TAKING THE ‘OUCH’ OUT OF THE COUCH!

YOUR SOFA OR THE DOGS?

Everyone loves having a cuddle on the sofa with their dog, that is if the dog

allows you on the sofa! There are those dogs that like taking the whole three-

seater and stretching out, those that use the arm of the sofa to hang their

heads off or prop themselves up on, those that use the couch as a trampoline

or flyball wall to rebound off and those that take the high road and sit on the

back of the sofa to adopt the commanding position that they deserve – the

lookout dog!

But have you thought about what long term damage could be done to your

dog’s musculoskeletal system with these behaviours? I’m not suggesting that

you stop the sofa cuddles and make the sofa a ‘no go’ area. However, it is

always good to consider how your dog’s actions could be affecting them both

physically and mentally and with some small adjustments there can still be all

of the enjoyment whilst minimising the potential harm that they could be

doing.

THE COILED SPRING

A dog will use most of its muscles to jump on and off a sofa. It can be likened

to a standing box jump in human terms. To jump on the sofa, dogs will load

their pelvic limbs (back legs) with their bodyweight and flex their pelvic limb

joints, hips, stifles and hocks. The thoracic limbs (front legs) shoulders, elbows

and carpus (wrists) and spinal muscles will also flex. When dogs release this

load, like a coiled spring, they then extend all of these joints to take off,

resulting in eccentric contractions (contractions of a lengthened muscle). Their

spinal and abdominal muscles will stabilise the body and assist with forward

propulsion and the load then transfers to their thoracic limbs.

You might think that your dog has a soft landing on the sofa so it is unlikely that they will injure themselves. However, landing on an unstable surface whilst travelling forwards and loading the thoracic limbs means that the ligaments that join bones to bones and help to stabilise a joint, are put under immense stress. There may even be occasions where dogs crash into the back rest of the sofa, causing their head and neck to flex whilst travelling forward and potentially causing neck injuries. They are performing an explosive jump towards limited space and landing on an unstable surface.

Getting off the sofa means that most of the load goes through the dog’s forelimbs whilst they are in an extended position. This can be up to six times the usual loading force, depending on the height of the sofa, weight of the dog and the speed at which they are travelling. Add in slippery flooring or limited space for them to land and this will also increase the risk of injury. Some dogs may get off the sofa in a controlled manner, some even slide off, but again this will depend on the sofa height, the space that they have and the individual dog.

CHANGES IN BEHAVIOUR

Dogs that have existing injuries or orthopaedic conditions may adapt the way

that they get on or off the sofa or even stop using the sofa completely. A dog

with a sore back may look at the sofa as though they want to get up and even

look as though they are about to jump but then reconsider and go and rest

somewhere else or get up one leg at a time. A dog with back issues will be in

discomfort if they have to flex and extend their back, therefore they choose

not to do so. Dogs with hind limb issues may take a run up to the sofa so that

the flexion and extension in the hind limbs is also minimised prevent or

minimise further pain.

THOUGHTS OF A THERAPIST

As a Clinical Canine Massage therapist with the Canine Massage Guild, part of

my assessment before getting ‘hands on’ is to look at the environment dogs

live in, including the sofa. The size of the dog and sofa height are obviously a

starting point, however the way that the dog gets on and off the sofa, the

number of times that they are likely to do so in a day and the position of the

sofa will also be assessed. By position, I mean are there any obstacles in front

of it that prevents the dog having a clear entry and exit, is it opposite a window

which means that the dog uses it as a lookout station, is it against a wall to

prevent falls from the back and has it been placed on to slippery flooring.

A SOFA WITH A VIEW

Being aware of the potential issues means that steps can be taken to minimise

any incidents. If you have a ‘lookout dog’, consider placing the sofa against a

wall removing chance of them falling from an increased height and reducing

the chance of them getting legs stuck between the frame whilst they jump

around on an unstable surface at the potential intruder. Also consider moving

it away from the window or closing the curtains or blinds. A dog that is

continually barking, is in ‘fight or flight’ mode and spending prolonged periods

in a heightened state of arousal. This means that the nervous system takes

longer to return to the ‘rest and digest’ state, causing anxiety which can

manifest as trauma to the soft tissues and fascia.

THE YOUNG AND OLD

Consideration should be given to the age of the dog. A puppy or young dog whose musculoskeletal system is not yet fully formed will be more susceptible to fractures and sprains. A senior dog with an orthopaedic condition such as arthritis will have joints that are not functioning normally and are likely to be painful, increasing the risk of further injury or a flare up of their condition.

Consider lifting your dog on and off the sofa, teach them to wait before getting on the sofa so that you can help them on and off.  Also consider the use of steps, platforms or ramps, depending on the size of the dog and any pre-existing conditions or injuries.

POSITIONING

Look at whether the sofa has got easy access points to get on and off or

obstacles in front of it. If there are obstacles, move them to ensure that there

is an easy route on and off for dogs, and where possible position the sofa

against a wall. Avoid having your sofa on slippery flooring. Put a rug or runner down and make sure that the rug and runner does not slip on the slippery flooring, creating a stable launch and landing space.

BREED AND WEIGHT

Consider the weight of your dog, an overweight dog will already have

unnecessary, increased load on their joints, therefore the impact on their joints

will be greater than that of a dog that is of ideal weight, especially when

getting on and off the sofa.

Also consider the breed of your dog. Dogs that have long backs such as

Bassetts and Dachshunds are more susceptible to spinal injuries and are at

extra risk when jumping on and off objects including sofas, due to the load

through the spine and the flexion and extension needed.

The size of your dog vs the height of the sofa also matters. A Great Dane will

be able to step on a sofa with little effort, where as a Chihuahua will need to

really load their hind limbs to create the explosive force needed to jump the

same height.

