Clinical Canine Massage for a limp - opinions?
Discussion
tl;dr Dog has soft tissue limp, will a Clinical Canine Massage help?
Cassie is probably a Boxer / Staffie mix and about 4.5 years old.
Over the last three months she has developed a limp, seemingly around her front left upper leg / shoulder.
It stated as a post rushing around limp which faded over 24 hours but it is now there most of the time.
Most visible at a slow walk.
She seems to walk it off on a walk and it doesn't seem to greatly bother her.
She's not a zoomie dog and only rushes around in woodland or if another dog will play with her. Dozing makes up 90% of the day!
Vet examined and suggested Rimadyl (NSAID) and 2 weeks rest followed by x-rays to rule out visible damage.
I decided to have the x-rays done first and they were clear.
One Rimadyl resulted in 2 days upset bowels so discontinued.
1 week short walks on-lead followed by 1 week more normal walks but avoiding zoomies hasn't helped a lot.
Back to the vet for a follow up tomorrow but I also met a lady who offers Clinical Canine Massages who thought she could help with the vets consent.
Anyone got any experience of this, does it help, any other suggestions?
Cassie is probably a Boxer / Staffie mix and about 4.5 years old.
Over the last three months she has developed a limp, seemingly around her front left upper leg / shoulder.
It stated as a post rushing around limp which faded over 24 hours but it is now there most of the time.
Most visible at a slow walk.
She seems to walk it off on a walk and it doesn't seem to greatly bother her.
She's not a zoomie dog and only rushes around in woodland or if another dog will play with her. Dozing makes up 90% of the day!
Vet examined and suggested Rimadyl (NSAID) and 2 weeks rest followed by x-rays to rule out visible damage.
I decided to have the x-rays done first and they were clear.
One Rimadyl resulted in 2 days upset bowels so discontinued.
1 week short walks on-lead followed by 1 week more normal walks but avoiding zoomies hasn't helped a lot.
Back to the vet for a follow up tomorrow but I also met a lady who offers Clinical Canine Massages who thought she could help with the vets consent.
Anyone got any experience of this, does it help, any other suggestions?
Yes definitely. If they are reputable they are very unlikely to worsen the issue.
A fellow vet nurse friend has just had her dog go through massage for a muscle strain (her spaniel does flyball) and it is making a big difference with her recovery.
Massage/physio are still under used in the vet world tbh.
A fellow vet nurse friend has just had her dog go through massage for a muscle strain (her spaniel does flyball) and it is making a big difference with her recovery.
Massage/physio are still under used in the vet world tbh.
bexVN said:
Yes definitely. If they are reputable they are very unlikely to worsen the issue.
A fellow vet nurse friend has just had her dog go through massage for a muscle strain (her spaniel does flyball) and it is making a big difference with her recovery.
Massage/physio are still under used in the vet world tbh.
If they are good they should be able to to do a full assessment of your dogs gait etc and garner a lot of info about what is going on from it. A fellow vet nurse friend has just had her dog go through massage for a muscle strain (her spaniel does flyball) and it is making a big difference with her recovery.
Massage/physio are still under used in the vet world tbh.
Right, back from the vet.
Diagnosis is a rotator cuff tear or weakness with muscle wastage around her shoulder.
The vet thinks time and limited jumping will heal and did not think, for this particular injury, a Clinical Canine Massage would help.
Walking is good, twisting and jumping is not.
So basically walk as normal but on-lead to stop playing with other dogs or their toys.
Also on-lead in potential squirrel hunting areas.
Review in 8 weeks if no better.
Diagnosis is a rotator cuff tear or weakness with muscle wastage around her shoulder.
The vet thinks time and limited jumping will heal and did not think, for this particular injury, a Clinical Canine Massage would help.
Walking is good, twisting and jumping is not.
So basically walk as normal but on-lead to stop playing with other dogs or their toys.
Also on-lead in potential squirrel hunting areas.
Review in 8 weeks if no better.
