Fascia and Pelvic Diaphragm

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The pelvic floor is rarely the first place a dog owner or even a veterinarian looks when a dog develops incontinence, postural problems, or tail dysfunction. Yet the pelvic diaphragm — a complex musculo-fascial structure forming the caudal boundary of the pelvic cavity — plays a surprisingly central role in a wide range of canine health issues. In this richly detailed thesis, veterinary surgeon and osteopath Dr Chiara Adorini brings this underexplored region into sharp clinical focus. The thesis opens with a thorough comparative anatomy of the pelvic diaphragm across dogs, humans, and horses, revealing both the structural differences and the shared myofascial logic that makes osteopathic principles transferable across species. In dogs, the levator ani and coccygeus muscles — ensheathed in layers of deep pelvic fascia — form a continuous supportive network for the bladder, rectum, and reproductive organs, and contribute to continence, locomotion, and tail movement. Drawing on the osteopathic "five-diaphragm model," Adorini explains how tension or dysfunction in the pelvic diaphragm can cascade upward through the body, influencing breathing, spinal function, and organ health. She then catalogues the clinical dysfunctions that can arise — from perineal hernia and fecal incontinence to lumbosacral pain and post-surgical complications — and the contributing factors: aging, spay/neuter surgery, trauma, and postural imbalances. Crucially, the thesis outlines a practical toolkit of osteopathic manual techniques — including myofascial release, Osteopathic Articular Balancing, recoil technique, and acupressure integration — and how each can be adapted and applied to restore pelvic function in canine patients. For practitioners working in rehabilitation or integrative veterinary care, this thesis is a clinically valuable and anatomically precise guide.