When our vet examined Sampson and diagnosed him with a partial ACL tear, she also suggested he see our Holistic vet for a spinal adjustment as his spine was out of alignment.
Dr. Landau is the Holistic vet we use and he is based out of Massachusetts, for a travel fee he will come directly to your home and treat your pet there. My friend Jo-Anne has her dogs see him every few months and it’s cost effective to split the travel fee.
Our appointment was last Thursday. I had mixed feelings as it approached, I mean I’ve gone to a chiropractor myself and I know how they manipulate the body around. I wasn’t sure how a chiropractic adjustment on a dog would work. Would Sampson tolerate someone manipulating his spine? What if something went wrong?
First Dr. Landau examined Sampson.
As you can tell, this didn’t bother Sampson in the least. After checking Sampson thoroughly, Dr. Landau gently made the required adjustment with minor pressure applied with his hands. Truthfully, I’m not even sure Sampson was aware of what was going on. To the casual observer (me) it looked like he was getting a thorough petting.
Then Dr. Landau pulled out the big guns.
Hey Doc, what’s that contraption?
The laser treatment was painless, but the machine beeped every few seconds with one long beep at the 30 second mark. Which caused Sampson to turn around and look. After a couple of beeps, he relaxed a bit and finished the treatment with no issue.
That’s right Mama, keep rubbing my chin, it helps take my mind off the laser.
Once the spinal adjustment and laser treatment was completed we discussed Sampson’s prognosis and suggested treatments. In general it was all around good news. The DM diagnosis is (in Dr. Landau’s words) thrown out the window. He agrees with Dr. Soutter that it is an ACL injury. He is suggesting joint supplements and Chinese Herbs combined with a once a week cold laser treatment over the next four to six weeks. He’d also like to see Sampson off the anti-inflammatories and pain medication. Which is what Dr. Soutter wants as well, and it is something we will be working towards.
I asked about a brace for the leg and told him I’d heard mixed reviews. Some say it is a good thing while others say it is detrimental to the leg. Dr. Landau says with the correct brace it can be helpful. But we are going to try the supplements and cold laser first.
He is very confident we can get Sampson through this without surgery.
He did give me one very important insight though. He pointed out Sampson’s big barrel chest doesn’t mesh with his smaller back end. As he stated, “This dog is not made for jumping.”
Notice the narrow waist and smaller hips? Yup, his front end is much bigger than his back end.
Which makes me glad we bought steps to use for our bed.
Now if we could only get him to use them.
Le sigh.
(Special thanks to my friend from The Dog Park for the awesome title!)
This seems like really good news! I hope the supplements and laser treatments work.
I’m so glad he had a great visit, I am interested to see and hear how the laser therapy does. We don’t use that at our clinic. If he can get by without surgery GREAT, I am rooting for you buddy! He always seems so calm when the vet’s come to the house and do stuff with him. I never did get Norman to use his steps, but he was also 12 years old when I first tried to teach him. They were there for him to use if he wanted to but he never did. Note to self start the younger dogs out on them now so they will use them when they are older. Hopefully Sampson won’t be stubborn like Norman and will use them.
I was worried about animal chiropractic too, for the same reasons. It is quite different on dogs and it certainly helped Jasmine and now Cookie.
So great to hear that not DM.
Note: apparently, dogs prefer ramps to stairs, so more likely to use them.
Very interested to see how this goes. Is Sampson’s spine aligned now or will he need further treatment on that?
Every picture I see of that sweet baby makes me smile and realize how much I love that boy! Get well soon, Handsome!
I wish there was someone like that close to where I live. I would love for him to look at BD and Mity who are both having slight limping issues at the moment!
So pleased the treatment went well, although for one minute looking at the photos I thought you had treated yourself to a new tattoo!
We’ll continue to say prayers for Sampson to continue his improvement without surgery.
That is great news surgery is not needed and we hope it works and spot on with the steps. Have a terrific Tuesday.
Best wishes Molly
That is great that its looking like no surgery!! Keep trying with the steps … it will eventually come.
I am so glad that the appointment went well and you have a good plan for Sampson. I hope he will heal without surgery. Best of luck with those steps. 🙂
Do you think you could send him to come and see me next? It sounds like he did wonders for Sampson and I am sure some adjustment would help me, too! 😉 I’m really glad that it worked out so well for you both!
