At the beginning of each month Julia Robertson has articles published in The Dog World; last month was ‘Do Dogs get Headaches too? and this month (May) is an article about Galen working with the Canicross Trailrunners to prepare for a 5 x marathon run! A copy of the articles printed:-
Do dogs have headaches too?
An odd title maybe but it is intended to look at the significance of neck problems in dogs by comparing how we feel and respond in correlation to how our dogs may feel and behave with the same issues.
I am a headache sufferer and I feel sorry for anyone else who suffers the same; I know that most of my headaches come from a continuing neck problem. Neck problems in people are extremely common, they are caused through either our conformation or through a variety of accidents and activities; one of the main causes is whiplash, both severe that needs treatment but also cases where any damage to the neck appears to be minor. However one of the most common causes of a continuing neck problem is repetitive stress caused through our environment and how we live, all these issues are mirrored within the canine world.
When we consider repetitive stress issues within the human world, posture is one of the main causes especially for those who spend much time sat at a computer (as I am now!). Bad posture or repetitive strain generally begins as a muscular problem that can exacerbate into more wide spread muscular issues, left untreated, these can escalate into severe neural and skeletal problems; exactly the same can happen within our dogs. In a survey carried out by Galen of their clients, 78% of dogs coming in for an unrelated treatment, had a previously unidentified neck problem. Of those just 42% were working/performance dogs and 58% were companion or pet dogs. This sample displayed a significant indication that neck issues are often overlooked yet extremely common, also that it is not an issue that lies purely at the door of the working dog, it is more of a significant issue for the companion dog, perhaps again indicating that our environment is impacting on our dogs health.
( NOTE: In our older dogs reduced mobility within their hind legs and back will put a greater strain on the neck and shoulders too, this will be covered off in more detail in a future article.)
This is a huge statement to make without substantiating it further with hard evidence or studies, however throughout the years I have been practicing and the cases I have treated where treatment has afforded changes, no matter how small, in how the dog moves around its environment, significant positive and long term improvements are made to the dogs quality of life and health.
Like us dogs necks have to support the head, especially lifting and dropping of their heads for eating and scenting. When they move they ‘engage’ their neck, in other words a healthy neck will become part of the movement ensuring ease efficiency of action during all forms of activity. When we consider such activity that includes jumping down, the neck takes on another role as a balance and a vital part of the complex concussion absorbing mechanism for the dog. When we talk about ‘jumping down’ it is not only obvious jumping they would do on exercise or within a discipline, it is the more common activities such as jumping out of the car, jumping off sofas/beds, going down stairs in other words ‘our’ environment.
I am aware that dogs are designed to jump and therefore sustain the action of landing, their front legs and shoulders have amazing intrinsic mechanisms that allow for this during all paces and jumping, however we are asking them to use these structures more rigorously and commonly that perhaps they were intended for if we consider their past natural existence.
Within the realms of exercise there are so many opportunities for the neck to be injured or aggravated, for instance inappropriate use of collar, dog being lead constantly from one side, excessive throwing of ball/Frisbee, the allowance of rapid exercise without being warmed first. All of these can be bracketed into excessive or lack of ‘natural’ exercise patterns.
Like all neck problems or indeed any muscular skeletal problems in people or dogs, if we have one area of issue it will not be confined to this area. Our bodies do not work in isolation and if a dog has a neck problem there is an extremely high chance that other areas will be involved, the shoulders the back and quite possibly the pelvic region too.
So how can you know if your dog has a neck issue? So many people say to me ‘oh if only they could talk’, my answer to that is, ‘oh, if only we would listen’. Dogs give us so many indicators that they have a problem and so often we do not pick up on it, it is not because we do not want to but sometimes we cannot see what is in front of us. One of the biggest indicators is a dog always wanting to rest his head on something when he is lying down, ruffling up his bed to allow for this or selecting a cushion; presenting his head and neck to you when you are seated, how many times has your dog rested his head on your lap, this does not always necessarily mean that he has a neck problem but possibly it could? If you feel your dog is indicating by these methods or even if he is not, gentle massage can really be of benefit.
