While heat and cold therapies are generally perceived as effective and safe methods for relieving pain and assisting in healing musculoskeletal conditions in dogs, there is confusion about when to use them, the appropriate temperature, and the duration of the application.

When to use cold to treat muscle injury in dogs?

Cold treatment, also referred to as cryotherapy removes heat and decreases the temperature of the contact area. Cold treatment triggers the dog’s vasoconstriction reflex to reduce blood flow to the cooled tissue. As such, it is effective in reducing oedema and slowing the delivery of inflammatory mediators to the site of the injury.

Cold also has a local anaesthetic effect. It reduces the activation threshold of nociceptors (receptors of noxious stimuli) and the velocity at which nerves conduct pain signals.

Due to the way that cold treatment affects the dogs’ body, it is therefore effective for managing acute muscle injury or trauma (within the first 72 hours). At this stage of an injury, cold treatment reduces inflammation, oedema and pain.

Cold treatment is also effective for reducing muscle soreness caused by muscle overload from repetitive actions.

How to apply cold treatments to dogs?

Cold can be applied to dogs in a number of safe ways including: bags of crushed ice, ice / gel packs, and ice massage.

See below for appropriate temperatures and durations to apply cold treatments.

When to use heat to treat muscle strain in dogs?

Heat treatment increases tissue temperature. It stimulates vasodilation and increases blood flow to the body’s tissue. In so doing, heat promotes healing by increasing tissue metabolism and increasing the supply of nutrients and oxygen to the tissues. Heat also changes the viscoelastic properties of collagenous tissue (such as tendons) which results in improved range of motion.

Heat therapy is effective for treating muscular pain and soreness by nourishing and lubricating the soft tissues.

How to apply heat treatments to dogs?

Heat therapy can be applied in a number of ways including hot water bottles, heat packs, hot towels or deep heat therapy such as diathermy or ultrasound.

How long should you apply heat or cold to a dog with muscle strain?

When using heat and cold therapy with dogs, there is a risk of burning their skin and overheating. When using heat, the temperature should be 5 – 12 degrees higher than the dog’s normal body temperature which is approximately 38 degrees. While cold treatments can range from 4 – 24 degrees.

In terms of the amount of time to apply the treatment, the general rule is that the more extreme the temperature, the shorter the duration of application. A short duration is 5 – 15 seconds while an average period, depending on the dog’s level of comfort is approximately two (2) minutes.

What are the risks of using hot or cold treatments on dogs with muscle soreness?

While generally safe, some precautions need to be considered when using hot and cold therapies to address pain and inflammation in dogs.

If applying ice via an ice massage with ice directly touching the skin, the duration should be very short (only 1 -2 seconds) over a particular area. Ice applied directly to the skin, particularly in short haired dogs can cause burns and sensitise nociceptors resulting in pain.

Another consideration for older dogs when using heat and cold therapy, is the weight of a heat or cold pack. Over bony areas such as hips or their vertebrae, a heavy pack may be uncomfortable even for a short period as it adds pressure to already sensitive areas. A good alternative in these cases is to use a slightly damp, cooled or warmed towel.

Finally, when using hot and cold treatments, always supervise your dog closely and monitor them for signs of discomfort. Dogs should not be left unattended with a hot or cold pack.

Following a massage treatment, a warm towel over the dog’s body is often recommended to increase the effectiveness of the treatment by maintaining the blood flow to continue delivering nutrients to muscles and flushing toxins from the soft tissues.

Full Stride offers remedial canine massage treatments. Treatments are offered in the dog’s home or at our clinic based on the north side of Brisbane, Australia.

Until next time, enjoy your dogs.

Source:

Hourdebaight, Jean-Pierre 2004, Canine Massage: A complete reference manual 2nd edition, Dogwise Publishing, Wenatchee WA, USA

Malanga, G.A, Yan, N & Stark, J. 2014 “Mechanisms and efficacy of heat and cold therapies for musculoskeletal injury” Postgraduate Medicine, December 2014