We all know the feeling of needing a good massage? Or maybe a trip to a chiropractor or osteopath to get some small things fixed so we can function normally again? Many of us have also tried to go through a longer course of rehabilitation, or maybe we just know someone who has gone through it.
But how many of us actually think that our dogs might need the same? When we look at our four-legged friends every day, do we notice that their backs are slowly getting a little stiffer day by day? Or that they might have slightly shorter strides than normal?
When we look at our four-legged friends every day, we often overlook small signs that they are getting older, that their bodies are decaying, or that they may have sustained some kind of injury or defect.
When we had our old mixed breed dog Bjørn in the early days, we slowly started to see that he was becoming a little more stiff-legged. His back wasn't as elastic as usual, but he didn't seem to be in pain, so it was probably just age-related? At one point we were introduced to massage for the dog. We were quickly "bitten" by it when we saw a positive response in the old dog's body. He got a little more mobility back, his back worked more and his tense hindquarters were loosened up. It really made a big difference for him.
When we said goodbye to him, we took the idea of massage with us to the next dogs. It even ended up that we started joking that I should just train to be a masseur. As time went on, I started to research more and more about it and after a while I decided to go that route. That's why I'm now well underway with my training as a Physiognomic Dog Therapist! Training involves massage, joint mobilization, cranio sacral therapy and physical training. This combination is simply so exciting and very rewarding for the dogs.
When we took over dog no. 5 - Tumle - three months ago I really opened my eyes to how much it can actually do for our four-legged friends when you give them a helping hand. When Tumle came into the family, we quickly saw some signs that everything was not quite as it should be: He squeaked when you lifted him, he constantly walked around with the posture of a Friesian horse, and couldn't really turn his head to get his bearings. Some of the problems he had were that he only had one eye, congenital hip dysplasia of moderate severity and not what resembles motor skills/balance.
It was quickly decided that he had to go to school: He was checked out by a trained canine physiotherapist, who wanted to get an X-ray of his entire back, just to be on the safe side. Everything except his hips looked fine. We had him relaxed at her a couple of times and in between the times at her, we have been to a chiropractor, and I have worked on him myself. By combining and organizing exactly for Tumle's case, we have actually reached a point where he does not squeak when he is picked up, he can now lower his head and walk 'normally' and does not walk in circles to orient himself. He almost looks like a normal dog!
This (for us) huge development has occurred on the basis of massage, mobilization, KST and a skilled chiropractor's manipulation.
So if you're sitting there behind the screen and nodding in recognition of your own body, here's a reminder to think about your four-legged friend. They need a helping hand just as much as we do.
Behind the blog
This week's blogger is called Nanna Retz Sloth and is 23 years old and the daughter of a dog trainer.
She has been involved as a "foal" since she was a child, first within DCH and is now independent.
I am the happy owner of no less than five beautiful doggies: Ralf, Alfred, Kato, Allie and Tumle.
Aching bodies and helping hands
We all know the feeling of needing a good massage? Or maybe a trip to a chiropractor or osteopath to get some small things fixed so we can function normally again? Many of us have also tried to go through a longer course of rehabilitation, or maybe we just know someone who has gone through it.
But how many of us actually think that our dogs might need the same? When we look at our four-legged friends every day, do we notice that their backs are slowly getting a little stiffer day by day? Or that they might have slightly shorter strides than normal?
When we look at our four-legged friends every day, we often overlook small signs that they are getting older, that their bodies are decaying, or that they may have sustained some kind of injury or defect.
When we had our old mixed breed dog Bjørn in the early days, we slowly started to see that he was becoming a little more stiff-legged. His back wasn't as elastic as usual, but he didn't seem to be in pain, so it was probably just age-related? At one point we were introduced to massage for the dog. We were quickly "bitten" by it when we saw a positive response in the old dog's body. He got a little more mobility back, his back worked more and his tense hindquarters were loosened up. It really made a big difference for him.
When we said goodbye to him, we took the idea of massage with us to the next dogs. It even ended up that we started joking that I should just train to be a masseur. As time went on, I started to research more and more about it and after a while I decided to go that route. That's why I'm now well underway with my training as a Physiognomic Dog Therapist! Training involves massage, joint mobilization, cranio sacral therapy and physical training. This combination is simply so exciting and very rewarding for the dogs.
When we took over dog no. 5 - Tumle - three months ago I really opened my eyes to how much it can actually do for our four-legged friends when you give them a helping hand. When Tumle came into the family, we quickly saw some signs that everything was not quite as it should be: He squeaked when you lifted him, he constantly walked around with the posture of a Friesian horse, and couldn't really turn his head to get his bearings. Some of the problems he had were that he only had one eye, congenital hip dysplasia of moderate severity and not what resembles motor skills/balance.
It was quickly decided that he had to go to school: He was checked out by a trained canine physiotherapist, who wanted to get an X-ray of his entire back, just to be on the safe side. Everything except his hips looked fine. We had him relaxed at her a couple of times and in between the times at her, we have been to a chiropractor, and I have worked on him myself. By combining and organizing exactly for Tumle's case, we have actually reached a point where he does not squeak when he is picked up, he can now lower his head and walk 'normally' and does not walk in circles to orient himself. He almost looks like a normal dog!
This (for us) huge development has occurred on the basis of massage, mobilization, KST and a skilled chiropractor's manipulation.
So if you're sitting there behind the screen and nodding in recognition of your own body, here's a reminder to think about your four-legged friend. They need a helping hand just as much as we do.
Behind the blog
This week's blogger is called Nanna Retz Sloth and is 23 years old and the daughter of a dog trainer.
She has been involved as a "foal" since she was a child, first within DCH and is now independent.
I am the happy owner of no less than five beautiful doggies: Ralf, Alfred, Kato, Allie and Tumle.