Learn & Go With Dr. Laurie
Identifying canine weakness and a great exercise to combat it
Do you know the most important signs to clue you in to muscle weakness in a dog when you are asking them to perform an exercise? Do you know what to look for in a dog’s face to spot fatigue?
Do you want details on an exercise that can strengthen your pets or patients, puppy, adult, and geriatric alike?
In this quick video, Dr. Laurie reviews pictures and videos to show you how to spot when a dog has some weakness and then teaches you an exercise you can immediately implement into your practice or use with your pet.
Watch the video to meet Ollie and see how his expressive face changes when pushed to rapid fatigue and learn a great strengthening exercise.
How to spot weakness in a dog
When you ask a dog to do an exercise, the body position they take can give you a good idea of where they are weak.
If their posture changes to an abnormal position, it can mean they have pain, a lack of ability to get into that position, or muscle weakness that is not allowing them to hold the biomechanically correct position.
A dog’s inability to hold a position – think of wobbling during a “sit up” or “beg,” is indicator of trunk or core weakness.
And their facial expressions can give you an idea of their level of fatigue. Looking at the eyes, ears and mouth position help you read where the dog is at mentally.
Dogs need a fitness routine
An important goal of creating an exercise program for a dog is finding an exercise that the dog struggles with. This is our area of opportunity to build strength.
An exercise like a Three-legged Stand keeps the dog in a biomechanically correct posture but challenges their balance and core muscles. This is a great exercise that can be used for dogs of any age. The trick is to do them so that the dog has to do as much of the work as possible for them.
When practicing the Three-legged Stand:
Make sure the dog is standing square so they are in a biomechanically correct posture.
Lift a limb with just one finger, don’t grab the limb, or you are doing most of the work.
Hold the position until the dog starts to wobble, counting seconds, then hold it a little longer as this is when they are gaining strength.
If one position is significantly weaker, start and end with this position (one more repetition than the other three) and continue until all positions have the same strength.
When performing this exercise on a flat surface is easy, the next challenge would be to perform it on an unstable surface, like a couch cushion or bed.
When this exercise is easy, progress to Snoopy Exercises/ Diagonal Leg Lifts.
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Conducting a gait analysis on patient with multiple lame legs
Have you seen patients come in with more than one lame leg?
Have you seen lameness patterns change depending on where the dog is walking?
In this Learn & Go with Dr. Laurie we meet Tilly, look at cool radiographs on a little known patella luxation surgery technique done by Dr. John Dee himself, that makes it look like part of the tibial crest is gone. We identify a radiographic change commonly seen with stifle stress that you may not be used to looking at. And then we analyze Tilly's gait from multiple angles and on different angled surfaces, visualizing her multiple lamenesses.
Watch the video below to meet Tilly, see the x-rays, and look the multiple gaits that tell us her story.
Tilly has had a partial cut to her tibial crest with a pin creating the perfect wedge to help alleviate her patella luxation.
DOGS CAN HAVE PAIN AND LAMENESS IN MORE THAN ONE LIMB. SOMETIMES ONE LAMENESS HIDES ANOTHER.
Sometimes they injure a second limb trying to shift weight off of a limb that was previously injured, injure it in a separate incident, or be painful from a chronic disease like arthritis.
WHEN A DOG IS SIGNIFICANTLY LAME, THEY WILL USE THEIR HEAD, TO AID IN WEIGHT SHIFTING, TO DECREASE WEIGHT ON THE MOST AFFECTED LIMB.
In the case of a front leg lameness the dog will lift their head, shifting their weight back, when the sore limb starts to bear weight. This is a “Head Bob Up.”
In the case of a rear limb lameness the dog will drop their head down, shifting weight off of a rear limb as it starts to bear weight. This is a “Head Bob Down.”
IF YOU CAN SEE THERE IS A HEAD BOB BUT CAN NOT TELL IF THE DIRECTION IS UP OR DOWN, YOU CAN HAVE THE DOG WALK ON AN INCLINE AND DECLINE SURFACE TO DIFFERENTIATE IT.
When the dog walks uphill, their weight is shifted back to the rear limbs. If the lameness is reduced, it indicates a front leg lameness. If the lameness is exacerbated, it indicates a rear limb lameness.
When the dog walks downhill, their weight is shifted forward to the front limbs. If the lameness is reduced, it indicates a rear limb lameness. If the lameness is exacerbated, it indicates a front limb lameness.
Note that if there are multiple limbs affected, you may see multiple lamenesses. In the Case of Tilly, because her diagonal limbs were both significantly affected, she went back and forth between two significant lameness patterns trying to find a comfortable way to walk and having to alternate lameness patterns because each time she chose one pattern it made the diagonal limb more uncomfortable.
Laser spotlight on 915 NM wavelength: LEARN & GO WITH DR. LAURIE
This Learn & Go with Laurie is focused on the studies I found about the 915nm wavelength laser.
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Thanks for joining us for another Learn and Go with Laurie! In today’s session, I am discussing all the studies I could find relating to 915nm wavelength laser therapy.
