Senior Shepherd Mix Turns to Complementary Treatments

Background

As Shepherd mix Lyger approached thirteen, his aches and pains were catching up to a once active dog. Traditional pain relievers were showing little sign of helping and he'd begun to cry out in pain when his neck or hips were pushed beyond a very short range of motion. After consulting with his primary vet, Lyger's family decided to try complementary treatments* for their senior fella.

Dr. Neal Sivula at Dancing Paws Animal Wellness Center saw Lyger for a consultation, checked his spine and noticed several areas that needed adjustment. The doctor gave him a chiropractic adjustment and followed it up with laser acupuncture. Lyger's owner wasn't sure at first how he would respond to the pressure, but he seemed to be quite relaxed (except for the machine's annoying beeps). Lyger was prescribed an herbal supplement containing alfalfa, some fish oil capsules and set up with a schedule for weekly adjustments and semi-weekly acupuncture visits. By his third trip, Lyger got into the car willingly and approached Dr. Sivula with a wagging tail--something his family had never seen from this normally anxious dog! Acupuncture (both laser and needle) and chiropractic care continue to be a successful part of Lyger's pain-management regimen.

*Complementary treatments were previously called alternative therapies