Small Animals

Acute causes

Slipping/falling/tripping when working or playing
Falling from car boot/stairs/apparatus
Landing awkwardly when jumping
Colliding with object/dog/person

Chronic causes

Conformational faults 
Pulling on the lead
Repetitive work 
Compensation for an injury/condition
Asymmetric muscle development

Signs of back pain

  • Reluctance to exercise
  • Sensitive or sore when being stroked/groomed
  • Yelping/crying out when getting up/down
  • Yelping/crying for no apparent reason
  • Stiffness after resting or exercise
  • Behavioural changes – e.g. lethargy, aggressiveness
  • Stopping jumping, including on and off furniture/in and out of cars
  • Difficulty going up and down stairs
  • Breaking sit/down stays
  • Always sitting with the hindquarters to the same side
  • Repetitively presenting back / hindquarters to be rubbed
  • Uneven stride / lameness, where alternative causes have been eliminated by a vet
PJ, an elderly guinea pig benefiting from gentle McTimoney treatment.

Reduce pain and tension