Hands 4 Hounds

News from Louise https://hands4hounds.co.uk

I met up with the owner of an older dog experiencing stiffness in it's back legs at the first ipatter Networking meeting in King's Lynn and they've booked to see me tomorrow. They spoke to their vet about my service and the vet agreed massage would be an appropriate treatment. It's really great when other professionals see...

I've talked this week about older dogs being unable to exercise as much and also gaining weight. Dogs who don't or can't go out and about as often as they used to are in danger of  getting fatter but also of getting bored. There are a number of solutions on the market now that will help tackle both these problems at once. They are often called dog puzzles or activity...

The biggest cause of reduced mobility in dogs is arthritis which causes the joint affected to become painful. This makes everyday activities more difficult and dogs become reluctant to do some of the things they used to do. With small dogs the simple solution to many such tasks is to pick the dog up but for bigger dogs this can pose a risk to our own back and joints. Picking a Yorkshire Terrier...

As we all get older our nutritional requirement changes and this is true of dogs too. The biggest difference is in terms of the number of calories we require. It's estimated that 30% of dogs are obese and most of these are over the age of 7 which qualifies them for being considered older dogs. Older dogs sleep more, exercise less and no longer have the same requirements as younger dogs in...

This weeks patters are all going to be related to looking after our dogs as they get older.

The most obvious difference with an older dog is that they lose the ability to walk or run as far, or to play as much as they used to. However they still need some exercise to maintain good joint health and stave off obesity so I offer the following tips

1. Continue with regular walks, every...

I know several of you have been following the Massage Explained series I put out last week and for those of you teetering on the brink how does a discounted session sound?

After a most informative meeting with Helen from ipatter yesterday I've cracked how to set up the discount facility available to premium account holders. So why not take advantage and try out a massage for your...

What happens during my dogs massage?

The first thing that happens is a chat with the owner about the dog's medical history and the reasons for booking the masasge. These range from wanting to help the dog be less stiff in later years to getting back to fitness after an injury or operation to seeking out a way of helping the dog be less stressed, anxious or depressed. During this time...