Canine Arthritis Matters

This episode of Canine Arthritis Matters focuses on the role of exercise in managing canine osteoarthritis.

Core message: exercise is essential, but highly individual. It is not just about “going for a walk”, but about a structured, adaptive approach that considers the dog’s condition, environment, and behaviour.

The conversation between Hannah Capon and Dr. Danielle Anderson expands exercise into a multidimensional tool:
• physical rehabilitation
• mental stimulation
• emotional bonding

They highlight that many dogs are either over-exercised or under-exercised due to lack of guidance, and that caregivers often struggle to balance routine, emotion, and medical reality.

The episode reframes exercise as a tailored, monitored, and evolving component of a broader care strategy, not a fixed routine.

Guest Bio

Dr. Danielle Anderson is a Canadian veterinarian specialising in canine rehabilitation and pain management.

She graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College in 2002 and later completed her certification in canine rehabilitation through the University of Tennessee.

Driven by a need for better pain management solutions, she founded her own rehab facility (SAW Veterinary Rehab), where she focuses on improving mobility, function, and quality of life for dogs with conditions like osteoarthritis.

Her work combines clinical expertise with hands-on therapy, exercise programming, and a strong emphasis on owner education.

Key Takeaways

1. Exercise is always relevant, but never one-size-fits-all
Every dog requires a tailored plan based on age, condition, and lifestyle.
2. “Exercise” is more than walking
It includes transitions (standing up), balance work, hydrotherapy, mental stimulation, and targeted rehab exercises.
3. Too much exercise is just as harmful as too little
Many dogs push through pain, which misleads owners into overdoing activity.
4. Monitoring is critical
The proactive-reactive-reflective approach helps adapt exercise safely over time.
5. Caregiver behaviour is a major factor
Emotional attachment, routines, and lack of guidance often drive poor exercise decisions.

Learn more about CAM:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CAMarthritis
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/canine_arthritis
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/CanineArthritisManagement
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/canine-arthritis-management-ltd

Have questions send them to: [email protected]

Stay tuned to learn how early detection can make a significant difference in managing OA in younger dogs.

This May we are fousing on exercise, Hayley Laches joins Nicki Bell to introduce Canine Hoopers, a low-impact dog sport designed to be inclusive for all dogs and handlers. Unlike traditional agility, Hoopers removes jumping, sharp turns and high physical strain, making it especially suitable for older dogs, dogs with mobility issues or those in pain management programs.

Dogs navigate a flowing course of hoops, tunnels, barrels and mats, either alongside their handler or at a distance. The focus is not speed or intensity, but movement, confidence and connection. Hoopers shows that exercise does not need to be high impact to be effective – it can be adapted, accessible and still deeply enriching.

The key message for May: exercise should be possible for every dog – it just needs to be the right kind.

Guest Bio

Hayley Laches is the founder of Canine Hoopers UK (CHUK), established in 2017. She developed Hoopers as an inclusive, low-impact alternative to agility, allowing dogs of all ages and abilities to stay active. Through CHUK, she offers training, competitions and the Good Hoopers Awards, helping owners build stronger relationships with their dogs through accessible exercise.

5 Key Takeaways

1. Exercise is not one-size-fits-all
Even dogs with limitations can stay active – the format just needs to be adapted.
2. Low impact does not mean low value
Controlled movement without jumping or sharp turns still builds strength, coordination and wellbeing.
3. Confidence is as important as fitness
Hoopers supports mental stimulation and reduces fear or frustration linked to movement.
4. Handler flexibility matters
Owners can run with their dog or guide from a distance – making it accessible for humans too.
5. Consistency over intensity
Regular, manageable movement is more beneficial than occasional high-intensity exercise.