SOFA ACTION

Is your dog constantly on and off the sofa, jumping from a slippery surface to

an unstable surface and then off again? If so then this will also increase the risk

of injury, as will any repetitive action that is not controlled. Do you have a dog

that reacts to the door being knocked or loud noises? If they are fast asleep on

the sofa and wake suddenly and jump off the sofa, their muscles will not be

warm and risk injury.

TIME TOGETHER

Taking time to think about the above potential issues may prevent your dog from injuring themselves, without taking out the enjoyment of the sofa for both of you. Endeavour to teach your dog that the sofa is a calm place, a time to recover and rejuvenate after their busy day, meaning that you can both enjoy the couch whilst hopefully avoiding the ‘ouch’.

Author - Jo Baker owner of Wyre Forest Massage and Clinical Canine Therapy

Case Study - Is it really just a yelp?

Did someone say cheese?

As dog owners, we often see advice about repetitive activities. However, over time these actions can lead to soft-tissue issues or injury, expedite the onset of orthopedic conditions or exasperate existing ones. Jumping on and off the sofa is certainly one of them. This activity often goes unnoticed until the dog gets a bit older, stiffer and not quite as athletic as they once were. Indeed, this might even be the initial trigger to research Clinical Canine Massage.

However, this activity also runs the risk of sudden injury. When we think of any sporting activity, be that human or canine, it’s safe to say we are all educated on the importance of warming up beforehand. Warming up helps to reduce the chances of injury, particularly muscle strains. When a dog suddenly wakes from a deep sleep and launches itself on to the sofa, perhaps in hot pursuit of a piece of dropped cheese, you can see how an injury might happen!!

Nothing obvious

This is exactly what happened to one of my dogs, Ceilidh, a few years before I trained as a therapist: a small yelp was initially the only sign. But the next day, she lay on the floor, very quiet, and clearly in pain. A visit to the Vet revealed nothing obvious with soft-tissue damage being suspected. A course of Metacam with a ‘wait and see approach was taken’ and within a few days, she appeared back to normal. It was during the Summer and a very hot one at that, which meant exercise was limited to shorter walks or runs when temperatures allowed. As the year went on, running distances increased and that’s when we noticed a subtle change to her gait.

Changes in Gait

What we noticed was that her hind footfall was not tracking in a parallel plane with her front footfall. And yet, this wasn’t the same as you would see with ‘crabbing’ or ‘sidewinding’ as her spinal column appeared to be pointing straight forward and not in an oblique or ‘diagonal’ line to the direction of travel. The unique vantage point running sled dogs gives you meant this was easier to spot.

No cause was found although I recall thinking that complementary therapy for example Physiotherapy or Clinical Massage might have helped. However, back then I could only find therapists who worked with Horses! She continued to run happily in harness with no issues until older age eventually caught up with her and then more sedate walks were enjoyed. Around this time, I was accepted onto the Clinical Canine Massage Practitioner Programme with the Canine Massage Therapy Centre and began a 2-year journey. The first year involved completing 9 incredibly in-depth modules where we essentially learned about all of the canine systems, inside and out.

Identifying a Strain

In the second year we progressed to the practical sessions and one of the most important things, which took a long time to hone, was learning the art of palpation or ‘seeing with your fingers’. This essential skill allows the therapist to feel what most scans cannot see: the tone, temperature, texture and tenderness of the tissues. Keen as mustard I was fortunate that I had several of my own dogs who helped me so much on my learning journey. It was only then that I realised the full-extent of the injury Ceilidh sustained that day she jumped off the sofa.

What I identified was a large area of scar tissue in her left Longissimus Dorsi and Iliocostalis muscles with a small amount also present in her left Latissimus Dorsi muscle. When muscle fibres are torn to some degree, we refer to this as a strain. The body quickly lays down scar tissue to repair the muscle and ‘knit’ the fibres back together. Whilst this repair is effective, scar tissue itself is up to 50% less flexible than muscle fibres, it is more receptive to pain and vulnerable to restrain. As Ceilidh moved, the affected muscles on the left side of her spine, (all of which originate from (attach to) various points of the Pelvis and /or Vertebrae) they were not able to lengthen as efficiently or effectively as those on the right. Over time, this had led to a slight Pelvic rotation which resulted in the gait changes we had seen. Sadly, we lost her not long after that but she led a long and happy life and that is always something to cherish.

Complementing Therapies

Interestingly, after I completed my training and started working as a therapist, I came across a similar albeit more severe injury in a Greyhound who was staying at a foster home prior to being rehomed. He had 2 sessions of Clinical Massage with myself to help restructure the scar tissue. I then recommended a Mctimoney Chiropractic adjustment to address the Pelvic rotation prior to the 3^rd and final initial session with myself. This worked well and a good improvement was seen. Whilst we can never get rid of scar tissue, we can help restructure the damaged fibres: ongoing maintenance sessions are likely to be indicated. This was also a perfect example of how different complementary therapies can often work well together for the best outcome.

Dogs are masters at hiding discomfort with subtle changes or ‘just a yelp’ often being the only sign. But there aren’t always signs and this is why a Muscular Health check can be so invaluable. Changes in the tone, texture, temperature and tenderness of the soft-tissues can be a sign of an injury but they can also be in response to an underlying condition. A Muscular Health Check is something I regularly do with my own dogs. It means I can address any soft-tissue issues promptly, or have a Vet investigate further if necessary. You will often see Canine Massage Guild therapists at shows or events such as Edition Dog Live offering free Muscular Health checks: don’t hesitate to have your dog checked. Thankfully, if Clinical Canine Massage is indicated, there is bound to be a therapist near you!

Author - Suzanne Alexander. She is currently focussed on using Clinical Canine Massage to help maintain the overall health of her numerous sled dogs & also her Collie.