Chiropractic

What is Animal Chiropractic?

  • Animal Chiropractic is a branch of animal health care that specializes in the proper functioning and health of the spinal column and entire neuro-musculo-skeletal system (a complex structure composed of bones, ligaments, muscles, nerves, blood vessels, and lymphatics that provides a framework of support, protection of the central nervous system, and protection of internal organs). This is done by focusing on how the joints of the spine and extremities move and how these movements are related to a pet’s overall health and wellness. Why? Because nerves control everything that happens in animals, Anything adversely affecting the nervous system (such as restricted movement), pets can experience repetitive stress injuries and sprains which will have detrimental effects that will resonate throughout the eritire body, By removing neurologic communication barriers, we can restore the body to normal function and preserve overall health. Broader benefits include superior immune function, healthier metabolism, and a vibrant nervous system, facilitating your animal’s natural ability to heal.
  • Animal Chiropractic offers non-surgical, drug-free options for correcting bone, disc, and soft-tissue disorders related to improper spinal configuration and movement.

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When is Chiropractic Care For Animals Used?

DOG SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS THAT CAN BENEFIT FROM CHIROPRACTIC CARE:

  • Pain, yelping, biting after sudden movements or when being touched, or lifted
  • Reluctance or difficulty when climbing stairs or jumping
  • Difficulty when getting up or lying down
  • Slower to get around
  • Not as interested in playing or performing other routine tasks
  • Negative changes In attitude or behavior (often this is due to pain)
  • Altered sitting (“Puppy Sitting’) and altered stance, such as a hunched back
  • Changes in eating or eliminating

  • Constanily licking or chewing paws/legs
  • Lameness/Limping or changes in gait or weakness
  • Muscle spasms
  • Lying on one side
  • Chronic Gl issues (vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, etc)
  • Urinary Incontinence
  • Neurologic Conditions, including seizures

When is Chiropractic Care For Animals Used?

DOG SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS THAT CAN BENEFIT FROM CHIROPRACTIC CARE:

  • Pain, yelping, biting after sudden movements or when being touched, or lifted
  • Reluctance or difficulty when climbing stairs or jumping
  • Difficulty when getting up or lying down
  • Slower to get around
  • Not as interested in playing or performing other routine tasks
  • Negative changes In attitude or behavior (often this is due to pain)
  • Altered sitting (“Puppy Sitting’) and altered stance, such as a hunched back
  • Changes in eating or eliminating
  • Constanily licking or chewing paws/legs
  • Lameness/Limping or changes in gait or weakness
  • Muscle spasms
  • Lying on one side
  • Chronic Gl issues (vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, etc)
  • Urinary Incontinence
  • Neurologic Conditions, including seizures

Chiropractic can also assist dogs suffering from a range of issues, including:

  • Recovery after a fall, injury, or surgery (especially orthopedic surgery)
  • Improving gait and range of motion for senior dogs, therefore reducing pain
  • Jaw problems or difficulty chewing (TMJ)
  • Getting in and out of the car
  • Bowel or bladder issues
  • Behavioral problems that might be tied to underlying medical conditions (including aggression)
  • Easing the birthing process for pregnant dogs

Disclaimer:-
It should be emphasized that this list is a basic overview, and does not cover every sign and symptom an animal may exhibit. The purpose is to highlight the most commonly seen signs and symptoms in the hope of offering guidelines to help the pet owner to recognize potential disorders. This is in no way an attempt to diagnose and/or treat any specific disease or condition. If a pet is demonstrating any unusual symptoms or behaviors, the owner should consult their animal’s veterinarian without delay.

