Although I think most people are familiar with dysplasia, I thought it might be of use to just review what it is. Hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia are the common terms used to describe the abnormal development of the respective joints. Both hip and elbow dysplasia are inherited conditions.

Believe it or not, dogs are born to work. With a few exceptions, most are bred for a particular working purpose, such as herding, guarding, or pulling carts. dog sleeping on couch web sized

So what’s the predominant job our dogs do now? You got it – couch potato.

We get this question a lot – what is Pilates? The Pilates method was developed by Joseph Pilates. As a child, he was unhealthy and studied many forms of self-improvement drawing from Eastern practices and Zen Buddhism. Through his studies, he was motivated by the Greek’s ideal of man who was perfected through the development of body, mind and spirit.

If your dog is 30% above his normal weight, he is obese. Do you realize that by allowing your dog to get obese, he may be facing serious health issues? Like people, extra pounds put additional stress on every organ in the body and the consequences can manifest itself in sickness and worst case, death. Some of these health issues include,

We all know the saying “use it or lose it”. This saying not only applies to us, but also our dogs. We all need to exercise regularly. Our dogs need regular, moderate and healthy exercise. The proper level of exercise depends on a number of factors, including age, weight, physical condition, and more.

Most people are under the assumption that mixed breeds are healthier than purebreds. There is some logic to this. When two or more breeds are blended together, we assume the chance of inheriting a breed–specific disease or condition is less probable. Designer breeds have become very popular because of the notion that breed blending produces healthier dogs.

I was talking to a friend the other day who has a 7 month old lab. She talked about how much energy he had and that she’d been running with him for a few miles each day. I suggested she rethink that, and she asked why. Labs and other larger dogs have growth plates that don’t close until the dog is over a year old.

I’ve been thinking recently about canine massage and why many people view it as a luxury rather than a necessity. In the human world, massage is routinely prescribed by doctors these days because the medical benefits are so clear and are growing daily.

A study in the Journal of Sports Science and Medicine showed a 57 percent increase in long term fitness for individuals who worked out with a personal trainer. Why is this? Here are some reasons.

Motivation and accountability. If you’re on your own you’re apt to put off working out. Not only will a personal trainer provide motivation and encouragement necessary to remain committed but will also provide a measure of structure and accountability.

An interesting article by Dr. Becker talks about osteochondrosis, an orthopedic disease that occurs in young, fast growing dogs, especially large and giant breeds such as dobermans, retrievers, and great danes. The most common form of the disease is osteochondritis dissecans or OCD, a defect in bone development at the extremity of the bone.

We are the only Orlando dog boarding and Orlando doggie day care center that has an indoor heated pool for dogs. See it for yourself by scheduling a tour!

Rocky's Retreat | 2826 Shader Rd. Orlando FL 32808 | info@rockysretreat.com | (407) 295-3888