YOU CAN'T TEACH AN OLD DOG NEW TRICKS... FALSE

True or False…. YOU CAN’T TEACH AN OLD DOG NEW TRICKS…

Why this is FALSE and what you need to know to help your dog

recover from injury and move better!

It used to be believed that new connections in the brain

were limited to the young and as we age, the ability to ‘rewire’ the brain and learn a new skill or recover from a traumatic injury was lost.

We now know the nervous system is dynamic, changing in response to what’s happening internally and within the environment.

The brain’s ability to reorganize itself is called ‘NEUROPLASTICITY’ and can be utilized to HELP YOUR DOG RECOVER from an injury, learn to move again, and improve their quality of life.

NEUROPLASTICITY FOR NEUROLOGIC & ORTHOPAEDIC REHAB

We may think this is limited to neurologic injury but it isn’t! Let’s say your dog had a TPLO (knee surgery for a ligament tear). The surgery went well, you took your dog to laser therapy and underwater treadmill, and did all their range of motion exercises yet they still won’t fully weight bear on the surgical leg. WHY?

One possibility is that they’ve “learned” over time not to use the leg. Now let’s say you introduce a different sensation (stimulus). Perhaps it’s some kinesiology tape along the quadricep or you put something annoying like an oversized boot on the “good leg”, or maybe take them to their favorite dog park that you haven’t been to in 6 months. Suddenly they are trotting around like nothing is wrong!

What?! How’d that happen???

It doesn’t always happen this fast but what has happened here is you’ve created a different sensation in the body or a different experience to make new pathways and stimulate ones not being used to remind the body to use the leg again.

NEUROPLASTICITY

Canine Rehab Therapist and Dr. of Physical Therapy, Amie Lamoreaux Hesbach explains it beautifully….

“Think of the nervous system like a ball of clay or PlayDoh, maybe. (Remember that stuff? The smell of it, still, takes me back!) Pliable, flexible, but holds a shape. Easily moldable, but with some consistency or resistance to the force that we apply to it, whether we roll it, smash it, squeeze it…”

WANT TO LEARN MORE….

About how you can influence your dog’s world to help them move and have a better quality of life?

YES!!!! of course you do!

JOIN Dr. Amie Hesbach and I for a 3 part series on Canine Rehab and neuroplasticity in Living with Dogs with Disabilities This series is designed for the dog parent and everyone is welcome!