The first study looked at human fibroblasts being treated with varying J/cm², treatments with both CW and PW. Only the lowest amount of total energy showed promise.
The second study looked at effectiveness on human osteoblasts and bone healing. With these variables it showed that the 915nm wavelength achieved an increase in mineralization, but not in cell proliferation.
The final study I reviewed examined 108 rats and wound healing. The daily treatment group showed the most healing over the initial week, closer to day 14 the groups were more closely matched, and there was a surprising difference in the laser vs control group.
Ready to get optimum, life-changing results with your laser? join mY Optimum Laser Therapy online course + community.
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*Pet parents, please note that this video was created for veterinary professionals. Your pet should always be examined, diagnosed, and treated by a licensed veterinary professional.
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Laser spotlight on 980 nm wavelength: LEARN & GO WITH DR. LAURIE
Let’s take a look at the available research on lasers with a 980nm wavelength!
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Let’s explore studies just looking at 980 nm wavelength lasers and see what we can learn about using them.
The first study found that treatment with a 980 nm wavelength led to significant relief of orthodontic pain in humans after 24 hours.
The second study, looking at chronic lower back pain in 100 people, found that by combining exercise with 980 nm laser therapy 3x week for 3 weeks, their VAS dropped by 4 points!
Our third study, treating skin wounds on iguanas, found that the wounds were significantly smaller than those treated with silver sulfadiazine, but no better than control.
Our fourth study found that 980 nm laser therapy treatments significantly improved nerve regeneration in rats—as well as improving their reflexes!
Our last study found that treating with 980 nm wavelength effectively reduced pain in 100 patients after an off-pump coronary artery bypass graft with sternotomy.
Overall, we can conclude that more research dedicated to 980 nm exclusively would be nice, and that while one dose can help with pain, multiple doses help even more!
Ready to get optimum, life-changing results with your laser? join mY Optimum Laser Therapy online course + community.
JOIN OUR ONLINE COURSE + COMMUNITY!
Enrollment now open!
*Pet parents, please note that this video was created for veterinary professionals. Your pet should always be examined, diagnosed, and treated by a licensed veterinary professional.
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Laser Facts: A Meta-Analysis on Laser for Joint Inflammation
Let’s dive into a meta-analysis of 88 studies on laser therapy for chronic joint inflammation & see what they found!
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Today, we’re exploring a meta-analysis of 88 studies on laser therapy for chronic joint inflammation.
There is a link between the amount & rate of degradation in the joint with the inflammatory activity at the joint capsule.
Can we reduce the inflammatory activity at the joint capsule with laser therapy? Absolutely, if you know how!
Photobiomodulation, or laser therapy, of the joint capsule is shown in multiple studies to reduce COX-2 and prostaglandins in the joint.
Laser therapy is also effective for treating joint pain and increasing quality of life!
However, this analysis also found that when the dose was too low, or when the joint capsule itself was not treated, there was no difference from the placebo. And it also stated that if the dose is too high, it decreases fibroblast metabolism which inhibits healing.
Ensuring proper dosage is critical—so how can we ensure that we get it right?
In laser therapy, dose is dependent on wavelength, and wavelength depends upon multiple factors including the type of laser you have and the area you’re treating.
If you’re ready to end the guesswork & learn how to use your laser for optimum life-changing results, join mY Optimum Laser Therapy online course + community.
JOIN OUR ONLINE COURSE + COMMUNITY!
Enrollment now open!
*Pet parents, please note that this video was created for veterinary professionals. Your pet should always be examined, diagnosed, and treated by a licensed veterinary professional.
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Tipsy the Sheep: Lasering After Elbow Arthrodesis Helped Her walk again!
In this episode of Learn & Go, we share the story of Tipsy, a very special sheep born with torticollis. See how we've been able to take a multi-modal approach to enhance her quality of life.
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Meet Tipsy! A sheep born with torticollis, Tipsy started developing arthritis & pain in her right front leg as a sequela to the torticollis as she put most of her weight on that leg.
By 4 years old, she was no longer able to get up on her own.
By the time I met her, the arthritis was so severe that a surgeon, Dr. Chuck McCauley (no relation!), performed an arthrodesis on her elbow to eliminate the pain.
That’s when LSU asked me to help Tipsy recover post-surgery and get her walking again!
We’ve taken a multi-modal approach to aiding in Tipsy’s post-surgical recovery—including:
Icing
Massage
PROM
Assisi Loop
Acupuncture
Chiropractic
Exercise—Standing & Walking in a Cart
And, of course, laser therapy!
What did we laser? Our primary goal was to reduce the swelling & pain in her elbow post-surgery to help her walk again—sheep are not usually able to survive laying around for 4 weeks, the time it took for the surgery site to heal, especially as she had to lay on her surgery side because of her rumen—but it worked!
We also lasered her neck, allowing her to move it much better. This helped greatly since she needs to be able to move her head as she walks.
And finally, we used laser therapy to strengthen Tipsy’s back limbs and alleviate multiple trigger points & pain down her back.
This multi-modal approach was just what Tipsy needed to get her walking & running again—that and LOTS of love!
