Also, if you sign up to a workshop either the Introduction or the Pre and Post Event one day workshop, you will recieve £15 off!

DON’T FORGET TO SEND OUR GOOD LUCK AND WISHES TO BOO AND SHARAN WHO COMPETE TOMORROW – THURSDAY AT CRUFTS!!!

Hope to meet you at our stand Hall 3 28a!

Common sense on muscle pain

“Every dog owner should read and digest the excellent column by Julia Robertson.  It is full of common sense.  She really spells out what all experienced dog breeders have always known!  So many of the conditions seen (particularly in pet/companion owned dogs) such as muscle and skeletal problems, are in the main caused by asking dogs to lead unnatural lives.  As Julia says ‘it is a situation rather than a condition’, such wise words.  Words that should be heeded also by Vets and others who claim to have the welfare of our dogs at heart…………I am delighted that Julia has also highlighted the problem of the crated dog.  I think this is a major problem in dogs today……..” 

Jean Lanning Dogworld February 2012

6 MOST COMMON CAUSES OF MUSCULAR PROBLEMS

What I cannot believe is that we are about to start yet another year, I am not sure where 2011 went but it went very quickly which for me means that it was a) busy and b) enjoyable, the answers to both of those are yes!  However, I am really looking forward to 2012 as we have many exciting things coming to fruition not least the feeling of a real positive shift in the understanding of canine muscular pain and its origins.  We at Galen specialise purely in Canine muscular issues which makes us unique in how we treat dogs from our treatment plans for both mobility and health enhancement.  From both these perspectives we have discovered some incredible and distinctive methods of treatment, incorporating either just Myotherapy or just Exercise Physiology or a combination of the two.  We are seeing such positive differences that continue to amaze and be amazing.  One such story we will be featuring closer to and leading up to Crufts!

Back to January; I have received so many lovely phone calls and emails asking for more details of treatments in relation to specific dogs and their conditions, I would say that most of the questions and relevant answers fall into one or more of 12 different categories.  This I falls neatly into the next 12 months, so I compiled a list (but not definitive) of the 12 most common causes of muscular pain and therefore movement issues.  However, I am unable to fit all 12 into this edition so I will split them into two sections, 1-6 in January and then 7-12 in February. 

I have put them (as is a statement so commonly used) in no particular order:

1.       Compensation – from injury.  This can be an insidious form of muscle pain or dysfunction and can cause a myriad of problems from lameness, a lack of drive, bad/untypical movement, cramping or spasm, or a drop in performance.  Like us, the older a dog gets the incidence of injury is going to be increased, from major injury to almost the unremarkable or minor injury.  Major injury can have its obvious affects as any form of trauma will have a muscular issue implication.  However, it is the build up of many small injuries that can have just as negative effect, as the body will gradually compensate to ease the stress over painful or uncomfortable regions or areas of the body.  This is accumulative and it can affect a dog with no prior warning – one day apparently sound, the next lame; this response can be triggered by the smallest of incident that is just enough to bring down what is fundamentally a ‘house of cards’; giving no apparent previous clues as to what may be going on.  This type of rapid onset lameness can initiate a cornucopia of diagnostic tests that bring no clear conclusion, with often the cause being the pain perception brought on through muscle pain.

2.       Compensation – from conditions or pathologies.  This is another extremely common form of muscular pain or dysfunction and perhaps the most common is from osteo-arthritis.  The secondary pain from the compensation cause through the muscles trying to stabilise or protect the body or regions of the body will have a real impact on pain perception.  This we have proved time and time again, if you treat the muscles of an arthritic dog they will feel happier and have the ability to move so much easier that will in turn improve their whole quality of life.  This can also be totally appropriate for other conditions that cause a mobility problems.

