Alfie is a 12 year old groodle who was referred for massage by his vet.

Alfie was showing significant weakness in his hind legs and sore regions along his spine. His muscle weakness and sore spots were likely caused by osteoarthritis but the vet also queried whether Alfie's more acute episodes of weakness might be indicative of a degenerative disorder called degenerative myelopathy.

Alfie was rehomed as an adult dog and had not been well cared for by his previous owners - apparently as a young dog a neighbour would allow small children to sit on Alfie like a horse and he also had his tail pulled by the family's child. Trauma as a younger dog may certainly have increased his likelihood of issues in these regions as an old dog.

Fortunately his new family are willing to try all avenues to ensure Alfie is comfortable in his old age. Whilst he did not respond all that well to hydrotherapy or to Zydax injections for his arthritis, he had some improvement with acupuncture and steroid medication. They have been trying regular massage sessions recently and Alfie seems stronger in his hind legs, more stable when walking and turning and has less tender spots along his spine.

We hope to keep Alfie comfortable for as long as possible and in conjunction with a good diet, his parents' vigilance to keep him from gaining weight (despite the steroid meds making him a hungry piggy for his liver treats) and appropriate exercise, he should live a longer, more easeful life.

Update: Alfie has gotten more sensitive to touch as he ages and his condition progresses. We have been able to continue his care by switching to regular laser therapy treatments which are helping to manage pain and reduce inflammation in his spine, hips, knees and ankle joints. Having this alternative treatment available to us enables us to treat dogs who are not well suited to massage techniques.

"We were blown away by how much better Alfie has been after 6 sessions. He moves better, is his cheeky self again and we have got him back on the sand at the beach (something we thought he would never be able to do again.)" Alison and Scott, Alfie's pawrents