Now we get to the really good stuff - laser therapy, hydrotherapy, physical therapy and chiropractic treatments.
The first step in treating iliopsoas injuries is to control pain and inflammation.
This can be achieved with rest and medications but laser therapy can do amazing things both for pain and inflammation control as well as encouraging the healing process. Without reducing pain and inflammation, healing cannot take place. Laser therapy is great to kick-start the healing process.
Laser therapy is one of my favorite go-to treatments for our dogs.
It did great things for Jasmine and it seems to be doing great things for Cookie as well.
I would have never expected that she might be able to actually feel the treatment while it's happening but it would appear she indeed does. She seems to enjoy the treatments enormously. When the tech pulls out the laser, she lays down on her own, makes herself comfortable and as the treatment starts, she's on her way to bliss. Most of the time she falls asleep. Which I think is awesome that it feels so good to her.
Some people told me that they tried laser therapy and it didn't seem to do anything for their dog. I'm sure that's possible, not everything works for every dog the same way.
With Cookie, though, not only the treatment itself feels really good to her but there is visibly more pronounced bounce in her step after.
It seems quite obvious that she feels better after each of the treatments.
We are clearly seeing the benefit but I was curious why it sometimes might not work for some dogs. I think that one tricky part with these injuries is that the iliopsoas are deep within the body. Perhaps it isn't as easy to get the photon power all the way to them.
Laser treatment equipment went a long way.
Not all lasers are the same. There are different classes and types. Lasers are classified according to the wavelength and energy output.
There are different attachments and settings. In generally, the lower the class number, the weaker the laser. Both our veterinary hospital and our rehab center are using class IV lasers. I think the class of the laser, the settings and attachment used can make a big difference.
One thing is for sure - the laser treatments are visibly working for Cookie.
Each of her treatments is half an hour with the class IV laser. Ideally, she'd be getting laser every day at first, but with how far everything is around here we can only do 3x a week.
PT Sue wrote a great article on the benefits of laser therapy.
We also added massage, stretching exercises and underwater treadmill. We will be including strengthening exercises, particularly for the hind end and core and other functional exercises while gradually including more activity until Cookie can get back to normal.
Cookie was getting monthly chiropractic treatments all along.
But for now, she's getting adjusted weekly. At first she was very sore at the back end and middle of the back. Last time the middle of her back was happy again and the hind end needed only a bit of tweaking.
Cookie's had issues at the lower back all along and combined with the sore muscles, one thing was feeding on the other. We're hoping to get things settled and stay ahead of it.
Cookie is steadily improving.
We have to be very careful not to let her do too much too fast so we don't end up at square one. As much as such a long process sucks for Cookie, it is best to do it properly than having to start all over.
Further reading:
Photon Power: Can Laser Therapy Help Your Dog?
The Weight Of Water And How It Helps Dogs
Functional Strengthening Exercises: the What, Why and How
Related articles:
From The End Of A Lead Line To Casa Jasmine: Meet Cookie, Our New Adoptee
And So It Begins Again(?) Our First Health-Related Heart Attack With Cookie
I Didn't Know I Could Fly: Why Cookie Wears A Harness Instead Of A Collar
C.E.T. Oral Hygiene Chews For Dogs CAN Be A Choking Hazzard
Our First Health-Related Heart Attack With Cookie: The Knee Or The Foot?
Creative Solutions And An Incidental Product Review
Too Young For Pot: Cookie's Snack With A Side Of Hydrogen Peroxide
Taming Of The Wild Beast: Cookie's Transition To Civilization
Staying On Top Of The Ears: Cookie Is Not Impressed
Putting The Easy Back Into Walking
Cookie's Ears Are Still Not Happy
The Threat Of The Bulge Is Always Lurking
Today Is Cookie's Three-Months Adoptoversary
Cookie Meets The Electric Horse Fence And Her First Chiropractic Adjustment
Why Examine Your Dog's Vomit?
Why Is That Leg Still Not Happy? Cookie's Leg Keeps Getting Sore
Cookie Too Is Insured With Trupanion
Does Being Insured Mean Being Covered? Our First Claim With Trupanion
Is Cookie's Leg Finally Getting Better?