3.       Injury – this only takes one sentence really, if a dog is injured there will be a muscle implication/damage however well they seem to recover. (If left untreated see item 1.) Example – My little dog (who is incidentally 14 years old) was bowled over by a polo pony the other day; afterwards he could still run and walk; he had an immediate Veterinary check as I was worried about all sorts of ‘unseen’ issues and damaging inflammation from trauma. He received a guarded but clean ‘bill of health’.  However, subsequently when the inflammation had receded (about 2 days), I found a small muscle tear over his back and have treated it carefully and was very glad that I had iced his back as soon as I could on the way to the Vets.  (Ice 5 minutes on then taken off for 15 minutes approx then on again for 5 minutes) Due to that discovery, it will be 6 weeks before I am happy he is ok and he can really resume normal exercise.

 4.       Injury not treated – if injury is not treated appropriately it will granulate and form hard immobile tissue that will not function efficiently as muscle should, therefore cause lack of ‘range’ and create compensatory issues (again see item 1).

5.       Repetitive strain – This is probably one of the most common and undetected of all muscle issues.  This can fall into the remit of over training, (very common) over jumping (up or down), slippery floors, continually going up and down stairs.  This type of injury will again be insidious and not at all apparent for quite a while; when your dog is young they will apparently bounce back – but the vigilant of handler will begin to feel heat in the affected areas, this is a pre-warning.  We are constantly amazed by how removing or reducing even one thing, whatever that may be, (for example, part of a training regime, a routine pattern of movement or action,) can make such a positive change to a dogs well being.

6.      Conformation – if a dog is not built with a framework that is not going to aid their balance then there is a possibility of stress points being exposed.  Two examples, my dog George, the same one that has been in the wars, has got valgus legs (AKA Queen Anne feet) therefore this front end has always been under a little more stress, the older he has got the more of an impact on his shoulders and legs it is having.  Another gun dog I know has not quite got matching angulation in the front as she has in the back, so the fantastic power from the back end cannot be fully absorbed by her front; again her shoulders take more of the stress as she has not got the ‘reach’ and front end flexibility.  These examples are what I have found in these two specific dogs and it is not always the rule it really depends on what the dog is asked to do that will decide on its own particular balance issues and therefore impact on their muscular condition.

 All the above are very much from findings that as therapists we have found over many hundreds of dogs and many combined years of treating these cases.  But there are no ‘rules’ we have found that often the same trauma or repetitive strain can effect two dogs completely differently but the rationale is the same.

 May all of us at Galen wish everyone a very happy and healthy new year.

 If you would like to discuss this further please email of call Julia on 0845 3751767 or email julia@caninetherapy.co.uk.  Do follow us on facebook and twitter.

FEBRUARY ISSUE DOG WORLD

Thank you everyone who contacted me with regards the last article featuring the first ‘six most common causes of muscular issue or pain’. I am pleased that by reading it has helped correlating a problem to your dog, either a condition or situation; the great thing is that if it is a ‘situation’ rather than condition, these can often be managed or changed.

To continue with the examples of common causes of muscle pain, again not in any particular order:

1.       Early Puppy development –over the years I have treated dogs, I have seen many puppies (meaning less than 9 months) whose injuries most certainly occurred when they were tiny, possibly pre, during or just post parturition; and possibly also,  whelping box injuries when they are a lot more active.

 I have also seen a couple of puppies that have quite obviously been dropped; I am not in any way indicating that it was done intentionally but puppies wriggle and when we stand up we take them a long way off the ground,  if a puppy takes a ‘dive’ from the carriers arms then it can very easily have a highly detrimental effect.  The effects usually become more apparent much later on, when they are 18months onwards.  One case in particular was a small breed and his neck was so badly effected by what must have been a fall or drop that his nose gave the impression of being crooked and yes, after treatment it ‘looked’ straighter.  There were three of us in the room when this happened and we all saw it, could not believe it!  This was, I am sure the easing of muscle tone on one side of his face and neck, giving the impression of a change of facial expression!

Equally I am absolutely sure that a few puppies I have seen have got caught trying to climb over the sides of a whelping box, as their injuries as such that they feel like they have been creased in the middle!

The giant breeds can really suffer with puppy injury as they grow so quickly comparatively, compared to a smaller breeds that injury can be equally amplified and cause all sorts of almost malformations of legs and feet.  We have just featured such a case study on our facebook page ‘Galen Therapy Centre’ about a Dogue to Bordeaux.

