Animal Chiropractic Care

Q. What is the definition of chiropractic?

Chiropractic is the philosophy, science and art of things natural… a system of adjusting the segments of the spine, by hand, only for the correction of the cause of disease.

"Chiropractic is a health care discipline which emphasizes the inherent recuperative power of the body to heal itself without the use of drugs or surgery. The practice of Chiropractic focuses on the relationship between structure (primarily the spine) and function (as coordinated by the nervous system) and how that relationship affects the preservation and restoration of health."

 

Q. How does chiropractic treatment work?

Chiropractic addresses disease from the perspective that disease results from an imbalance in the nervous system. Vertebral subluxations create imbalances in the nervous system that impede nervous energy flow to the tissues. The chiropractic adjustment corrects the subluxation, thereby removing this nervous interference. Chiropractic treatment promotes the return of the normal nervous energy flow to the tissues. The goal of a chiropractic adjustment is to decrease pain and muscle spasms in the area of the subluxated joints, as well as restore proper motion to the affected joint and stimulate neurological reflexes.

 

Q. What produces vertebral subluxations and what are the symptoms?

Vertebral subluxation is an aberrant motion of a joint that is less severe than a dislocation of the bones in the vertebral column. Subluxations are caused by trauma, toxins or stress—singly or in combination. The trauma could be an incident that one remembers–a fall or being hit by a car–or it could be a series of seemingly insignificant incidents–a jerk on a leash or a slightly off-balanced landing. A gait abnormality due to a problem in one leg can cause stress in other joints in the body. Conformation, posture problems, long toe nails can lead to subluxations anywhere in the dog's spine.

 

Q. Who is a candidate of Chiropractic care?

Chiropractic can be for any dog, young or old… It can be a therapy used alone or with other medical or surgical therapies. Most common indications are for patients with musculoskeletal problems, such as arthritis, disc disease, or soft tissue injuries. Chiropractic can also be used to treat patients with internal problems, such as gastrointestinal-constipation and immune system support. Chiropractic care can improve energy level, improve sports performance, and improve resistance to disease—this is known as wellness care.

 

Q. What are the symptoms in my dog for which chiropractic care may be a recommended therapy?

Decrease in level of performance, laziness (remember–the nervous system supplies the body with energy)

Loss of wind capacity (rib subluxation will affect the dog's ability to respire)

Problems or difficulty executing desired movements (climbing stairs, jumping on the couch, agility obstacles)

Behavioral changes (becomes snappish, refuses to play with family members)

Problems eating or refuses to play with toys

Short striding, uneven strides, nail dragging, or stumbling

Muscle imbalance, spasms or atrophy

Abnormal posture when standing, stands with hips uneven, chooses to stand on uneven ground, does not "square up" when urinating or holds tail to one side

Head shaking, constant ear problems or allergies

Injuries resulting from falls, training or other activities

Stressful situations, such as poor conformation of the dog, various training equipment, performance level and ability of the dog

Chronic disease conditions, multiple repetitive infections or weak immune systems

 

Q. How do you know if your dog's spine is healthy?

A doctor who is certified in animal chiropractic is best-qualified to make an evaluation.

 

Q. What are the qualifications of a veterinarian certified in animal chiropractic?

Training entails a minimum of 200 hours of study and having passed a certification examination. The doctor will have been trained in motion/static palpation, gait analysis and biomechanics, as well as specific adjusting techniques developed specifically for animals. The doctor will use his or her hands and not mallets, 2x4's or other equipment to adjust an animal. The doctor will also recognize pathology or abnormalities in an animal for which chiropractic care is contraindicated.