Physiotherapy Improves Dogs’ Quality of Life

A person's quality of life (QOL), which may be measured using psychometric instruments and shown in pet behaviour, reflects their wellbeing. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), QOL models should reflect the range of life features, consider circumstances beyond physical welfare, and assess experiences at the population and individual levels. Recent scientific research emphasizes the value of evaluating patients' quality of life in veterinary settings. In the current study, 20 adult dogs' quality of life was assessed before and after receiving physiotherapy, and its association with their clinical symptoms was examined.

From patients referred to the "Zampe Amore e Fisioterapia" referral clinic for physiotherapy for orthopaedic, neurological, and/or degenerative disorders, dogs were chosen using convenience sampling. According to the literature, the MPQL scores were determined and divided into four domains: physical QOL, psychological QOL, social QOL, and environmental QOL. A higher score denoted a higher level of QOL in each domain. According to the research, some MPQL variables whose owners could select more than one choice were divided into positive and negative affective indicators. The likelihood ratio test and the pseudo R2 obtained with the Nagelkerke method were used to evaluate the model's fit.

In this study, a multi-domain QOL assessment tool called the MPQL was used to track changes in dogs' quality of life (QOL) after receiving physiotherapy. As expected, the medication increased the canines' psychological QOL. This confirms recent findings that physical discomfort has a significant impact on companion animals' mental wellbeing, which is reflected in their behaviour, such as the display of troublesome behaviour, indicators of fear, or aggressive behaviour. A cognitive test known as the cognitive bias test was performed in the study to demonstrate that dogs with syringomyelia had a bias toward negative emotion, probably because of the ongoing discomfort they experience.

Contrary to what we anticipated, there was no discernible difference in the QOL questionnaire's results for the physical, social, and environmental domains from the start to the completion of the physiotherapy treatment. This finding may be explained by the fact that, within each domain, only a small number of factors are impacted by the dog's pain and restricted mobility. The current findings reveal that there is a correlation between physical QOL and how serious the medical condition is, indicating that the questionnaire does capture some of the impacts of the ailment. Additionally, the research contends that sensory deterioration is detectable by dog owners and that it frequently results in an increase in behavioural issues as reported by owners, particularly for mature and older dogs.

Overall, the findings are consistent with prior research showing that the dog's psychological health is influenced by both physical health and suffering. The findings also emphasize the value of looking into the psychological and emotional components of dogs' quality of life (QOL) when treating orthopaedic and neurological problems with physiotherapy.

Source: Veterinary Sciences