When your dog’s tail doesn’t want to wag…
This syndrome is an injury that needs your attention so that it does not negatively affect the rest of their spine and body.
Dock Diving and Your Dog’s Health
Dock diving looks like fun and it is.
Water can be hard…
Dock diving for fun or competition has a particular common injury that most people don’t take seriously. As their body pierces the water their tail (which is a part of their spine can hit the water in a way that sprains or injures the vertebral segments of the tail. ( limp tail / cold tail / limber tail ). As I said this is common. It is also painful. It can heal well with a therapeutic release technique. Left untreated I have seen 2 cases where it had serious compensatory effects up the spine that became debilitating as the years progressed. The vertebral segment at the base of the tail directly affects how the sacrum works which affects how the vertebrae in the low back work and then the whole body.
When dogs are conditioned to intensely go for a ball or toy they can be less focused on their landing. They can also have a problem from how their neck and head hit the water. (generally they will look meek from either)
If your dog dock dives for fun, fine. Have a plan in place in case they get hurt. Have a therapist who can release spinal restrictions. Have homeopathic remedies for healing the soft tissues.
Regarding competition, I think that raises the risk substantially because of the dog’s focus and drive that we condition. I am not a big fan of encouraging too much vertical with the head up. This landing was bad but even in the ‘good’ landings the dog’s body position was a high risk for injury.
Accidents can happen anywhere so I recommend having a plan in place no matter what you choose to do with your dog.
Accidents are never planned so be prepared with a plan when your dog needs you.
Has Your Dog been Diagnosed with an Iliopsoas Injury?
There is some good news here because for iliopsoas, the prognosis is fantastic. The challenge is in implementing the protocol.
From my 2 decades of experience with elite canine athletes, I have discovered that an iliopsoas problem in dogs is usually a form of tendonitis. (This is not the case for us upright 2-legged creatures). Tendonitis can be tricky. It can heal 100%. That is the great news. It needs 6 weeks completely free of aggravation and that can be tricky.
Tendonitis symptoms come and go so don’t be fooled because your dog is looking good again. Obviously agility and vigorous exercise does NOT fit into the rehab weeks. Remember once it has healed 100% you are good to go. If it reoccurs then it is a brand new case from either a single trauma or repetitive strain.
It is also important to note that they use the iliopsoas to pivot. Your dog can trot and do a moderate canter in a straight line for fitness. If their rear leg slips that will definitely aggravate it, so watch out for ice and other slippery surfaces.
So if things have been going along well and you are in week 4 of your dog’s healing and something happens where they re-aggravate the iliopsoas even 1 time… then you MUST start counting the 6 weeks from the beginning again. I know it’s frustrating but that is the facts. Remember once it heals for those 6 weeks it is gone for life!! If it does not get those 6 weeks of healing then it does not matter what else you do for your dog… they will have the problem for life!
Those are the facts… so you might as well be grateful to know them so you can have successful pain-free results for your dog.
If your dog is high drive use this time for mental tricks and training which can really take the edge off a high drive dog.
Therapy can help but the above advice is the essential key to success.
Happy tails,
The K9Bodyworker
K9Bodyworker is interviewed on BlogTalkRadio
The K9Bodyworker is being interviewed on BlogTalkRadio on Wednesday February 22, 2012 at 12 noon MST. Come join us live at www.blogtalkradio.com/boomerandbabe; an archive copy of the show will be available at the same URL by 2PM on the same day and will later be available on the Wisdom For Dog Lovers website.
Compensation? What’s that? I thought it was a cute quirk.
That quirky little way that your dog moves that is soooo cute. It may become an expensive, painful problem.
How did we get here… the problem we have today with canine vaccinations?
A world expert on canine vaccinations, Dr Jean Dodds, shares her wisdom with you for a happier healthier dog.
We are pleased to partner with Dr. Jean to share her amazing wisdom and the latest science with you. Our joint venture supports Hemopet, a charity founded by Dr. Jean, as a non-profit blood bank and greyhound racing dog rescue. Your support keeps the great work of Hemopet happening for years to come. Thank you for paying int forward.
One Little Truth that Can Save Your Dog from Needlessly Suffering in Silence.
Knowing one little truth can save your dog from needlessly suffering in silence. Pain is NOT Normal.
Pain is a mechanism that your dog’s body has to save them from injury or further damage from an existing condition. Pain is a sign a problem that needs to be investigated. Pain is the subjective experience of a nerve firing in response to a stimulus. Pain is a symptom not a cause. Your dog is hard wired to move away from pain and towards pleasure. A few visual symptom of pain might be the following: Sniff out more…
Moxie’s Detox Diet Update
Well Moxie enjoyed her detox diet…bonus.
She did not have a medical condition so there was nothing to compare in that department.
What I can say is that her eyes look brighter, her coat is definitely nicer and softer…bonus again.
These pics were taken in the same place with my iphone and as I look at them now Moxie has a richer color to her coat… cool.
AFTER
BEFORE
Feels great to have done something for her health!
Love ya Moxie 
My Doggy First Aid Kit Essentials
Here’s the few tidbits of wisdom that I promised. Thanks to the Facebook fans of the Wisdom For Dog Lovers page for asking. Here are the homepathic remedies that I carry at dog trials in case of any accident.
Accidents are never planned… Be Prepared!
Always carry a first aid kit…
Homeopathic remedies are included in my kit for all acute musculoskeletal injuries.
Sometimes a specific remedy is required for a specific condition.
This requires an accurate diagnosis or assessment.
When symptoms improve, healing is occurring. Pain is not simply being masked while more damage is being done. Oooh, I wince at the commercial that shows the guy taking a pain killer for his bad knee then going jogging.
These are my choices for a general first aid response because they are sooo effective and cover a full range of soft tissue injuries.
Arnica Montana c30, Hypericum Perf. c30, Rhus Toxichendron c30, and Ruta Grav c30
I give them frequently at first and back off to 2 or 3 times a day when the healing is progressing. I stop when healing is done.
Preparation is the Best Prevention!