Why is Osteopathy treatment important for animals?
Unlike us, animals cannot communicate their pain very easily. Pain and discomfort in animals can be manifested as altered temperament. In dogs symptoms can include: a general reluctance to get out of their cage or the car, unprovoked aggression, evading obstacles, inability to co-ordinate, rushing at jumps, ignoring commands and difficulty in stretching out hind legs when jumping (right). In all animals there can be an unwillingness to co-operate; depression and apathy; fear or aggression. Many of these behaviours are symptoms of pain and discomfort. They can easily be misinterpreted as naughtiness or napping. Animals are usually willing and enjoy co-operating with their handlers. When we ask them to perform tasks whilst they are in pain, they can easily learn to mistrust and fear us. Other manifestations of musculo-skeletal problems include not being able to carry out tasks. Dogs may have difficulty jumping, becoming awkward or refusing. Often, a handler’s approach to the difficulties