Is Cookie Going To Be Another Medical Challenge Or Are We Looking To Closely?
The Project That Is Cookie: Pancreatitis Up Close And Personal
Pancreatitis: Cookie’s Blood Work
Another Belly Upset: Pancreatitis Again Or Not?
Happy Birthday, Cookie
Incontinence? Cookie's Mysterious Leaks
Who's Training Whom? Stick And Treat
Don't Just Stand There, Do Something? Cookie's Mysterious Bumps
Cookie's Mysterious Bumps Update
One Vomit, No Vomit
Happy One-Year Adoptoversary, Cookie!
Cookie's Leaks Are Back: Garden Variety Incontinence Or Not?
Cookie's Leaks Update
Don't Panic, Don't Panic: Know What Your Job Is
The Continuing Saga Of Cookie's Leeks: Trying Chiropractic Approach
Cookie's Minor Eye Irritation
Regular Wellness Exam: Cookie's ALT Was Elevated
Cookie's Plantar Paw Pad Injury
How Far To Take It When The Dog Isn't Sick?
Cookie Has Tapeworm Infection
Cookie's Elevated ALT: The Ultrasound and Cytology
Cookie's ALT Update
The Importance of Observation: Cookie's Chiropractic Adjustment
Sometimes You Don't Even Know What You're Looking at: Cookie's Scary "We Have No Idea What that Was"
Living with an Incontinent Dog
Summer Dangers: Cookie Gets Stung by a Bald-faced Hornet
To Breathe or Not To Breathe: Cookie's Hind Legs Transiently Fail to Work (Again)
Figuring out What Might Be Going on with Cookie's Legs: The Process
Figuring out What Might Be Going on with Cookie's Legs: The Diagnosis
Cookie's Iliopsoas Injury Treatment: Trazodone
Cookie's Iliopsoas Injury Treatment: Other Medications
Do you have a story to share?
Your story can help others, maybe even save a life!
What were the first signs you noticed? How did you dog get diagnosed? What treatment did/didn't work for you? What was your experience with your vet(s)? How did you cope with the challenges?
Email me, I'll be happy to hear from you!
The first step in treating iliopsoas injuries is to control pain and inflammation.
This can be achieved with rest and medications but laser therapy can do amazing things both for pain and inflammation control as well as encouraging the healing process. Without reducing pain and inflammation, healing cannot take place. Laser therapy is great to kick-start the healing process.
Laser therapy is one of my favorite go-to treatments for our dogs.
It did great things for Jasmine and it seems to be doing great things for Cookie as well.
I would have never expected that she might be able to actually feel the treatment while it's happening but it would appear she indeed does. She seems to enjoy the treatments enormously. When the tech pulls out the laser, she lays down on her own, makes herself comfortable and as the treatment starts, she's on her way to bliss. Most of the time she falls asleep. Which I think is awesome that it feels so good to her.
Some people told me that they tried laser therapy and it didn't seem to do anything for their dog. I'm sure that's possible, not everything works for every dog the same way.
With Cookie, though, not only the treatment itself feels really good to her but there is visibly more pronounced bounce in her step after.
It seems quite obvious that she feels better after each of the treatments.
We are clearly seeing the benefit but I was curious why it sometimes might not work for some dogs. I think that one tricky part with these injuries is that the iliopsoas are deep within the body. Perhaps it isn't as easy to get the photon power all the way to them.
Laser treatment equipment went a long way.
Not all lasers are the same. There are different classes and types. Lasers are classified according to the wavelength and energy output.
There are different attachments and settings. In generally, the lower the class number, the weaker the laser. Both our veterinary hospital and our rehab center are using class IV lasers. I think the class of the laser, the settings and attachment used can make a big difference.
One thing is for sure - the laser treatments are visibly working for Cookie.
Each of her treatments is half an hour with the class IV laser. Ideally, she'd be getting laser every day at first, but with how far everything is around here we can only do 3x a week.
PT Sue wrote a great article on the benefits of laser therapy.
We also added massage, stretching exercises and underwater treadmill. We will be including strengthening exercises, particularly for the hind end and core and other functional exercises while gradually including more activity until Cookie can get back to normal.
