Contents

Indications for Care

What will a chiropractor do?

What does chiropractic treatment consist of?

Case study – A dog called Madge

Indications for Care

For the dog there are many ways of causing joint dysfunction. Many of our dogs these days are not working in the ways they were bred to work.  Long periods of inactivity may be followed by bursts of vigorous exercise; collars may be a poor fit or inappropriate for the dog and/or handler.  Sports such as agility or fly ball can also cause problems in the musculoskeletal system due to microtrauma or knocks and falls.   

The symptoms can be very varied and may include:

·        Unusual behaviour patterns

·        Sensitivity to touch

·        Evasions, e.g. extending the head and neck

·        Refusal or resistance in performance

·        Abnormal posture when standing

·        “Puppy” sitting (pelvis twisted to one side)

·        Lick granulomas

Often, there is no obvious physical cause or frank lameness.  If you have noticed the above changes in your dog, speak to your vet about seeing a chiropractor.

(Top of Page)

What will the chiropractor do?

The chiropractor will ask questions of the owner and carry out an examination which usually includes an analysis of both posture and gait. Assessment of the animal may reveal asymmetries, such as unequal muscle size or tone between the left and right side which are not normal for that animal.

The chiropractor will also look for abnormal head or neck placement, foot placement or any sign that the posture being adopted is not normal for that animal.

The chiropractor may then assess the range of movement of the animal's spine to see if it is even on both sides, as well as feeling the muscles around the spine to assess any muscle spasm, swelling or the presence of any hot or cold spots that will indicate an alteration in circulation.

The chiropractor may assess whether there is any lameness, weakness, "hiking" of one hip, shortening of the stride, stumbling, inco-ordination or bizarre or restricted movement.

 In order for the chiropractor to properly assess your animal, it may be necessary for you to provide diagnostic information from the treating veterinarian, including any imaging or reports.  It is extremely important that you provide as full-as-possible medical history for your animal.  With this information your veterinarian and your chiropractor can determine whether Chiropractic care can help your animal. 

(Top of Page)

What does chiropractic treatment consist of?

The treatment will not hurt the dog; in fact most animals thoroughly enjoy it! It is quite common for an animal to become increasingly relaxed as the treatment progresses even to the point of becoming drowsy.

The chiropractic adjustment consists of a short, fast thrust to a specific area which releases muscle spasm, alleviates pain and returns the joint to its normal range of motion. This allows the body to restore its own natural balance and harmony.

Case study – a dog called Madge

Meet Madge - Madge is the young Scottish terrier who features in this website.  She is a rescue dog.  When she arrived at her new home she was nervous and very timid.  She was not house-trained and was very distrustful of people.  She seemed to resent being picked up, and occasionally yelped in pain when her back was stroked.  On arrival, Madge was checked over by the vet, who seemed certain she had been abused in the past, but ruled out any broken bones.  Her new owner, Ian, was experienced in training dogs, but Madge just couldn’t seem to get the idea of toilet training. 

As a chiropractic patient, Ian decided that he would get Madge checked out.  On examination, her spine was very sore and tender in the thoracic spine, as though she had been kicked or trodden on.  Her pelvis and low back were not moving properly and were also quite sore.  Her movement was not equal on both sides, and she struggled to move her head to the left.

Madge was adjusted in the sore regions.  She was nervous about the treatment and it took a lot of time and patience to get her to accept it.  Afterwards, she ran off and had a good roll – quite a common reaction!  She was much less sore immediately, and a couple of days later Ian reported that she seemed pain-free.  Madge was rechecked 10 days later and had a little more treatment.  Over the first week, she gained much more bladder control and stopped soiling inside the house.

Madge is now a cheeky, happy young dog with heaps of energy.  She is much more confident and loves a good cuddle!  She gets checked over every three months to keep her in shape.  She loves her treatment these days too.

(Top of Page)