In this April episode of Canine Arthritis Management, Hannah Capon is joined by Matt Shackleton to explore a physiotherapist’s perspective on managing canine osteoarthritis, with a strong focus on home adaptations and environmental impact.

The conversation highlights that effective arthritis management goes far beyond medication or exercise plans. Instead, the dog’s daily environment plays a critical role in shaping pain, mobility and behaviour. From flooring and bedding to lighting, routine and emotional safety, small environmental changes can significantly influence outcomes.

Matt brings a unique lens from zoo and exotic animal practice, demonstrating how environment, enrichment and species-specific needs directly affect pain expression and recovery. These principles translate clearly to dogs, where overlooked factors such as slippery floors, feeding routines, over-arousal or lack of rest can worsen pain cycles.

A key theme is that pain is not purely physical. The environment influences emotional state, behaviour and even motivation to move. Dogs living in suboptimal environments may disengage, move less or develop maladaptive behaviours, all of which can accelerate disease progression.

Ultimately, this episode reinforces that home adaptations are not “nice to have” but essential. When done well, they can reduce pain, improve function and enhance quality of life - often with simple, accessible changes.

Guest Bio

Matt Shackleton holds a Master’s degree in Veterinary Physiotherapy and is a lecturer at Harper Adams University. His background spans zoo keeping, animal behaviour science and physiotherapy, giving him a multidisciplinary perspective on animal welfare, movement and pain.

He consults internationally with zoos and delivers workshops on enrichment, movement and rehabilitation, focusing on how environment and behaviour influence health outcomes across species.

Key take homes

1. The home environment is a core part of treatment

Flooring, bedding, lighting, layout and routine directly influence pain, mobility and recovery. Small adaptations can create measurable improvements.

2. Pain is shaped by environment, not just pathology

Stress, predictability, emotional safety and enrichment all affect how pain is experienced and expressed.

3. Observation in context is critical

Seeing the dog in its real environment often reveals issues that are missed in clinic settings, from movement patterns to behavioural triggers.

4. One-size-fits-all advice does not work

Effective home adaptations must be tailored to the individual dog, household and caregiver capabilities.

5. Behaviour, routine and interaction patterns matter

Feeding habits, multi-dog dynamics, over-arousal and daily structure can either support or sabotage arthritis management.

Relevant links

CAM Member Zone (home adaptations, downloads and tools)

https://caninearthritis.co.uk/memberzone

Physiotherapy pyramid (Jamie McClellan et al.)

https://www.physio-pedia.com/Physiotherapy_in_Veterinary_Medicine

DogMa app (LOAD questionnaire)

https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/dogma

CAM online shop (home adaptation and enrichment tools)

https://www.camonlineshop.com

Learn more about CAM:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CAMarthritis

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/canine_arthritis

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/CanineArthritisManagement

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/canine-arthritis-management-ltd

Have questions send them to: info@caninearthritis.co.uk

Stay tuned to learn how early detection can make a significant difference in managing OA in younger dogs.

In this CAM episode, Evie and Jo introduce a practical, caregiver-focused tool developed by the Canine Arthritis Management team to support one of the biggest challenges discussed throughout March: weight management.

The episode walks through a newly created weight loss tracking pack available in the CAM Member Zone. The aim of the tool is to simplify and structure the weight loss journey for both caregivers and professionals by removing guesswork and creating clear, visible accountability.

The pack includes guidance on body condition scoring, measurement tracking, food diaries, weekly checklists and milestone celebrations. A strong emphasis is placed on making weight management a shared household effort, highlighting how inconsistent feeding habits across family members can quickly derail progress.

The discussion also explores practical, realistic strategies such as enrichment feeding, breaking meals into smaller portions, replacing food with attention, and tracking everything that enters the dog’s mouth. Importantly, the episode reinforces that weight loss is not a short-term fix but a long-term lifestyle shift that must be sustainable.

This episode sits firmly within CAM’s March theme of weight management and provides a highly actionable framework to support caregivers in achieving and maintaining a healthy body condition for their dogs.

