London College of Animal Osteopathy - LCAO

Weekly Palpation Challenge: Canine Cervical Epaxial Muscles

The cervical epaxial musculature does far more work than it ever gets credit for! From stabilizing the spine to supporting the weight of the head, these deep neck muscles are the unsung heroes of your dog’s everyday movement.This week, we are learning how to listen to them. 🐾

👉 Swipe through all 4 slides for your challenge!

We are keeping it purely static this week to focus on building your "muscle memory" and prioritizing safety. No stretching, no forced movement—just pure connection and listening through your fingertips. Once you have completed your assessment, come back to this post and let us know:

What did you notice? Did your dog react to your touch?

Remember: Reactions are information. Whether they leaned into your hands, twitched a muscle, or gave you a quick look—it all tells a story.Share your findings below! 👇

The latest The Animal Osteo Podcast has dropped and it's a good one!

Prof. Stuart McGregor is back! One not to be missed!

An insightful and engaging discussion exploring all things animal osteopathy between Chris Bates and LCAO Director of Clinical Studies, Prof. Stuart McGregor.

Listen on Spotify here 👉https://open.spotify.com/episode/2QLD0J8T6WcIukVvYVGDBI?si=tADDQbz2QUWgBd4DPOjS1Q

Also on Apple Podcasts.

Latest LCAO Blog - Beating Burnout as an Animal Therapist

You can love your work and still burn out.

Animal therapists often juggle physical work, emotional investment, travel, self-employment, administration, and client care—all while trying to provide the best possible service.

Protecting your energy isn't selfish. It's part of building a career that's effective, sustainable, and rewarding for years to come.

Read the full blog 👇

Drop a 🐾🐴 in the comments if this is something you've faced and share how you manage this in your work.

Some decisions change everything.

This summer 😎 , we've made it a little easier to take that first step — a summer discount is available for new enrolments across our International Diploma programmes in Equine, Canine, and Animal Osteopathy.

The Diploma gives you the clinical depth, the credentials, and the professional standing to practise at the highest level.

Find out more — the discount details, entry requirements, and everything you need to know about the programme are all in the prospectus.

📎 Find the prospectus in the comments below.
✉️ Ready to apply? Email us at [email protected]

30- minutes study routine

Before you've touched the horse, gait is already telling you something. 30 focused minutes on equine biomechanics.

The pelvic diaphragm doesn't get much attention — until something goes wrong.
Incontinence. Lumbosacral pain. Tail dysfunction. All of these can trace back to one overlooked musculo-fascial structure: the pelvic diaphragm.

In her thesis, vet and osteopath Dr Chiara Adorini maps the comparative anatomy of the pelvic diaphragm across dogs, humans, and horses, then applies the osteopathic five-diaphragm model to show how tension here can ripple upward through breathing, spinal function, and organ health.

From perineal hernia to post-surgical complications, she covers the clinical picture in detail — and the manual toolkit to address it, including myofascial release, OAB, recoil technique, and acupressure integration.

Have you seen pelvic floor dysfunction show up in your canine patients or pets? Let us know in the comments 👇

A clinically precise, practically useful read for anyone working in canine rehab or integrative care.

🔗 Link in bio and highlights to read the full thesis.

Anatomy Micro-Break

Where have you found an unexpected fascial connection in a patient?

Fascia connects everything.

In animals, it's just as clinically relevant as it is in humans.

Fascia isn't background anatomy. In horses and dogs, it's a clinically active system — and understanding its continuity changes how you read the whole patient.

The Animal Osteo, latest podcast episode 👇🏼

🎧 The latest episode is now available.
https://open.spotify.com/episode/6auQ88w7phtC1LawPZyfRU?si=l4hbA8z6Skq0VhScafFtlQ

Most people see the treatment room.

They don't see the admin, bookkeeping, marketing, client communication, scheduling, continued education, and countless other tasks that come with running a practice.

Building an animal osteopathy business requires more than clinical skills alone.

In this episode of The Animal Osteo podcast, we discuss the realities of running a practice, the challenges practitioners face, and the skills that help turn professional training into a sustainable business.

A useful listen for students, new graduates, and experienced practitioners alike.

Meet Rachel Pechek. Animal osteopath, active researcher, and the compassionate force behind LCAO's pre-clinical studies. Since joining the college in 2021, she has guided hundreds of students in animal osteopathic care — all while running an active equine and canine practice in Canada. An introduction to one of LCAO's most dedicated educators. ➡