What is Chiropractic?

Chiropractic is a drug free approach to pet health care. It deals with keeping the nervous system healthy for the benefit of all body systems including the musculoskeletal system by allowing movement and proper functioning of the joints.

Chiropractic offers tremendous potential in animal health care.  It belongs in the health care spectrum along with medicine, surgery, acupuncture, homeopathy and other such modalities.  Chiropractic care does not pretend to encompass the entire study of health and disease, but it does offer alternative explanations for disease and provides complementary therapy.  The foundations of chiropractic philosophy are based on the intimate relationship of the spinal column to the nervous system, as well as the role of the spinal column in biomechanics and movement.

Chiropractic holds a holistic philosophy that stresses the integration of all the external and internal influences on the organism in the study of health and disease.  Holistic therapies are designed to intervene at the appropriate level and to work with, not against, the inborn homeostasis of the organism.  This differs from pure allopathic philosophy that treats symptoms, often separating and isolating those symptoms from the entire health paradigm of the patient.

Can chiropractic help your animal?

A back problem is almost always a secondary problem to a primary cause which is why it is absolutely essential to have a veterinary surgeon diagnose the primary problem and decide if chiropractic treatment is going to benefit the animal before referring to a chiropractor. If the primary cause goes untreated, the problem will keep reoccurring no matter how many times you seek chiropractic help.

Although many slight joint fixations resolve themselves through muscle activity, such as rolling, or normal spinal movements such as bending and stretching, some fixations can persist.

When this stage is reached some physical symptoms will probably be seen. This could range from subtle changes in the animal's performance to muscle spasm and soreness, stiffness, or lack of collection or impulsion or even a degree of inco-ordination. There may be nerve pain in long term cases and, where a nerve is being pinched there could be numbness or pins and needles.  It could even show itself as a behavioural problem such as a cold back, bucking, not wanting to "bend" on one rein or refusing fences.

When it gets to this stage then an external influence is required to restore normality.

What will a chiropractor do?

Having being referred by a vet, a chiropractor will already have some idea of what the problem is. However body tissues are living things and are constantly changing so a chiropractor will ask questions of both the owner and the rider (where the patient is a horse), and most probably carry out an examination which usually includes an analysis of both posture and gait.

Assessment of the animal may reveal asymmetries, such as unequal muscle size or tone between the left and right side which are not normal for that animal.

The chiropractor may then assess the range of movement of the animal's spine to see if it is even on both sides, as well as palpating the muscles around the spine to assess any muscle spasm, swelling or the presence of any hot or cold spots that will indicate an alteration in circulation.
The chiropractor will then look for uneven wear on hooves, shoes or claws, before watching the animal moving to assess whether there is any lameness, weakness, "hiking" of one hip, shortening of the stride, stumbling, inco-ordination or bizarre or restricted movement.

How does it work?

A  chiropractic adjustment is defined as a short lever, high velocity controlled thrust by hand  that is directed at specific articulations to correct vertebral subluxations.

A vertebral subluxation is defined as a spinal misalignment or joint dysfunction resulting in neurological and/or biomechanical dysfunction.

Animal chiropractic care also includes management advice as to what is needed to insure proper response to chiropractic care.  Animal chiropractic does not dispense medications, perform surgery, inject medication or attempt to replace necessary traditional veterinary care.

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