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Can chiropractic help my dog with iliopsoas strain?

By: Kaitlyn Lackey DC cAVCA

Published: August 27, 2024




The psoas muscle (also known as the hip flexor) is a large core and low back muscle that attaches to the lower back and the hip. Often overlooked or misdiagnosed, this muscle can become strained and can cause hindlimb lameness, back pain, or decreased performance in active sporting dogs.


In addition to traditional veterinary medicine, you might consider exploring complementary means of helping your dog should they have this condition. Complementary is an umbrella term that could include different modalities or treatments, such as: animal chiropractic, canine massage, rehabilitation, red light therapy, and more.


Animal chiropractic care involves identifying and correcting areas of improper motion in your pet's joints. Through restoring proper joint motion, an adjustment can reduce painful muscular compensation, reduce strain to soft tissues, and can aid in promoting proper nerve signaling between the body and brain.


When it comes to your canine companion- animal chiropractic can help to decrease discomfort, manage symptoms, and help slow down the wear and tear on your pet's joints.


What is iliopsoas strain?



👉🏻 Similar to an overuse injury, iliopsoas problems aren't always consistent but often present during periods of an aggravative activity. The most common activities that will cause symptoms usually involve sudden running or excessive bouts of jumping. Iliopsoas injuries can also exist secondary to underlying problems (such as knee problems, hip pain, arthritis in the spine, or etc.)


The most common indicator of a problem is an arched back, reluctance to jump up, pain when being picked up, and sometimes a "hitch" in the gait.


Please schedule a visit with your vet to have your animal evaluated for this condition if you suspect your animal may be dealing with this condition!



How do I know if my pet has this condition?



👉🏻 Iliopsoas strain can be challenging to "find" as it is a soft tissue.


The best place to start is with a physical examination. Palpation of certain structures and reduced extension of the hindlimb can be suggestive of this condition.


For gold standard of care, it is recommended to speak with your vet team about pursuing diagnostics that involve assessing the muscle (such as musculoskeletal ultrasound.) Many times, a specialist is needed for this procedure.



How long will it take to recover?



👉🏻 Iliopsoas strain can be frustrating to treat as it has a high reoccurrence rate.


Since the iliopsoas is a core and back muscle, your pet will need to use this muscle for everyday movement. Treatment can vary widely depending on your pet's routine. Most experts recommend rest for 3-5 weeks with a total care plan of 6-12 weeks in order to promote maximum healing.


Modifications to routines may be important to discuss with your animal care team should you want to return your animal to sport.



Will chiropractic care help my dog with an iliopsoas strain?




👉🏻 The "success" of animal chiropractic care can vary depending on the severity of the problem, the length of time a pet has been struggling with a complaint, and the quality of the provider.


Please visit a veterinarian if you suspect your pet may have this condition / to get a diagnosis of how severe the problem may be.


The greater the severity, the less possibility of response to conservative management. If you believe your pet may be suffering with an iliopsoas strain, it is important to talk to your vet / consider pursuing diagnostics prior to getting your pet adjusted.


Ongoing animal chiropractic care can help to improve alignment of your pet's anatomy to reduce further strain to the iliopsoas muscle. It's also important to address other compensatory areas such as the pelvis, hips, and lower back due to where the muscle attaches.





It's important that when choosing care for your animal that you do your research. Not all providers are created equally!


When choosing an animal chiropractor, be sure to choose a TRAINED PROFESSIONAL.


Only veterinarians or chiropractors are eligible to undergo post graduate education in animal chiropractic. Upon completion of the coursework, these individuals may also prove proficiency via examination such as the tests offered by the American veterinary Chiropractic Association (AVCA) or International Veterinary Chiropractic Association (IVCA).


Common vernacular or abbreviations include:

  1. Certified animal chiropractor (CAC)

  2. Certified in veterinary chiropractic (CVC)

  3. Certified in veterinary spinal manipulative therapy (CVSMT)

  4. Certified AVCA or IVCA (cAVCA, cIVCA)


A licensed, trained, and certified provider is going to be the most responsible choice when moving forward with animal chiropractic care.


You should avoid the following:

  • provider does not do a thorough evaluation

  • provider does not evaluate pre AND post treatment

  • provider uses excessive force and/or theatrics during treatment

  • pet is excessively uncomfortable or painful during treatment

  • provider cannot answer your questions about what they are doing

  • provider continues to treat without any signs of measurable improvement

  • provider cannot answer where they received training, their license #, or if they have insurance


It is advisable that you seek animal chiropractic care in supplement to your existing vet care.


Numerous conditions and unexplained symptoms can often be improved with animal chiropractic treatment, however, a primary care veterinarian should always be involved and routinely monitoring your animal for signs of degrading health status so that further diagnostics and/or interventions can be explored if necessary.


Across the United States there are different rules and laws about animal chiropractic care. In a select few states pets can see an animal chiropractor without first consulting a veterinarian... whereas in many other states an animal chiropractor may require a written referral or direct veterinary supervision. Please be mindful of this as it could delay your pet's accessibility to an appointment should they immediately be in need.



In Summary


Iliopsoas strain is a problem that often affects sporting dogs. It usually manifests due to overuse and often will be an ongoing problem that will reoccur with return to activity.


Animal chiropractic can be a valuable complementary treatment to help promote better alignment and reduce strain on the problematic soft tissue. Chiropractic should NOT replace but rather complement your current veterinary care.


It's important to choose a properly trained and certified animal chiropractic provider in order to achieve the best outcome for your pet. I hope you consider adding an animal chiropractor to your animal's health care team! You can find a provider near you at animalchiropractic.org



 

About the author


Kaitlyn Lackey DC cAVCA

Many people don’t know that I’ve sustained 3 very serious head injuries due to horseback riding. 

 

When I sought medical treatment for these injuries, traditional medicine "failed me."

 

I'm very fortunate to have found chiropractic. Getting adjusted gave me my life back after I was struggling every day with dehabilitating migraines.

 

After seeing what it did for me, I thought: why isn’t this available to animals, too?

I decided against vet school and instead pursued chiropractic education.  I graduated Parker University in April of 2017 with 2 Bachelors and my Doctorate then later received my AVCA certification in June of 2017.

I practiced for 2 years on humans and then shifted my focus to offering chiropractic care for animals full time in 2019. I now travel across North Dallas offering care to all sorts of animals.

I continue to do all that I can to practice evidence informed and patient centric chiropractic care to guarantee that my clients receive the best results.


 

DISCLAIMER


We operate in full compliance with all laws and regulations. Our services are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any specific illness or condition and should only be used as a complement to routine veterinary and/or medical care. Chiropractic may provide support and encourage the body into its most optimal state of health. The content provided herein is informational only and is not to be construed as medical or veterinary advice.



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We are certified by the AVCA which is a top notch and rigorous certification program of 200+ hours class time followed by a written and practical board exam. We take 10 yearly hours of continuing education because we value knowing the most in order to provide the best.


When choosing chiropractic for your pet, choose someone licensed, trained, and certified.





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