When my MP injured herself coming off an a-frame doing agility over a year ago, I thought it was the end of her career. From x-rays to medication we treated it as tendonitis in her right leg as that was the only symptom we could see, other than she wouldn’t jump up on me (which I figured was due to not wanting to put any weight on the leg). Crate rest for weeks on end, then it would come back. The strange thing was that she could play flyball, and do her field work. Finally, a year after the event, and figuring she was cured as we hadn’t seen any reoccurrence, I entered her in an agility trial. The first day she was fine, rip roaring around the ring like her usual self. The second day she could hardly walk. She cried when she tried to get up on my leg (she likes to stretch and then get picked up). It was heartbreaking and I was devastated. It looked like we had hit the end of the road.
After mentioning our trials and tribulations to one of my friends she recommended someone who worked in a vet clinic who knew a chiropractor. I called the lady, who turned out to be a breeder of mini schnauzers who told me a story about one of her dogs who strangely enough exhibited the same symptoms as Meya. No jumping up, looking very stiff and sort of favouring one leg. Well, I figured I had nothing to lose, and off we went for an assessment.
The chiropractor, a non-practicing vet, examined Meya, and heard the story of what had happened and what she was doing now. She knelt on the floor with my little dog and felt and then, very quietly, very gently, began adjusting her. Meya stood like a little doll, just checking at her rear every now and then as Leslie worked her way up her spine, to her neck and shoulders. The verdict – her pelvis had slipped and the resulting trauma caused the muscles supporting the network to not do their job as they were intended to. The cure? (and understand that I was told there really wasn’t a “cure” , just a retraining of the muscles and tendons in the affected area): Stretching exercises before each and every agility run. The culprit? The A-frame because of the apex (6’4”) and the slats and the way Meya was using them to slide down. Five of her toes were crunched in as well which would make it uncomfortable running.
Well, I’m a sceptic and so off we went to a flyball tournament that same day, not sure of what had been explained but happy there were no needles etc. She was a little off her game that same day but the second day of the tournament I had one zoomy dog. She was nuts – wild and excited and wiggly and teasing. It was wild!
When we headed off to an agility trial the next weekend I made sure to do the exercises every time she ran. She did four runs the first day and then we watched her to see how she would cope with the second day – even better – she qualified every run out that day and was happy as anything. No side effects, nothing. I was thrilled to say the least.
Our second appointment was a month from the first and so even by then Leslie saw improvement. Her toes were fine, she only needed one adjustment in her spine where she had needed three the first time and her pelvis – well it was still a little wonky but much improved.
So, off to another agility trial, and in between swimming and running. I now have my happy agility dog back thanks to the wonders of chiropractic medicine. We only go every 6 months now, or when the season gets going.
The exercises:
1. Stand behind the dog and take both legs firmly along the inside of the leg. Using my thumbs as leverage against her pelvis, I gently pull the legs in a backwards motion so that the feet eventually come in to meet – not much height is given so don’t pull up, pull out behind the dog.
2. Take each rear leg and, inserting a finder in the joint area between the ankle and knee, bent the leg inwards and hold for 10 seconds. Do this with each rear leg.
3. Take each foot and gently massage the foot, pressing out the toes and manipulating them so they stretch out.
4. For the front legs, take each leg and inserting a finger in the joint, bend the leg out, and hold for 10 seconds.
Before a run, I also get her to stretch up against my legs by using treats to lure her up, although she does know the “up” command. We then do a practice jump if there is one available, otherwise I get her to do a little dance or do a short retrieve if there’s room.
I also take my 12 year old MP who was not walking very well in the rear end – he was shuffling his legs and was looking very stiff and uncomfortable. So off we went and it turned out it’s all in his neck – it was so stiff and locked that he couldn’t move properly and was tensing up his rear end to compensate. He has had three treatments thus far and the difference is noticeable. He is now back to lying in the frog-legged position which he had stopped doing, he is much more playful and flexible. He gets daily massages in the neck and back area and stretching exercises in the rear legs. To stretch out his legs, as he is not as supple as Meya, I stand over him, with his head between my legs, and take each leg and pull to the back of him, all the time, keeping my right arm under his pelvic area as support. One of these for each leg once a day keeps him from tensing up again.
Basically I’ve learned to treat my working dogs as athletes and that inasmuch as I stretch out before doing an agility run, I need to stretch and work out my dogs before each activity. In addition, a walk out after the run, especially agility helps keep the muscles from tensing up if they are just put back into their crates. Their diets are also supplemented daily with glucosamine sulfate (500 mg) each.