{"url":"https://www.zooplus.co.uk/magazine/dog/dog-health-and-care/osteopathy-for-dogs","title":"Osteopathy for Dogs","mag_id":366211,"is_single":true,"cat_name":"Dog","sub_cat_id":143,"sub_cat_name":"Dog Health and Care","cat_id":3410}
Osteopathy is a popular treatment for humans dealing with tension and movement disorders, and dogs can benefit from it too. Find out how osteopathy for dogs works and what effects it has in this article.
Osteopathy is a form of treatment aimed at addressing diseases of the skeletal framework, originally from complementary medicine. For years, it has been applied not only to humans but also to animals like dogs and horses.
Osteopaths are tasked with observing the patient’s movement patterns to identify any disturbed motions. Using their hands, they then attempt to manually correct the disturbances.
Balancing Bones, Muscles, and the Whole Body
The founding father of osteopathy was the American physician Dr. Andrew Still, who believed that impaired movements could cause diseases.
Thus, the treatment adopts a holistic approach, aiming to alleviate dysfunctions in joints and other tissues by restoring balance.
Osteopaths use their hands to try to trigger self-healing in dogs.
What Does an Osteopath Do for Dogs?
Osteopathy is based on the concept that imbalances in your dog’s body lead to illnesses since all anatomical structures are interconnected.
Using targeted manual techniques on muscles and joints, osteopaths strive to restore balance and stimulate your dog’s self-healing abilities.
When is Osteopathy for Dogs Used?
As a holistic form of treatment, osteopathy for animals is used for a variety of diseases.
In dogs, osteopathy is helpful for:
Joint problems
Lameness
Back pain and issues with getting up
Injuries to the musculoskeletal system like sprains
Resolving blockages
Since behavioural changes in animals are often due to pain, osteopathy is also used in dogs that suddenly show aggressive or frightened behaviour.
Osteopathy as a Supportive Therapy
Osteopathy does not replace the conventional treatment of severe illnesses by your vet; it is to be viewed as a supportive therapy.
If your dog shows any signs of illness, you should seek veterinary assistance without delay. With your vet’s consultation, osteopathic treatment can be performed in addition to therapy.
How Does an Osteopathic Session for Dogs Proceed?
To pinpoint your dog’s issue, the osteopath will first ask a series of questions. Additionally, they will examine your dog’s movements and palpate from front to back, paying close attention to any tension or joint and muscle dysfunctions.
What Methods are Used in Osteopathy for Dogs?
If the osteopath detects disturbances in your dog’s musculoskeletal system, they can apply various manual techniques to resolve the issue. Special stretching techniques and particular treatment methods include:
Cranio-Sacral Therapy: By affecting the craniosacral system from the outside, the osteopath triggers positive effects on other body parts. Here, the osteopath applies particularly gentle manual techniques to your dog.
Dorn-Breuss Treatment: This two-part treatment includes Dorn therapy and Breuss massage. The objective is to correct misalignments of the pelvis, spine, or legs using targeted techniques, followed by a relaxing massage.
How Long Does a Treatment Take?
An osteopathy session usually lasts between one and two hours. However, the time required can vary depending on your dog’s condition.
How Often Should I Take My Dog for Osteopathy?
Usually, one session suffices to relieve your dog’s tension or blockages. However, if the problem is more profound, additional sessions with the osteopath might be beneficial for your dog.
Are There Any Risks with Osteopathy for Dogs?
As a method of complementary medicine, osteopathy in animals generally leads to few complications.
Since the osteopath uses only their hands and applies techniques with precision, injuries from osteopathy are rare.
How Much Does a Canine Osteopath Cost?
The cost of osteopathic treatment for dogs varies greatly depending on the time involved and the local fee schedule for vets. Qualified vets as well as non-vets offer osteopathy for animals. However, vets must always be consulted before booking an osteopathy appointment for your dog.
The cost of a session lasting 45-60 minutes generally ranges between 55 and 80 pounds, though it can be lower or higher depending on the osteopath.
Note: Alongside the costs for the actual osteopathic treatment, there are also costs for the preliminary examination or follow-up sessions
This article from zooplus Magazine is purely informative. If your pet is experiencing discomfort, contact your veterinarian for diagnosis and treatment.
Here are some purchase proposals curated by the zooplus editorial team
The products featured have been carefully selected by our editorial staff and are available at the zooplus online pet shop. The selection does not constitute advertising for the mentioned brands.
Franziska G., Veterinarian
At the Justus-Liebig-University of Giessen I was extensively trained as a veterinarian and was able to gain experience in various fields such as small animal, large animal and exotic animal medicine as well as pharmacology, pathology and food hygiene.
Since then, I have been working not only as a veterinary author, but also on my scientifically driven dissertation. My goal is to better protect animals from pathogenic bacterial organisms in the future.
Besides my veterinary knowledge, I also share my own experiences as a happy dog owner and can thus understand and enlighten fears and problems as well as other important questions about animal health.
Although the heat period is an entirely natural process for female dogs, irritation at stains on the new carpet, fear of an unwanted pregnancy or their pet's strange behaviour can cause many dog owners to worry. Find out here everything you need to know about your female dog's heat period and how you can both overcome this without any stress.
16 February 2024 |Leishmaniasis is an infectious disease transmitted by sandflies and can often prove fatal for dogs. Find out how you can protect your dog and how to recognise and treat the disease should it emerge.
Neutering has traditionally been a standard veterinary practice, but is it universally recommended? What distinguishes neutering from sterilisation and what expenses should a dog owner anticipate? Here, you can discover all the essential information concerning the advantages and disadvantages of neutering your dog.
