Canine behavioural problems; how do physiotherapists work with ‘difficult’ dogs?

Where to start with this topic? There are so many examples of dogs in pain that are not listened to and therefore the bite happens, the snap, the growl, the aggression to other dogs, the reluctance to leave the house… there are so many things dogs trying to tell us. These dogs will be labelled as ‘difficult’

When I conduct an initial consultation with a new client, I will be looking consistently for signs of pain. How is the dog reacting to my palpation? Are there certain areas I palpate when the dog gives me a lip-lick, a turn of the head or a whale eye, even a stress yawn, or does the dog just get up and move away? Continually we are assessing behaviour, palpating what’s going on under the skin and trying to figure out the best treatment approach for your dog. It is important as a dog owner to understand the ladder of aggression. We want to make sure our dogs spend most of their time off the scale however the stressors should be reacted to in the green section (see below). If the dog is spending more time reacting to stimuli in amber, the dog should seek behavioural advice as soon as possible. If the dog is reacting straight within the red zone, this is an emergency and the dog needs immediate behavioural help.

I often see dogs which have been through behavioural or veterinary consultations and have been climbing the ladder of aggression. Some dogs I see will have growled, snapped or bitten the owner due to pain, and I am going in to try and assess this pain and treat it, which can be tricky business. This is where pain medication from the veterinarians can be very helpful, as it allows us to get hands-on without the dog being in such a degree of discomfort.

Understanding the Dog's Ladder of Aggression from Paws up Dog Training. 
Being aware of these stages can help us intervene early, keeping both our dogs and others safe PawsupAcademy website:
www.pawsup.uk

Often the key to a successful initial consultation is treats. Lots of treats. This can be via lick-mats, kongs and other enrichment activities. My favourite being a frozen slow feeder bowl with your dogs normal daily allowance of food and a sprinkling of water. I have done consultations where I have sat and ignored the dog completely whilst they get used to me. Often it is a great way to ask the owner lots of questions about the dog and really understand what we are dealing with. I can also subtly observe the dog, how are they moving? Are they weight bearing evenly? Are they hiding one part of their body? How do they interact with the owner? All of these questions are really quite important and are what we observe in all situations. If I am unable to get hands-on in the first session, then we book in shorter follow-up sessions so the dog can get used to me as much as possible. We will then work on some exercises based on how I have watched the dog move.

The most important aspect of all consultations is maintaining the dogs comfort, both physically and mentally. Sometimes we may need help from the veterinarians to have some pain relief on board if we feel pain is a behavioural issue. This is to help the dog as quickly and as efficiently as possible. We can provide a comprehensive report to your veterinarian to suggest pain relief if we feel that it would improve your dogs quality of life.

Often I will also suggest help from a behaviourist. I work with several behaviourists’ in and around Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire and Linclonshire.

Alice from Education4Paws covers Lincoln, Mansfield, Sheffield and Nottingham. We have a few cases where by working together we have managed to relieve the dogs pain and there has been a significant improvement in behaviour.

Hear what Alice from Education4Paws has to say regarding the benefits of working together with behaviour and physiotherapy with her own clients…

“Lily and I have been working together professionally for the last year to support my training and behaviour clients when I have suspected there has been a medical component to their behaviour.

One challenge I consistently have within behaviour work is getting both owners and vets on board when I suspect the dog could be in discomfort. It is often overwhelming for owners who believed their dog was fit and healthy and it is hard for vets to fully assess a dog within a short consultation. Lily has met with my clients, put their minds at ease and where she has found discomfort, has put a clear plan in place to help improve things.

Lily has kept in regular communication with the client, the vet and myself so we can address changes and highlight any action points. It’s great to have someone on board who understands the link between pain and behaviour and is passionate about working with other professionals to get the best outcome for her clients. She is always happy to answer any questions I have and I’m learning new things all the time!

Myself and Lily can now provide a holistic care package to my clients to ensure that their medical needs are being addressed alongside their behavioural needs and that the client understands this link and how we move forward. This allows me to make much quicker progress with my behaviour clients and has massively enhanced my behaviour packages.”

If you are interested in our combined approach, get in touch with either myself or Alice.

https://www.education-4-paws.com

I love working with all dogs. All dogs deserve to be pain free, but to manage their pain we must listen to their signals. For a pain assessment with your dogs, get in touch today. We can offer online consultations if your dog does not like having people into the home. This could be the starting block to you and your dog getting a closer bond.