Canine and Feline Lameness Consultations

One of our staff veterinarians, Dr. David Lane, has an interest in lameness medicine.
Most of his patient caseload involves the diagnosis and treatment of
various lameness conditions, chiropractic medicine, and orthopaedic
surgery.   

Although he primarily works out of our Whistler facility, he also sees referral patients
at a number of other facilities.  Squamish or Vancouver residents can book

Appointments through the following locations:

Eagleview Veterinary Hospital                         604-815-6808
Garibaldi Veterinary Hospital                           604-898- 9089
Vancouver Animal Wellness Hospital            604-738-4664 
 www.vancouveranimalwellness.com
Ambleside Veterinary Hospital                        604-922-4157

Initial consultations include a comprehensive lameness exam, in which your
pet’s musculoskeletal system is assessed from both an orthopaedic and a
chiropractic perspective.  Treatment plans typically draw on a number of
modalities including exercise modification, massage, physiotherapy, and
nutritional considerations.

How does Chiropractic Medicine work?

If you are interested in learning more about the physiology behind chiropractic medicine (why it works), you are welcome to read the article Dr. Lane wrote for the Pacific and Prairie Horse Journal.  Although it was written specifically about horses, much of it applies to dogs or cats as well.

Read Article



Canine and Feline Chiropractic Medicine

Canine chiropractic medicine can be used both as a preventative,
or to treat an existing problem.


As a preventative, it can:   

Reduce the risk of sports injury
Delay the onset of degenerative changes like arthritis
Improve athletic performance and co-ordination
Improve flexibility and muscle strength
Reduce cortisol (a stress hormone) levels in the blood
Improve the strength of the immune system

As a treatment, it can:

Relieve existing pain
Improve posture and limb use
Improve exercise ability
Reduce the need for prescription drugs (both for back pain, and for
other conditions such as urinary incontinence, recurrent ear
infections, digestive system or respiratory issues)

Common signs that your dog may benefit from
chiropractic care include:

Altered head or tail carriage.
Altered tail wagging
Irritability
Angled walking
Sitting differently
Reluctance to jump up, or into the car
Altered back line
Flinching or cowering
A pre-existing lameness or arthritis
Undiagnosed or mild shifting lameness
Non-specific decreased fitness
Increased stumbling or scuffing of the nails
Trouble going up or down stairs
Muscle imbalances, twitchiness or atrophy
Altered chewing habits secondary to prior abscesses, malocclusion, or extractions
Sensitive digestive system – prone to vomiting, diarrhea, constipation or gas
Urinary incontinence
Recurrent anal gland impaction
Recurrent ear infections
Painful bladder or prostate conditions
Skin lesions as a result of excessive licking

Equine Chiropractic Medicine

Dr. Lane is available for equine patients within the Sea to Sky Corridor
and Lower Mainland. Consultations take 40-60 minutes per horse.  If you
are interested in making an appointment, please email him at
chirovet@gmail.com
   


The following is a list of the benefits of chiropractic care,
and the most common indications for having it done.
 
Chiropractic medicine has the potential to improve the comfort, quality
of life, and athletic performance of your horse.

It does so by:

Reducing the chance of sports injury
Relieving existing pain
Improving your horse’s co-ordination and sense of limb position
Improving flexibility and muscle strength
Reducing cortisol (stress hormone) levels in the blood
Improving the strength of the immune system
Reducing the risk of certain diseases (e.g. colic or heaves)

Chiropractic issues are extremely common in horses, and chiropractic care should be
a regular part of horse maintenance (much like having the feet trimmed
and the teeth floated).  One study examined racing thoroughbreds between
2 and 9 years of age found that 98% had impinged vertebral processes,
25% had sacral iliac stress fractures, 28% had fusion of the
intertransverse joints, and that 100% had some form of degenerative
vertebral arthritis

Human research has clearly demonstrated that lower back pain interferes
with the brains ability to accurately determine where the foot is placed – lower back pain
compromises co-ordination.

The tempromandibular joint (TMJ) plays a significant role in balance
and co-ordination, and is frequently affected by dental issues.  Horses
with chiropractic issues don’t usually present as a primary lameness;
if your horse is lame, have it evaluated by a veterinarian first.
Instead, chiropractic issues usually present in the form of performance
changes.

Commonly seen indications are:   

Altered head carriage
Irritability
Angled walking
Resisting the bit
Sensitivity when being groomed
Problems changing leads or turning a given direction
Altered topline
Twitchy or cinchy
Refusing jumps or bucking
Prior or existing saddle fit problems
Secondary to a pre-existing lameness or arthritis.
Undiagnosed, mild, or shifting lameness
Short striding, interfering, forging, or cross firing
Muscle imbalances, spasms, or atrophy
Prior injuries that caused muscle bruising but now seems resolved
Non-specific decrease in performance or fitness
Increased stumbling
Loss of collection or impulsion
Refusal to pick up lead
Stiff in lateral movements
Difficulty flexing at the poll
Pulling on one rein
Recurrent colic
Prior dental issues – dropped feed etc.