We have a number of happy stories to share on how the Loop can help older pets with chronic inflammatory conditions such as osteoarthritis.  With relief from pain, many older dogs and cats start doing things they haven’t done in years, like jumping, playing, or enjoying being pet.

 

In this 4 part series, we’ll post stories of pets who are getting their quality of life back after finding relief from osteoarthritis symptoms by using the Assisi Loop.

 

Here, Dr. Stephanie Medcroft describes Xena’s case.  Dr. Medcroft is a small animal veterinarian with an interest in Chinese medicine and an integrative, holistic approach to animal wellness.  She has used the Loop with great success in both dogs and cats.

 

 

Dr. Medcroft: Xena is a 12 1/2-year-old lab with severe osteoarthritis.

 

Xena's owner points to her back- which no longer has a pronounced hump after using the Loop regularly.I started treating Xena about 2 years ago when I saw her for an acute flare up of a chronic degenerative problem.   Her family lives about an hour from the practice and it is difficult for her to come in because car rides are very stressful for her.  I want the clients to have things they can do at home.   Eighteen months ago I started her on Adequan injections, the injectable form of glucosamine.  She takes a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug daily and occasionally gets Tramadol, a synthetic narcotic, for acute flare-ups. I would love to try acupuncture on her but I think the distance and stress of the carried prohibit that.

 

Six months ago we started the Assisi Loop.  Most of Xena’s arthritis and pain is spinal and she has significant radiographic changes in her spine— thoracolumbar spondylosis.  She has a noticeable hump or curvature in her spine.  The owners reported that within about 2 weeks of using the Loop over her spine for 15 minutes twice daily, the visible hump had diminished– I suspect because of muscle relaxation.  Curvatures can happen when there is a lot of muscle tension and muscle contracture secondary to pain (caused by osteoarthritis in Xena’s case).  The Loop helped to reduce this inflammation and relax the large supportive muscles along the spine.

 

Xena a year before she started using the Loop. It looks like she is arching her back slightly, and pulling her hips forward. Possibly because of pain. The Loop lends itself very well to a hands-on approach which many of my clients love.  While the Loop can be secured with vet wrap, tape, a tight T-shirt etc, many owners are happy to sit with their companion and pet or massage him/her during the treatment.  This physical connection between owner and pet is indirectly part of the healing and therapy for many patients.

 

I frequently use the Loop in the hospital, occasionally during an appointment.  When a dog feels better (evidenced by a more relaxed stance or improved gait) leaving the exam room than it did entering the exam room, and the only thing I have done is use the Loop for 20 minutes, which speaks volumes to me.  This Assisi Loop can be incorporated into a holistic integrative therapeutic approach in treating osteoarthritis in many patients.

 

 

Assisi with Thundershirt xenaFind out more about the Loop and how it helps manage symptoms of osteoarthritis in two daily treatments.  No drugs are needed and no side effects are experienced.