If there is muscle wastage physio and massage are just what is needed, however I am not a vet have not seen your dog so obviously vet advice should be followed.
As I have said physio and massage are severely underrated in the animal world (if this had been on a human do you think physio would or would not be suggested?)
Massage alone probably would not be as effective but it still helps with blood flow to the affected area and helps reduce further muscle atrophy.
I hope things improve quickly and much quicker than 8 weeks!!
As I have said physio and massage are severely underrated in the animal world (if this had been on a human do you think physio would or would not be suggested?)
Massage alone probably would not be as effective but it still helps with blood flow to the affected area and helps reduce further muscle atrophy.
I hope things improve quickly and much quicker than 8 weeks!!
Edited by bexVN on Tuesday 15th August 13:21
Edited by bexVN on Tuesday 15th August 13:29
Yes - it's already been 4 weeks since the first visit.
The vet did say that this could be a three month job but to review after 6-8 weeks if no improvement noticed.
I'll see how it goes and if nothing seems to be getting better, I'll push for a referral for physio or massage treatment.
The vet did say that this could be a three month job but to review after 6-8 weeks if no improvement noticed.
I'll see how it goes and if nothing seems to be getting better, I'll push for a referral for physio or massage treatment.
firm believer in canine physio -our old ( sadly now passed) German Pointer hurt his back when he was about 11 years old and we had a very nice lady who specialised in horse and dog physio. She used to lay him down on a heated (& magnetic?) pad, then massage and stretch him. First time around he was a bit uncertain but very quickly realised it was actually very nice and he would just crash out and let her get on with it -made a huge difference to his mobility and probably prolonged his viable life.
www.woofneightherapy.co.uk her name's Chris -based in Rutland but travels all over the Northants/Beds/Bucks/Cambs area
As for allergy to the NSAID -watch this space -I'm just about to post a tale (tail?) about my 'new' GSP's reaction to Metacam -nasty!
www.woofneightherapy.co.uk her name's Chris -based in Rutland but travels all over the Northants/Beds/Bucks/Cambs area
As for allergy to the NSAID -watch this space -I'm just about to post a tale (tail?) about my 'new' GSP's reaction to Metacam -nasty!
ctdctd said:
Right, back from the vet.
Diagnosis is a rotator cuff tear or weakness with muscle wastage around her shoulder.
The vet thinks time and limited jumping will heal and did not think, for this particular injury, a Clinical Canine Massage would help.
Walking is good, twisting and jumping is not.
So basically walk as normal but on-lead to stop playing with other dogs or their toys.
Also on-lead in potential squirrel hunting areas.
Review in 8 weeks if no better.
I had a rotator cuff tear in my right shoulder due primarily to how I calved cows, it took about 4 months to mend, but has never gone away, and has forced some changes to work and play for me. Not that this specifically relates to a dog but just my experience, oh, and the human physio definitely helped.Diagnosis is a rotator cuff tear or weakness with muscle wastage around her shoulder.
The vet thinks time and limited jumping will heal and did not think, for this particular injury, a Clinical Canine Massage would help.
Walking is good, twisting and jumping is not.
So basically walk as normal but on-lead to stop playing with other dogs or their toys.
Also on-lead in potential squirrel hunting areas.
Review in 8 weeks if no better.
Little update on this.
The vet tried a different NSAID - Onsior at the beginning of September which Cassie tolerated well.
1st dose made a significant difference and after the 10 day course the limp was maybe 50% better.
Fast forward to mid October and the limp has finally gone - took about 4.5 months from start to finish.
Ongoing she's back to normal exercise with a recommendation to limit jumping and twisting for a while.
The vet tried a different NSAID - Onsior at the beginning of September which Cassie tolerated well.
1st dose made a significant difference and after the 10 day course the limp was maybe 50% better.
Fast forward to mid October and the limp has finally gone - took about 4.5 months from start to finish.
Ongoing she's back to normal exercise with a recommendation to limit jumping and twisting for a while.
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