Osteopathy is commonly associated with medical practitioners catering to a human clientele. Thus it is surprising for many pet lovers to learn that this medical discipline has also made it into veterinary practice. Considering that more and more pet owners are seeking to find alternatives to invasive procedures and costly medications that may or may not bring about the desired results, it is not surprising that a trend of medicine which is considered favorably in the human practice would also reign in animal healthcare.

Dog lovers in particular have found many used for osteopathic treatments of their canine companions, and preventative measures as well treatments for injuries, accidents, and also illness are now often colored with the undertones of the discipline. Veterinarians trained in the musculoskeletal manipulation germane to the animal organisms will often seek to affect dogs suffering from chronic pain or hereditary illnesses and joint diseases that in the past have caused dog owners to consider euthanizing of the animal.

The typical osteopathy treatment for a dog is a hands-on approach to canine health that focuses on the spinal cord and the spinal fluid. It is often part and parcel of a holistic health approach that also focuses on weight management through specialized diets as well as specifically designed exercise programs. There are several treatments associated with this kind of alternative health approach and the dog owner must be prepared to return to the osteopathic veterinarian’s office at specified and predetermined intervals to achieve the maximum result for the effort expended.

In addition, the dog’s owner must be certain to observe the dog following the musculoskeletal manipulation and report and adverse effects or setbacks to the veterinarian immediately. Following up on the in office treatments at home, the pet owner is charged with checking on the dog’s diet, executing the exercises that are prescribed, and preventing a perhaps somewhat frisky dog from overdoing the strain on joints and ligaments when the body begins to heal and feel better. Dogs are notorious for welcoming increased range of motion with vigorous exercise, and at times the dog owners must dampen the canine spirits just a little to prevent re-injury.

The use of osteopathy has been known in the past to provide relief and - some allege - an unfair advantage to racing dogs and greyhounds. Over the course of a few short decades the discipline moved into average veterinary offices and before long dedicated dog lovers were clamoring for their canines to be afforded this kind of care as well. It is true that veterinary osteopathy can provide amazing pain relief and even bodily healing to a dog or any other animal, but some pet owners shy away from this treatment option simply because it is time and cost intensive, and sometimes the promises of healing are simply not the same as those by a veterinarian who relies on pain medication or more invasive techniques to attack pain and injuries. Additionally, the expensive treatment is not covered by all pet insurance plans, further adding insult to canine injury.

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