Dogs

Problems do occur in canines because they have flexible spines, allowing them to run fast and turn in tight circles - think how easy it is for a dog to chase its tail! Their vulnerability for spinal injury could be acute (from sudden injury) or chronic (from a long standing issue).

Injuries are most common in competition dogs (agility, fly ball etc), working dogs (gundogs, police dogs etc) and also through breed predispositions (such as hip dysplasia in Labradors, and spine injuries in Dachshunds etc).

In lameness the dog’s body weight and centre of gravity has to adapt to a different gait pattern resulting in muscle tension in other areas of the canine musculoskeletal system. Dogs with histories of lameness and/or operations on any of their limbs (orthopaedic conditions) will benefit greatly from treatment. 

Common signs of canine muscular tension include:

• crying out when getting up
• difficulty climbing stairs or getting into cars
• uneven gait
• signs of discomfort when being stroked on their backs
• reluctantly exercising and/or reduced athletic performance
• stiffening and/or pain following exercise
• compensating for underlying problems such as obesity and orthopaedic conditions.