Relevant Links

Canine Hoopers UK (CHUK)
https://www.caninehoopersuk.co.uk/

CHUK Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/caninehoopersuk

Hayley Laches website
http://tamingcanines.co.uk/

Learn more about CAM:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CAMarthritis
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/canine_arthritis
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/CanineArthritisManagement
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/canine-arthritis-management-ltd

Have questions send them to: [email protected]

Stay tuned to learn how early detection can make a significant difference in managing OA in younger dogs.

In this April episode, Hannah Capon explains why home adaptations are a core part of managing chronic pain in dogs. She shows how simple changes like improving floor traction, adjusting access points and supporting rest areas can reduce pain, prevent flare-ups and improve confidence.

Using concepts like frailty and acute-on-chronic pain, she highlights that senior and arthritic dogs have less reserve, making slips, stress and poor environments far more impactful. The home can either support recovery or actively worsen the condition.

The key message: the environment should be safer, easier and more enjoyable. It is one of the most powerful, accessible and often overlooked tools in improving quality of life.

Key take homes
1. Home adaptations are a fundamental part of chronic pain management and can significantly influence both disease progression and quality of life.
2. Simple, low-cost changes such as improving floor traction can have a major clinical impact.
3. Osteoarthritis should be viewed as a complex syndrome where environment affects pain amplification, behaviour and flare-ups.
4. Frailty in senior dogs increases vulnerability to slips and environmental stressors, making home safety critical.
5. Chronic pain affects not only movement but also sleep, cognition, behaviour and emotional state.

Relevant links

CAM Member Zone
https://caninearthritis.co.uk/memberzone

It’s My Home Too - https://caninearthritis.co.uk/how-cam-can-help/tools/home-assessment-tool/

Learn more about CAM:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CAMarthritis
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/canine_arthritis
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/CanineArthritisManagement
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/canine-arthritis-management-ltd

Have questions send them to: [email protected]

Stay tuned to learn how early detection can make a significant difference in managing OA in younger dogs.

In this CAM LIVE, Hannah Capon is joined by Mel Bruder and Glenn Mac to explore one of the most overlooked yet influential aspects of managing chronic pain in dogs: flooring. Despite caregivers often investing heavily in hydrotherapy, physiotherapy, medication and supplements, the daily surface a dog walks on can have a huge impact on pain, confidence, function and safety.

The discussion examines why slippery flooring can be so problematic for debilitated or arthritic dogs, how repeated micro-slips affect movement and muscle use, and why flooring should be seen as a core part of case management rather than an afterthought. Hannah brings the veterinary perspective, Mel bridges human occupational therapy and veterinary physiotherapy, and Glenn adds practical expertise from the commercial flooring sector.

The session also introduces how flooring safety is assessed in the human world and how some of those principles can be thoughtfully translated for dogs, even though there is currently no recognised dog-specific flooring safety test. Importantly, the conversation stays grounded in real life, looking at how flooring can be made safer across a range of budgets and home situations.

This episode fits strongly within CAM’s April theme of home adaptations. It reinforces that a dog’s environment is part of treatment, and that changing the surface beneath their feet can meaningfully improve comfort, confidence and quality of life.

Guest Bio

Mel Bruder is a human occupational therapist and veterinary physiotherapist with a particular interest in how environment and function interact. Her dual background allows her to bridge human accessibility thinking with practical canine rehabilitation, making her perspective especially valuable when discussing flooring, mobility and home setup.

Glenn Mac is a flooring specialist with expertise in resolving commercial flooring needs to improve safety for clients and customers. His experience in evaluating slip risk, surface performance and practical installation brings an important real-world perspective to the discussion of safer flooring for dogs.

Key take homes

​ Flooring is a major but often overlooked factor in chronic pain management and can significantly influence mobility, confidence and safety in arthritic dogs.
​ Slippery surfaces do not just increase fall risk; repeated micro-slips can worsen pain, alter gait and contribute to compensatory movement patterns.
​ Home adaptations do not have to be expensive to be effective. Safer pathways, strategic rug placement and thoughtful surface choices can make a big difference.
​ Although there is no recognised dog-specific flooring safety test, human flooring safety principles can help guide more informed choices.
​ Environmental change is treatment. Improving a dog’s flooring can be just as important as adding another therapy session or supplement.

