Dog Treatment

McTimoney-Corley Animal Spinal Therapist

Dog Treatment

It is harder for a dog to communicate back pain to its owner-the fact that a horse may buck when ridden or stop at fences tends to alert a horses rider to the problem - this is not an option for the dog! It is for this reason that back pain is more likely to be noticed in working and performance dogs such as agility, racing, hunting, obedience or show dogs where a slight problem may result in them not performing at their best. This does not mean however that other dogs do not suffer from back pain. A dog can injure its back twisting, turning or leaping in the air to catch a toy. Arthritis may cause the dog to develop an abnormal gait to compensate for its arthritis and this can cause discomfort in the back. Stiffness in older dogs is frequently put down to old age but often adjustment can make a huge difference.

Some causes of back injury:

Trauma

Slipping

Falls

·	Leaping in the air

Twisting

·	Mating (both for the dog and the bitch)

Whelping

Illness

·	Collars (excessive pulling on them can cause subluxations in the neck)

·	Being overweight or unfit

·	Compensating for abnormal gait

Some symptoms of possible back pain:

Lameness

·	Uneven distribution of weight on its limbs

Stiffness

·	Refusing jumps

·	Difficulty negotiating stairs

·	Difficulty jumping into a car

·	Difficulty getting up

·	Reluctance to exercise or play

·	Shortened stride

·	Muscle atrophy

·	Sensitivity to touch along the back

·	Any general deterioration in performance, behaviour or temperament