Please read the following list of symptoms and possible causes, but bring your dog along to Doc and he will diagnose the problems by observing the gait, stance and demeanour of your dog.
(Seeing Doc at the first sign of any of these symptons can avoid arthritis which can lead to lack of mobility and even paralysis.)
Symptoms for dogs:
Arthritis
Paralysis
Crabbing to the left or right when walking/running
Limping on the front left or right shoulder
Not sitting square
Walking with the head down
Dipping or roach back
No extension in front legs/ no extension or drive in rear legs
Soreness in the feet or wrist
Won't hold up tail
Doesn't like being touched on the head or other areas
Shows discomfort and sits when being brushed
Slow recall and command response
Unhappy, listless or savage
Weight problems
Possible causes:
Slippery tiles or floor surfaces
Running up or down stairs
Running fence lines repeatedly
Throwing balls or frisbees in the air causing the dog to jump incorrectly
Walking or standing up on rear legs, especially in small dogs
Rough play with litter mates when young
Lack of regular easy exercise
Dog doors that are too small
Incorrect bedding or sleeping area
Poor diet or lack of nutrients
Isolating the cause of many injuries can reduce the re-occurence of the problem and makes for a more effective treatment.
A common treatment used by Doc is muscle manipulation, which involves the inspection and identification of muscle soreness and injury and the appropriate treatment of the condition. A simple example would be the pinched sciatic nerve resulting in a dogs lameness, lack of drive, crabbing, continual movement when being stacked and irregular or unusual movement . This is a common occurrence which many dogs experience and can be easily rectified by efficient manipulation to improve the dog's condition. Manipulation is a holistic approach requiring stimulation and gentle handling starting from the base of the skull opening up the Atlanto-Occipital joint all down the spine to the tail bone.