Dogs
Why does my dog need to see you?
As a vet, chiropractor and acupuncturist, I stand for providing a holistic approach of care towards your animal, looking to prevent injury, improve performance and provide bespoke rehabilitation plans which are easy to incorporate into your daily routine.
As someone who has been brought up with dogs, I know how easy it can be to fall into a routine, and get used to progressive changes in our pets which may be having negative long term effects. Having a subjective assessment by a vet focused on improving how your dog moves without long term medication can help to decrease the risk of orthopedic problems.
But my dog has hip disease, can treatment fix that?
No. Once changes have happened, chiropractic and acupuncture treatment won't reverse changes, however, treatment will increase flexibility through the rest of the animal's body which is compensating for this discomfort, and reduce pain respectively. The main concept of treatment is to reduce secondary issues, and work to prevent the development of other issues.
So when should I consider booking in an appointment?
Lameness or limping
Before and after competitions (agility, sledding etc.)
General stiffness from getting older
If your dog has started to struggle to go up stairs or jump onto the sofa.
As prevention if you know that your dog is predisposed to a certain orthopedic problem.
How does treatment work if my dog is anxious about meeting new people and going to the vets?
As a dog owner, I understand that dogs get nervous when they are not with their owners, when they are in new surroundings or when something is sore or painful. Every appointment is different, and my aim is to ensure that your dog gets the most out of it, whilst being in a relaxing environment. I am happy to incorporate walks into a first appointment, use lick mats where necessary and utilise laser acupuncture instead of needles and assess the dog at home or in the garden, depending on wherever they feel most comfortable. I want your dog to look forward to their next appointment.
How do I prepare for a visit?
Let me know as much of the history of the dog as possible, including breed, age, whether any of the dog's siblings or parents have had any orthopedic issues and whether the dog has had any diagnosed issues - this will give me sufficient time to research and understand how best to help your dog.
Make sure that you inform me if your dog is anxious, or if your dog has any allergies - I will sometimes use different treats and would not want to cause any adverse reactions.
Make sure that your dog is groomed before the appointment.
How often do you have to see my dog?
It depends. Although exercises will be recommended to help sustain the session, chiropractic treatment is based on restoring normal motion, and this is done through stimulation of the nervous system to retrain muscle memory. This means that if your dog has moved in a certain way for a long time, it is unlikely to completely resolve with just one treatment, as the muscles are used to working in a certain way. Acupuncture reduces pain, and this in turn compliments the chiropractic treatment.
How long do sessions last?
Each session is 30 to 60 minutes long, depending, on what has been going on with your dog, their temperament and how they have responded to previous treatments.
How much do sessions cost?
The first session is £50, subsequent sessions are £40. An additional charge will be present for travel outside of Lewes, East Sussex, depending on Post Code and number of dogs being treated (Only got one dog? Have a chat with your neighbours and other local dog owners for a cheaper rate).
Why is the company called EB Equine if you also treat dogs?
When I set up EB Equine, in November 2020, I was initially focused on treating horses, as I had worked in equine practice since graduation. My training, as a vet, acupuncturist and chiropractor encompassed all other animals as well. Over the last 12 months, I have been asked to look at an increasing number of dogs, with a number of different issues and as I received a lot of positive feedback following treatment, decided to actively offer this service.