What Gives a Dog a Pain in the Neck?
Here, you see my cute Yorkie patient, Amort, looking good, but the past week has been anything but a good one for him. He lost his appetite and at first, we thought it was his chronic pancreatitis, but his family figured out he would eat if his food was held up off the floor, making us wonder if his neck was painful. Neck Problems in Dogs The neck is a...
VITAL VOICE: Virtual consults give you another way to help your pet without leaving home
Introducing VITAL VOICE, Vital Vet's new video series featuring interviews with leaders and experts in the field of pet rehabilitation.
Virtual Consults for Pets - Rehab, Conditioning, and Mobility Issues
Many of you are becoming familiar with telemedicine so that you can connect with your veterinarian for a virtual appointment. A Vital Vet Pet Video Consultation is different - it's a totally new concept in virtual consultation. Here's how: You do not have to be a client of the Vital Vet Pet Consultants Our Pet consultants are the best of the best - some names you might even recognize since they helped develop the certification...
The Vet’s Guide on Wheelchairs for Dogs (9 Things to Know)
Today, mobility options for special-needs dogs have become widely available. If your dog is in need of temporary or permanent mobility assistance, a wide number of carts, walking sling harnesses and wheelchairs for dogs may be one of the answers, if not the only answer. In my practice I often see pets that require such support, but pet owners are sometimes confused which mobility assistance option is best for their...
Relieving Muscle Pain in the Dog’s Lower Back & Hips
There is one common issue that affects performance dogs as well as older dogs. It is sub-clinical pain or “aches” in the muscles of the lower back and/or muscles of the hips. Clinically these usually do not present themselves in the form of a physical problem or illness. These issues are not typically recognized by the owner/handler. I will usually pick them out while taking a history from the client....
Osteopathy to Improve Mobility After Routine Surgeries
Learn why osteopathy alleviates pain, restores freedom of movement and enhances the body’s innate healing abilities after routine surgeries. Osteopathy is a system of medicine based on manual manipulation. It alleviates pain, restores freedom of movement and enhances the body’s innate healing abilities. Though people often assume osteopathy is similar to chiropractic, it’s actually a whole body approach that considers fascia, viscera, vascular and lymphatic flow, and is not exclusively...
Integrative Treatment of Spinal Dysfunction
How acupuncture, homeopathy and other therapies can help in the treatment of intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) and spondylosis in pets. I have seen it time and again: a client brings in a sweet beloved pet that cannot use his hind legs. Depending on which segment of the spinal cord is affected, the animal may also be unable to urinate or defecate with control. The client is understandably upset but still...
Cervical Spondylomyelopathy - Exploring the Diagnosis and Complexities of Wobbler Disease
1. What makes cervical spondylomyelopathy a challenging diagnosis? Cervical spondylomyelopathy (CSM), often referred to as ‘wobbler disease’, is a multifactorial condition affecting the cervical spine in larger breed dogs – resulting in progressive compression of the spinal cord and nerve roots. Morphologic and biomechanical abnormalities of the cervical spine have been classified as either Disc-Associated Wobbler Syndrome (DAWS) or Osseous Associated Wobbler Syndrome (OAWS). Dobermans are predisposed to DAWS, but...