Dogs place a great deal of stress on their musculoskeletal system, either through general over-exuberance or through the tasks that we ask them to perform. Working dogs in particular suffer from a variety of conditions linked to the job that they do. Even pet dogs can have skeletal misalignments, which can be caused by obesity, pulling on the lead, accidents, or overexertion, especially when playing with toys. The dog’s spine is quite flexible, but sometimes it can be taken to the extreme range of its movement, for example through a fall or a traffic accident.
Problems can also be caused by a repetitive movement, such as always landing on the same leg when jumping, or Greyhounds cornering a track in the same direction. Conformation problems are often a cause of musculoskeletal problems in dogs, for instance back problems in long-backed, short-legged breeds such as Dachshunds and Basset Hounds. Many dogs benefit from manipulative therapy; even conditions such as arthritis can be relieved by manipulation. Dogs sometimes walk awkwardly because of arthritis or adopt particular postures to alleviate the pain. This leads to muscle spasm, sometimes in areas quite remote from the arthritis itself, and can be helped by this type of treatment. As dogs get older they can suffer from weaknesses in the spine and back legs and can be helped in the same way.
Some of the symptoms a dog in need of treatment may show are:
- difficulty climbing stairs or jumping into cars
- reluctance to exercise
- having difficulty jumping up or down
- crying when getting up or lying down
- a reluctance to play or exercise
- abnormal gait
- a change in posture
- a change in behaviour
- showing discomfort when being stroked in certain areas
- lameness or limb dragging
- pain or discomfort
- failure to resolve the problem using conventional methods
Most dogs benefit from a maintenance check-up every 6 months, and also after an injury or a period of lameness. This is because these factors can cause misalignments in the body due to gait alterations. Bitches also benefit from treatment after giving birth, especially if the labour has been difficult.
