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Michael
Salewski
DVM, CAC,
CVA
A 1990
graduate of Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary
Medicine, Dr. Salewski subsequently completed extensive
training
in veterinary chiropractic, acupuncture, and Chinese herbal
medicine.The main focus of Dr. Salewski’s practice has been
the integration
of alternative therapies with conventional veterinary medicine.
This integrative approach has proven valuable to both his animal
patients.
Dr. Salewski traveled to China in October 2004, to further his
knowledge of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine, and has
recently co-authored
the textbook, Chinese Veterinary Herbal Therapy. He has been
instrumental in the development of an
alternative medicine/rehabilitation center
at Mt. Pilchuck Veterinary Hospital. A devoted dad, his free time
is spent with his boys and his wife on their farm.
Copyright
www.pilchuckvet.com
Chiropractic
Therapy: How it works, when to use
Michael Salewski, DVM
Working dogs present special challenges for both owners and
veterinarians. They may present with lameness or performance
problems that defy conventional diagnostics and leave owners
frustrated because they are given rest and anti-inflammatory
medications as their only options for treatment. In my practice I
often see dogs for such subtle signs as lack of drive or
hesitations in movement. Radiographs show nothing wrong with the
skeletal system while rest and medication make no difference in
their condition. So what is the answer? For many cases like this,
chiropractic diagnostics and therapy solve the problem.
Chiropractic subluxations are often oversimplified by being
described as a "bone out of place", which an adjustment "puts back
in". It is crucial to understanding chiropractic to realize that
the spine is dynamic and that an individual vertebra can be in many
different, normal positions depending on whether a dog is standing,
sitting, running or bending. Imagine the line the back of your dog
makes while making a sharp turn to the left. Now compare that
spinal alignment to that of your dog in a crouch. Both should be
normal functions of the spine, but very different in appearance. A
subluxation is a fixation of one or more of the vertebrae that do
not allow the spine to move properly through its normal range of
motion and may cause pain. An adjustment, rather than putting this
vertebra into place, frees up movement to allow for normal function
without pain. Depending on the area of the spine involved, various
symptoms accompany subluxations. I'll now go through the spine and
discuss specific problems and how they can be related to
chiropractic issues.
Head
Problems:
Head tilting, stiff movement or the inability to turn in one
direction quickly may be related to the first two vertebrae of the
spine, the atlas and the axis. The atlas is responsible for the
"yes" and "no" motions of the head while the axis supplies
rotation. They both commonly develop subluxations and disallow
precise head movement that can affect balance and coordination as
well as cause pain of the jaw, head and neck.
Neck
Pain:
When the other five cervical (neck) vertebrae are subluxated the
most common symptom is pain, often severe pain. The pain can be
elicited either by movement of the neck or simply by touching
muscles that are in spasm. In some instances of lower neck problems
the pain may be most noticeable when the dog is jumping down.
Mid-Back
Stiffness:
The thoracic, or mid back area has thirteen vertebrae in the dog
along with thirteen pair of ribs. Chiropractic problems in this
area are also quite common and often caused by trauma, such as
being "T-boned" by a sheep or another dog. Symptoms may include a
change in conformation (i.e. hollowness to the back), reluctance to
turn, or sometimes endurance problems due to pain in the ribs. Pain
on pressure to the back is also quite common in this
situation.
Low Back
Pain:
Dogs have seven vertebrae in the lumbar or lower back; this makes
their low back proportionally longer than that of humans (who have
five) and gives them much power and speed from the hind end. Most
of the movement in this part of the spine is flexion and extension
and symptoms reflect this. Pain in the muscles of the low back is
quite common, but in athletic dogs the signs can be subtler. A
decrease in explosive power can occur, lessening speed or jumping
ability. Roaching or hollowing of the low back or simply shortness
in stride of the hind legs, even at the walk, may occur.
Sacroiliac
Pain:
The sacrum is a specialized bone of the spine that connects to the
lumbar area via the lumbosacral joint and to the pelvis via the
sacroiliac joint. It is responsible for moving the pelvis and
provides a connecting point for the transfer of power from the hind
legs to the back. Fixation in this area can cause all the signs of
lumbar fixation as well as sciatic nerve pain, tail carriage
problems, a tilted pelvis, and even reluctance to sit.
Tail
Pain:
The number of
tail vertebrae varies from breed to breed and dog to dog, and are
not a major source of chiropractic problems. When they do occur
they are usually directly involved with tail carriage problems or
tail pain.
So you
suspect that your dog has a chiropractic problem, now
what?
1. Don't overlook more serious issues. Many times a year, patients
come to me for help when they have more serious primary problems.
The symptoms listed above can also be the result of dysplasia,
arthritis, disc prolapse or disease, ACL tears, cancer and others.
If you have a dog in significant pain, chiropractic problems may
not be the one needing the most attention.
2. Find a qualified chiropractor. Both veterinarians and
chiropractors that have had specialized training in veterinary
chiropractic are probably available in your area (Some states do
have laws restricting the practice to veterinarians only). Don't
hesitate to ask questions about the training that they have (i.e.
how many hours of specialized training they have, how long they
have been practicing chiropractic).
3. Be prepared for more than one appointment. Most dogs will have
substantial improvement after one adjustment, but I usually advise
clients that three to five adjustments may be necessary to
completely correct the problem. I also have many clients with dogs
at upper levels of competition that bring their dogs in routinely
during the competitive season to keep their dogs at optimal
performance.
4. Listen to your dog. Though there may be some discomfort during
some adjustments in severe cases, most dogs become very relaxed
during their adjustments and are happy to return for further
appointments. Dogs that do not improve, or worsen and dislike
treatments may need different therapies (either traditional or
alternative) or a different doctor to make progress. Chiropractic
is a wonderful tool, but it is indicated for very specific
situations and may not be the best tool for all dogs.
If your dog is expected to perform as an athlete, treat him or her
like one. Investigate proper nutrition and training regimens. Don't
forget the importance of warm-up and stretching. Know your dog's
limitations, and don't press them past their individual abilities.
Be observant of how your dog is moving and if things change and
performance is hampered don't forget the importance of the spine
and its dynamic nature.
Copyright
www.sacvetrehab.com
Dr. Michael Salewski, DVM from Pilchuck VH will be at Argus the
following dates
for chiropractic evaluation/adjustment on dogs.
2010
dates
February 3rd
March 31st
May 26th
July 21st
September 15th
November 10th
If you would like to schedule a time in the morning or afternoon on
a first come
basis, please contact
Aileen Logan at aileenzeus@comcast.net or
425-255-1181.
The cost will be $65.00 payable to Dr. Salewski