Laurie's Blogs.
17
May 2025
May 2025
Accessoriometacarpal Ligament Injury in (my) Dog
Figure 1: Evidence that he is astonishingly handsome. FigJam, a 5 year old, devilishly handsome (Figure 1), neutered Labrador retriever and my favourite adventure buddy, developed an intermittent left forelimb lameness that would transiently appear following off leash ...
10
May 2025
May 2025
Posture and Postural Dysfunction in Dogs: Implications for Veterinary Physiotherapy and Veterinary Practice
A recent study in The Veterinary Journal (Michael et al., 2024) provides a comprehensive analysis of posture and postural dysfunction in dogs, offering valuable insights for veterinary physiotherapists, rehab therapists, and veterinarians. This article synthesizes the study...
03
May 2025
May 2025
Hair-Loss Over the Back
Have you seen dogs with a strange pattern of hair loss, typically over their back, unilateral or sometimes symmetrical. Often there is nothing odd about the skin (i.e. no infection, redness, bumps, or other signs of irritation). Just hair loss. Variou...
26
Apr 2025
Apr 2025
Understanding Balance in Aging Dogs: New Insights from Postural Stability Research
As our furry companions age, their mobility and balance can decline, impacting their quality of life. A recent study published in Sensors (2025) titled "Impact of Aging and Visual Input on Postural Stability in Dogs: Insights from Center-of-Pressure Analysis" by Christiane Lutons...
19
Apr 2025
Apr 2025
Animal Models Demonstrate Sex Differences for Pain Modulation
I have a lot of books on my book shelves, and I got looking at them the other day and thought, I should just open one up, flip through, and come up with a blog topic. So I opened, Wall and Melzack’s Textbook of Pain. A two inch thick book that looks ...
12
Apr 2025
Apr 2025
Happy Jack Skip, Jack Russell Tick, Terrier Skip - What’s Going On?
The "happy jack skipping gait," sometimes called the "Jack Russell tick" or "happy skip," is a distinctive movement seen in Jack Russell Terriers and other terrier breeds. It’s characterized by a playful, intermittent skip or hop, often during walks or moments of excitement...
05
Apr 2025
Apr 2025
Screening for Cruciate Ligament Disease
Because cruciate ligament disease (CLD) is such a common problem, its not surprising that researchers are trying to figure out way to screen for predisposition to this condition. Headway has been made with Labrador retrievers, with a genetic test now being available commercially ...
29
Mar 2025
Mar 2025
Refracture after Repair of Radial-Ulnar Fractures in Small-Breed Dogs & Why Rehab Therapists Should Care
Muroi N, Kanno N, Harada Y, Hara Y. A Retrospective Study of Risk Factors Associated with Refracture after Repair of Radial-Ulnar Fractures in Small-Breed Dogs. Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol. 2025 Mar;38(2):77-86. IntroductionThe paper investigates radial-ulnar fractu...
22
Mar 2025
Mar 2025
Back Braces for Dogs - A Research Study and Resources
The study “Effect of a Corset on the Gait of Healthy Beagle Dogs,” authored by Takamasa Itoi and colleagues from Okayama University of Science, in collaboration with Daiya Industry Co., Ltd., explores the potential benefits of the Anifull Dog’s Corset Pro&...
15
Mar 2025
Mar 2025
Knowledge Quickies! Hips, Knees, Shoulders, Elbows, & Goniometry
Just a few random papers with wee bits of information you might like to know! 1. IN CATS, total hip replacement improved peak vertical force and vertical impulse as compared to a femoral head and neck ostectomy. This resulted in improved symmetry and better loadi...
