People tend to know what a chiropractor does, and have experience of either themselves or someone they know seeing one, but are unsure of what would happen in a dog treatment. A traditional chiropractor will ‘crack’ joints to release muscle tension, and although effective, this is a method most dog owners feel their dog would not enjoy. McTimoney chiropractic is very gentle and most dogs accept the treatment and enjoy the session.
So how is McTimoney for dogs different?
McTimoney for dogs is a very gentle treatment that is accepted by most dogs, even ones that are in pain. It focuses on gently releasing muscle tension in a dogs back and supporting musculature to reduce pain and discomfort and restore function to the joint. After the treatment I will perform massage to work out any remaining areas of spasm and discomfort. Read more about McTimoney for dogs here.
How does it work?
After I have taken your dog’s medical history and watched them move I will gently feel down your dogs back and assess their muscle tone. I’m feeling for tightness and spasm initially along the spine. When your dog’s muscles are in spasm and causing pain you often get a slight bow of that joint towards the side of the spasm. We call this a misalignment and it reduces function of the joint. I will assess all the joints in your dog’s spine and pelvis using specific anatomical points.
The McTimoney treatment consists of a series of high velocity thrusts, usually done with my fingers, directly onto the side of the joint with the spasm. This thrust sends a little shock wave though the joint that triggers a response in the dogs body. If you imagine you are walking and you put your foot down a hole, your body sends a nerve impulse to stabilise your knee, contracting all the supporting musculature so that minimal damage occurs. This is the same response a McTimoney adjustment triggers. After the adjustments the joint then ‘relaxes’ easing the muscle spasm and allowing function to be restored to the joint.
The adjustments are gentle and are usually well received by your dog. After all areas of tension have been addresses I’ll use massage therapy to work out any other areas of tension ans spasm. Most dogs love this part of the treatment and they often fall asleep!
I hope this post has explained why McTimoney for dogs is growing in popularity and why it is so readily accepted by your four legged friends.
Book a McTimoney Canine Chiropractic Treatment
Areas covered in UK: Worcestershire and surrounding counties.
Book a McTimoney Canine Chiropractic Treatment or Call Emily Walters on 07983 565 438
