Dogs

Problems can occur in dogs used in competition (agility, fly ball etc), work (gundogs, police dogs) or through breed predispositions (such as hip dysplasia in Labradors, long backs in Dachshunds).

Dog breed predispositions may cause muscular tension

Dogs have very flexible spines which allow them to run fast and turn in tight circles. Think how easy it is for a dog to chase its tail! This flexibility makes their spine vulnerable to injury be it a sudden injury (acute) or from a longstanding issue (chronic) occur.

Any dogs that have had lameness or operations on any of their limbs (orthopaedic conditions) will also benefit from treatment. 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.

Common Signs of 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
Reluctance to exercise or reduced athletic performance
Stiffness or pain following exercise
Compensation for underlying problems such as obesity and orthopaedic conditions