Episode 80 - Why Adapting Your Dog’s Environment is Key to Managing Arthritis - Matt Shackleton

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: [e-mail]

Stay tuned to learn how early detection can make a significant difference in managing OA in younger dogs.