Cat Signs and Symptoms that can benefit from Chiropractic Care:

  • Obvious pain or discomfort
  • Difficulty jumping, reluctance to jump or climb stairs, cries when being picked up
  • Not grooming as well (fur more matted), especially araund the hind end
  • Loss of appetite
  • Increased thirst (often a sign of diabetes)
  • Unexplained changes in weight
  • Bad breath
  • Chronic diarrhea, vomiting, or changes in litter contents

  • Urinating or defecating outside the box (usually a sign of hip pain)
  • Constipation, chronic UTis
  • Neurologic conditions, including seizures
  • Discharge from the eyes and/or nose (common sign of upper respiratory infection)
  • Lumps or lesions evident to touch or sight
  • Finally, cats tend to hide if injured or ill. If your cat has suddenly gone into hiding, it’s generally a sign that something is amiss.

Cat Signs and Symptoms that can benefit from Chiropractic Care:

  • Obvious pain or discomfort
  • Difficulty jumping, reluctance to jump or climb stairs, cries when being picked up
  • Not grooming as well (fur more matted), especially araund the hind end
  • Loss of appetite
  • Increased thirst (often a sign of diabetes)
  • Unexplained changes in weight
  • Bad breath
  • Chronic diarrhea, vomiting, or changes in litter contents

  • Urinating or defecating outside the box (usually a sign of hip pain)
  • Constipation, chronic UTis
  • Neurologic conditions, including seizures
  • Discharge from the eyes and/or nose (common sign of upper respiratory infection)
  • Lumps or lesions evident to touch or sight
  • Finally, cats tend to hide if injured or ill. If your cat has suddenly gone into hiding, it’s generally a sign that something is amiss.

  • Urinating or defecating outside the box (usually a sign of hip pain)
  • Constipation, chronic UTis
  • Neurologic conditions, including seizures
  • Discharge from the eyes and/or nose (common sign of upper respiratory infection)
  • Lumps or lesions evident to touch or sight
  • Finally, cats tend to hide if injured or ill. If your cat has suddenly gone into hiding, it’s generally a sign that something is amiss.
  • Obvious pain or discomfort
  • Difficulty jumping, reluctance to jump or climb stairs, cries when being picked up
  • Not grooming as well (fur more matted), especially araund the hind end
  • Loss of appetite
  • Increased thirst (often a sign of diabetes)
  • Unexplained changes in weight
  • Bad breath
  • Chronic diarrhea, vomiting, or changes in litter contents

Chiropractic can also assist cats suffering from a range of issues, including:

  • Recovery after a fall, injury, or surgery (especially orthopedic surgery)
  • Improving gait and range of motion for senior cats, therefore reducing pain
  • Improving the cat’s grooming ability, resulting in less matting and healthier coat
  • Jaw problems or difficulty chewing (TMJ)
  • Getting in and out of the car
  • Bowel or bladder issues
  • Behavioral problems that might be tied to underlying medical conditions (including aggression)
  • Easing the birthing process for pregnant cats

Disclaimer:-
It should be emphasized that this list ts a basic overview, and does not cover every sign and symptom an animal may exhibit. The purpose is to highlight the most commonly seen signs and symptoms in the hope of offering guidelines to help the pet owner to recognize potential disorders. This is in no way an attempt to diagnose and/or treat any specific disease or condition. If a pet is demonstrating any unusual symptoms or behaviors, the owner should consult their animal’s veterinarian without delay.

History of Animal Chiropractic:

  • Early 1900’s – 1930’s – The Palmer School of Chiropractic maintained a veterinary hospital where they could adjust the vertebral subluxations of sick animals as well as offering a Doctor of Chiropractic-Veterinary Degree.
  • 1986 – First Animal Chiropractic Conference was held at Life University in Georgia
  • 1987 – Dr. Sharon Willoughby starts and becomes Director of the Options for Animals Foundation “to provide educational material for the animal chiropractor so that the health of animals everywhere
    can be improved
  • 1987 – On August 1, Dr. Willoughby holds the first day-long Modern Equine Chiropractic Workshop at Los Angeles College of Chiropractic.
  • 1989 – The American Veterinary Chiropractic Association (AVCA) was formed. Dr. Willoughby was chosen as President and charged with developing an educational animal chiropractic program for chiropractors and veterinarians

