Caring for your Fur Babies and your Pelvic Floor

By Dr. Marin Cole, a pelvic floor physical therapist, Kansas City (Lees Summit, Missouri)

A few tips for the dog moms or cat moms out there who aren’t sure if their back pain or pelvic pain might be coming from taking care of their fur babies!

Cleaning out the cat litter

When you’re doing the dreadful task of cleaning out your cat litter there are more correct ways to lift and bend. You want to make sure that when you are bending down to pick up the litter you are first of all breathing in as you lower down (we will get to that later) and bend from your hips and knees, not your spine. Then, as you stand back up you want to make sure to engage your butt muscles to propel back up to standing, while you exhale! If you are going to be cleaning the cat litter for any length of time I would also recommend a kneeling position so you are not forced to bend over the entire time. 

Putting the leash on your pup

If your pup is anything like mine, getting their harness and leash on usually involves some jumping, tail wagging, and of course rolling around on the ground. If this sounds like your experience too, you can imagine how your back may hurt from leaning over for 30-60 seconds trying to deal with their excitement. If your dog is calmer I would recommend doing what I discussed above and just bend from your hips and knees as you bend over to attach the leash. On the other hand, if your dog is wild one, I would recommend resting on one knee so you are more on the dog’s level and not having to lean over.

Walking your pup

Walking your dog is similar to pushing a stroller, a great workout, but done poorly can definitely contribute to back pain and pelvic floor dysfunction. Now I’m definitely not a dog trainer so I can’t be the one to tell you how your dog should walk, but I am a pelvic floor physical therapist so I can help you learn how you should walk. When you are walking, whether you’re pushing a stroller or being dragged by your dog there are a few things to be mindful of. Firstly, breathe. Make sure you are not holding your breath. This will make sure that your pelvic floor muscles are moving appropriately as you walk. Second, posture. The easiest way to think about having “ideal” posture for your pelvic floor is to have your ribs stacked directly on top of your pelvis, in other words, don’t push out your butt or ribs, and don’t round your back!

Carrying your pup or cat (especially if your cat is 15 pounds like mine!)

Carrying your dog or cat is kinda like carrying your kids. They get heavier with age, they wiggle, and if you are constantly holding them the wrong way, your back and pelvic floor will let you know. As mentioned above with walking, you want to keep your ribs stacked on top of your pelvis whenever you are carrying your fur baby. This will allow for your abs to be engaged and distribute weight evenly throughout your pelvic floor. Take breaks. If you love to carry your fur baby whenever you are at home, just be sure to take breaks. Usually this isn’t as big of an issue with our pets, but this is extra important with your kiddos, because well let's face it, they’re tiny humans and can be more demanding.

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