I know what you mean! I’m doing some basic daily massage, and some hind leg stretches and comparing his response to the previous day. It’s the little victories (he left his right foot down with the leg stretched forward for one minute today! 
) that keep hope alive.
The chiropractor did say his muscles weren’t as tight as she’d expect to see given the compensation strain the vet saw last week. She said the stretches and massage was helping. I always wonder if there’s any benefits beyond making me feel like I’m doing something. 
