect the joint from abnormal loading.

🐾 Orthopaedic beds – A supportive bed that cushions pressure points and makes it easier to get comfortable can help dogs rest more comfortably, particularly if they struggle to get up after lying down.

Remember, the best mobility aid is one that suits your dog's individual needs, body shape and abilities. If your dog is struggling with everyday movements, it is worth speaking to a professional about which options may be most beneficial.

💚 Small adjustments around the home can make a big difference to your dog's comfort, confidence and quality of life.

18/10/2026

Today I have a "Study Buddy"🥰...writing up 6 case studies that will form part of my "Recognised Prior Learning" to upskill to a Level 5 Diploma in Clinical Canine Massage....and yes, we are sharing the electric blanket....its turned very cold 🥶

13/10/2026

Can you believe it - there is just 10 weeks left to the end of the year! I have covered a lot of different topics on osteoarthritis over the last year but have I missed something? Is there something that you would like to know or that I have not covered so far? If yes, please let me know...
Sarah

13/10/2026

Week 42 - Hypertonia (high toned muscles)

🐾 Have you ever noticed that your dog’s muscles feel unusually firm, tight or tense? This could be an indication of hypertonia, where muscle tone is increased beyond what is normal.

In dogs with osteoarthritis, hypertonia is very common and can develop as a result of the body trying to protect painful joints.

🐾 Why does it happen?

When a joint is painful, a dog may unconsciously alter the way they stand, walk or move to reduce the discomfort. This changes the workload placed on the surrounding muscles. Some muscles have to work harder to compensate, while others remain contracted for longer than they should.

This protective response can lead to increased muscle tone and changes in normal movement patterns.

🐾 Why do high-toned muscles become painful?

Muscles are designed to contract and relax. When they remain contracted and tense for prolonged periods of time, several things can happen:

- Reduced circulation: Sustained contraction can compress small blood vessels, potentially reducing local blood flow and oxygen delivery.

- Metabolic changes: Increased muscular activity can alter the local chemical environment, stimulating pain-sensitive nerve endings.

- Increased sensitivity: Tense muscles and their surrounding connective tissues can become more sensitive to pressure and movement.

- A cycle of pain and tension: Pain encourages the muscles to stay in a high toned state to protect the area and this creates further discomfort. Over time, this can contribute to myofascial pain syndrome and make everyday activities more uncomfortable for your dog.

🐾 How can clinical canine massage help?

Clinical canine massage uses carefully selected techniques to address muscular tension and support comfortable movement. Depending on the individual dog’s needs, treatment may help to:

- Encourage muscles to relax and reduce excessive resting tone.

- Improve circulation and support the exchange of nutrients and metabolic by-products to the muscles.

- Reduce muscular tenderness and sensitivity.

- Improve soft tissue mobility and comfort during movement.

- Help address compensatory tension that develops when a dog changes how they move to protect a painful joint.

As a clinical canine massage therapist, I assess the soft tissues carefully and adapt my techniques to each dog's comfort, condition and response. Gentle approaches, including indirect myofascial release, may be particularly useful when tissues are very sensitive. Other techniques, such as compressions, can improve the circulation to the muscles which supplied fresh oxygen and nutrients, removes metabolic waste and encourages the muscle tissue to relax.

The important thing to remember is that I am not simply trying to relax a tight muscle. I am looking at why that muscle has become tense in the first place and how I can address the identified problems to help improve a dog's overall comfort and movement to prevent recurrence of the high toned muscle/s.




(N.B the info graphic is not a true representation of what I high toned muscle looks like "under the microscope" - it is there to give the reader an idea of what it could look like...In reality its much more complicated)

08/10/2026

Week 41 - Signs of Pain

One of the questions I am asked most often by owners of dogs with osteoarthritis is:

“How do I know if my dog is in pain?”

The difficulty is that dogs don't always show pain in the way we might expect. They don't necessarily cry, whimper or limp. In fact, many dogs are remarkably good at hiding chronic pain, particularly when it develops gradually.

With osteoarthritis, pain can be subtle and may show up as changes in behaviour, movement and everyday habits as shown on the infographic. So pain doesn't always look like pain!

That said, there are some obvious signs of pain include limping or lameness, panting, sensitivity / pain response on a joint being palpated, repeatedly licking a joint, depression etc.

