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

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.