That’s such good news. So nice he came to your house and treated him.
It sounds as though this was a VERY informative and successful visit. WE are HAPPY about THAT.
Mom took Bailie to the chiropractor twice because she was a bit off. They say that with 14 puppies in the womb some of them get a bit crushed and also all the playing they do can get them out of alignment. Bailie loved it, it worked really well and she seems to be all fixed. Since she is a puppy, they think if she is adjusted correctly, she will stay that way as she grows so we are hoping. It was about $100 a visit, so it isn’t something we want to do forever, but is sure helped. Hope it helps Sampson too.
I doubt Callie or Shadow would use the steps either, even if I had room for them anywhere. Luckily, neither one of them will attempt to jump up on the bed when their hips are stiff. And the outside air is so damp and chilling that it makes play time in the yard limited. Luckily, I have the indoor Chuck-it toy. That way they can “run” on the carpeted floors. In fact, we just finished a game. By the time I get back with Ducky, her older sisters will be ready to play with for a few minutes before her midday nap.
Glad the holistic vet’s visit went so well. I hope the supplements and laser therapy helps Sampson so he can run and play again soon!! I’m sure Delilah misses her brother/cohort on your longer walks!
We used the cold laser therapy with our older dog jazz several years ago and got really good results without adding meds. Have you tried acupuncture? Our vet clinic has just added a holistic vet to the practice and she is certified in acupuncture. A lot of friends have tried it and gotten good results for their dogs. I’m glad we have a holistic option and a choice to blend the two together to get the best treatment…I hope this works for Sampson
Sounds like a nice visit. Sampson was comfortable with him, which is a very good thing. I’m glad that DM thing does not apply. I always like the holistic approach. I wish our health insurance allowed a more holistic approach.
Really glad that Sampson may get through all this without surgery, yayyyy! So nice that you found this holistic doctor and hoping all the suppliments and laser etc help him! You’re a special mommy!
Would love to hear how the laser helps. A chiropractor around the corner from me is licensed to do laser treatments on animals and I’ve been wondering if it would help my cat with real bad arthritis in her rear.
I never had luck with getting my dogs to use steps to the bed even my dachshund who needed to for his back. I ended up moving a storage container that’s about 12 inches high next to my bed and they have no problem using that. You could make something more stylish by building a frame with wood and adding a top. Or make a box and add a top that opens to give extra storage.
You must feel so good to get confirmation of a less dire diagnosis. Sounds like your holistic vet has some good suggestions for Sampson. Hope you see good results and less pain for your precious boy.
BTW, could you temporarily rearrange the bed so Sampson has to use the steps? Perhaps move the bed into the corner and make the stairs the only access to the bed.
Yeah, I know. You’re husband will think you’re insane. But it’s the kind of thing that has worked with Honey.
My dog Rosie is 11 years old. Lucky no problems yet. I was thinking about a chiropractor if she ever has problems. She’s a mini dashound and May have problems with her back. I hope all goes well with Sampson.
Glad Sampson will be okay. And the title rocks. 😉
Glad to hear that Sampson is doing better and that’s awesome that the vet came to your home!
What a good boy Sampson is. So glad surgery may not be needed and hope the treatment plan works like a charm.
I’m glad that went well, and that the prognosis is good! I think if you keep working with him, you will get him to use those stairs. I never knew that about a dog’s build….our beagle Kobi has the same body shape so I’m glad we’ve got stairs also.
Good news! I’m so glad that he is doing well and DM is not a concern!
After Sherman’s laser therapy, some good Chinese herbs and a good supplement we were able to take him off of NASAIDS. He still needs them from time to time but I’m so glad we were able to manage his ACL conservatively!
Hope the laser treatments are working. They seem to be. You go Sampson
Lily
Sounds like a great appointment. How nice to have him come to your house! And hooray for the DM thing being out the window!
I wonder if dogs can take turmeric? The hubs and I have started taking it as an anti-inflammatory – our acupuncture gal says it works great and is also a cancer fighter. Much prefer it to taking pills!
Sounds like good news. It’s great that you guys are doing what you can to avoid surgery and I hope you are successful! It sounds like you guys have him on a great path to recovery. That’s really neat that he got to have those treatments at home, I’m sure that helped him feel more relaxed and at ease. 🙂
Looking forward to his improvement! That’s an extremely considerate vet you guys have. 🙂
~Fiona
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