McTimoney for Dogs

 
All dogs can benefit from McTimoney treatment. Whether your four-legged friend is simply a pet or they take part in showing, agility, trials, racing or flyball. Regular tailored sessions with an experienced therapist using canine chiropractic techniques are one of the best ways to keep your canine happy, healthy and working at their best.
 

What is McTimoney Treatment?

 
McTimoney is a chiropractic technique developed by John McTimoney in the 1950’s. John was a Canine Chiropracticchiropractor who learnt his trade from one of the pioneers of the field, Dr Mary Walker. John developed his own methods and treatments and his distinctive approach was named McTimoney Method Chiropractic. In 1954 he further developed his approach to include the treatment of animals and is believed to be the first chiropractor to do so. You can read more about John at the McTimoney Trust.org website www.mctimoneytrust.org/24/John-McTimoney
 

What does McTimoney Do?

 
Put simply, McTimoney treatment helps to re-align and balance the musculoskeletal system. The system is composed of the bones, which make of the skeletal system, and the muscles which make up the muscular system as well as cartilage, tendons, ligaments and connective tissues. The musculoskeletal system gives humans and animals the ability to move and provides support and stability.

For a variety of reasons, parts of the system can sometimes become ‘stuck’ at one end of their range of movement. When this happens joints can become less mobile and movement become painful. Muscle tension and muscle spasm are often the results of such an issue.

One of the main areas of the system that can experience issues is the spinal cord which runs down the spine. Nerves branch out from the spinal cord which transfers information to and from the brain to the various areas of the body such as organs and muscles. If the spine is not in alignment or if there is muscle tension around the spine, perhaps as the result of an injury, the nerves are less able to do their job. Blood supply can also be affected and the result is pain, discomfort and drops in performance levels of the human or animal affected.

Through careful manipulation of joints, especially those in the spine and pelvis, the McTimoney chiropractic therapist can remove misalignments and restore the musculoskeletal system  Muscle pain and tension and discomfort felt during movement can be removed meaning performance levels and general well-being are improved.
 

WHEN SHOULD YOU CONSIDER CHIROPRACTIC BASED TREATMENT FOR YOUR DOG?

  • canine physiotherapyCertain breeds and those engaged in any type of regular sports activity (e.g. Flyball, Agility) are prone to issues.
  • However, all dogs are at risk of injury whether it be through play or work.
  • Greyhounds can suffer injury caused by running in one direction and tight cornering involved in racing.
  • Agility dogs, which make quick turns and do lots of jumping can suffer from misalignments if they lose their footing.
  • Breeds with long backs and those with shorter legs are also more likely to suffer issues due to their conformation.
  • For animals that have recently given birth a check-up, treatment is a great idea to ensure there are no ongoing problems.
     

What Symptoms Should an Owner Look for?

 
It’s sometimes difficult to know when to call a dog chiropractor. Below are a range of symptoms and Dog Massagebehaviours that are tell-tale signs of an issue. If you are in any doubt then please call or email and I’ll be happy to assist and offer advice.

  • Limping, Leg Stiffness
  • Unexplained drop in performance
  • Exhibiting signs of pain during or after exercise
  • Crying out, whimpering or stiffness when getting up
  • Difficulty walking upstairs or getting into cars
  • Showing signs of discomfort when being stroked on their back
  • A reluctance to play or exercise
  • Loss of appetite
  • Excessive grooming
  • Behavioural changes, dog becoming shy or aggression towards other dogs

 

The Benefits of McTimoney for Dogs

 
All dogs, regardless of their level of activity, can injure themselves, causing soft tissue damage, muscle tension or misalignment of joints. Sports therapy, such as McTimoney chiropractic, can be used as a one-off therapy to resolve a specific issue or a regular treatment to help prevent injury and maintain performance levels.

Some of the key benefits associated with the McTimoney method are;

  • Improved joint flexibility and range of movement
  • Stride length increase and a balancing of weight load on each leg
  • Muscle elasticity increases resulting in more dynamic movement
  • Improved coordination, great for sports dogs
  • Improvement in blood circulation resulting in improved recovery after exercise
  • Relief from pain and discomfort
  • Dogs find the treatment relaxing and it helps decrease stress levels
  • Improved healing rates when injury does occur
  • Less muscle soreness and fatigue post exercise
  • Less chance of muscle strainsŸ

To book an appointment and details of training classes offered please call me on 07779029080 or email: emma@emmapunt.com.