Dogs

Would my dog benefit from treatment?

Most dogs can benefit from treatment. Racing greyhounds, working dogs, agility dogs, police dogs, show dogs and even family pets are commonly seen.

When should I seek help? Common indications for seeking help include: • Limb dragging • Irregular action • Stiffness • Difficulty getting up stairs or climbing into cars • Pain on getting up or when stroked along their back • Lack of enthusiasm or a reluctance for exercise • Changes in behaviour or temperament • Lack of bladder control • Dogs with disc lesions may benefit provided there is not a total prolapse.

It is at this point that an external influence is needed to restore functionality.

What causes these problems?

• Trauma such as road traffic accidents
• Conformation for example long-backed, short-legged breeds which are overweight
• Competition demands such as obstacles encountered by agility dogs or unidirectional racing tracks faced by racing greyhounds
• Pulling on the lead

Will it hurt?

Most animals accept the treatment quite readily and find it a relaxing experience.

Will my dog be better straight away? The response to treatment varies with the individual animal and the problems found. Many feel better straight away and have much more energy and enthusiasm whereas others may be stiff, sore, go off food or not feel their normal selves the next day. Both responses are perfectly normal and should not be cause for concern. If the primary cause is left undiagnosed and untreated then the problem may keep recurring despite a number of treatment sessions. Furthermore, conformational faults may require regular attention as they can lead to consistent problems.

Chronic or long term problems may also take much longer to treat as healing is not a single event, it is a process and the body needs time to adjust and make the necessary changes. The body is not a machine and it is not as simple as pressing a few buttons to make things right again.

How often will my dog need treating?

Recognising and treating a problem early can avoid the risk of it developing into a far more serious or long-term problem. For this reason it is advisable to have regular treatment sessions. The number and frequency of treatment sessions will be dependent on the dog's particular problems, conformational faults, the activities it enjoys, and any previous problems or injuries sustained. An initial series of treatments may be required at weekly or biweekly intervals or it may be that six monthly or yearly check ups is all that is required.