Clean Run Magazine - March 2008 - 43

Alternative medicine is a growing field in veterinary medicine but how do you navigate all the different therapies? How do you know what is good for your dog’s particular challenges? And once you find a type of therapy you are interested in exploring, how do you find a qualified practitioner? The goal of this article is to help you answer these questions and get your canine athlete back on course. Alternative medicine has created quite a stir in the Western medical world. There is still plenty of controversy regarding the use of alternative medical practices. Some therapies have more scientific research supporting them than others. My intention is not to debate whether there is enough scientific evidence to support the use of alternative therapies; it is to present an outline of some available therapies and give you guidelines as to when you should consider using them. By Julie A. Roos, DVM, photos by Clean Run Alternative Medicine for Your Canine Athlete: Navigating the Options Chiropractic Chiropractic care works with the neurological system to maintain open/clear pathways in the nerves so the body can function optimally. Chiropractic involves the manipulation of the spine and the other joints in the body by chiropractic adjustments. Adjustments are made by using either hands or an instrument to make a specific high-velocity thrust to a specified vertebra or joint. Chiropractic care is only as good as the skill of the practitioner. Finding a practitioner who has had appropriate training is crucial. There are several training courses open to veterinarians and human chiropractors to teach proper chiropractic techniques. Chiropractic adjustments done incorrectly or at an inappropriate time (for example, when there is a fracture) can cause significant harm. I usually recommend some other mode of therapy in addition to chiropractic care if there is a certain medical condition that needs to be addressed. Chiropractic care is a good preventive and maintenance therapy for canine athletes. Dogs do not need to be adjusted as often as people and tend to hold their adjustments longer. Chiropractic care can be started at a young age and can help alert you to changes in how a dog is using his body. It is a good way to see if your warm ups and cool downs are helping to keep your dog’s muscles in good health and to see if there are any specific areas that are tight and need stretching before work. Chiropractic care is also an excellent therapy after an accident/ crash on course. It is best to see a chiropractic provider as soon as possible after an accident to prevent any long-term consequences from the incident. It is much easier to make an adjustment after an acute injury than to try to manage a chronic condition. 43 Acupuncture Acupuncture is probably one of the most well-known alternative medicine practices. Acupuncture is part of a larger medical framework called traditional Chinese medicine or TCM. Acupuncture is the use of very fine needles inserted into certain points along energetic pathways (meridians) in the body. The energy in the body is called qi (chi) and it is comprised of yin (feminine) and yang (masculine) energies. The Chinese believe that when qi is obstructed, deficient, or excessive, then disease ensues. There are well over 300 acupuncture points on the body and different combinations of points are treated to address various diseases. The needles are inserted under the skin and manipulated to move qi throughout the body and restore balance. There are many different acupuncture techniques including dry needles, electroacupuncture (transmitting a mild electric current through the needles), aquapuncture (injecting sterile water or vitamins into acupuncture points), laser, moxibustion (burning herbs over acupuncture points), and acupressure (using direct pressure instead of a needle to activate the acupuncture point). Acupuncturists have their own style and use multiple methods depending on what is needed to treat the patient. There are multiple benefits from acupuncture and adverse effects are rare. Most dogs learn to tolerate acupuncture well and even enjoy their treatments. Acupuncture is excellent for musculoskeletal problems like arthritis, back pain, muscle spasms, and weakness. Acupuncture can also help manage neurological conditions like cervical instability (wobblers), seizures, and intervertebral disk disease (IVDD). Acupuncture is also beneficial for managing chronic medical conditions and can be a great adjunct treatment for kidney or liver disease, cancer, and diabetes. March 08 | Clean Run

Clean Run Magazine - March 2008

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Clean Run Magazine - March 2008