A dog may still greet you enthusiastically, will want to go for a walk or chase a ball that has been thrown for it while experiencing discomfort. Excitement and adrenaline will temporarily mask pain, so a dog appearing happy doesn't necessarily mean they are pain-free.

This is why it can be helpful to look for small changes from your dog's normal behaviour. Owners often know their dogs better than anyone, and noticing that something is "just not quite right" can be an important early warning sign.

For dogs with osteoarthritis, pain is not something we should simply accept as part of getting older. There are many ways veterinary professionals can help manage OA pain and improve quality of life.

04/10/2026

Introducing Bella.

Bella is the sweetest little Chihuahua that you are ever likely to meet and perhaps the smallest dog that I have ever had the pleasure in treating.

Weighing less than 3kgs it was all about adaptations for Bella....using finger tips rather hands, the comfort of her own doughnut bed rather than my (large) vetbed and perhaps the biggest surprise was treating her without her mum present.

This was Bella's first treatment and unsurprisingly it took her a little while to settle. Midway through it was Bella's mum who suggested that she left us alone (she popped into the garden to do a bit of work) and it made such a difference, Bella curled up on her bed and allowed me to treat her.

Every dog is different, some settle as though they have had massages all their lives, others take two or three sessions to understand what its all about. Some dogs lie on their side, others on their chest, some dogs want thier own bed, others are happy to lie on the vetbed I take with me, some want their owners close by and others, like Bella prefer not too, some dogs prefer firmer techniques, orhers not!......its all about reading them, understanding what their wishes are and going with the flow!

Until next time little Bella 🩷

02/10/2026

Def woth doing

Blue Paw Academy - Online course for veterinary professionals

The Blue Paw Award is available to all Veterinary Osteoarthritis Alliance members. To complete the award, members must first complete the online course available through our new learning platform, including the final exam.

The Blue Paw scheme offers a foundation course in the understanding and management of osteoarthritis offered in Modular Form. On completion of the necessary modules and acquisition of the 16 points required the student obtains access to the final exit examination. Successful completion results in the candidate receiving the Blue Paw Award.

Elective modules are available now!

www.vet-oa.com

29/09/2026

Week 40 - Osteoarthritis of the carpus (wrist) and digits.

Although we often associate osteoarthritis in the bigger joints such as the hips, elbows or stifles (knees) smaller joints such as the carpus (wrist) and the digits can also develop osteoarthritis and these areas can have a significant impact on how a dog moves and uses its forelimbs just as much as the larger joints can.

What can cause OA in these joints?

OA affecting the carpus or digits is often secondary to previous injury or abnormal loading. Causes can include:

• Previous fractures or joint injuries
• Sprains and ligament injuries
• Repeated concussion or excessive loading such as jumping out of the car.
• Developmental or conformational abnormalities (Angular limb deformities)
• Repetitive high-impact exercise, particularly in sporting dogs.

The last point is a key one. Sporting dogs such as agility or flyball dogs are really prone to OA in their wrists and digits - think about the impact on these joints as the flyball dog "hits" the wall at the mid-point of its run, or the rather exuberant Springer Spaniel who is ball obsessed!

In some dogs, the initial injury may have happened years earlier, with degenerative changes developing gradually over time.

What are the signs of OA in these joints?

🐾 There may be visible signs of swelling and bony changes to the carpus
🐾 Digits often appear knobbly
🐾 Dogs may lick the area repeatedly resulting in saliva staining on the coat (see photo)
🐾 Dogs may spread their digits in order to distribute their body weight more evenly.

When a painful carpus or digits changes the way a dog bears weight, other muscles and joints over-compensate. This can lead to increased muscle tension and altered movement patterns further up the limb and into the body.

Clinical canine massage can therefore help to address these secondary soft-tissue changes (high tone, trigger points, myofascial pain) and support comfortable movement. In particular myofascial release can help the flexor group of muscles (that supply the carpus and digits) slide and glide more freely.

What can you do at home to help?

🐾 Avoid slippery flooring wherever possible - use runners / mats / yoga mats etc to prevent slipping.
🐾 Raise food and water bowls
🐾 Prevent high impact sports
🐾 If your dog loves ball play then roll the ball gently on the ground rather than throwing the ball a great distance
🐾 Avoid stairs where possible
🐾 Avoid jumping out of cars, especially SUV type vehicles as this places 4 x more strain through the joints.

Remember: OA doesn't only affect the big joints. Sometimes it's the smaller joints that can have a big impact on how a dog moves. 🐾

23/09/2026