Contents

Chiropractic: An Art & Science
Like people, animals suffer from back, neck, pelvic and musculoskeletal problems, and like us, they can benefit from chiropractic manipulation. Tony Gilmore, Animal PRO for the McTimoney Chiropractic Association explains. (31/7/99)
New Zealand Greenshell Mussel is from the pristine waters of the South Islandof New Zealand. Green-lipped Mussel
Agility is a physically demanding activity so do bear in mind that dogs can develop joint problems whatever their age, size or breed. There is a complex natural product – green-lipped mussel -  which is said to be able to help protect areas prone to injury, and, at the same time, guard against the normal wear and tear of the ageing process.
Grizzly Salmon Oil
Sara Lloyd discovered fish oils for dogs after her Miniature Schnauzer Henry had been diagnosed with cancer. At first he had responded well to the chemotherapy but later, when it failed, he would be ill for weeks at a time following treatment. Sara  knew that she had to find another way to help him. And then she read an article in the American agility magazine Clean Run.
Home Use Photobiomodulation
When vet nurse and co-founder of Awesome Paws Agility, Trish Helme, noticed worrying changes in her five year old Working Cocker Epic, she immediately booked an appointment with canine massage therapist Sarah Darling for an initial assessment. She wondered if the process known as photobiomodulation could help Epic get back to the active sporting life she loved. Sarah Darling of K9 Gait Massage explains what happened next.
Hydrotherapy: In the Swim
In any action sport, whether it involves humans or animals, it is a well-known fact that the fitter the participants are the less likely it is for injuries to occur. However, due to the foot and mouth crisis, many agility dogs are losing their fitness from lack of off-lead running, regular training and competitions. This will result in both dogs and humans sustaining pulled muscles and other injuries when we can finally return to training/competing. With this in mind, Sally Hopkins recommends a dip in the pool. (15/04/01)
Joint Aid
GWF Nutrition Managing Director Stephen Tucker answers three of the most commonly asked questions on taking care of your dog's joints.
The Lenton Method®
Dog owners may seek out massage therapy for their dogs for a variety of reasons which may include chronic pain management, conditions such as arthritis, or to improve common movement and mobility issues, e.g., lameness, slowing down, and stiffness. Just as with humans, dogs have a complex anatomy and physiology and may have a range of musculo-skeletal issues that only a highly skilled practitioner can locate and treat. With off-the-shelf online courses readily available and nothing to stop anyone calling themselves a canine massage therapist, what education should dog owners look for to ensure that their precious pet is in good hands? Virginia Harry reports.
McTimoney Animal Therapy - A Case Study
McTimoney therapist Anna Rowland has been treating Murphy since last April when Jo Bird brought him to her for a back check as he is prone to problems. Poor old Murph has had his fair share of problems, which is why Anna thought using him for a case study would make for interesting reading especially for agility handlers!

Osteopathy: Put the Joy Back into Jumping
Most dogs naturally enjoy agility, and when they feel restricted or unwell, they may not perform at their best. Prompt of assessment of an injury following a tumble can save a great deal of pain for both the dog and its owner, and regular check-ups for recent or longstanding problems can avoid lameness, arthritis and back problems. Animal osteopath Julie Vaughan explains what you can do when rest and painkillers are not enough.
Osteopathy - What to Expect
Osteopathy is a science in which the practitioner interprets a wide range of diagnostic clues in the search for the underlying cause of a problem. Claire Short could wax lyrical about neuro-muscular this or myo-fascial that, but she's been told by her partner to stick to plain English, so that’s what she's done! Pay attention.
Reiki for Dogs
The modern day domestic animal has a lot to contend with. The pressure of finding its natural ground in what can be an unnatural environment for their species can sometimes prove too much. The benefits of Reiki/healing for humans is well documented  with over 150 studies showing that it has a wide range of benefits but it can also have positive affects on dogs, affecting them on a number of different levels. It can be useful in treating agility dogs as Jackie MacCallum describes below.
Shiatsu for Agility Handlers & Dogs
Each year Jean Davidson works her Shiatsu magic on new and returning handlers and their dogs around the agility circuit in Scotland. She has noticed that quite a few of the dog problems would seem to be related to the handler as well as the dog as if they were being transferred down though an invisible lead. She explains how it works...
Eva the lurcher has shoulder instability and receives regular massage to manage her condition Shoulder Injury in the Agility Dog
Is your dog suffering in silence? Shoulder injuries are especially common in agility dogs. The symptoms they present and the severity of the injury can vary, making it difficult to identify the problem. Canine massage therapist Karen Young details some of the signs that indicate that your dog may be carrying a shoulder injury. She offers one therapeutic solution to help them get back on course.
Smart Clinic
Many agility handlers might have wondered about the benefits of seeking professional advice on a competition dog that didn't seem to have any perceivable problems. They might have questioned why Gemma Osmond felt the need to have Ella checked over at the Smart Clinic when she had competed so successfully that year. It's simple really! Gemma felt it made sense to consult the experts when it came to the health and well-being of someone as important as her dog.

Sports Bras
Crufts, once again, has brought dog agility to a wider audience and put it under increased scrutiny. For those of you who were at the NEC or watched at home, there's a good chance that you might have commented on some of the handlers as well as the dogs. Be honest. You can't deny that some of the more 'traditionally built' ladies were attracting more attention than their four legged companions. Selaine Messem of LessBounce is concerned that some of our larger ladies are running without adequate support.
Sports Massage
When was the last time you had your dog checked over by a massage therapist, chiropractor, osteopath or other? And now, when was the last time YOU were treated or checked over? Tamzin Grimes is now offering a sports massage service for agility handlers at shows.

Strrr-etching the Imagination
It's all well and good to say that you should warm up your dog before training or a competition but what does that really mean? Some suggestions for warming up programmes which could be used before training or a run at a competition. (11
/11/02)

Tellington TTouch for Agility
TTouch is a forward thinking approach to training, handling and rehabilitation for all animals. Toni Shelbourne, one of the UK's top practitioners, explains how it can help agility dogs.  (07/07/08)

TTouch for Agility
Touch your way to success with TTouch, a method of working with animals to calm, focus and aid recovery. Jeanette Atkinson, TTouch Companion Animal Practitioner and agility instructor explains why TTouch and agility make such great partners. (25/02/02)
Vet Physio for the Agility Dog
Chartered Physiotherapist Barbara Houlding sent us this case study of Nicola Vince's first agility dog, Jess.
Warm Up & Cool Down
Agility dogs are often confined in the car or crate, and may go straight into the ring with little or no advanced preparation. This inevitably increases the risk of injury and also prevents dogs from performing at their best. Animal therapist Liz Harris explains how you can prepare your dog for agility work and how to tell if your dog needs to see a therapist.
Warming Up for Agility
Paula Kingswood found Canine Massage & Stretching while surfing the Net, hoping to find a way to prevent the same injury problems her terrier incurred last year. She reports on the results which were not what she expected but were nevertheless welcome. (16/05/05)

Warming Up - Questionnaire
As a Chartered Physiotherapist and agility handler herself, Lesley Holmes has always been surprised that so few competitors appear to warm-up their dogs before a run. Human athletes like Linford Christy and David Beckham do so why not our canine athletes? As part of her studies for a MSc in Animal Physiotherapy, therefore, she decided to combine her academic studies with her own particular interest. So she devised a questionnaire to find out whether 'warming up' reduces injuries to agility dogs and circulated it around the agility community. The results have now been analysed and she's agreed to share the results, in précis form, with you here.

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