Lori Berardinucci, Certified Animal Chiropractor

11/15/2024

I will be away all weekend learning, learning. Apologies if I miss your messages but will try to respond Monday morning. Have a great weekend everyone

10/22/2024

The layers of compensation can run deep. The more chronic it is, the more difficult it is to find the true source
I like the analogy of peeling layers off of an onion. It takes time and patience

“The horse just has a little arthritis in his left hock, it doesn’t seem to bother him too much, he just gets a bit stiff!”

Horses are great compensators, and they will create alternative locomotive patterns to continue movement.

So, say this little bit of osteoarthritis causes a reduced range of motion of the tarsal (hock) joint. In an attempt to maintain stride length and hide this dysfunction to potential predators (because you never know when a lion could be waiting around the corner... or a flapping plastic bag!), the tarsal joint is rotated medially (inwards) during the swing phase of the stride. This results in asymmetrical & medial weight bearing through the digit. This places additional stress through medial hamstring muscles, resulting in muscle tension and trigger points. And this is all something that is potentially going on in the affected hindlimb.

A hip hike/drop can occur at corresponding phases of the stride, placing the sacroiliac joint under stress, resulting in paraspinal and asymmetrical gluteal tone/pain.

Decreased impulsion from the left hindlimb leads to increased weight bearing through the right forelimb diagonal. This can create tension and hypertrophy to the right pectoral muscles and related fascial planes.

The spiral of compensation could continue on further, affecting cervical muscles that become hypertonic as a result of weight shifting, digit shape and size, TMJ pain, head tiling, hyoid dysfunction, asymmetric tail holding...

Often it can be the case where I see a horse that is a chronic stage of compensation and it can be difficult to find the true cause especially when the horse may appear just overall “stiff”.

I liken the rehabilitation of chronic cases to peeling the layers off an onion; one layer at a time and piece by piece to unravel and rewind the compensation spiral. It is important to identify and manage the root cause, rather than just accepting it🐴

09/08/2024

Great podcast by some great colleagues. Take a listen 👇🏻

08/31/2024

Getting some learning in before the long weekend begins. Thanks to Onlinepethealth for a great line up

07/12/2024

Incredible to have these tools available to us. Thank you Dr Starmer

06/29/2024

Does your dog suffer from osteoarthritis?
Read on to learn how laser therapy can help!

Cold laser therapy, also known as low-level laser therapy (LLLT), has emerged as an amazing treatment option for osteoarthritis in dogs, offering several significant benefits.
One of the primary advantages of this non-invasive therapy is its ability to reduce pain and inflammation. The laser light penetrates deep into the tissues, promoting cellular repair and reducing the production of inflammatory mediators. This process leads to a decrease in pain and swelling, providing much-needed relief for dogs suffering from the chronic discomfort associated with osteoarthritis.

Another key benefit of cold laser therapy is its ability to enhance tissue repair and regeneration. The laser light stimulates the production of ATP (adenosine triphosphate), which is essential for cellular energy and repair processes. This stimulation accelerates the healing of damaged tissues, including cartilage, tendons, and ligaments. For dogs with osteoarthritis, this means improved joint function and mobility over time. As the damaged tissues heal and regenerate, dogs experience increased flexibility and a greater range of motion, contributing to a better quality of life.

Cold laser therapy is also a safe and well-tolerated treatment option for dogs, with minimal risk of side effects. Unlike pharmacological treatments that can cause adverse reactions or long-term complications, cold laser therapy is gentle and does not involve the use of drugs. This makes it an ideal option for dogs that may have sensitivities or contraindications to certain medications. Additionally, the non-invasive nature of the therapy means that it can be administered without anesthesia or extensive recovery periods, allowing for regular and consistent treatment sessions. This accessibility and ease of use make cold laser therapy a practical choice for managing osteoarthritis in dogs, enabling pet owners to provide ongoing care and support for their furry companions.

Has your dog received laser therapy at the vet or at home?
Leave a comment to tell us what the results were!

