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| Canine Sports Medicine...
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Sports Medicine in General |
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One of the common misconceptions is that
our services are only necessary AFTER an injury or neurological
condition has occurred. And while we do see many patients in
this state, it is much more in the interest of the pet owner to see
us BEFORE the injury occurs. Naturally, we never know when an
injury will occur. However, due to the nature of their work /
play, many dogs place heavy demands on their musculoskeletal system.
Just as a professional athlete regularly sees trainers,
chiropractors, etc., so should those canines that are subjected to
the same types of stresses. Routine preventative care can help
these dogs prepare their bodies for the stresses that they are put
under, and importantly, identify small problems before they become
big problems. Following the sports medicine evaluation, we'll
show you how to do some of the treatments that are required on a
regular basis, such as massage, stretching, and range-of-motion
exercises. Some examples of those dogs that can benefit from
our sports medicine program include:
- Active
Family Pets
-
Competition Dogs
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Working Dogs
- Show Dogs
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Active Family Pets |
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Although some dogs are "formally" canine
athletes, there is a whole class of informal athletes...the family
frisbee champion, the running companion, and the Houdini-ish fence
climbers to name a few. Just because these dogs aren't
formally canine athletes doesn't mean they're not subjecting
themselves to the same, if not more, rigors during their daily
activity than agility dogs, etc. Routine preventative care can
be an important part of these dogs overall health. |
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Competition Dogs |
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There are many kind of competition dogs...agility dogs, flyball
dogs, herding dogs, mushers, etc. Each kind of competition can
place unique stresses on a dog's body. Consider for a moment
the force that would be placed on your legs and back if you
constantly had to run up and down an A-frame. You would
probably be spending some quality time at your chiropractor keeping
your back in tip-top shape, and would also likely stretch before and
after the activity to keep yourself from getting hurt. So
should your dog. Regular stretching and/or chiropractic
adjustments is an important part of a competition dog's injury
prevention regimen.
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Working Dogs |
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For the purpose of this page, we'll consider working dogs as
police K-9's, search & rescue dogs, etc. Unique to this group
of dogs, particularly the police K-9's, is that they rarely have a chance to stretch before their strenuous activity.
Therefore, it is imperative that they are provided a regular routine
of stretching and massage, to help their bodies stay tuned up and ready
for any immediate bursts of activity they may be subjected to.
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Show Dogs |
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For a show dog, whether it be a conformation champion or a canine
celebrity, fluidity of movement and overall strength and
cardiovascular fitness are critical to the success they will have in
the ring. Regular massage and stretching will improve their
fluidity. Strengthening exercises and regimented aerobic
exercise, such as land treadmill
therapy will improve their overall strength and cardiovascular
fitness. |
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