Chiropractic Care

Chiropractic is a complementary, holistic approach to many health and performance conditions. The goals of chiropractic treatments are to maintain health by the treatment of neurological and musculoskeletal dysfunctions and their subsequent effects on the body.

• It focuses on optimizing communication throughout the nervous system and normalizing biomechanics.
• The doctor is a facilitator, working to restore the nervous system back to normal function.

Prior to chiropractic treatment, a history of the animal is obtained, identification of the primary veterinarian is noted, postural and gait analysis are visualized and the entire spine and limbs are examined to identify restricted movement in individual joints. Animal Chiropractors work with the primary veterinarian to integrate chiropractic and primary care.

Conditions Commonly Treated with Chiropractic Care

• Spinal trauma: Treatment only following prior X-Ray clarification
• Spondylosis
• Cauda Equina Syndrome
• Cervical Vertebra Syndrome
• Discopathy: following prior X-Ray clarification
• Lick Granuloma
• Existing Irreversible Changes – Creating Compensations
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Spondylosis
  • Arthrosis
• Sciatica Neuralgia
• Recurrent Anal Gland Infections
• Recurrent Ear Infections
• Incontinence
• Hyper and Hyposensitivity
• Unidentified Lameness
• Sporting Dogs
  • Removal of any restrictions help to optimize performance
• Geriatric Patients
• Seizures
• Post-Surgical Compensations
• Preventative treatments to maintain health and fitness

Possible Signs and Symptoms of a VSC

There are various symptoms of subluxations. The most common include pain, dysfunction, and abnormality in mobility or posture.

• Acute back and neck pain
• Limited Performance
• Reluctance to; move, climb stairs or jump onto raised areas
• Signs of pain when performaing certain movements of being lifted
• Undefined lameness, ambling or slow gait.
• Dripping urine or inability to hold
• Hunching of back
• Hypersensitivity to touch
• Lick granuloma on legs or paws
• Recurrent ear or anal gland infections
• Altered sitting position "puppy sitting"
• The animal only lies on one side
• Recurrent digestive trouble
• Low head carriage

The Adjustment

If a restriction or VSC is present, the functional misalignment will be adjusted restoring mobility to the joint. The vertebral joints are adjusted with the doctors hands or fingers by making an extremely quick and very precise thrust along the plane of the joints of the affected vertebrae.

Chiropractic care is a very specific and gentle treatment. The aim of the treatment is to correct the VSC's in the spine and joints to positively affect the nervous system. Unlike some other non-specific manipulation methods, chiropractic treatment does not overstretch ligaments: it works within the normal anatomical limits of the joint and it's supporting structures.

Most animals show visible improvement after one to four treatments. Acute problems often respond quickly to the therapy, while chronic problems can require more extensive treatments. Patients with chronic conditions (such as arthrosis, hip dysplasia or spondylitis), where restricted joint movement appears as a result of a disease, respond very well to regular supportive treatments every 2-6 months.