#Middlebury #HipHold #Dog
DEAR PAW’S CORNER: My wife likes to pick up our dog’s hind legs to help him stretch; that is, she holds Cheerio by the hips so his hind legs are up off the ground while he stands on his front legs. I thought I read once that this is not good and strains the dog’s joints or back or something. Your advice would be appreciated. – Zina J.
DEAR ZINA: The “hip hold” is a safety grip to pull your dog away from a fight with another dog. It’s not a hold that should be forced or held for long periods.
Stretching should be performed by owners when the dog’s joints are not weighted – meaning the dog should not be standing or leaning on the leg being stretched. Holding Cheerio up by his hindquarters and forcing him to brace on his front legs puts him at greater risk for injury. It can cause great pain in older dogs with arthritis.
If your wife would truly like to keep Cheerio’s joints healthy and improve his overall circulation and well-being, there are some great safe stretching methods, and safe massage techniques as well. Here’s a YouTube video of safe dog stretching exercises by a veterinary therapist: tinyurl.com/4ay7sfjc. Notice that at no point does the therapist stretch a joint that the dog is standing on – they are all unweighted stretches.
Dogs also stretch themselves frequently, especially when getting up after a long nap. Don’t try to assist their natural stretching – dogs stretch in a way that’s comfortable for them. Therapeutic stretching and massage are designed to help facilitate a dog’s natural movement without placing stress on the joints.
If you have more questions about your dog’s mobility, talk with the vet at his next checkup.
Send your tips, questions or comments to ask@pawscorner.com.
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