Want to learn more about laser therapy from an expert in the field?
Go to https://www.optimumpetvitality.com/

06/17/2024

Ontario will be experiencing a HEAT WAVE this week!

HEAT STRESS can affect any horse but particularly affects equine athletes.

The BEST way to COOL a horse with HEAT STRESS is with the continuous application of COLD water by hose or bucket.

Don't stop to SCRAPE.

COLD water will NOT cause a horse to tie-up!

Signs of HEAT STRESS in horses include:

• High re**al temperature (>40⁰C or 104⁰F)
• Rapid, shallow breathing with flared nostrils
• Unpredictable (sometimes aggressive) behaviour
• High heart rate
• Dark or “muddy” mucous membranes
• Colic due to ileus (intestines stop moving)
• Poor performance / slow recovery from exercise
• Sudden weakness / collapse
• Dark urine / reduced amounts of urine

If you suspect HEAT STRESS, immediately cool your horse and and contact your veterinarian.

05/30/2024

Scars! Since practicing NKT ( neurokinetic therapy) on humans these last few years I have discovered first hand how even the most seemingly superficial scars can impact the entire body. I have transferred this knowledge to my animal practice and take all scars seriously. Do you?

Just a superficial scar?

Below shows a partially torn hind extensor tendon that had adhered to the skin in its healing process. This mare had a previous fence injury that seemed to be very superficial and wouldn’t cause any issues but she developed gait abnormalities and a locking stifle afterwards.
She also had hock arthritis at just 5 from in my opinion compensation as she’d done relatively little,
Her findings will be available on patreon.

https://www.patreon.com/Becks_nairn

05/29/2024

Fascinating perspective especially when they slow it down

04/21/2024

03/28/2024

03/26/2024

We are pleased to present upcoming Continuing Education offerings!

All Continuing Education opportunities are available to applicants who have completed any animal chiropractic/veterinary spinal manipulative therapy program approved by the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association (AVCA), College of Animal Chiropractors (CoAC) and the International Veterinary Chiropractic Association (IVCA).

See the Continuing Education tab on our website (link in bio) for more information on each course, and how to register.

We look forward to seeing you this summer!

03/22/2024

🗓️2024/2025 Program Dates🗓️

Registration is open for our 2024/2025 Veterinary Chiropractic Learning Centre Program. Please note the cut-off date to register is Friday August 9th, so make sure to get your application in on time!

Veterinary and chiropractic students in their last year of study are also welcome to apply. Student seats are limited, so do not delay your registration!

For more information check link in bio ⬆️

We look forward to another great year of sharing the science and art of animal chiropractic/VSMT with you 👐

02/14/2024

Another great presentation by Online pet health, this time discussing Librela for dogs with Dr Mike Farrell

Here are my take aways

*Librela is a powerful pain medication that is cost-effective, easy to administer with “rare” side effects

*Librela acts by mopping up excess nerve growth factor which has several actions throughout the body. Its most important action with regards to this discussion here is that it reduces the sensation of pain

*Apparently the drug company is quite transparent about its research ( always good)

*There were stricter trial processes for the human studies and the drug was not accepted

*There were less strict trial processes for the animal studies and the drug was accepted/passed ( not my words)

*The biggest side effects were
-rapidly progressive osteoarthritis
-autonomic nerve system problems

*It was most helpful and intended for
-animals that cannot take NSAIDs
-animals who need more than NSAIDs
-animals with osteoarthritis

**because it is a powerful pain reducer, the animal will not feel as much pain which can be detrimental. Some pain is important feedback. Animals that cannot feel pain will use joints differently or ignore signals that they are pushing their joints past normal range

**The body needs nerve growth factor to maintain healthy nerve connections and to repair damaged nerves

***The last two points would make me cautious about using Librela on dogs with hip laxity, CCL injuries, DM, neuropathy or nerve issues.

It comes down to being informed and really communicating with your DVM and therapist. And as always, don’t forget lifestyle changes for your pet. Medication is great( and easiest) but it should work hand in hand with weight loss, controlled exercise and therapy