Physiotherapy Improves Dogs’ Quality of Life Measured with the Milan Pet Quality of Life Scale: Is Pain Involved?
Articolo
Data di Pubblicazione:
2022
Citazione:
Physiotherapy Improves Dogs’ Quality of Life Measured with the Milan Pet Quality of Life Scale: Is Pain Involved? / P. Piotti, M. Albertini, E. Lavesi, A. Ferri, F. Pirrone. - In: VETERINARY SCIENCES. - ISSN 2306-7381. - 9:7(2022 Jul 02), pp. 335.1-335.9. [10.3390/vetsci9070335]
Abstract:
Quality of life is defined as an individual’s satisfaction with its physical and psychological
health, its physical and social environment, and its ability to interact with the environment. Under-
standing companion dogs’ QOL can help veterinarians and owners know when treatment options
have successfully alleviated symptoms of disease in such fields as veterinary physiotherapy. For this
study, 20 adult dogs were selected from patients of a physiotherapy referral center with orthopedic,
neurological, and/or degenerative conditions. The severity of the medical problem was ranked, and
the symptoms, the treatment plan, and demographic data were recorded at the time of the physical
examination. In addition, the owner of the dog was asked to fill out a questionnaire on the quality of
life of the pet (the Milan Pet Quality of Life scale) at the time of the first consultation as well as the last
follow-up after the treatment. The MPQL measures four domains of QOL: physical (signs of medical
conditions), psychological (emotional and behavioral well-being), social (quality and extent of social
interactions), and environmental (freedom and safety in one’s environment). The results of the study
indicated a significant improvement in the psychological QOL domain following physiotherapeutic
treatment. The social QOL domain declined with the severity of lameness, while the physical QOL, as
reported by the owner, declined with the overall criticality of the medical condition, as ranked by the
physiotherapist. The results of the study support the recent evidence of a relationship between pain
and canine psychological well-being and highlight the importance of investigating psychological and
emotional aspects of dogs’ QOL when treating orthopedic and neurological cases with physiotherapy.
Tipologia IRIS:
01 - Articolo su periodico
Keywords:
physiotherapy; physiatric exam; dog; pain; quality of life; well-being
Elenco autori:
P. Piotti, M. Albertini, E. Lavesi, A. Ferri, F. Pirrone
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