What Is Canine Bowen Therapy & How Can It Help My Dog?
Hey Woofa’s,
I’ve been a Certified Canine Bowen Therapist since 1st June, 2020!
I have treated dogs over the years and actually helped them with their ailments.
Including Billy!
Billy did both his ACL’s (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) in August 2022!
Using Canine Bowen Therapy alongside other healing methods within 4 months Billy was healed without surgery.
He is going strong at the age of 11 1/2.
Just the other day our plumber couldn’t believe how well Billy moves around for his age.
BILLY’S CANINE BOWEN THERAPY STORY!
One morning we noticed Billy was walking but lifting is back left leg up every now and again.
Sometimes he would put pressure on it but others he wouldn’t.
We called our House call Vet who Billy has seen since he was a puppy.
When our Vet went to touch his leg to move it Billy growled at him, which he’s never done before.
It was suggested we see a Surgery Vet so Billy could be sedated and have his leg properly examined.
It took Billy 25 minutes to go under sedation because he’d never been under before.
I can’t say it was good seeing him sedated! I kept whispering in Billy’s ear telling him it wasn’t the end of life needle, he was coming back to us!
Watching the lovely Vet lady move Billy’s leg and knee around I totally understand the need for sedation. There’s no way she could’ve done all that with him awake.
Dean carried Billy to the X-Ray machine for further tests.
It turns out he thankfully didn’t need surgery on his knee, just to keep quiet and medicated.
We took him home and proceeded to give him his medication, to which he hated having.
THEN one week to the day I was trying to give him his medication and as Billy was walking away from me he decided to jump up on the bed!!!
Jumping with an ACL injury is a no no but he did it anyway.
When he did it he yelped and I knew in my gut he’d done his other ACL!!!!
BILLY’S TREATMENT!
I mentioned to Dean that I didn’t think we needed to take Billy to be sedated again only to find out he’d done the same thing to the other ACL.
We agreed to take him to the lady that taught me Canine Bowen Therapy, as she does many other holistic therapies.
Helen from Animal Equlibrium, saw Billy and examined him and said to us, ‘Give me 16 weeks, and we’ll have him back to normal!’
Helen gave Billy different laser treatments his therapy went on!
She gave us Tissue Salts medication to give to Billy 3 times a day which dissolved and Billy loved.
Together with Canine Bowen Therapy we hired one of the lasers and gave him both treatments at home.
We saw slow improvement within days and it progressively got better over time.
As Billy’s treatment progressed he was allowed to slowly walk up and down our driveway as it has a slight incline!
Then he could go up and down the street as that has a bigger incline.
Each progression was amazing and together with continued Canine Bowen Therapy he healed.
WHAT IS CANINE BOWEN THERAPY?
Canine Bowen Therapy is not massage or physiotherapy! Let’s get that clear!
CBT is a technique which aims to stretch the soft tissues of the dog’s body – skin, muscles, tendons, ligaments and the connective tissue called fascia.
The fascia is the part of the connective tissue that envelops, separates and influences every organ and tissue in the body.
Canine Bowen Therapy involves the rolling of the soft tissue over the muscle fibre with the fingers.
These manoeuvres are a very gentle pressure applied over certain areas of the animal depending on where the problem is within the animal.
These precise but gentle movements stimulate the body, via the nervous, endocrine and fascial systems, to activate the body’s own healing mechanisms to promote homeostasis of the body tissues and systems.
The nervous system sends messages back to the fascia to normalize the resting rate of tissues and increase lymph movement in the area, which enhances tissue repair.
Basically, the moves stimulate the nervous system which then sends messages to the brain to encourage the body to restore balance.
And allows toxins to be released.
The moves are specifically designed to work on the meridians and trigger points at the same time to restore balance to all facets of the animals persona being mental, emotional and physical.
CBT can loosen and separate tight muscle fibres, increase blood and lymphatic flow which is important for healing to take place after post surgery or with acute or chronic injuries.
Acute injuries can be treated with Bowen Therapy by avoiding the injury site and applying Bowen therapy above or below or either side of the injury which can promote healing.
CBT is a non-invasive, gentle therapy, which can enhance your dog’s wellbeing and quality of life.
HOW CAN CANINE BOWEN THERAPY HELP MY DOG?
First of all let me say – Canine Bowen Therapy is not meant to be a replacement for Veterinary Care.
It can work in conjunction with Veterinary Care where needed, as in Billy’s case.
Canine Bowen Therapy can be applied to most acute and chronic complaints and can often promote rapid healing at a deep cellular level with lasting results.
Canine Bowen therapy can assist with a range of problems, such as:
- Muscular pain (Acute or Chronic);
- Stress & Anxiety (trauma related, rehoming, rescue, fear based eg. thunder etc);
- Pre and post operation;
- Degenerative diseases (will help improve quality of life);
- Overall body balancing and health;
- Allergies and Skin conditions;
- Lameness;
- Working dogs;
- Emotional relief;
- Osteoarthritis
- Dogs recuperating from illness
- Lower back soreness
- Hind limb and tail injuries
- Intervertebral disc disease
- Hip dysplasia
- Patellar luxation
- Shoulder and fore limb disorders
- Head / neck or temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders
- Breathing disorders
- ACL injuries
- Muscular-skeletal problems including lameness created by muscle soreness, soft tissue injuries, hip problems, stifle joint problems (including patella subluxations), arthritis (some forms) paralysis problems and muscle spasms respond well to Bowen;
- Improves overall joint flexibility and muscle integrity aiding in gait and mobility;
- Increasing lymph and blood circulation, aiding elimination of toxins, lactic acid and decreasing inflammation. This is very beneficial in assisting in injury recuperation and with immune diseases;
- Bowen has also been successful with animals that have poor eating habits, anxiety and stress problems, breathing problems and skin conditions – can help your dog to relax;
- Bowen can be used to facilitate flexibility and mobility. Bowen can be used remedially or as a preventative program with performance animals.
There are many ailments where Canine Bowen Therapy can assist.
WHAT DOES ALL THIS MEAN?
Canine Bowen Therapy is a non-invasive therapy that can assist your dog in many ways.
After seeking Veterinary assistance for your dog’s ailment, try speaking with a Certified Canine Bowen Therapist!
Canine Bowen Therapy is an amazing modality that works by restoring your dogs body’s natural healing process.
IN THE COMMENTS BELOW – BILLY WOULD LIKE TO KNOW – IF YOUR DOG HAS HAD CANINE BOWEN THERAPY?
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