Animal injuries
After injury occurs in the body, immobilizations may occur which might lead to different effects such as joint stress, connective tissue proliferation within the joint space, adhesions, reduced collagen mass, disorganization of cellular and fibrillary ligament alignment, and atrophy of cartilage and or muscles. Tissues that are mostly affected by injuries are muscle, ligament, tendon, cartilage and bone.
There are several factors that contribute to potential injuries be it horse or a dog. Conformation and genetic disposition plays a role for horses or dogs. Their age, diet, footing or even the type of surfaces the horse or dog is exercised on can be contributory. Tack equipment used for horses or a riders' experience can affect a horse's balance. Shoeing or trimming can greatly affect a horses’movement, and training levels affect both horses and dogs.
Injuries can happen due to many causes, however if injury does occur there are many modalities (therapies) available to facilitate the proper recovery and healing process. With great advances in veterinary medicine and alternative therapies, manual or instrumental, horses with tendon injuries are returned to service and they are no longer destined for euthanizing.
Assesment
At Sound Equine and Canine Care, proper pre-treatment observation and assessment is the starting point for care . We look at the body as a whole, seeing everything as interconnected, and consider that there are many different factors that influence the well-being of your horse or your dog.
For example, after an injury occurs, even though the injury may be located in one of the limbs, the rest of the body will likely be affected with the strain of a limp or compensation for pain. There might be additional stress on the opposite or diagonal legs, which are now forced to bear more weight. The neck, back or hips might be affected as well depending on where the injury is, and how your horse or dog moves.
Even when it comes to routine post-exercise soreness, it is important to view the animal holistically, with an eye for how soreness or injury affects your horse's or dog's movements.
The following factors are always considered during assessment:
Level of fitness/discipline (horse & dog)
Footing (horse & dog)
Shoeing (horse only)
Saddle fit and any other tack use (horse only)
Skill level of rider (horse only)
Stabling (horse only)
Feed and supplements (horse & dog)
Socialization and interaction with other animals (dog)
Treatment Plans
Treatment plans are developed on a case by case basis. How intensive treatment becomes, how often treatment is rendered, and the treatment modalites employed will relate to the overall goals of the case. Performing animals require a different level of treatment than family pets. Animals recovering from surgical interventions will want to take advantage of all the modalities available to speed up recovery or aid in returning to full range motion. Geriatric animals may need occassional help to maintain mobility and quality of life.
Whether you have a champion show animal or an aging family pet, you can be assured that with Sound Equinen and Canine Care, all animals will receive the same level of attention, love and care.
Outcomes
At Sound Equine and Canine Care, we thoughfully create a treatment plan that suits your animal's needs. For particular conditions, some treatements are preferred over others. In every case, though, we aim for the following treatment results:
Faster healing and recovery
Regaining range of motion or assuring range of motion is not compromised
Pain relief / management
We love our horses, our dogs, our work.
