Phoenix Canine Therapies

22/08/2025

The Canine Massage Guild is bringing you a brand new initiative.......

MUSCULAR HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH

This October 2025 we will shine a light on the canine muscular system to explain why muscle matters. Whether you are a dog owner or a canine professional, there is something for everyone.

Join us on our dedicated channel
https://www.facebook.com/CanineMuscularHealthAwareness/

Working together for your dog's benefit - Guild therapists along with other therapies and professions will provide you with FREE information and resources to help keep your dogs moving pain-free for longer.

We look forward to seeing you there!

20/08/2025

This October we are providing loads of free resources for dog owners and canine professionals to help raise awareness of one of the most under evaluated, rarely discussed, routinely missed, and often misdiagnosed areas of the dog....the muscular system.

Please like and share this page with people you know who care about their dogs health and longevity

19/08/2025

AMAZING NEWS FOR DACHSHUND OWNERS.

As many of you know Dachshund Rescue Have sponsored research into IVDD at Queens veterinary hospital Cambridgefor several years. Wouldn’t we all love a cure for this terrible disease.

It is great to hear from Professor Freeman that that following their recent trial of an alternative treatment to surgery and a significantly lower cost is now available.

Cambridge vets offer new injection treatment for dogs with IVDD
A new enzyme injection treatment for dogs with severe intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) is now available at the Queen’s Veterinary School Hospital (QVSH), offering a safe, less invasive, and more affordable alternative to surgery for some patients.
The treatment, called percutaneous intra-discal chondroitinase injection, involves delivering an enzyme directly into the damaged intervertebral discs. This enzyme dissolves the central part of the disc, potentially relieving pressure on the spinal cord.
The QVSH in Cambridge recently worked with colleagues from Texas A&M University in the United States, to run a clinical trial involving 54 dogs who had lost the ability to walk due to IVDD. The trial, now published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, showed that dogs receiving chondroitinase injections recovered the ability to walk at a similar rate to those who undergo other forms of treatment for IVDD.
The procedure is now available at the QVSH as part of a low-cost IVDD treatment package including a full neurological consultation, MRI scan, and injections into multiple discs for a total cost of £1,750. We are still accepting dogs for the original trial, where pet owners who are unable to afford traditional treatment may be offered the injections at a significantly reduced fee of £400, but with no MRI or CT scan.
For further information about chondroitinase injections for IVDD or about the ongoing trial, contact the QVSH on 01223 337621, or alternatively email Professor Freeman at [email protected] or the neurology service at [email protected].

18/08/2025

Think arthritis is just about joints and cartilage? Think again...Muscles are involved too. As a weak joint becomes overloaded it will recruit extra support from muscles which result in primary and secondary areas of pain as well as habitual lines of tension and overcompensation, meaning its not just the affected joint its the whole body

18/08/2025

Like and follow this page for more information on how you can spot muscular pain in your dog and ways you can help them.

12/08/2025

08/08/2025

Woohoo 🥳 I’m off for a wee break for my birthday. Will be (aiming to at least) turning off my phone for a couple of days, so will answer any messages on Tuesday when I’m back.

08/08/2025

One of the most common injuries for active dogs to sustain

ACL Injuries In Dogs

"Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injuries are one of the most common orthopedic injuries veterinarians see in dogs. The ligament is also known as the Cranial Cruciate Ligament (CCL) in animals. It connects the bone above the knee (the femur) with the bone below the knee (the tibia). Essentially, the ACL stabilizes the knee (or stifle) joint.

It does not matter the size, breed, s*x or age of the dog, all dogs can get an ACL injury. That said, studies have shows certain breeds are more prone to ACL injuries.

These include:
-Labrador Retrievers,
-Poodles, Golden Retrievers,
-Bichon Frises, -German Shepherd Dogs, and -Rottweilers. [ Huskies and Malamutes are also notoriously bad for ACL injuries!]

Symptoms

Often symptoms of ACL injuries are gradual and a dog will slowly become more lame as the ligament becomes more damaged. Other times, when there is a rupture or tear, there is no advanced warning signs. Nearly all dogs with tearing or damage to their cruciate ligament will have swelling that is felt on the front part of their knee.