I believe this is one area that is not explored fully as for 8 weeks we really have no idea what has happened to our puppy and at that early age nothing will really be apparent until approximately 4 months onwards  when they can have growth spurts (approximate age, breed and breed type specific) or indeed older.

2.       Puppy Exercise

I have run a couple of articles on puppy exercise and how repetitive methods of exercise patterns, for example walking on one side of the handler, not allowing the puppy to walk at their own natural pace, therefore training them not to ‘walk’ but just to trot.  Over exercise, only exercising in one plane of movement etc.  and so many more things that can effect the ultimate development of your puppy’s muscular-skeletal system.  This we have put together to form a hardback book called ‘The Gentle and Natural Approach to Puppy Exercise’.

3.       Exercise routines – these does not just have the potential for negative implications for puppies but also adult dogs.  Repetitive actions or regular over exertion can cause long term and apparently unexplained lameness when dogs reach approximately 6-8 years old.  Repetitive issues could be one of many things; jumping down out of cars, off sofas, down stairs or steps, many of these actions are difficult to remove but often they can be reduced. 

3b. Within this category I would also add allowing a warm up and warm down when on exercise and / or when competing.  Just walking your dog for 10 minutes before allowing them off to run can be just enough to warm their tissues that would then allow for the exertion and over exertion most dogs enjoy when they are on their walk.  Likewise, when returning to the car or home 10 minutes on the lead to allow a ‘warm down’ through an active walk or gentle trot; this allows the tissues to get a fresh replenishment of blood through the ‘pumping’ of the venous system through non aerobic muscle action.  It will also allow the muscle tissue to re-align and help prevent shortening. 

This is just touching the surface of this subject both from the adult and puppy perspective but just a couple of pointers for thought.

4.       Slippery (laminated floors etc.)– These can have terrible long term affects.  I will not forget an advertisement for a popular brand of dog food showing a young puppy running down a hall slipping and sliding, with his poor legs going at all sorts of angles.  I think this was obviously intended to be in some way captivating for the audience.  Well it captivated me as I thought then how awful it was and how that poor puppy’s muscles and joints would suffer in the long term.   Dogs legs are designed to move forwards and backwards and slightly medially (inwards) and laterally (outwards) and not to do the ‘splits’ either with their front or back legs.  Front leg injury can sometimes be due to pectoral muscle issues (chest muscles) due to exaggerated abduction (legs going away from the body) these are not commonly diagnosed correctly.  I am not sure that I need to even say how bad it is for a dog to abduct his or her hind legs, I only need to mention, cruciate ligament, hip joint ligament injuries and anything within this region is potentially catastrophic; again may not be immediately apparent but most certainly in the long term.

Aggravating of diagnosed or un-diagnosed conditions, by any of the above repetitive or slippery scenarios can have an accentuated effect on any conditions, such as  most commonly osteo-arthritis or any other muscular skeletal issue and unless what is causing this extra dimension can really reduce the chances of improvement on any treatment your dog may be receiving.

5.       Over exertion/over training  – again a subject that could be discussed on its own but training to the correct degree is a critical one.  When training a degree of muscle tissue breakdown (if done correctly) will strengthen and develop the muscles.  However, if this is done without care or knowledge it can cause the damaged muscle groups or tissue to shorten and therefore again in the long term have detrimental effects on mobility and soundness.

6.       Major Muscle damage or tearing due to excessive muscle tension through injury, compensation or a condition, this can cause big problems with no accountable or tangible cause.  Facial tears can also occur through compensation or just over tension of the surrounding tissue; these can be disastrous and cause idiopathic temporary paralysis (I have seen quite a few that have been of the hind legs).

(one extra as I feel it is just as important) Postural issues – beds, crates, car crating.  Like us dogs spend much time in bed and if coupled with this are doing a lot of travelling and crated, for safety.  If these areas do not allow for them to stand and move or almost force them into a particular lying position, it can have a negative effect on their postural muscular system creating an unbalanced and uncomfortable dog.

