In this April episode, Hannah Capon explains why home adaptations are a core part of managing chronic pain in dogs. She shows how simple changes like improving floor traction, adjusting access points and supporting rest areas can reduce pain, prevent flare-ups and improve confidence.

Using concepts like frailty and acute-on-chronic pain, she highlights that senior and arthritic dogs have less reserve, making slips, stress and poor environments far more impactful. The home can either support recovery or actively worsen the condition.

The key message: the environment should be safer, easier and more enjoyable. It is one of the most powerful, accessible and often overlooked tools in improving quality of life.

Key take homes

1. Home adaptations are a fundamental part of chronic pain management and can significantly influence both disease progression and quality of life.

2. Simple, low-cost changes such as improving floor traction can have a major clinical impact.

3. Osteoarthritis should be viewed as a complex syndrome where environment affects pain amplification, behaviour and flare-ups.

4. Frailty in senior dogs increases vulnerability to slips and environmental stressors, making home safety critical.

5. Chronic pain affects not only movement but also sleep, cognition, behaviour and emotional state.

Relevant links

CAM Member Zone

https://caninearthritis.co.uk/memberzone

It’s My Home Too - https://caninearthritis.co.uk/how-cam-can-help/tools/home-assessment-tool/

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, Hannah Capon is joined by Mel Bruder and Glenn Mac to explore one of the most overlooked yet influential aspects of managing chronic pain in dogs: flooring. Despite caregivers often investing heavily in hydrotherapy, physiotherapy, medication and supplements, the daily surface a dog walks on can have a huge impact on pain, confidence, function and safety.

The discussion examines why slippery flooring can be so problematic for debilitated or arthritic dogs, how repeated micro-slips affect movement and muscle use, and why flooring should be seen as a core part of case management rather than an afterthought. Hannah brings the veterinary perspective, Mel bridges human occupational therapy and veterinary physiotherapy, and Glenn adds practical expertise from the commercial flooring sector.

The session also introduces how flooring safety is assessed in the human world and how some of those principles can be thoughtfully translated for dogs, even though there is currently no recognised dog-specific flooring safety test. Importantly, the conversation stays grounded in real life, looking at how flooring can be made safer across a range of budgets and home situations.

This episode fits strongly within CAM’s April theme of home adaptations. It reinforces that a dog’s environment is part of treatment, and that changing the surface beneath their feet can meaningfully improve comfort, confidence and quality of life.

Guest Bio

Mel Bruder is a human occupational therapist and veterinary physiotherapist with a particular interest in how environment and function interact. Her dual background allows her to bridge human accessibility thinking with practical canine rehabilitation, making her perspective especially valuable when discussing flooring, mobility and home setup.

Glenn Mac is a flooring specialist with expertise in resolving commercial flooring needs to improve safety for clients and customers. His experience in evaluating slip risk, surface performance and practical installation brings an important real-world perspective to the discussion of safer flooring for dogs.

Key take homes

1. ​ Flooring is a major but often overlooked factor in chronic pain management and can significantly influence mobility, confidence and safety in arthritic dogs.
2. ​ Slippery surfaces do not just increase fall risk; repeated micro-slips can worsen pain, alter gait and contribute to compensatory movement patterns.
3. ​ Home adaptations do not have to be expensive to be effective. Safer pathways, strategic rug placement and thoughtful surface choices can make a big difference.
4. ​ Although there is no recognised dog-specific flooring safety test, human flooring safety principles can help guide more informed choices.
5. ​ Environmental change is treatment. Improving a dog’s flooring can be just as important as adding another therapy session or supplement.

Relevant links

Floors for Paws flooring range

https://www.floorsforpaws.com/commercial/

CAM Member Zone

https://caninearthritis.co.uk/memberzone

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 April-focused episode from Canine Arthritis Management, Hannah Capon is joined by Evie and Rebecca to introduce the upcoming Chronic Pain Symposium, with a strong emphasis on practical, real-world application, including home adaptations as a core pillar of managing chronic pain.

The episode outlines how this year’s symposium has evolved to better support professionals and caregivers in translating knowledge into action. A key shift is moving beyond theory into practical implementation where environmental changes, daily routines and interdisciplinary collaboration become central to improving outcomes for dogs living with chronic pain.

The team introduces a structured three-day format designed to balance breadth and depth. Bite Size Friday offers accessible, high-impact insights across disciplines, while Saturday introduces dual learning streams tailored to veterinary and allied professionals. Sunday then deepens selected topics, allowing attendees to truly integrate learning into practice.

A recurring theme is that chronic pain management does not sit within one profession or one intervention. Instead, it requires a collaborative, multi-layered approach where home adaptations, behaviour, enrichment and lifestyle changes are as important as clinical treatments.

Ultimately, this episode positions the symposium as more than education – it is a platform for changing how chronic pain is understood, discussed and managed in everyday environments.

Guest Bios

Evie Thurmond is part of the CAM core team, contributing across education, clinical work and content development. She is actively involved in chronic pain clinics, external lecturing and the development of Pain Vet.

Rebecca plays a key role in managing Holly’s Army, CAM’s large caregiver community. She is a hydrotherapist, physiotherapy student and runs a dog daycare, bringing hands-on experience in canine behaviour and welfare.

Key take homes

1. Chronic pain education must translate into real life

Learning is only valuable if it can be applied. Home adaptations, routines and environment are critical bridges between theory and practice.

2. Home adaptations are central, not secondary

From flooring and rest areas to feeding strategies and daily structure, environmental changes are essential for managing pain effectively.

3. Interdisciplinary collaboration is non-negotiable

Veterinary teams, therapists and caregivers must work together. Different perspectives create better outcomes.

4. Depth matters as much as breadth

Broad awareness is important, but true impact comes from deeper understanding and repeated exposure to key topics.

5. Caregiver empowerment drives success

Equipping owners with practical tools and confidence is key to long-term management and improved quality of life.

Event Details

Event: Chronic Pain Symposium by Canine Arthritis Management

Dates: 24–26 April 2026 and it‘s online so you can participate from all over the world.

Structure

Friday

Bite-sized interdisciplinary sessions from multiple professionals

Saturday

Dual streams

• Veterinary stream

• Allied professional stream

Sunday

Deep dives into key topics including

• Pain and behaviour

• Lumbosacral pain

• Frailty and ageing

Plus additional panel discussions on

• Interdisciplinary teamwork

• Rehab modalities and evidence

• Quality of life and end-of-life decisions

Masterclasses (post-event)

• Psychopharmacology with Katrin Jan

• Intra-articular therapies with Joao Alves

• Feline chronic pain with Sarah Caney

Relevant links

Tickets & info

https://caninearthritis.co.uk

CAM Member Zone

https://caninearthritis.co.uk/memberzone

CAM Online Shop

https://www.camonlineshop.com

Holly’s Army (community)

https://www.facebook.com/groups/hollysarmy