AKC Veterinary Ltd - Acupuncture and Chiropractic

20/05/2026

17/05/2026

16/05/2026

Just look at the fantastic results from our recent Canine Conditioning Course! 🐾

We had so much fun while achieving some amazing progress with all of our dogs. The course included a wonderful mix of dogs aged from 7 months to 9 years old, each with their own individual needs and abilities.

Some dogs came with a few musculoskeletal challenges, which we were able to identify and tailor exercises around to best support them throughout the course. It was fantastic to see every dog grow in confidence, strength and body awareness.

If you’d like to put your name down for the next course, please send me a PM.

It’s great fun, incredibly rewarding, and so beneficial for your dog! 🐶💪

12/05/2026

Looking for a client:

Amazing home awaits.

WANTED - a companion/nanny pony to look after two dressage horses and live in luxury, at quiet private home near Horsham, West Sussex.

Preferably gelding but open to mares (no colts!)

13.2hh and under - medical conditions may be considered, but no laminitis record (we have good grazing!)

MUST be able to be left alone for short periods of time, whilst others are out training/competing.

Good to handle, farrier and basic manners are a must

Loan or may offer a nominal price for the right pony

12/05/2026

Fab post shared from East Midlands Clinical Canine Massage & Rehab

🐾 Nail Length & Its Impact on Canine Biomechanics

Have you checked your dog’s nails recently?

Long nails do more than just click on the floor—they can significantly influence your dog’s posture, movement, and overall musculoskeletal health.

When nails are left untrimmed, they don’t just affect the paw—they can impact the entire kinetic chain.

Why Nail Length Matters

🟢 Alters Joint Angulation & Posture

Overgrown nails force the toe pads upward and backward (caudally), shifting weight proximally within the limb.

This disrupts normal limb loading and can lead to:

* Postural adaptations
* Altered joint alignment
* Compensatory movement patterns

📖 Reference: Zink & Van D**e (2013), Canine Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation

🟢 Impacts Gait & Reduces Stability

If nails contact the ground during stance, they can:

* Cause toe splaying
* Reduce effective ground contact
* Compromise traction

This may increase the risk of:

* Slipping
* Soft tissue strain (tendons/ligaments)
* Secondary compensatory issues

📖 References: Touch Animal Rehabilitation (2020); Canine Body Balance (2021)

🟢 Increases Musculoskeletal Load

Chronic postural change can contribute to:

* Myofascial tension
* Uneven joint loading
* Increased risk of conditions like Osteoarthritis in dogs

Particularly relevant in:

* Senior dogs
* Sporting/working dogs
* Orthopaedic cases

📖 Reference: Veterinary Clinics of North America (2020)

✅ Quick Nail Check

Ask yourself:

✔️ Do the nails touch the ground when your dog is standing?
✔️ Can you hear them tapping on hard flooring?

If yes—it’s time for a trim.

🟢 Clinical Insight

Nail length is often overlooked, yet it’s one of the simplest modifiable factors affecting biomechanics.

In practice, I frequently see improvements in:

* Postural alignment
* Limb loading symmetry
* Movement quality

…simply by addressing nail length alongside soft tissue work.

🟢 When to Seek Help

If your dog:

* Is reluctant to walk on certain surfaces
* Slips frequently
* Shows subtle gait changes
* Dislikes nail trimming

Support from a qualified professional (groomer, vet, or therapist) can make a significant difference.

🔍 Learn More

• Canine Body Balance Blog
https://caninebodybalance.com.au/journal/canine-nail-length-and-the-effects-on-biomechanics

29/04/2026

With the end of the month approaching please make sure you have settled any outstanding invoices. Normally everyone is great so I'm not sure if it's the change over to the App thats meaning people aren't seeing them but reminders will be sent out every 5 days.

Thanks

This is what Harper thinks about paperwork.

24/04/2026

☀️ Summer is finally on the way! ☀️

With the sunshine making an appearance, diaries are filling up fast! I’m currently booking at least a month in advance, so please make sure you get your maintenance appointments scheduled early to avoid missing out.

I will always do my best to accommodate emergencies, so don’t hesitate to get in touch and I’ll try to see you as soon as possible.

📅 Important notice:
I will be closed from 7th–15th May for a medical procedure and recovery. I’ll still be able to respond to messages, but replies may be slower than usual. All messages will be caught up on my return from 18th May.

If you’ve messaged me and haven’t had a reply, please do send me another message — I’ve tried to get back to everyone but may have missed a few. Apologies if so!

🐾 Limited availability:
• 30th April: 2–4pm (dog – at mine in Merstham)
• 6th May: 3:30pm (dog – at mine)
• 27th May: from 2pm (dog or horse)
• 28th May: 8:30–11am (dog – at mine)

📖 June is already filling up, especially for mobile visits, so please get in touch soon to secure your slot.

💛 Thank you all so much for your continued support — it truly means the world and allows me to keep doing what I love every day.

06/04/2026

Love getting feedback like this:

'ANNIKA! I have my forward spicy pony back!! 🥳 🙌🏻 🎉'

So pleased this chap is feeling so much better after some adjustments and acupuncture.

05/04/2026

Happy Easter everyone. Hope you all have a lovely day. Harper says chocolate and hot cross buns are for hoomans only, so doggos be careful!!!!

30/03/2026

🐰🐰🐰🐰Has the Easter Bunny visited you yet this weekend?🐰🐰🐰

While on the bunny theme, it's a good time to revisit the oft cited myth that rabbit ears are effective (de)wormers......

TLDR; they aren't 🫣

🐇👂'Ear, 'ear 👂🐇

Can I whisper something to you? 🤫

*hairy ears (or other hairy body parts of animals) are not effective de-wormers for your dog* 🙈

I see this being advertised and advised a lot and it worries me as parasitic worms are capable of causing significant health and welfare issues if not appropriately managed - and feeding hairy ears are not appropriate management methods! 🐰

If furry things were effective dewormers, wild and free-living scavengers and carnivores would not have the parasite burdens we know they can have 🦊🦝🦡🦅

What these chews are however, are tasty (for some dogs) additions to our dogs' daily diet and can provide enrichment and a source of animal-derived fibre that may support gut health. Their effectiveness at 'trapping' worms and microscopic worm eggs in the gut....no robust evidence at all 🪱🔬

(And honestly.... just because you never see worms or eggs, that doesn't mean they aren't there!)🫣

If you want to control parasites;
🪱poo pick regularly and keep housing areas clean - many parasites are transmitted in 💩

🪱ensure good overall health for your dog through diet, exercise, management and care

🪱use a service to know what is ACTUALLY going on

🪱treat based on need and seek veterinary advice on local issues relating to management, parasite species concerns and possible resistance problems - these differ based on geographical location, climate, vector species and a whole host of other variables!

Keep hairy ears as tasty treats (but also source carefully....remember these are by-products of animal production systems and not all are as high welfare as we might like to think 🐰)

And if you want to learn about dietary animal-derived fibre, have a look at

Depauw S, Hesta M, Whitehouse-Tedd K, Vanhaecke L, Verbrugghe A, Janssens GP. Animal fibre: the forgotten nutrient in strict carnivores? First insights in the cheetah. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl). 2013 Feb;97(1):146-54. doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0396.2011.01252.x. Epub 2011 Nov 10. PMID: 22074361. 🐆