What is a roach back?

A dog with roach back has an arch in the vertebrae around the loin area. The vertebrae curves upwards so it appears there is a small hump.

What causes a roach back in dogs?

Conformation

Roaching could simply be the way the dog’s skeletal structure is constructed. A dog’s conformation is genetic and therefore cannot be altered.

Posture

A roach back could be as a result of the way the dog holds themselves. A dog’s posture sometimes reflects the way the dog is feeling about the situation or environment. It could be a fear response or that the dog is cold.

The dog’s gait and posture can alter depending on the type of surface on which they are walking. (see http://www.fullstride.com.au/blog/are-slippery-floors-safe-for-dogs )

Posture can also be as result of the dog guarding an area of their body from further pain.

Soft tissue

Roach back may also be caused by soft tissue injury.

When muscles contract, the insertion point of the muscle (where the muscle attaches to the bone) moves toward the origin point resulting in the muscle shortening. When a muscle contracts, the bones to which they are attached move closer together. As muscles relax they lengthen. Tense or injured muscles however remain contracted and shortened so the bones to which they are attached remain closer together.

When the muscles in the back are tense and contracted, the vertebrae to which they attach remain closer together which gives an arched appearance to the back.

Muscle tension in the back can be caused by:

• Strain or overworking the back and abdominal muscles from strenuous walking, pulling on lead, training, hard galloping particularly on uneven ground and when the dog needs to manoeuvre around obstacles or jumping.

• Strain from abnormal loading on the back muscles from a weakness in another part of the body. For instance if the dog has a sore leg, then their gait will be uneven which may strain the muscles in the back.

• Physical blow or bump such as the dog falling, slipping or colliding with a person, dog or object.

How to treat a dog with a roach back?

Seek a diagnosis

In the first instance, seek a diagnosis from your vet. They will determine if the roaching is due to conformation, soft tissue injury or a symptom of another condition.

Posture

If the roaching is due to the way a dog is feeling in a particular situation, then address your dog’s feelings with gentle and consistent de-sensitisation.

Where the dog’s posture is due to environmental conditions such as floor surface or temperature, then address these conditions to see your dog’s posture return to normal.

Soft tissue

When the diagnosis is a soft tissue injury, then seek out a SAENA certified myofunctional (massage) therapist to help identify the source of the tension and treat it appropriately.

Full Stride provides canine massage treatments to reduce muscle tension, please contact me to discuss how massage can assist your dog.

Until next time, enjoy your dogs.