Massage with flat hand starting below the ear and ending at the point of the shoulder.
Before you start, rest both hands on either side of your dog’s neck, this will indicate you are ‘aware’ of his neck and if he remains then you can continue with a massage. The next thing to do, (if your dog is indicating compliance) apply a gentle stroking technique by using your whole hand, flat and relaxed, with the pressure of a deliberate stroke, starting directly below his ear, and gently continuing in one long stroke all the way down the neck to the point of the shoulder, one side at a time (smaller dogs use two of three fingers). If you dog responds by leaning into your hand then he is most likely enjoying it and would like you to continue, perhaps indicating an ache or maybe a bigger problem. By doing this you will get to know more the feel of your dogs neck and if you have more than one dog you will then be able to draw a comparison between the two and maybe feel any tension more easily. If your dog retracts rapidly after you have completed a couple of strokes (or even when you have just placed your of the neck) there could be a chance that there is acute pain perception in the area and this should be followed up with a visit to your Veterinary Surgeon. If your dog responds positively and remains stationary, or continues to approach you on an ongoing basis, maybe he has a neck issue and is enjoying it being eased. Perhaps more importantly the bond between you has developed further by you acknowledging and helping his discomfort.
So do dogs have headaches? I believe so, I have felt the heat exuding from dogs heads when I have treated their necks, I have also seen and heard many stories of how a dog retreats occasionally to dark corners, how a dog does not want to play or is extremely irritable with fellow pack members or are just quiet or introverted at unusual and uncharacteristic times during the day; just like me with a headache. Also, just like me when the headache has gone the feeling of well being resumes. Perhaps this can be a regarded as ‘food for thought’ not only as how neck issues can effect dogs but also how some ‘behaviour’ patterns can have a direct correlation with pain and discomfort.
Neck problems can be extremely complex but so much can be done to prevent and treat the cause and the effects, for further information on muscular issues as featured please call any Galen Myotherapist for advice www.galentherapycentre.co.uk wwww.caninetherapy.co.uk. If you have any serious worries please contact your Veterinary Surgeon.
MUSCULAR CONDITIONING OF THE CANINE ATHLETE
Whenever we embark on any venture, whatever it may be, correct preparation is always the key to success, whether the project is large or small the same applies. For individuals who compete within the canine world, from agility, working trials to showing, appropriate groundwork and training is essential for success and will help you both progress and reach your potential.
Within these preparations, training is an accepted method as both you and your dog need to know how to perform and perfect the skills required; however within all disciplines ‘movement’ of some description is required by your dog, from displaying the smoothness of gait through good conformation within showing, or the twisting, jumping and speed of agility. So if your dogs’ mobility and action is a common feature of all disciplines, why is it that so often this is aspect is not taken more seriously as part of the training procedure?
So what is meant by your dogs mobility? Obviously the dogs ability to cover the ground is part of this, but it goes so much further when we discuss the conditioning of your dog. Conditioning is preparing your dog for whatever activity they are participating, so that they can perform at their optimum, this will include:
• Developing muscular balance and stability, to promote efficient coordinated movement and ease premature fatiguing.
• Develop muscular vascular (blood) delivery through appropriate and diverse training regimes. This will not only nourish the working muscles but also aid the post-discipline cleansing and repair processes.
By correct muscle conditioning you can promote core and postural strength that is strength and stability through the vertebrae and the shoulder and pelvic region; this will develop a more profound strength and suppleness (range of movement), improving performance in all forms. Most importantly for the more dynamic sports, this complete preparation will help to reduce injury because of the improved inner strength of the dog and therefore the ability to sustain the pressures of the movements required, especially as there is normally a ‘repetitive use’ involved.
