Last Updated on 1 year by Dr Alisha Barnes
I don’t know about you, but it broke my heart to see my dog getting older and suffering. It was awful to see her struggle getting up, not being able to jump in the car, and slow down during her daily walks. I kept thinking to myself: “when did she get so old?”
Our dogs fill our lives with so much joy and laughter but unfortunately the flip side of that is the inevitable truth that they will not be with us forever. Like us, they will age and slow down. Their joints may start to hurt and all those injuries during puppyhood can rear their ugly heads.
However, just because they are getting older, it does not mean that they have to suffer. There are many ways to help your old gal or guy live out their golden years in comfort and happiness.
Animal chiropractic care can be a great solution to get your dog back on their feet. The goal of care is to improve overall joint motion which will help minimize pain and stiffness. As momma always said: “motion is lotion.” By keeping your dog’s spine mobile, we will be able to improve the health of your dogs joints thereby reducing pain and inflammation. Another benefit of chiropractic care is to make sure their nervous system is functioning properly. The spinal cord, which is housed in the vertebral column, supports all the systems of your dog’s body. By having a healthy spine, you will improve their digestion, circulation, immune system and overall well being.
The main signs to look out for to determine if your dog is suffering are: trouble rising after resting, trouble getting in and out of the car, trouble reaching the food bowl, yelping with grooming, slowing down with walks, limping, poor balance, shaking legs, or crossing their paws when walking.
Many senior dogs respond amazing well to chiropractic care and begin acting like puppies again. It warms my heart when I hear my clients say their dogs are back to their “old selves again.”
Even though we can’t stop them from getting older, we can help them to have the longest and happiest lives possible!