McTimoney for dogs
Regardless of whether they are your beloved pet or a dog that is out competing or working on a regular basis, musculoskeletal dysfunction can occur. This is especially prevalent in dogs as they have a much more mobile spine than horses, allowing a greater range of movement which enables them to run the way that they do. This makes the spine in dogs much more susceptible to dysfunction and injury.
When it comes to dogs that are out showing or competing in fields such as agility or flyball on a regular basis, the movement patterns and sharp turns can result in musculoskeletal issues either acutely or over time, particularly if your dog slips or falls when going over certain obstacles at speed. Simple occurrences such as another dog bowling into yours or your dog slipping can also cause these areas of dysfunction- it is not only sporting dogs that are prone to becoming injured.
Quick, gentle adjustments are applied to these misalignments/areas of restriction in order to correct them. These adjustments encourage the surrounding muscle to relax and allow the misalignment to be corrected without the necessity for force.
However, even if your dog is not showing signs of discomfort, a regular 'MOT' treatment can be greatly beneficial to maintain general wellbeing and comfort and help to prevent injury. This is particularly beneficial as they start to age and their soft tissue becomes less elastic and their joints become slightly sitffer- we all get a little stiff and sore as we get older!
What to look for
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Reluctance to play or exercise
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Yelping or difficulty getting out of bed
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Difficulty getting up/downstairs or on and off furniture
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Reluctance to jump into/out of the car
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Stilted/stiff movement/gait
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Unexplained poor performance if the dog is used for sports
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Abnormal behaviour changes
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Loss of appetite
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Signs of discomfort when being stroked
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Signs of pain or discomfort during/after exercise
Benefits of treatment
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Reduced pain and discomfort
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Increased elasticity in soft tissues allowing for more freedom of movement.
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Improved joint mobility
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Increased stride length and move even weight loading on each limb as asymmetries are addressed.
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Increased relaxation and reduction in stress levels.
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Reduced recovery times post exercise/performance.
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Injuryt prevention in both pet dogs and dogs used for sporting activities
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Imoprovement in overall health and wellbeing.
The treatment
The first treatment will begin with a case history being taken. This allows an insight into previous medical issues, current/recent issues, and factors that will impact the treatment process as well as any aftercare that is given post treatment.
An assessment of both conformation and gait will then be carried out to assess for asymmetries in conformation, muscle development and movement, gait patterns that may be having an impact on the musculoskeletal system, and movement patterns that indicate areas of dysfunction.
The dog will then be palpated to identify any areas of dysfunction (whether muscular or skeletal) and then these areas will be treated using a range of McTimoney Chiropractic, soft tissue techniques and passive stretches.
After treatment, detailed aftercare will be given covering the immediate few days following treatment, as well as exercises that will help to address any issues in the longer term in order to gain the greatest benefit from the treatment.