Canine Arthritis and How Lucky Dog! Can Help

🐶 What Is Canine Arthritis?
Just like in people, arthritis in dogs is caused by wear and tear on joints. It’s especially common in:

Senior dogs
Large breeds (like labs and shepherds)
Dogs with prior injuries or surgeries
Overweight dogs
Common signs include:

Stiffness when getting up
Limping or favoring a leg
Difficulty with stairs or jumping
Less interest in walks or play
Changes in posture or gait
Arthritis is a progressive condition, but the good news is—it’s manageable.

 
💪 How Physical Therapy Helps
Physical therapy doesn’t just treat the symptoms—it addresses the root of mobility loss, helping your dog stay stronger and more comfortable. Here's how:

🦴 1. Reduce Pain Without Drugs
Hands-on techniques like massage, joint mobilization, and cold laser therapy can ease joint stiffness and muscle tightness—often reducing the need for extra pain meds.

🐕 2. Improve Mobility
Through targeted stretching, range-of-motion exercises, and manual therapy, we help your dog move more freely and safely, whether it’s standing up, turning around, or walking on different surfaces.

🏋️‍♂️ 3. Build Strength
Arthritis often leads to muscle loss. We design a custom strength program to keep your dog’s legs, core, and hips working together to stabilize joints.

🏠 4. In-Home Comfort
Because we come to your home, your dog avoids the stress of travel and unfamiliar settings. We tailor exercises to your home environment—whether it’s carpet, hardwood, stairs, or even yard terrain.

🧠 5. Teach You What to Do
You’re part of the team! We coach you through gentle, daily movements, stretches, exercises and modifications (like non-slip rugs or ramps) to help your dog thrive between visits.

 
🐾 Meet Lucky Dog PT: Arthritis Experts
We’re certified in Canine Arthritis Management (CAM)—a leading international program that helps practitioners provide the best care for dogs with joint disease. That means we understand not just how arthritis works, but what actually works to slow it down and improve quality of life.