A number of animals have formed a close relationship with humanity, and many species have become domesticated for a number of reasons. Some, such as cows, are used for many goods from their milk to meat and leather, and many other livestock species may be found such as chickens and pigs. Meanwhile, other animals are valued for their labor, and dogs and horses are common animals for work, both past and present. Before the Industrial Revolution, dogs and horses performed a lot of manual labor alongside people, when horses and oxen plowed fields and pulled carts. Horses were also used for everyday transport and also war mounts. Today, much of this animal labor has been mechanized, and no one uses horse or ox-driven plows or rides horses into battle. But horses and dogs are still valued animals, and horses are popular for racing, leisurely riding, and hobby breeding. Dogs, meanwhile, are valued pets and companions and even still perform their time-honored jobs of herding assistance and hunting. Some breeds are named after this work, such as golden retriever or German shepherd. Such important animals have their own field of medicine and therapeutic products, ranging from therapy dog products like dog wrist braces to braces for calves or fleece blankets for horses. When is it time for therapy dog products?
Horses
Today, over 400 species of domesticated horses can be found around the world, all of which are classified as grazers. As mentioned above, horses have had many of their manual labor jobs mechanized, but these hoofed animals are prized for racing (such as the Kentucky Derby), leisurely riding, and breeding them as a hobby. Due to their great use in the past and continuing popularity today, horses have access to proper medicine, and some veterinarians specialize in them in particular. A horse owner should be ready to spot a problem with their horses and call for a specialized doctor to look them over and recommend treatment for them. A horse may be suffering from a bone fracture, strained muscle, or a bad joint if it refuses to bear weight or oddly shifts its own weight on its legs. Horses may also make sounds of distress or refuse to run or trot.
If a horse is clearly distressed, a veterinarian may be called to look it over, and this specialist may then recommend therapeutic products for the horse. These animals may have ankle wraps put on, for example, or leg braces if the horse’s leg muscles, a bone fracture, or a bad joint are the problem. Wraps for horses or shoulder guards may allow the horse to stand and trot normally while not further straining the affected limb or body part, sparing it a great deal of discomfort. This also means that the affected area may heal naturally over time if it is not being stressed. Horse fleece blankets may be fitted onto a horse to help with shoulder or back muscle problems, and may help keep the horse warm.
Therapy Dog Products
Like horses, dogs have a long-standing relationship with people, often known as “Man’s best friend.” This means that a lot of care and accommodations have been made for dogs both past and present, and veterinarians are intimately familiar with a dog’s health and anatomy. Today, any ill or injured dog may be taken to a vet’s office, and pet owners may look up open vet clinics or animal hospitals near them with an online search. Not only is medicine available for dogs, such as for “Kennel cough” or heartworms, but therapy dog products are widely available too.
Dogs love to run, but they may sometimes strain a muscle, fracture a bone during a fight or falling down a great distance, or they may suffer joint issues. A dog’s hock joint, similar to a person’s ankle joint, may get caught in the ground during running or snag on something, and this may strain the dog’s hock joint. This injury may make walking or even standing difficult for the dog, as can bone fractures. Therefore, therapy dog products may be bought and used to help a dog recover naturally and prevent further distress while walking. Therapeutic dog beds allow them to lay down without further distressing bones or muscles.