Cookie was getting monthly chiropractic treatments all along.
But for now, she's getting adjusted weekly. At first she was very sore at the back end and middle of the back. Last time the middle of her back was happy again and the hind end needed only a bit of tweaking.
Cookie's had issues at the lower back all along and combined with the sore muscles, one thing was feeding on the other. We're hoping to get things settled and stay ahead of it.
Cookie is steadily improving.
We have to be very careful not to let her do too much too fast so we don't end up at square one. As much as such a long process sucks for Cookie, it is best to do it properly than having to start all over.
Further reading:
Photon Power: Can Laser Therapy Help Your Dog?
The Weight Of Water And How It Helps Dogs
Functional Strengthening Exercises: the What, Why and How
Related articles:
From The End Of A Lead Line To Casa Jasmine: Meet Cookie, Our New Adoptee
And So It Begins Again(?) Our First Health-Related Heart Attack With Cookie
I Didn't Know I Could Fly: Why Cookie Wears A Harness Instead Of A Collar
C.E.T. Oral Hygiene Chews For Dogs CAN Be A Choking Hazzard
Our First Health-Related Heart Attack With Cookie: The Knee Or The Foot?
Creative Solutions And An Incidental Product Review
Too Young For Pot: Cookie's Snack With A Side Of Hydrogen Peroxide
Taming Of The Wild Beast: Cookie's Transition To Civilization
Staying On Top Of The Ears: Cookie Is Not Impressed
Putting The Easy Back Into Walking
Cookie's Ears Are Still Not Happy
The Threat Of The Bulge Is Always Lurking
Today Is Cookie's Three-Months Adoptoversary
Cookie Meets The Electric Horse Fence And Her First Chiropractic Adjustment
Why Examine Your Dog's Vomit?
Why Is That Leg Still Not Happy? Cookie's Leg Keeps Getting Sore
Cookie Too Is Insured With Trupanion
Does Being Insured Mean Being Covered? Our First Claim With Trupanion
Is Cookie's Leg Finally Getting Better?
Is Cookie Going To Be Another Medical Challenge Or Are We Looking To Closely?
The Project That Is Cookie: Pancreatitis Up Close And Personal
Pancreatitis: Cookie’s Blood Work
Another Belly Upset: Pancreatitis Again Or Not?
Happy Birthday, Cookie
Incontinence? Cookie's Mysterious Leaks
Who's Training Whom? Stick And Treat
Don't Just Stand There, Do Something? Cookie's Mysterious Bumps
Cookie's Mysterious Bumps Update
One Vomit, No Vomit
Happy One-Year Adoptoversary, Cookie!
Cookie's Leaks Are Back: Garden Variety Incontinence Or Not?
Cookie's Leaks Update
Don't Panic, Don't Panic: Know What Your Job Is
The Continuing Saga Of Cookie's Leeks: Trying Chiropractic Approach
Cookie's Minor Eye Irritation
Regular Wellness Exam: Cookie's ALT Was Elevated
Cookie's Plantar Paw Pad Injury
How Far To Take It When The Dog Isn't Sick?
Cookie Has Tapeworm Infection
Cookie's Elevated ALT: The Ultrasound and Cytology
Cookie's ALT Update
The Importance of Observation: Cookie's Chiropractic Adjustment
Sometimes You Don't Even Know What You're Looking at: Cookie's Scary "We Have No Idea What that Was"
Living with an Incontinent Dog
Summer Dangers: Cookie Gets Stung by a Bald-faced Hornet
To Breathe or Not To Breathe: Cookie's Hind Legs Transiently Fail to Work (Again)
Figuring out What Might Be Going on with Cookie's Legs: The Process
Figuring out What Might Be Going on with Cookie's Legs: The Diagnosis
Cookie's Iliopsoas Injury Treatment: Trazodone
Cookie's Iliopsoas Injury Treatment: Other Medications
Your story can help others, maybe even save a life!
What were the first signs you noticed? How did you dog get diagnosed? What treatment did/didn't work for you? What was your experience with your vet(s)? How did you cope with the challenges?
Email me, I'll be happy to hear from you!
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