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READY TO incorporate laser therapy into your treatment plans & get incredible results?
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*Pet parents, please note that this video was created for veterinary professionals. Your pet should always be examined, diagnosed, and treated by a licensed veterinary professional.
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How I Find Great Research Articles Online: Learn & Go with Dr. laurie
We’re continuing our Learn & Go series on laser therapy with a quick video on how I found the 100+ research articles referenced in my Optimum Laser Therapy course.
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Wondering how I compiled over 100+ reputable research articles on laser therapy for my Optimum Laser Therapy online course + community? You aren’t the only one…
People have been emailing and asking about the best ways to find research online.
So today, I’m taking you behind the scenes to show you my process, what sites I visit, and how I find the full-length articles!
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Get life-altering outcomes with laser that your clients will rave about!
Join Dr. Laurie’s online laser therapy course + community: Optimum Laser Therapy.
*Pet parents, please note that this video was created for veterinary professionals. Your pet should always be examined, diagnosed, and treated by a licensed veterinary professional.
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Axel’s turnaround: Treating lameness & Much more with laser therapy
We’re continuing our Learn & Go series on laser therapy with Axel’s miraculous turnaround from a poor prognosis to living his best life again!
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Can photobiomodulation therapy have life-altering outcomes for your patients with a lameness? Absolutely, yes!
Meet Axel, a patient of mine who had a poor prognosis when he first came to me. Diagnosed with fibrotic myelopathy, his parents had been told that it was a death sentence.
But with laser therapy, we’ve been able to successfully treat his lameness, along with several other conditions throughout the years!
With photobiomodulation, we’ve been able to Restore his quality of life & address:
Fibrotic myelopathy of the semitendinosus
A grade 2/3 gracilis strain
A grade 1-2/3 gastrocnemius strain
Plantar abrasions with significant scar tissue
Anal fistulas
And a misdiagnosed iliopsoas strain!
Here’s what axel’s mom, Nancy Jane, shared about his results:
“The results have been wonderful! Axel is alive and well, now walking over 4 miles a day. He's running after balls, playing at the playground, and able to get up several steps. He is returning to life AS A REAL DOG. We are beyond thrilled. We got our dog back. And he is happy! Dr. Laurie is a true healer!”
Get life-altering outcomes with laser that your clients will rave about!
Join Dr. Laurie’s online laser therapy course + community: Optimum Laser Therapy.
*Pet parents, please note that this video was created for veterinary professionals. Your pet should always be examined, diagnosed, and treated by a licensed veterinary professional.
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Tenosynovitis of the Abductor Pollicis Longus Muscle: Learn & Go with Dr. Laurie
Would you know Tenosynovitis of the abductor pollicis longus muscle if a pet came in to your office today with it? It's easy to spot once you know what you are looking for.
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Would you know Tenosynovitis of the abductor pollicis longus muscle if a pet came in to your office today with it? It's easy to spot once you know what you are looking for.
Watch as we review the location of this muscle and tendon
Understand how this structure helps support the carpus and is affected with dew claw removal
Learn about peritendinous sheaths and what they feel like when they are inflamed
And learn how this condition used to be treated and how we can now treat it with rehabilitation techniques such as manual therapy & photobiomodulation/laser therapy
*Pet parents, please note that this video was created for veterinary professionals. Your pet should always be examined, diagnosed, and treated by a licensed veterinary professional.
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Rudy the Re-abled Dog: Learn & Go with Dr. Laurie
In this week’s episode of Learn & Go with Dr. Laurie, we meet Rudy, a very happily re-abled dog! We also take a look at some core strengthening exercises called "Snoopies."
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In this week’s episode of Learn & Go with Dr. Laurie, we meet Rudy, a very happily re-abled dog! We also take a look at some core strengthening exercises called "Snoopies."
This exercise is very safe for most dogs, but is contraindicated in dogs who have pain bearing weight on a limb. Not all exercises are right for all dogs, for instance this would be impossible for a full limb amputee.
*Pet parents, please note that this video was created for veterinary professionals. Your pet should always be examined, diagnosed, and treated by a licensed veterinary professional.
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Intro to Caroline, RF Lameness & More: Learn & Go with Dr. Laurie
Meet Caroline, a Swiss Mountain dog lame in her right front leg. Let's take a look at Caroline's gait and see what it tells us.
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Meet Caroline, a Swiss Mountain dog diagnosed with a lameness in her right front leg. Let's take a look at Caroline's gait and see what it tells us.
When she walks, she puts her head down when she’s on her left front leg, and up when she’s on her right front leg.
She’s putting enough weight on her right front leg that her metacarpal pads are touching the ground.
Her front feet are square beneath her, but her back feet are further apart.
Up close, you can see she has her weight on the inside of her rear feet with her toes bending outward.
This abnormal weight bearing has lead to secondary back pain.
We’ll talk more about Caroline in a later video. Thanks for joining us!
*Pet parents, please note that this video was created for veterinary professionals. Many conditions can present similarly, so your pet should always be diagnosed and treated by a licensed veterinary professional.
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