Over the time I have been writing I have discussed how inappropriate exercise can really have a negative effect on your dog’s health and performance; also how our everyday environment and incorrect exercise can impact negatively on your dog’s health. However, correct exercise and a cohesive ‘canine team’ can have amazing effects on every dog and can be the essential positive ingredient influencing such debilitating conditions as hip dysplasia.  Read this heart-warming story about Boo the delightful Border collie and her journey.

Boo, was discovered to have profound hip dysplasia at nine months 0f age.  Initially Sharan her handler had her suspicions by observations of her movement.  Quite rightly, Sharan Wicks, an educated handler had prevented Boo from jumping or climbing or to be over-exercised when she was a puppy but with huge trepidation could tell that Boo ‘was not right’.  Boo went in for x-rays and in October 2010 her prognosis was confirmed she had profound hip dysplasia (H.D). 

Boo’s mother is a Crufts obedience champion and her father an agility champion so Boo was bred for competition and, like any good athlete possessed the mental attitude that is important for such a stimulating and full life.  However, her body was dictating something different. What will her life be like if she cannot be exercised in a stimulating way that would fulfil her?  She was put on anti-inflammatories and told to reduce her exercise; however her Vet Ivan Crotaz BVetMed, MRCVS, Head Vet at Harmans Water, Kynoch Veterinary Group in Bracknell also suggested she went to the Galen Therapy Centre for Myotherapy as he had seen some amazing results with gun dogs being able to working soundly with extreme skeletal issues, including hip dysplasia .

 Sharan brought Boo to see me and I could immediately tell that her muscle tone was conducive with that of a hip dysplastic dog (n.b. H.D. presents with some very specific and recognisable muscle changes that would indicate a minor or major problem within the joint).   This was treated but the additional way forward with HD are exercises that are prescriptive and designed to stimulate the deep muscles to support the joints.  This had been really successful in 2006 when I worked with Dexter the German Shepherd whose hip score was 96 and his handler Jessica, who won the Kennel Club Young Handler Obedience Elementary Class. 

As with Dexter, this was going to be a long journey and no quick fix but Sharan recognised that there was a great team to assist: Galen Myotherapy and Galen Natural Progression, her Vet, Ivan Crotaz, her trainer Di Martin (Crufts Obedience champion) and Di’s recently built hydrotherapy centre, Therapaws in Bracknell.  All these components were going to prove vital to Boo’s healthy future and success.

 After the visit to Galen Therapy Centre, Boo came to see me and Liz Pope at Galen Natural Progression for a session in gentle but directed natural exercise.  Boo could not perform even the easiest of exercises which demonstrated how much of an impact HD was having.  She continued with an intense yet gentle program of exercises and incorporated specific hydrotherapy that worked with the exercises, all the time with Veterinary care overseeing the program and integrating with joint health promoting injections, all of which combined to help Boo. 

All the good advice and therapy given in these situations is all very well but it then has to be executed and this is when the hard work really begins.  During this time Sharan was supported by the patience and dedication of Di Martin her trainer, without her support at this time Boo’s story could have had a very different end.  They both worked tirelessly, gently encouraging and asking Boo to do exercises that were (a) hard for her to do (b) boring because they were slow gentle and not fast and exciting for the ‘athlete’ within and (c) had to been done regularly.

Six weeks on Boo revisits Galen where she has a muscle balance assessment.  Her muscles have changed so overwhelmingly that she does not feel like the same dog.  There were many tears at this point!  She could now do the basic exercises so her prescriptive regime is gently increased to further develop her deep supporting muscles within her hip joints: again the exercises were slow and again very difficult. 

From October 2010 to April 2011 – in six months Boo is beginning to move like a different dog.  The work continues.  Through the summer of 2011 Boo continues her regime and improves, along with Veterinary support, GNP Canine Exercise Physiology, Myotherapy and regular hydrotherapy.

 August 2011 she is strong enough to start some intensive but careful competitive obedience training –it is so successful that she enters a show in September and wins!  She then she goes for trials for selection for the Crufts and the Southern Inter-Regional Obedience team; she is chosen from many dogs, which not only do not have any disabilities but also have been in training for much longer. Boo has qualified for Crufts! 