Guest Bio

Evie is Head Nurse at Canine Arthritis Management, working closely with both caregivers and veterinary teams to support practical implementation of arthritis management strategies in clinical and home environments.

Jo leads brand and communication at CAM, translating clinical knowledge into accessible tools, resources and campaigns that support caregiver engagement and behavioural change.

Key take homes

1. Weight management requires structure and visibility. Tools like tracking sheets and food diaries help remove guesswork and keep all caregivers aligned.

2. Consistency across the household is critical. Without a shared plan, untracked treats and duplicate feeding can quickly undermine progress.

3. Enrichment feeding is a powerful alternative to traditional feeding, increasing engagement, slowing intake and improving wellbeing without adding calories.

4. Weight loss should be approached as a long-term lifestyle change, not a short-term diet, requiring sustainable habits and realistic routines.

5. Small behavioural shifts, such as tracking all food intake, preparing meals in advance and replacing treats with attention, can have a significant cumulative impact.

Relevant links

CAM Member Zone (includes the weight loss tracking pack)

https://caninearthritis.co.uk/memberzone

Canine Arthritis Management resources

https://caninearthritis.co.uk

CAM online shop (enrichment tools)

https://www.camonlineshop.com

Good Day Bad Day Diary

https://caninearthritis.co.uk/gooddaybadday

Learn more about CAM:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CAMarthritis

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/canine_arthritis

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/CanineArthritisManagement

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/canine-arthritis-management-ltd

Have questions send them to: info@caninearthritis.co.uk

Stay tuned to learn how early detection can make a significant difference in managing OA in younger dogs.

In this CAM LIVE episode, Esme Howells is joined by Helen Coleman and Victoria Bowes to explore practical, everyday approaches to managing obesity in dogs.

The conversation focuses on realistic strategies caregivers can implement at home, from portion control and feeding habits to enrichment-based approaches that support both physical and mental wellbeing. A key concept discussed is the Delboeuf illusion, demonstrating how bowl size and presentation can influence how much we perceive as an appropriate portion, often leading to unintentional overfeeding.

Helen and Victoria share a range of practical feeding tips and enrichment ideas that can help reduce calorie intake while maintaining satisfaction and engagement for the dog. The episode highlights how small environmental and behavioural adjustments can make a meaningful difference in long-term weight management.

This episode aligns closely with CAM’s focus on weight management, emphasising that sustainable change comes from consistent daily habits rather than short-term interventions.

Original publishing date: September 2020

Video recording: https://youtu.be/ng2j5VwuOSA

Guest Bio

Victoria Bowes is a Veterinary Nursing Course Manager at Moreton Morrell College. She is a qualified veterinary nurse with over 20 years of experience across small animal and emergency practice. Victoria has also contributed to the development of veterinary nursing programmes across multiple awarding institutions.

Helen Coleman is a lecturer and subject leader for animal-related degree courses at Moreton Morrell College. She holds a BSc (Hons) in Animal Welfare and Management and previously worked in pet retail before moving into education. With over 13 years of teaching experience, her focus is on promoting responsible pet ownership and shaping future professionals in the animal sector.

Key take homes

1. Obesity management often starts with human perception, and tools like the Delboeuf illusion highlight how easily portion sizes can be misjudged.

2. Small environmental changes, such as bowl size and feeding presentation, can significantly influence feeding behaviour and calorie intake.

3. Enrichment feeding is a powerful tool, helping to slow intake, increase mental stimulation and improve satiety without increasing calories.

4. Sustainable weight management depends on consistent daily habits rather than restrictive short-term diets.

5. Educating caregivers on practical, realistic strategies is key to achieving and maintaining a healthy body condition in dogs.

Relevant links

The Management of Pet Obesity book

https://www.5mbooks.com/the-management-of-pet-obesity.html

Learn more about CAM:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CAMarthritis

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/canine_arthritis

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/CanineArthritisManagement

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/canine-arthritis-management-ltd

Have questions send them to: info@caninearthritis.co.uk

Stay tuned to learn how early detection can make a significant difference in managing OA in younger dogs.