Physiotherapy Improves Dogs’ Quality of Life Measured with the Milan Pet Quality of Life Scale: Is Pain Involved?

Piotti, Patrizia; Albertini, M.; Lavesi, Elisa; Ferri, Annalisa; Pirrone, Federica

doi:10.3390/vetsci9070335

Cited by 5 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…Chronic pain is often maladaptive [ 67 ] and can persist after the initiating assault has resolved [ 68 ]. Pain has been recently found to be associated with behaviour problems in several cases in veterinary medicine [ 69 , 70 , 71 , 72 ]. It is often, though not always, associated with inflammation, and has been demonstrated to be linked with cognitive impairment in human patients [ 73 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Relationship between Signs of Medical Conditions and Cognitive Decline in Senior Dogs

Wrightson,

Albertini,

Pirrone

et al. 2023

Animals

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Canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CCDS) is a progressive age-related neurodegenerative disorder in dogs. Minimal research has been performed to investigate how clinical signs may be impacted by other medical conditions. A cross-sectional study was performed using the Canine Cognitive Assessment Scale (CCAS) to evaluate cognitive impairment as reported by owners. Owner-reported health-related measures included behaviour changes, the body condition score, and veterinary diagnoses of disease. The responses from 804 dogs in the last 25% of their expected lifespan were analysed. Factors were identified in the owner-reported behavioural signs of disease representing pathologies in four body systems: musculoskeletal–neurological, digestive, metabolic, and dermatological, with the items comprising these factors also compiled into a cumulative measure of health. The results showed a strong correlation between the CCAS score and both the musculoskeletal–neurological factor and the overall cumulative measure of health. Moderate correlations between the CCAS score and the digestive factor and metabolic factor were also observed. The correlation between the dermatological factor and the CCAS score was weak. This study highlights the need to screen dogs for concurrent diseases when using scales to assess cognitive impairment and to monitor dogs who have health conditions, particularly those that are painful, for the onset of cognitive impairment.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Relationship between Signs of Medical Conditions and Cognitive Decline in Senior Dogs

Wrightson,

Albertini,

Pirrone

et al. 2023

Animals

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“…Manual methods aim to restore muscle mass, strength, balance, and physiological movements. Physiotherapy aims to help the body reach a critical threshold by restoring quality of life [ 34 , 35 ]. Locomotor, neurological, and orthopedic diseases are the target towards which physiotherapy is oriented, encouraging the body to regain its functionality.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Recovery of Spinal Walking in Paraplegic Dogs Using Physiotherapy and Supportive Devices to Maintain the Standing Position

Henea

Şindilar

Burtan

et al. 2023

Animals

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Paraplegic patients have always been ideal candidates for physiotherapy due to their body’s inability to recover on its own. Regardless of the cause that led to the onset of paraplegia (traumatic or degenerative), physiotherapy helps these patients with devices and methods designed to restore the proper functioning of their motility, as well as their quality of life. A total of 60 paraplegic dogs without deep pain in the hindlimbs caused by intervertebral disc extrusion or thoracolumbar fractures underwent physiotherapy sessions: manual therapy (massage), electrostimulation (10–20 min with possible repetition on the same day), ultrasound therapy, laser therapy, hydrotherapy, and assisted gait in supportive devices or on treadmills to stimulate and relearn walking, which was the main focus of the study. To maintain the standing position over time, we developed different devices adapted for each patient depending on the degree of damage and the possible associated pathologies: harnesses, trolleys, straps, exercise rollers, balancing platforms and mattresses, physio balls and rollers for recovery of proprioception. The main objective of our study was to demonstrate that physiotherapy and assisted gait in supportive devices to maintain the standing position may help paraplegic dogs to develop spinal walking. Concurrent pathologies (skin wounds, urinary infections, etc.) were managed concomitantly. Recovery of SW was evaluated by progression in regaining the reflectivity, nociception, gait score, and quality of life. After 125 to 320 physiotherapy sessions (25 to 64 weeks), 35 dogs (58.33%) developed spinal walking and were able to walk without falling or falling only sometimes in the case of a quick look (gait score 11.6 ± 1.57, with 14 considered normal), with a lack of coordination between the thoracic and pelvic limbs or difficulties in turning, especially when changing direction, but with the recovery of the quadrupedal position in less than 30 s. The majority of dogs recovering SW were of small size, with a median weight of 6.83 kg (range: 1.5–15.7), mixed breed (n = 9; 25.71%), Teckel (n = 4; 11.43%), Bichon (n = 5; 14.28%), Pekingese (n = 4; 11.43%), and Caniche (n = 2; 5.71%), while those who did not recover SW were larger in size, 15.59 kg (range: 5.5–45.2), and mixed breed (n = 16; 64%).

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Inflammation and Behavior Changes in Dogs and Cats

Piotti,

Pierantoni,

Albertini

et al. 2024

Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice

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Physiotherapy Improves Dogs’ Quality of Life Measured with the Milan Pet Quality of Life Scale: Is Pain Involved?

Cited by 5 publications

References 27 publications

The Relationship between Signs of Medical Conditions and Cognitive Decline in Senior Dogs

The Relationship between Signs of Medical Conditions and Cognitive Decline in Senior Dogs

Recovery of Spinal Walking in Paraplegic Dogs Using Physiotherapy and Supportive Devices to Maintain the Standing Position

Inflammation and Behavior Changes in Dogs and Cats

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