A healthy spine starts with preventative care. Why wait until the dog has a specific issue before investigating ways to treat that specific problem and make your dog’s back healthier? In the case of spinal issues, prevention really is the best medicine! In this post, we discuss some of best ways to care for the spines and backs of our Best Friends, our Dogs. These options can be used both before problems start or after an issue arises to help a dog recover.

Core strengthening and Conditioning

Keeping a dog in good physical condition should be the first step. One of the best preventatives and supports for the canine spine is a proper conditioning program that includes core strengthening exercises. Prior to beginning any conditioning program, the dog should be evaluated by your veterinarian. Dogs with pre-existing conditions or injuries would benefit most from having canine physical therapist create a customised program to address their particular condition.

Spinal Corrective care

For active working dogs and family companions, regular spinal care should be part of their routine maintenance. Natural spinal care works by maintaining the proper alignment of the vertebrae in the spine; this in turn helps maintain proper nerve function and muscle alignment and action. Natural spinal care can also reduce pain and inflammation in areas aggravated by misaligned vertebrae. This can be very beneficial for older dogs suffering from arthritis, back pain, and spondylosis. We have seen older dogs that could barely stand up and walk come out of a spinal corrective adjustment bouncing, trotting, and leaping on their own into their vehicles. Dogs whose back pain could barely be touched with a combination of NSAID pain killers and muscle relaxants have, after one naturals-spinal corrective adjustment, shown a completely changed demeanour and a return of regular movement, resulting in a complete alleviation of the need for any harsh drugs to manage pain and stiffness. While natural spinal corrective care certainly is not a ‘cure all’, it can make a world of difference for many dogs.

Prior to a spinal corrective adjustment, the specialist evaluates the dog’s movement, gait, and flexibility. They also will feel along the dog’s spine, looking for any subluxations (which can be felt, often as a sudden ‘dip’ in the vertebrae of the spine), heat, tightness or tenderness. They can then adjust the dog’s spine using a hand-held activator that uses pressure and vibration to return the vertebra to its correct position. Manual adjustments can also be made, if necessary, particularly to areas like the sacroiliac joint. The specialist can also perform a little muscle work, massaging and lengthening the muscles alongside the spine to help them relax and hold the adjustment better. Acute conditions may require several visits spaced out over the course of one or two weeks, until a maintenance level of a monthly adjustment or “as needed” adjustment can be reached.

Spinal Subluxations are common, and they can impede movement and flexibility, impinge nerves and alter nerve function, and abnormally stretch or shorten muscles. The signs are often subtle, such as a slight alteration in the gait of the rear legs, where the dog does not step quite so far underneath themselves when they walk. Other signs can include stiffness, lack of flexibility (particularly on one side), heat from a particular area of the spine (inflammation),  chronic pacing movement instead of trotting, and even gastrointestinal issues (often associated with the TL junction).

Regular natural spinal corrective care can help a variety of conditions, from subluxation to arthritis, spondylosis, and even lameness. Certain conditions such as intervertebral disc disease and bulging discs should be approached with great caution, and only under close supervision of a veterinarian. As always, discuss natural spinal corrective care with your veterinarian. 

Strengthening your dog’s muscular system, ensuring proper nutrition and minting proper spinal health, you can create a customised support program for your dog to keep her/his back in top condition throughout her/his lifetime.

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