Harmony Canine Therapy

25/11/2025

Tongue to tail #7 - the neck part three, the Nuchal ligament

Did you know dogs like horses and humans, possess nuchal ligaments. However, a key structural difference lies in their attachment points: a dog's nuchal ligament connects to the neck vertebrae, whereas a horse's and humans attaches to the head. This distinction grants dogs significantly more head flexibility, for example, enabling them to self-groom.

However, as always, flexibility creates greater instability!

Keep following for further fascinating insights into your dogs’ body.

24/11/2025

Tongue to tail #7 part 2, did you know even minor injuries such as a collision during play can have a big impact on the neck?

Your dog's neck musculature is fundamental to their overall mobility and can be surprisingly vulnerable to injury.
Even minor incidents, such as a collision with another dog, can cause whiplash-type injuries, which will impact their whole body. Recognising and promptly addressing these accidents is crucial to preventing long-term health complications.

If you have any concerns about your dog's myofascial health, have a look at our Distance Support Programme:

https://www.galenmyotherapy.com/dsp

23/11/2025

Tongue to tail #7 there are a few parts to the neck so stay tuned for further parts to #7!

On our Tongue to Tail journey we are going to look at a dog’s neck!
Gosh, where do we start?!
The neck is such a vitally important structure which is responsible for initiating all movements. This means any restrictions in this region will inhibit a dogs' movement.
Keep following as we explore more about this region of the dog!

22/11/2025

Tongue to tail #6

Next in our "Tongue to Tail" series: your dog's chin!

Did you know that if your dog scratches their chin, it could indicate fascial tension along their ventral line (which is underneath their body)?
So don’t forget to mention this to your Myotherapist.
Fascia is definitely fascinating!

20/11/2025

Tongue to tail #5 - Eyes

Next in our Tongue to Tail series: The Eyes

While we don't physically treat a dog's eyes, their appearance can reveal a great deal about their comfort level.

The good news is that as a dog's comfort improves, you'll often see a positive change in their eyes and as the saying goes “the eyes are the window to the soul".

Let’s see your dog's souls…..

19/11/2025

Tongue to tail #4 - the ears

Ears: A Key in Our Tongue to Tail Assessment

When your dog first meets a Galen Myotherapist, a key part of their assessment will be looking at posture and symmetry. This "Tongue to Tail" approach includes looking at the ears, to see if the left and right are symmetrical in height.

This is just one of the many postural assessments we conduct.

In the meantime, we'd love to see photos of your dog's ears! Floppy, perfectly pointed, extra large, or extra flappy – let’s see them!

To learn more about Galen Myotherapy, check out our YouTube channel "Paws and Learn".

17/11/2025

Tongue to tail #3 - The masseter muscles

Continuing our 'Tongue to Tail' series, we're now focusing on the masseter muscles!

"The what?" we hear you ask!

These muscles, located in your dog's cheeks, are responsible for chewing and mastication. However, like any muscle, they can become overworked. This often happens when a dog over-recruits muscles during movement. Similar to humans clenching their jaw for extra effort, dogs can exhibit the same behaviour.

During a Galen Myotherapy treatment, your therapist may work on these muscles, and you might observe your dog visibly relax as they do.

Why not train to become a Galen Myotherapist 👉https://www.galenmyotherapy.com/courses

16/11/2025

Tongue to tail #2

Next in our Tongue to Tail series is the Tongue!

Did you know that a dog uses their tongue for balance?

The tongue is suspended from the hyoid apparatus and if this is damaged, it can affect your dog's balance and also cause neck pain.

Something as seemingly insignificant as face planting or running into an object can lead to this type of injury,

If you’re worried about your dog, you can either find a therapist here: https://www.galenmyotherapy.com/team
Or use our Distance Support Programme: https://www.galenmyotherapy.com/dsp

14/11/2025

Have you been following the Galen Myotherapy Tongue to Tail series?

As Galen Myotherapists, there are excellent reasons to analyse and assess canine anatomical structures. We're excited to share our ‘Tongue to Tail’ anatomy journey of a dog with you.

To begin, we'll explore the dog's head, starting with that cute and irresistible schnozz—the nose!

Before we dive into all the fun facts, we'd love to see photos of your dog's nose and yes, we do love a close up!!

24/10/2025

Apologies about the silence over the summer, I had scaled back a bit due to other commitments. But I do now have some limited availability for new clients.
So if you’re interested in Galen myotherapy treatment for your dog, please do get in touch.