Obedience is in my opinion the toughest disciplines for a dog to perform, as the stresses on their pelvic and lumbar regions is intense and only the fittest can succeed – Boo is not only fit but also her body has been able to absorb her training. For a dog with such a profound and quoted ‘life limiting’ condition this really is a fantastic story.  It is a real team effort – Vet – Myotherapy – Canine Exercise Physiology – Hydrotherapy, expert training plus dedication and patience from Sharan and her trainer Di Martin who is a GNP Canine Exercise Physiologist.

Come and support Boo (Quietly!) on Thursday at Crufts, this is a truly amazing story and we at Galen and Galen Natural Progression are all supporting her.  Everyone that competes at Crufts has worked tirelessly to achieve this, but for Boo, just 18 months ago this was not even on the horizon.  Her case was diagnosed as a life limiting condition not as a potential Crufts competitor!

This is what her orthopaedic Vet said:

…………..Hip laxity was quite marked and the x-rays demonstrated established changes such as bilateral subluxation and early degenerative joint disease……… A multi-modal approach, with the inclusion of physio- and myotherapy has certainly influenced a positive outcome in this case.  Philip G. Timm BVMS CertSAO MRCVS. KYNOCH VETERINARY GROUP, BRACKNELL. 

JUST A LITTLE BIT OF CRUFTS ADVICE FOR ALL COMPETITORS

With all the time and effort that goes into competition, whatever type that may be, from the dynamic flyball and agility obedience or showing, the dogs need to have a chance for their muscles to function at their best, to demonstrate their best ‘action’ or  provide their best times.

Top tips

1.            If your dog has been crated give them time to stretch out by allowing them to walk with a natural head carriage.

2.            Give your dog a chance to oxygenate their blood as this helps their performance, so allow them time to move around without being restricted to the bench.

3.            If pre-event grooming is required do not to leave them on the grooming table for long, as it is hard for any dog to stand still in an unnatural position for an extended time with (often) their head elevated. 

All dogs need to be warmed-up before an event, to allow their bodies to unfold and give their muscles and joints a chance to function and provide the movement and performance you expect of them!

A warm up can be so simple, a gentle jog, a walk, a slightly faster jog then a good active walk (approx. 30 paces for each section).  Then a couple of very gentle flexing exercises, ideally leading your dog in both hands, therefore encouraging gentle flexion.

I will be around over the whole of Crufts so do come over and have a chat!

COME AND MEET BOO ON THE GALEN THERAPY CENTRE STAND HALL 3 STAND 28A!  Times will be dependent on her competition.

Contact details: Galen Therapy Centre and Galen Natural Progression www.galentherapycentre.co.uk.  Tel: 0845

Galen Training Academy will be at Crufts again in 2012.  We will have a team there from 8th – 11th March, the whole time to discuss our courses and treatments.

You can talk to our experts about our new advanced modular courses and those that are stand alone, whether you are looking for a complete course or a CPD (continuing professional development).

We are the canine specialists, catering for all canine professionals, (diploma course), including veterinary nurses, hydrotherapists, groomers (CPD or full course) and all dog owners (workshops).

Do come and see us this year – we are in hall 3 28a (main entrance and turn left).  We have exciting offers  news and an incredible story about a dog called Boo and her incredible journey to Crufts with the help of Galen Therapy Centre and Galen Natural Progression!  It will also be featured on facebook and twitter.

Tell us you are coming along by going to our facebook page.

Each case will be assessed individually. Conditions do apply including pre-requisites. ALL details and application forms are available now on request.

If anyone is interested in receiving further details please contact Julia on julia@caninetherapy.co.uk and I will send through an application form. The deadline for applications is 31st March 2012 with the shortlist being drawn up in the middle of April.

Please send this to anyone who you think is eligible, that can use these skills to benefit as many dogs in need as possible!

During these years we have also helped and have been credited with achieving championship status for Agility, Showing, Flyball and Obedience champions. Julia and other Registered Practitioners have given talks at a myriad of canine seminars, clubs and meeting.

Galen Accreditation

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