Chiropractors

[Sharon]

Caro is right. The dog should take it easy for 24 hours after being adjusted.

Absolutely correct!!At least 24 hours after being adjusted!!

 

[Jess041]

Absolutely correct!!At least 24 hours after being adjusted!!

Although the chiropractor has been at tournaments, I've never actually seen her give a dog an adjustment, only humans.

There was one instance where a dog needed an adjustment because the owner had overworked the dog (running her on 2 or 3 teams for 3 days, the dog obviously couldn't handle it). The dog slowed down considerably and had to be pulled by the middle of the 3rd day. The owner wanted the dog to get an adjustment from the chiropractor that was there, but she didn't have the waiver filled out by her vet, and it was a Sunday so the vet was closed. I felt bad for the dog, but the chiropractor had her hands tied. But that was the only instance where a dog would have been adjusted during a tournament (if they would have had a tournament).

 

[SheltieChe]

it really depends how much adjustment is needed to know how much time for rest dog needs. If this is just general maintenance routine adjustment dog can go to the training in few hours. Adjustment that was really out will require time to ¨stick¨.
I am a scientist but have no issues seeing effects from chiro for the dogs. Mine are on routine schedule, and it works for Leo to be adjusted after the trial weekend, seems no matter for Che. If you also add massage and work soft tissues as well effects of chiro ¨stays¨ longer. So we have massage somewhere week prior to trials and adjustment if needed after trials.
In CPE my dogs run often 5 runs a day, granted shorter courses but still plenty of being busy.
The importance of warm up and cool down routine can not be overstressed, there is no human athlete who can do his best performance with no warm up prep. Increasing heart rate, improving blood flow and circulation is a must prior to runs as well as removing toxins and flushing the body after.
Hydration and nutrition during athletic events just as important for dog as for humans.
I would not do any chiro at the site- for one if the person looking for clients at the competition site mmmm, my dogs are not avail. Chiro vet we go to does not advertise, she is too busy and often does not take any new clients for length of time. I have trust issues with anyone who puts their hands on my dogs
It is different with massage and we often have students training at doggie massage at the trial sites, I will let students work on my dogs as I know the teacher and I can see my dog´s reaction as they are very expressive.

 

[Sharon]

Although the chiropractor has been at tournaments, I've never actually seen her give a dog an adjustment, only humans.

There was one instance where a dog needed an adjustment because the owner had overworked the dog (running her on 2 or 3 teams for 3 days, the dog obviously couldn't handle it). The dog slowed down considerably and had to be pulled by the middle of the 3rd day. The owner wanted the dog to get an adjustment from the chiropractor that was there, but she didn't have the waiver filled out by her vet, and it was a Sunday so the vet was closed. I felt bad for the dog, but the chiropractor had her hands tied. But that was the only instance where a dog would have been adjusted during a tournament (if they would have had a tournament).

I am surprised about that no one having their dogs adjusted.Wilth all the slamming they do on the box that is jarring their shoulders.JMO But any type of adjustment should be given rest.

 

[Jess041]

Well if have their dogs adjusted, they're not going to do it at the end of the day on the last day of a tournament. They want to go home! Chances are, if they're doing adjustments, they're doing them on Monday. But a chiropractor is there on site if they need one there. If rest is required after an adjustment, you don't want your dog to have an adjustment in the middle of a tournament unless they absolutely need it and have to be pulled from the tournament regardless.

 

[Sharon]

Well if have their dogs adjusted, they're not going to do it at the end of the day on the last day of a tournament. They want to go home! Chances are, if they're doing adjustments, they're doing them on Monday. But a chiropractor is there on site if they need one there. If rest is required after an adjustment, you don't want your dog to have an adjustment in the middle of a tournament unless they absolutely need it and have to be pulled from the tournament regardless.

I don't have mine adjusted at trials either.I take them to my chiro a couple days before a trial.

 

[Caro]

You'd be surprised though, a massage therapist was usually at the Canberra Royal doing dog massages - and was very popular in the agility area. Many people who do dog sports are not athletes themselves so wouldn't know better. Heck I only know because I have two lame duck dogs, I'd never think of getting a massage or adjustments before competing when I was athletic because it wasn't even an option.

Running a dog in several teams over 3 days is excessive. I ran Tully once over 3 days (the first day being doubles), and she didn't make it to the end of day 3, other team mates who did the same thing had the same problem. I wouldn't do it again, it was just too much stress on the body. I think then doing it over several teams is just plain cruel. It's banned here for the health of the dog (running with more than one team).

 

[Sharon]

it really depends how much adjustment is needed to know how much time for rest dog needs. If this is just general maintenance routine adjustment dog can go to the training in few hours.
My chiropractor did my older boy the other day and I was asking her about this and she recommneds a day of rest or if they have to work very light work.The extra time off gives them a chance to recover from residual soreness from the actual adjustment(as sometimes the actual work that is done can cause soreness)and then lets them figure out they do have improved range of motion and can move with ease(essentially use themselves properly).Also that they are at a higher risk for injury and you generally won't get as much benefit(physical and physchological from the chiropractor care and this was on any adjustment.

 

[Caro]

I wouldn't do massage or chiro during a comp. There's something called the thixotropic effect where muscles become softer after a massage and are more prone to tears. Warming up is certainly a good thing, and stretching out between races, but I think massaging into tissue can be risky. There's some good stretching exercises around for athletic dogs and I think I'd be sticking to them. Maybe someone should invite someone to go through stretches at a comp. I was organising for a physio to come to the club for a session to teach agility and flyball people how to stretch out their dogs before and during comps (got put off when Tully became lame). That's always an option.

 

[SheltieChe]

Caro, I think that thought of no massage pre or post trial is a bit outdated. All massage techniques done with INTENT- depends on what are you trying to achieve, there are different ones. You can go for stimulation pre run, and relaxation after. My choice of work after the run is compression techniques which is an excellent move to help muscles from build up of lactic acid.
http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/3_4/features/5087-1.html
Sharon, those recommendations for what time dog needs after chiro before returning to activities do vary by whatever chiro vet you are talking to, I have had same experience so it boils down in my mind what are you seeing happening with your dog and how much adjustment dog needed. If my eldest had just routine chiro done in the morning and there was nothing but wear and tear of active body, I will skip on his daily 3 mile run but might take him for evening agility class. Depends on the state of dog and since I trust my chiro vet very much I do follow her gut experience. Now if my boy was out and there is lots of going on with his back, it might be 2 days and traumeel as needed before I do full activity. So it all depends for me how my buds look and feel.
Stretching is a stuff of nightmares for me I have seen so so many posts and video clips people doing improper stretching, doing stretching while dog standing, not seeing signs of dog being uncomfortable... horrors, even the people that should know better. Stretching can be wonderful technique but done with no understanding it could be far more dangerous to dog IMHO. I shudder when people encourage it. Very often it looks like when human tries to do leg split and someone comes and ¨gently¨pushes that person down. ouch!