We all have heard the saying "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" and many of us Baby Boomers are doing something about it for our lives. We have become aware! Our diets have become very important, fresh foods and good nutritional supplements are a must, and we attend seminars taught by nutrition gurus. We make time for jogging, swimming and going to the health club. Adding exercise to our lifestyles is very important. Exercise, equipment, and exercise methods are bountiful; just tune into late night TV and watch the back-to-back infomercials. Even without all the hype and commitment to certain regimes we understand how much better we feel and how much more energy we have after incorporating exercise into our lives. We have taken back into our hands our health care and seek alternative methods of treatment. Acupuncture, chiropractic, exercise strengthening, hydrotherapy and massage have become standards of care. Prevention has become the wave of our future; we want to live longer and be healthy when reaching retirement so that it can be an enjoyable time. If we can agree with all of this, then I have another question for you. Why don't we do this for our pets?

We spend as a nation billions of dollars on pet products, beds, blankets, bowls, clothing and toys. This is fine; believe me, I buy these things for my dogs, too. But how about honest-to-goodness health prevention? Do you think your dog is immune to pulled muscles, pulled tendons, or torn ligaments? What do you do for your pet after it's undergone hip surgery, or is suffering from arthritis? Rehabilitation is common practice for us humans after injury or surgery. Our orthopedic doctors even prescribe rehabilitation. The body, human or otherwise, does not just magically heal itself; it needs some assistance, such as therapy, exercise, and a good recovery plan as coordinated with your veterinarian with your pet's best interest in mind as its first priority.

I see many dogs for various reasons, but one scenario always stands out: the old or geriatric dog with multiple health problems. I always do the best for them, but sometimes my best is just not good enough. I cannot reverse the effects of some disease or conditions, mostly old age and poor health, which could have prevented.

Many things happen in our households that are potentially dangerous to our dog's physical structure. Tile and marble floors are a big factor in joint injuries within the home. When the pet runs through the house and tries to turn quickly, his feet slip out from under him. Let's slow the fall down to slow motion so you can understand what could happen. The pet's feet slip out from under its body weight. Now there is no support for the hip or shoulder and hyperextension occurs. Hyperextension is an unnatural, rapid or sharp stretch. Extreme tension is placed on the ligaments, and the muscles tighten instantaneously to protect the joint. Next follows a list of possible injuries as a result: torn ligaments, tendons or muscles;cartilage damage or severe muscle pulls. Now let's speed this back up to real time. Your dog is running through the house and repeating this scenario daily. That's not taking into account his jumping on and off the furniture. The jump up might not do any damage as long as he doesn't miss his mark, but the constant leaping off brings extreme concussion and force to the shoulder joints. This force added onto an already injured or arthritic shoulder will cripple your dog quickly.

What can we do about these possible injuries? Place floor mates or carpet runners down with nonslip backings and trim the hair from between the pads. You may want to purchase doggie booties to give traction on slippery floors. What if you already have a dog with an injury, hip dysplasia, arthritis, FHO correction to hip and femur, or one recovering from a surgical procedure? What can you do? Begin with basics by covering the slippery floors and then consult your veterinarian or hire a company like Pet Massage Rehab to implement a program of recovery. The whole dog needs to be treated and its environment adjusted to protect against further injury. Nutrition, exercise, pharmaceutical therapy, supplement support, massage, swimming, and walking all help, but most of all a concise treatment plan for your pet's rehabilitation is necessary.

If you start these things, you can guarantee your pet a healthier, safer and longer life. Ask for help, investigate options, and remember the things that work for you. Your dog will be so much healthier, happier and active as a result of these actions.

-Michael Holloway is a Licensed Massage Therapist with a special interest in pet health therapy. He operates Pet Massage in Boca Raton, Fla., for the massage and rehabilitation of the companion animal. He also teaches seminars locally and nationally. For a brochure or scheduling information, please telephone (561) 393-4732 or fax (561) 218-DOGS. His website is www.petsrehab.com and his e-mail is petmassagerehab@aol.com