Symptoms
Is Your Horse Trying To Communicate Pain And Discomfort?
If your horse is displaying any of the signs listed below, or if you can answer "yes" to any of the questions, your horse may be suffering from a musculoskeletal injury and could benefit from McTimoney Animal Therapy.
- Has your horse suffered a fall , been kicked by another horse or suffered an injury?
- Have there been any changes in your horses behaviour or attitude to work recently?
- Does your horse resist being tacked up or flinch/put his ears back when you are tacking up or changing his rugs?
- Is your horse refusing jumps he would previously have jumped with ease?
- Does your horse feel reluctant to turn one way or feel one sided?
- Do you get a sore back after riding your horse?
- Is your horse stiff when he comes out of his stable or at the start of work?
- Does your horse struggle to strike off into canter on one particular rein?
- Is your horse reluctant to move forwards off your leg?
- Have you ever used the expression "he has always been like that"?
If you can answer "yes" to one or more of these questions, McTimoney Animal Therapy may benefit your horse.
Is Your Dog Trying To Communicate Pain Or Discomfort?
If your dog is displaying any of the signs listed below, or if you can answer "yes" to any of the questions, your dog may be suffering from a musculoskeletal injury and could benefit from McTimoney animal therapy.
- Does your dog struggle to get out of bed or show signs of stiffness in the morning?
- Is your dog unable to maintain the "sit, stay" command for longer than a few moments at a time?
- Does your dog grunt, moan or yelp as he stands up or lies down?
- Does your dog bite at his tail or paws?
- Has your dog slowed down recently on walks?
- Is your dog showing behaviour which is unusual for his character?
If you can answer "yes" to one or more of these questions, McTimoney Animal Therapy may be of benefit to your dog.
Causes
The Causes Of Musculoskeletal Injuries In Horses.
The causes are many and varied as all horses are individuals, the most common causes of musculoskeletal injuries are listed below:
- A slip or fall either when ridden or in the field.
- Getting cast in the stable.
- Pulling back on a head collar and lead rope while tied up.
- A history of a badly fitted saddle.
- Poor dental care.
- Getting kicked by another horse.
- Secondary compensations to movement caused by an injury.
- The ageing process.
- Tight bridle or poor bitting.
- Too little warm up and cool down times when exercising.
- A history of poor foot balance.
The Causes Of Musculoskeletal Injuries in Dogs
As with horses, all dogs are individuals, listed below are the most common causes of musculoskeletal injuries:
- Pulling on the lead.
- Sleeping in a bed which is too small for the dog.
- Repeated jumping up.
- Rough and tumble or tug games.
- Fighting with other dogs.
- Working a shooting season.
- Slipping on laminate floors.
- Slipping when going up and down stairs.
A McTimoney treatment will be able to treat the symptoms of a musculoskeletal injury, while advising on changes of routine or methods will aid in reducing the effects of the causes in future.
To book a McTimoney treatment for your horse or dog, contact Dani at DSP Equine Services on: 07967 709969.
(DSP Equine Services is a Yorkshire based practice, Dani is able to travel to large parts of Yorkshire and the North East).