Symptoms may include:
-Lameness or weakness in one or both hind legs,
-Limping or reluctance to use one or both hind legs,
-Limping worsens with exercise and improves with rest,
-Abnormal posture, especially over the back and hip areas,
-Reluctance to get up, jump, run or go up and down stairs,
-Stiffness and difficulty getting up in morning,
-Sitting at an odd angle, with a hind leg slanted unusually off to one side,
-Swelling around the knee joint, and,
-Muscle atrophy in the affected limb.

Causes For ACL Damage

ACL injuries can be caused by many factors, although the exact reasons as to why it is so common in dogs is not completely understood.

Continual biomechanical wear and tear eventually causes the ACL to break down until it reaches a point that the ligament tears completely. Simple activities such as walking, running and jumping, all cause wear and tear.

Obesity, traumatic injuries or strenuous or repetitive activities can also cause the ACL to deteriorate. Obesity also contributes to chronic ligament damage because of the extra weight placed on the joints.

ACL injuries in dogs do not always occur during athletic activities.
Some dogs will be making a simple movement like jumping off a couch or going down a stair when their ACL will tear or rupture.

Most acute (sudden) ACL injuries in dogs occur during strenuous or exuberant activities, such as playing, chasing, roughhousing, running, hunting, jumping or engaging in other "doggie" fun.

Sometimes a dog will simply stumble and when they get up they will have ruptured their ACL. Other times ACL injuries will develop slowly over time. This can be caused by genetic abnormalities that cause poor muscle tone or poor neuromuscular coordination.

Other predispositions to
ACL injury include:

-Dogs who are overweight unfit dogs who engage in sudden strenuous, irregular activity (e.g. weekend warriors),

- dogs neutered under five months of age,

-Dogs with conformational abnormalities (e.g. lacking muscle tone and proper muscular skeletal development in their rear legs).

Approximately 30-40% of dogs who get one cranial cruciate ligament rupture will likely rupture the ligament in the opposite leg within two years of the first rupture. An ACL injury is extremely painful and affected dogs experience pain while simply walking. A tear or rupture leads to joint swelling, pain and instability in the knee joint. If left untreated it will cause lameness in the affected rear leg and, ultimately, chronic irreversible degenerative joint changes.

Damage to the ACL is a major cause of progressive osteoarthritis in the knee joint of dogs. The good news is that there is a high success rate with surgeries performed to repair ACL injuries and that dogs who receive surgical treatment can resume regular activities after rehabilitation.

Prevention

There is no guaranteed way to prevent ACL injuries in dogs. Keeping your dog healthy and in good physical condition is the best prevention, but by no means guarantees your dog will avoid tearing their ACL. Well-conditioned dogs are better able to avoid injuries, because their joints and bones are protected from outside stressors by strong surrounding musculature.

General rules of thumb are:

*Keep dogs on high-quality diets at optimal weight.

*Give dogs regular, moderate exercise.

*Dogs with conformational abnormalities in their rear legs may predispose them to ACL injuries. These dogs should not be bred and their activities monitored.

*If a dog is inactive for a period of time, avoid suddenly getting dog to do sudden strenuous activity. (e.g. if they dog has been a couch potato all winter, avoid suddenly going out for a 2 hour play time at the beach in the summer). Instead, gradually work up /train your dog to have the endurance and muscles so they can enjoy more vigorous activities.

Treatment Options

Canine ACL tears are debilitating to a dog. Oftentimes, full tears to a dog's ACL will require surgical repair to avoid severe, progressive osteoarthritis. Surgical repairs to ACL tears have a high success rate (usually around 95% for all the procedures), but as with all surgical procedures there is always risks involved.

For partial tears, non-surgical treatment may be the better, less invasive option, with surgery as a back-up if the injury does not heal properly. There are several cruciate surgical techniques used to treat ACL injuries in dogs. However, there is no clear research that points to one technique having better success and outcome than another.

Some surgeries are more complicated than others and therefore risks of complications may be higher and the surgery more costly. Some techniques may be better at preventing osteoporisis (arthritis) and others better suited for certain-sized dogs and to individual cases.

Your veterinarian will recommend treatment for your dog based on his/her size and age and the severity of the injury. It is important to discuss with your veterinarian what is the most suitable treatment options with your veterinarian.