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FAQs

Animal Chiropractic Is NOT:
  • The use of Hammers or Mallets to treat animals.
  • Using an Instrument to unscientifically click up and down the animal’s back without examining each
    individual joint of the animal’s spine and extremities for abnormal or restricted movement.
  • An Animal Chiropractor does not “move” or treat a 900 – 1200-pound horse. He or she treats individual motion units of the horse, one at a time, each weighing no more than 30 – 40 pounds. Non- chiropractic animal manipulators are the ones that try to treat large areas of the horse at one time.
Common Sayings and Misconceptions About Animal Chiropractic Are:
  • Animal Chiropractors Treat Bones That are “Out of Place”. The truth; Chiropractors are distinctive in that they treat joints that are not moving correctly, but the examination and treatment of these joints always remains within the normal range of motion. Some manipulative techniques do work with bones out of place, or Juxated, but the trained animal chiropractor refers these patients to their veterinarian for proper care.
  • Animal Chiropractors “Crack Backs”. The truth; The noise you might hear during a chiropractic treatment, especially in humans, is called cavitation. Joints are surrounded by a very strong tissue and the joint space is filled with fluid for lubrication. If separated slightly, as in a chiropractic treatment, some of the fluid may change to gas creating a “pop”. This does not always happen, and is NO indication as to the effectiveness of a treatment. Cavitation is rare when treating animals as their physiology is different than humans.

Simply put animal chiropractors look for abnormal or restricted movement of the joints of the spine and extremities which have an effect on the nervous system and the entire body. The goal of the animal chiropractor is to restore proper movement of the affected joints so the nervous system and body can function at its maximum healthy potential.

The first visit takes approximately 20 to 30 minutes. Then any follow up visits take approximately 15 to 20 minutes.

Sometimes after the adjustment the animal can be sore. If performed correctly and with proper training chiropractic is safe and effective tn treating your animal.

Although chiropractic may be a safe and effective way to treat numerous disorders, it has to be done correctly by someone who fs trained and certified. This is because chiropractic involves physically manipulating the spine or other parts of the musculoskeletal system. If this procedure is done incorrectly or with too much force, it can cause pain or irreversible damage to your pet.

Not typically. Sometimes during an adjustment, the animal can experience discomfort for a brief moment which quickly fades.

Generally, the animal should have the remainder of the day to rest. Each animal is evaluated on an individual basis and the doctor will provide you with the best course of action that is right for your animals.

  • An Animal Chiropractor is a licensed chiropractor or a licensed veterinarian that has successfully completed post-graduate education at one of the basic animal chiropractic courses mentioned below.
  • Animal Chiropractic is the application of the combination of chiropractic and veterinary knowledge and skills as taught in a basic animal chiropractic course at a school that has been approved by the international Veterinary Chiropractic Association (IVCA) and/or the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association (AVCA). Those schools are Options for Animals, Healing Oasis, A.C.E.S, Health Pioneers Institute, and Parker Chiropractic College. These courses have curricula that has been written and drafted by chiropractors that have graduated from either the Council on Chiropractic Education, or one of the accredited chiropractic colleges, and veterinarians that have graduated from an AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association) accredited veterinary college.
  • After graduating from the animal chiropractic college, the doctor can then choose (required for Chiropractors, optional for veterinarians) to be certified either by the AVCA (American Veterinary Chiropractic Association) or the IVCA (International Veterinary Chiropractic Association). There is NO Board certification in animal Chiropractic,

Basically, chiropractic care is a manual methed of treatment. The word “Chiropractic” comes from the Greek
meaning “To perform with the hands”. Adjusting an animal is somewhat similar to being adjusted by a human
chiropractor tn that once the animal chiropractor finds an area that has either decreased or restricted motion
the doctor applies a high force low amplitude thrust specific to the anatomy of the joint thereby restoring
normal movement.