Slower, shorter, sadder: a qualitative study exploring how dog walks change when the canine participant develops osteoarthritis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Dog walking may have multiple physical and mental health advantages, but not all dog owners appear to benefit. Dog health is a described barrier to dog walking activity, but specific causes and impacts of reduced exercise in owners of dogs with health problems have not previously been reported. The current study used a qualitative methodology to explore the impact of canine osteoarthritis on dog walking activity.

Methods

Owners of dogs with osteoarthritis living in the United Kingdom (UK) were recruited through veterinary practices for semi-structured interview about life with an osteoarthritic dog. Participants were asked to reflect on walks that they had taken with their dog before he/she developed osteoarthritis, and to describe how those walks had changed. Int

SUBMITTER: Belshaw Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7063782 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature