Natural Health

Back and neck problems are common among dogs and cats just like humans. In dogs they can be recognised from a whole range of symptoms from obvious soreness when being picked up or brushed, being lame or stiff, through to having a poor appetite, incontinence or diarrhoea.

Spinal problems have usually been developing for a long period by the time such symptoms become obvious. The origin of the problem may have been a fall or a car accident years before. Often though, problems develop from more subtle causes such as bad posture or jumping for balls.

Traditional treatment options for dogs with back problems are limited. Sore backs and necks, often respond poorly, or at best temporarily, to the usual anti-inflammatory medications, so there aren't any quick easy fixes available. Acupuncture and chiropractics are treatment options which have proven to be reasonably cost effective and can often give a dog a new lease on life.

When part of the spine is not functioning properly, the nerve roots, blood vessels and spinal cord protected by the spinal cord are affected; causing pain and spasm of local muscles. The function of the tissues that these nerves and blood vessels supply is upset. This can include muscles and joints as well as organs such as the intestines. With rest, the pain usually subsides but the underlying problems often remain.

Also associated with the spine are over 120 joints, many of which are capable of developing arthritic pain. Spinal discs may degenerate and rupture, causing severe pain, paralysis and other problems. Each vertebrea is involved with some 10 ligaments, each one of which can be strained and radiate pain.

Symptoms which may indicate a spinal problem in dogs are -
* Yelping in pain after a sudden movement and no other obvious symptoms - usually neck problems
* Neck stiffness or difficulty turning one way - neck problems
* Foreleg lameness with no site of pain in the forelegs/dry eye - problems at junction of neck and chest
* Yelping, turning with a worried look or turning to bite when being picked up around the chest - thoracic problems
* Swayback / Hunched back - problems with the junction of the chest and back or back and pelvis.
* Muscle spasm along back / stiffness of back
* Hip pain and hindleg lameness with little or no hip arthritis on x-ray - lower back and pelvic problems causing sciatic pain.
* Stiffness when getting up - hindleg arthritis or lower back/pelvic/sciatic problems
* Unable to jump into the car or onto couch - problems with the junction of the chest and back and lower back
* Loss of control of passage of urine and manure - sacral problems
* Lick granulomas - tingly nerve ends, caused by pressure on nerve roots, canresult in funny sensation in various areas and can be the cause of incessant need to lick at certain spots like the wrist.

VETERINARY CHIROPRACTIC
Dogs and cats, luckily, seem to respond more quickly to chiropractic treatments than we do, with many improving dramatically after one or two treatments. Regular repeat treatments are more necessary with long standing cases.

Animal chiropractic involves the adjustment of the vertebrae of the spine by short, sharp thrusts which usually act on just one pair of vertabrae at a time. This adjustment is specific for the misalignment of the particular pair of vertabrae and takes into account the direction of the misalignment and the planes of the 3 or so joints involved with each pair of vertabrae.

Back and neck problems most commonly start out as a single area of the spine which is not functioning properly and over time more and more of the spine becomes involved; the joints of the spine become arthritic, and the discs thin and degenerate, i.e. early minor problems that go unrecognised often eventually turn into a major source of pain, stiffness and muscle weakness.

Occassionally after a spinal adjustment the symptoms of the problems get worse for a short while. This is believed to be due to the body re-adjusting to the change which is being brought about. Usually animals reacting this way respond well to chiropratic if the treatment is followed up.

The style of chiropractic used is a gentle method which involves the adjustment of just one joint at a time and is usually very well accepted by the animals.
Sometimes light or moderate sedation is required so that the dogs relax and thus allow the treatment to be effective.

ACUPUNCTURE
Acupuncture has been around for thousands of years, and has not only been used by the Chinese but also Indians, Koreans, Japanese and others

Acupuncture developed via the observations and experimentations of thousands and thousands of acupuncturists over this time. When people had a problem such as a sore neck, or a cold, certain points on the body would ache. It was found that inserting a needle into these aching points gave not only relief to the ache but also to the condition that caused them. Gradually, many lists of points for each condition were accumulated, and acupuncturists developed an impression of which points were more effective. With time acupuncture became more refined - patterns of inter-relationships were seen to exist, and over the years patterns were established for each organ of the body.

Most acupuncture points are linked to nerves of the body, and they are also linked by channels known as meridians. These meridians have been proven to exist by scientific means. For example, sound travels at a different speed along the meridians than it does through the adjacent skin.

Acupuncture points often lie immediately under the skin and can be detected electronically by their characteristic of having lower electrical resistance than the surrounding skin.

Acupuncture in animals has been developed via two main means. Firstly, points used on humans have been located at similar positions on animals, and their effectivness has been clinically tested. Secondly, animal conditions have been studied to establish which points are active for each condition and then these points have been used in their treatment.

Treatment of cats and dogs by acupuncture usually involves needling by traditional chinese acupuncture needles. Less often, aquapuncture (injecting into the region of an acupuncture point) or laser are used. Very fine stainless steel needles are inserted through the skin into the acupuncture point, and either left in place for 5 - 20 minutes, or are manipulated every 5 minutes or so. The needles, aquapuncture and laser all act to 'normalise' the point.
In cases of nerve damage and paralysis electroacupuncture may be used to increase the speed of nerve regeneration.

Acupuncture is also used for arthritis, is particularly good with hip dysplasia, for skin problems, ear infections, nerve disorders, respiratory problems and behavioural problems.

GENRAL INFORMATION - Cats and Dogs

1) SPINAL PROBLEMS - acupuncture and chiropractic are often used together to treat spinal problems. Either needles or (painless) laser may be used on the acupuncture points.

IN BRIEF - Acupuncture and chiropractic work together to help rectify problems of the spine. Both act to reset and normalise the nervous system that controls the position of joints, tension or tone of spinal and limb muscles and their blood supply. Problems of the spine basically involve a combination of joint restriction, muscle spasm or muscle weakness, joint inflammation (hot or bony arthritis) and altered brain/nerve responses.

The chiropractic adjustment, a short thrust in a specific direction and of a specific magnitude and force, triggers thousands of impulses to the brain from receptors in the muscles, tendons and joints, and at the same time frees up scaring and restriction around the joint. The direction of the adjustment is chosen according to the motion restriction around the joint and according to the planes of the joint surfaces. The latter is important because it allows the joint to be moved with a minimum of force and avoids damage to the joint surface.

Acupuncture works in a similar way, with the needles or laser directly stimulating the nerves associated with acupuncture points, which in turn signal the brain toreset the joint position and muscle tone in the area involved. The points used may be close to the problem area or well away from it. Acupuncture also helps to break the pain cycle that is often present where there is spinal damage or arthritis of the spinal joints. It also reduces inflammation, improves blood supply and speeds up the healing of damagesdspinal discs and joints.

2) ARTHRITIS - the second most common use of acupuncture is in the treatment of arthritis. As with the joints of the spine, it works on the main pain cycles, inflammation, blood supply and the rate of healing of the joints. Often concurrent chiropractic adjustment of the spine is also of benefit, as it helps the animal use its body in a balanced way, which in turn often takes the pressure off the damaged limb.

Spinal problems causing lamenss and/or spinal pain and hip dysplasia usually improve significantly with one to three treatments. An idea of the number of treatments required can often be estimated at the examination a week after the first treatment. The treatment of other joint or internal problems may require an initial series of six treatments, with treatment frequency decreasing progressively to between three and twelve months. Initial treatments are usually spaced a week to a fortnight apart.

Some animals become more uncomfortable for the first day or two after the first to thrid treatment. This is uasually caused by muscle aches which occur as the animal's body returns to a healthier state. Most of these respond very well overall. Occassionally short term anti-inflammatory medication is required.

Working towards happier, healthier pets.

Dr Ian Bidstrup

For further information phone Kate Haines - 03513380055