Read in more depth about ACL treatment here:

http://www.caninearthritisandjoint.com/acl-injuries-in-dogs.html

09/07/2025

As the Director of the Canine Massage Therapy Centre, Founder of the Canine Massage Guild and author of the 2 year Clinical Canine Massage Practitioner Programme as well as a specialist in this field for almost 20 years, I feel compelled to speak out about a growing concern in the industry.

The rise of quick massage courses, often delivered entirely online, is not just watering down standards, it’s putting dogs at risk as well as compromising the vulnerability of owners who are trying to do the right thing for their dog.

Many of the individuals teaching these courses have no real background in massage therapy themselves. Some offer certificates after just a few hours or days of theory, with no hands-on supervision, no case studies, and no assessments of clinical competency. Yet graduates are encouraged to call themselves "canine massage therapists" and can as its an unprotected title.

This means that:
• There are people working on dogs with no real understanding of anatomy, pathology, or safe techniques
• Students are being let loose on vulnerable dogs and owners without ever having been supervised in training or technique competency
• Owners are trusting their beloved dogs to therapists whose only experience may be watching a video
I’ve even come across individuals advertising massage services after just half a day of training or doing a day or 2 days training as part of another course.

This is not just disappointing, it’s dangerous and I am personally disgusted at the fraudsters who deliver these courses and at those who go on to call themselves therapists and dupe owners into thinking they are providing a real service.

At the Canine Massage Therapy Centre, our course takes over two years to complete, with extensive practical training, tutor supervision, and real casework. We also provide online theory lectures, student support sessions and tutorials online and these in no way are a substitute for the real work that happens in the classroom We work to ensure that our graduates that go on to become Canine Massage Guild members are skilled, safe, and accountable because we believe that dogs deserve nothing less.
As a professional, I am deeply distressed at what is happening in this unregulated space, and I believe that dog owners deserve transparency, not marketing fluff from so called ‘therapists’ who can’t recognise or assess for a muscular issue let alone treat one despite their fraudulent claims.

It should be about this point that most would expect I say sorry for this. I’m not sorry. If anything I think its about time I start speaking more about this. I can only be responsible for the therapists I and my team train but at the least its time to start making owners and other canine professionals and vets aware that not all massage courses and therapists have the same training.

I always say I’m a dog owner/guardian first and a professional second, so to all the dog owners out there I urge you to check your therapists credentials, ask how long they trained for, who with and in what disciplines, ask to see their certificate of pass and importantly ask to see their insurance. Don’t just jump in with the first person who says they are a therapist because it may be they are about to take your money and put your dog at risk.
People are now jumping on the canine massage bandwagon, students and so called trainers alike because they think it’s a fast and quick buck. Its not. Its hard work that comes with it a vast amount of responsibility to the dogs, owners, vets and other paraprofessionals we work with and from the side of a trainer, to the students we teach who’s lives we influence.

Time to start calling it out.

Find a real therapist who has trained with in person supervision, taken written and practical exams, has insurance and commits to CPD training by going to visit the Canine Massage Guild professional register.

02/07/2025

MYTH: A little extra weight on my dog isn’t a big deal.

✅ Fact:
Even a small amount of excess weight puts significant extra stress on your dog’s joints, especially if they have arthritis.

Carrying too much weight can worsen pain, speed up joint damage, and reduce mobility. Keeping your dog at a healthy weight is one of the most effective, and often overlooked, ways to manage arthritis and improve their quality of life.

If you're interested in tailored advice for your dog, our Teleguidance service is for you!
https://caninearthritisteleguidance.co.uk

17/04/2025

I’m off now for the Easter break. I’ll pick up emails etc on Tuesday.

Tell your dogs - no emergencies please 😂

15/04/2025

🎉 Grand Opening of The Hay Barn at Watercombe Dogs! 🎉
📅 Date: Saturday, 26th April
⏰ Time: 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
📍 Location: Watercombe Dogs
Join us to celebrate the official opening of The Hay Barn, our brand-new training and wellness space for dogs! 🐾
🌟 What’s happening?
🍰 Pop-up café with beautiful cakes by Katie’s Cake Company ☕
🐶 Serena Bower (Canine Chiropractor) – here to answer all your questions
🎓 Meet our trainers – chat about agility, hoopers, scent work, and more!
🛍️ Dorset Dog Togs – selling harnesses, coats, and toys
Come along, grab a cake, browse some goodies, and learn all about what The Hay Barn has to offer! We’d love to see you there. 💙🐕