Canine Osteopathy Services
Canine Osteopathy
Canine & small animal osteopathic appointments are available for online booking for clients who are wishing to bring in their pet into the clinic. If clients need the practitioner to come for a home visit, please reach out to schedule an appointment. Additional travel charges may be applied.
Initial Canine Osteopathic Assessment - $80
Follow up Treatment- $ 65
What is Canine Osteopathy?
Through the use of specific hands-on techniques developed in human osteopathy, osteopathic treatment for dogs addresses the structural and physical needs of an animal to relieve pain, improve movement and prevent injury.
Unlike humans, dogs cannot describe their pain. Canine osteopathic treatment is largely based on careful observation and manual examination. For example, a dog will communicate their discomfort or pain by displaying changes in personality, behaviour, or performance such as:
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lameness /altered gate as seen through weight shifting or non-bearing on limbs
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reluctance to move or get out of the car
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resistance or defensive when touched in pained areas
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ignoring commands and change in behaviour
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difficulty in stretching hind legs when jumping
Canines that perform sport, work or rigorous physical exercise, such as herding and working dogs, benefit from treatment by an animal osteopath. Osteopathy also helps support aging arthritic dogs as well. Animal osteopaths commonly work alongside vets and other manual therapists to provide complete care.
What to Expect for an Appointment
Health History and Physical assessment
A canine osteopathic assessment involves discussing the dogs health history to understand any underlying conditions or previous injuries. The dogs movement and body language are observed as well as using physical touch to identify tension or restriction in the musculoskeletal system. An assessment of the limbs, spine, and surrounding muscles for causes of pain or poor performance is performed. Based on this assessment, a treatment plan is created.
Treatment
The joints and muscles are manually worked on to improve blood flow and regulate nerve supply, rebalancing the body’s structures and restoring function. The objective of osteopathic treatment is to promote mobility, flexibility and the quality of movement. Treatment time will depend on the animals tolerance, which normally ranges between 20-30 minutes of hands on therapy.
Prevention and maintenance
Regular osteopathic care has shown to be successful in injury prevention and aiding rehabilitation in conditions such as arthritis, hind and fore leg lameness. Benefits of osteopathic manual therapy include increase in vascular and lymphatic drainage, pain reduction, improvement in joint mobility and overall biomechanics, stress reduction, overall health and longevity.
Book your dogs treatment online today. In clinic or home visit appointments available for booking.
What Can Canine & Small Animal Osteopathy Treat?
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Muscular problems such as stiffness, spasms or atrophy
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Gait problems such as short or uneven steps
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Aging problems such as arthritis
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Joint Pains, Lameness, Limping
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Neck Pain, Cervical Vertebral Instability
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Back Pain, Disc Bulges, Disc Problems, Herniated Discs, Spondylosis, Spondylitis
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Hip Problems, Congenital Hip Dysplasia, Arthritis, Bursitis
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Changes in behavioural patterns, Inability to Relax
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Poor or reduced performance levels
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Circulatory Problems (local and minor)
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Digestive Problems
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Post-operative Issues: speeding up the recovery process and limiting compensatory strains