Muscle conditioning is done by your dog participating in a variety of exercises and not just being trained to perform in the discipline/s required, therefore training for agility once a week and obedience the other is not what is meant. A variety of exercises should always be included within a normal training regime involving slow carefully managed exercises that will develop those core and stability muscles.
The sport of canicross or running with your dog is a demanding sport and requires speed, stamina and endurance. Anxious to avoid injury and help their dogs perform to the best of their ability the Canicross Trailrunners consulted Galen Therapy Centre on how they could achieve this in their forthcoming 5-day charity run for Hounds for Heroes. A good example of this in practice, read this quotation from Nicky Hutchison of Canicross Trailrunners relating the day they spent with the Galen team in preparation for their 5 x marathon run in aid of Hounds for Heroes:
‘The dogs come first’ is something of a mantra for the Canicross Trailrunners so when we decided that we wanted to run five marathons in five days for the charity Hounds For Heroes, with our dogs attached, it was canine welfare that was at the forefront of our agenda – and at least it took our minds off the huge task that we had undertaken!
As canicrossers we compete in races and competitions around the country. It is well known to athletes that warming up and down and massage can help improve performance and prevent injury in humans and it also works for dogs! We had already attended a Pre- and Post-event Dog Massage Course with Galen Therapy Centre in Sussex and had learnt the value of ‘Myotherapy’ which in general plays a role in maximising muscle health therefore promoting balanced movement..
..Injuries and stress were the things we most wanted to avoid with our dogs so our team of four humans, nine huskies, one springer and one Ibizan hound-cross decided to once more consult Galen Myotherapist Julia Robertson and her team at Galen as well as Canine Exercise Physiologist Liz Pope of Galen Natural Progression . The plan was for Julia and Liz to see our dogs in action and decide if their gait might indicate any imbalance which could be inhibiting performance or worse could cause our dogs to compensate for a weakness or strain and lead to further injury.
All of the team think we know our dogs well but it was a real eye-opener listening to Julia and Liz’s analysis of our dogs’ movement. They are so attuned to how dogs should move and can spot any telltale signs that something may not be quite right. Dogs are good compensators and it is often easy to overlook a slight, even miniscule change in gait that could indicate that a dog is uncomfortable or even experiencing pain.
As in any canine sport, canicross has its own requirements. For us the long and the short of it is that dogs run forward in a straight line for several miles. We generally train this very carefully and ensuring that the dogs increase distances only very slowly and with lots of rest and play breaks in training. This is easy for huskies and very little encouragement is required! Cross-training i.e. other energetic activities to build core strength and stability by using different muscles is required for serious (and even not-so-serious) human runners and the outcome of our time with Galen and Liz was that indeed we possibly needed to concentrate a little more on core stability. Was this going to add onerously to our already hectic training schedule? Not at all. Liz and Julia showed us some excellent, easy exercises that would only take a couple of five minutes sessions a day to achieve what we hoped would be an improvement in performance and would also reduce wear and tear on particular parts of the body and cut the chances of strain and injury.
Meanwhile, the Galen Myotherapy team worked expertly and found parts that our dogs did not even know existed! Most of the dogs ‘chilled out’ once the therapists got to work and once they understood what was happening and realised that it actually made them feel great! We realise that without the appropriate manipulation and treatment of muscles in the first case exercise regimes will have limited purpose.
The day at Galen has given all of us a greater understanding of the pressures that any sport can place on our doggy athletes – serious agility athletes, obedience competitors, gundogs and flyball fiends will all be mindful of the physical stresses that can impinge on their dog’s physical and psychological health – and most vitally has given us the knowledge of how we can actively help our dogs who work so hard for us.
We wish Nicky and the team huge amount of success in their venture and hope they will return injury free and satisfied with their fantastic contribution to Hounds for Heroes.
To donate any money go to -www.virginmoneygiving.com/canicrosstrailrunners. or to find out more about Canicross go to http://www.canicross.org.uk/
For more information on Myotherapy and Galen Natural Progression 0845 3751767 or www.caninetherapy.co.uk.