Relevant links

Floors for Paws flooring range
https://www.floorsforpaws.com/commercial/

CAM Member Zone
https://caninearthritis.co.uk/memberzone

Good Day Bad Day Diary
https://caninearthritis.co.uk/gooddaybadday

Learn more about CAM:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CAMarthritis
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/canine_arthritis
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/CanineArthritisManagement
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/canine-arthritis-management-ltd

Have questions send them to: [email protected]

Stay tuned to learn how early detection can make a significant difference in managing OA in younger dogs.

In this April-focused episode from Canine Arthritis Management, Hannah Capon is joined by Evie and Rebecca to introduce the upcoming Chronic Pain Symposium, with a strong emphasis on practical, real-world application, including home adaptations as a core pillar of managing chronic pain.

The episode outlines how this year’s symposium has evolved to better support professionals and caregivers in translating knowledge into action. A key shift is moving beyond theory into practical implementation where environmental changes, daily routines and interdisciplinary collaboration become central to improving outcomes for dogs living with chronic pain.

The team introduces a structured three-day format designed to balance breadth and depth. Bite Size Friday offers accessible, high-impact insights across disciplines, while Saturday introduces dual learning streams tailored to veterinary and allied professionals. Sunday then deepens selected topics, allowing attendees to truly integrate learning into practice.

A recurring theme is that chronic pain management does not sit within one profession or one intervention. Instead, it requires a collaborative, multi-layered approach where home adaptations, behaviour, enrichment and lifestyle changes are as important as clinical treatments.

Ultimately, this episode positions the symposium as more than education – it is a platform for changing how chronic pain is understood, discussed and managed in everyday environments.

Guest Bios

Evie Thurmond is part of the CAM core team, contributing across education, clinical work and content development. She is actively involved in chronic pain clinics, external lecturing and the development of Pain Vet.

Rebecca plays a key role in managing Holly’s Army, CAM’s large caregiver community. She is a hydrotherapist, physiotherapy student and runs a dog daycare, bringing hands-on experience in canine behaviour and welfare.

Key take homes

1. Chronic pain education must translate into real life
Learning is only valuable if it can be applied. Home adaptations, routines and environment are critical bridges between theory and practice.
2. Home adaptations are central, not secondary
From flooring and rest areas to feeding strategies and daily structure, environmental changes are essential for managing pain effectively.
3. Interdisciplinary collaboration is non-negotiable
Veterinary teams, therapists and caregivers must work together. Different perspectives create better outcomes.
4. Depth matters as much as breadth
Broad awareness is important, but true impact comes from deeper understanding and repeated exposure to key topics.
5. Caregiver empowerment drives success
Equipping owners with practical tools and confidence is key to long-term management and improved quality of life.

Event Details

Event: Chronic Pain Symposium by Canine Arthritis Management
Dates: 24–26 April 2026 and it‘s online so you can participate from all over the world.

Structure

Friday
Bite-sized interdisciplinary sessions from multiple professionals

Saturday
Dual streams
• Veterinary stream
• Allied professional stream

Sunday
Deep dives into key topics including
• Pain and behaviour
• Lumbosacral pain
• Frailty and ageing

Plus additional panel discussions on
• Interdisciplinary teamwork
• Rehab modalities and evidence
• Quality of life and end-of-life decisions

Masterclasses (post-event)
• Psychopharmacology with Katrin Jan
• Intra-articular therapies with Joao Alves
• Feline chronic pain with Sarah Caney

Relevant links

Tickets & info
https://caninearthritis.co.uk

CAM Member Zone
https://caninearthritis.co.uk/memberzone

CAM Online Shop
https://www.camonlineshop.com

Holly’s Army (community)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/hollysarmy