Canine Chiropractic
Consider getting treatment for your dog if it displays any of the following signs:
Crying out when getting up
Difficulty climbing stairs or getting into the car
Signs of discomfort when being stroked, groomed or touched
Reluctance to play or exercise
Uneven muscle development or atrophy
Uneven claw wear
Unexplained deterioration in performance of a working dog
Reluctance to work
Stiffness or pain after exercise
Lameness where alternative causes have been ruled out
Uncharacteristic changes in behaviour or temperament
Absence of any resolution of a problem using conventional methods
Inability to lower head to feed or drink
Reoccurrence of symptoms previously successfully treated by chiropractic manipulation
A general check-up to make sure that your dog is well and performing as his/her best!
What causes these problems?
Trauma, including road traffic accidents, falling from the dog walk in agility, etc…
Greyhounds always running in the same direction around a track (retired Greyhounds often continue to run in this direction)
Operations, where the dog has been under a general anaesthetic and has been moved into an awkward position, particularly when for a long period of time
Obedience dogs performing heel work in the same position
Agility and fly ball dogs encountering difficult obstacles and concussion sustained from jumping
Long-backed, short-legged breeds putting extra strain on the spine and limbs
Lameness (for instance caused by a cruciate ligament injury, hip dysplasia or arthritis) which has forced the dog to place greater weight onto other parts of its body, causing secondary misalignments and areas of muscle tension
Conditions such as spondylosis which causes extensive muscle tension and can be made worse by misalignments in the spine
Pregnancy and labour place great strain on the musculoskeletal system and also make the ligaments more ‘elastic’, making misalignments much more common at this time. Pelvic misalignments in particular can make labour more difficult.
Birth trauma is relatively common in puppies, especially when the labour has been difficult
The treatment process:
- A case history will be taken where as much detail as possible about the animal and its medical history will be gathered.
- A static assessment will be made for conformational traits/abnormalities, symmetry of muscle development, signs of pain, heat and inflammation, symmetry of skeletal alignment.
- A gait analysis will be done to assess any problems with movement.
- Reporting of findings to owner.
- Treatment of areas of tight muscle and restricted joints. Any misalignments found will then be treated using the McTimoney chiropractic method. This involves using specific high speed, low force adjustments. These stimulate the animal’s own body to realign the joint to its normal position and relieve any associated muscle spasm. The adjustments are very gentle and are well tolerated by most animals.
- Aftercare advice is given. This usually includes rest for the next 24 to 48 hours. Some exercise and stretching regimes may be given and certain activities may need to be avoided. Over the next 24 hours your dog may feel stiff and tired as its body adjusts to the skeleton being in the correct position. Your dog may need further treatments depending on the severity and/or chronicity of the problem. Maintenance treatments may also be advised, particularly in working dogs or those with long-term conditions. Your veterinary surgeon will need to be made aware that your animal is having chiropractic treatment. This will be discussed when making an initial appointment.
Your veterinary surgeon will need to be made aware that your animal is having chiropractic treatment. This will be discussed when making an initial appointment.