Just like humans, dogs can also suffer from various physical problems, such as a herniated disc, joint diseases or injuries. Physiotherapy can be highly beneficial for affected dogs in these cases and can make a decisive contribution to alleviating the complaints of the four-legged friend.
In the following, we explain when you should consider physiotherapy for your dog and what options are available.
Physiotherapy is a traditional treatment method with the aim to counteract existing symptoms through tailored exercises or other forms of treatment.
Physiotherapeutic measures can be used, for example, to strengthen the muscles, improve mobility or counteract pain in dogs.
Physiotherapy is also often referred to as medical gymnastics. How exactly the physiotherapist proceeds as part of the therapy depends on the state of health of the dog in question and the desired outcome of the treatment.
Just like with humans, physiotherapy sessions can also be useful for dogs for various reasons. The focus is naturally primarily on a wide variety of diseases of the musculoskeletal system, the consequences of which can often be counteracted quite well in affected dogs with regular physiotherapy.
Apart from that, physiotherapy in dogs can also be part of pain therapy or treatment measures after surgery. In addition, it can help to maintain or improve mobility in older or physically particularly active animals.
Physiotherapy is extremely versatile. It has long since consisted not only of simple gymnastic exercises and massages, but can also include various other treatment methods.
A distinction is made between active and passive physiotherapy. Active physiotherapy refers to those methods in which the animal actively participates. This includes, for example, training on a treadmill.
Passive physiotherapy, on the other hand, describes treatment methods in which the four-legged friend remains stationary. These include, for example, massages or heat treatments.
Depending on the symptoms and the desired outcome of the treatment, methods of active and passive physiotherapy can also be combined to ensure the best possible progress.
In many cases, physiotherapy is a very important component of treatment. However, this does not mean that a physiotherapist can work miracles. Depending on the type and severity of the illness or injury, a full recovery of the dog is therefore not always guaranteed, despite regular physiotherapy.
Nevertheless, it is indispensable in many cases in order to alleviate existing complaints as much as possible and, for example, to maintain the quality of life of dogs with chronic joint diseases.
Depending on the type and severity of the symptoms, it is often not enough to limit the physiotherapy to a few appointments with the physiotherapist. In many cases it is important to practice with your four-legged friend at home as well.
In this case, the physiotherapist will show you the appropriate exercises that you can do with your dog yourself and, of course, also explain what you have to consider when doing so.
The cost of physiotherapy for your dog can vary depending on the methods used and the duration of the treatment. On average you have to expect around 30 to 60 euros per session, with a session lasting between 15 and 60 minutes.
If you have taken out a dog health insurance policy for your four-legged friend, you can have reimbursed at least part of the costs for physiotherapy so that you do not have to pay for it in full.
Normally physiotherapy does not harm your dog in any way or causes serious side effects. Of course, this only applies as long as the physiotherapists know what they are doing and adapt the training program individually to the physical condition of their four-legged patient.
A well-functioning musculoskeletal system is of crucial importance for the well-being of your dog. Problems with the joints can massively restrict the quality of life of the four-legged friend and can be associated with extremely severe pain.
For this reason, it often makes sense to provide a dog's joints with additional nutrients in the form of a food supplement. For this purpose, we recommend Bellfor Joints & Bones.
Bellfor Joints & Bones contains the natural active ingredient complex Ovopet, which is made from the eggshell membrane of chicken eggs. There are more than 500 valuable nutrients contained in Ovopet, such as hyaluronic acid and collagen.
The administration of Bellfor Joints and Bones can help to optimally nourish the joints of physically particularly active sports and service dogs or of dog breeds with an increased tendency to joint problems. In addition to capsules, Joints & Bones from Bellfor is also available in the form of tasty grain-free dog treats.
Get to know Bellfor Joints & Bones.
As you can see, physiotherapy can help dogs in many cases. Regular training with a specialist can make a decisive contribution to minimising the consequences of joint diseases or promote recovery after injuries or surgery. The methods available for this are almost as varied as with humans.
If the veterinarian recommends physiotherapy for your dog, you should not hesitate and start looking for an experienced therapist in your area as soon as possible for the sake of the health and well-being of your four-legged friend.
