HOW CAN MY DOG BENEFIT FROM CHIROPRACTIC CARE?

Chiropractic care offers a natural, drug-free adjunct to your dog's total health care. In conjunction with regular veterinary care, chiropractic care can decrease pain, and add quality to your dog's performance, movement, and well being. Chiropractic care addresses problems stemming from imbalances in the following three systems:

THE SKELETAL SYSTEM AND JOINTS OF THE BODY: Bones and joints form a flexible structure and capable of pain free movement when in normal health and alignment.

THE MUSCULAR SYSTEM: Healthy muscles allow the joints to move freely. Healthy muscles are free of spasm, weakness, pain, knots, or degeneration.

THE NERVOUS SYSTEM: Nerves "direct" the functions of the body controlling the flow of communication between the brain and all areas of the body. When nerves are pinched, reduced performance levels and pain may result. This can eventually lead to a state of poor health.

WHAT KINDS OF PROBLEMS RESPOND TO CHIROPRACTIC TREATMENT, HOW MANY ADJUSTMENTS WILL BE NEEDED, AND WILL IT HURT MY DOG?

Chiropractic care is extremely helpful for animals having problems involving the joints, muscles and nerves. This is because chiropractic addresses the mechanical causes of disease where the nerves are pinched by a stuck or rotated joint or by a tight muscle. This is called " A SUBLUXATION OR MISALIGNMENT".

Two adjustments are usually performed initially. The dog is then monitored for changes to see if there is any measurable improvement. If none is present, your veterinarian is called in to perform further diagnostic work. If your dog has noticeably improved, a future adjustment schedule is determined based on the type and severity of your dog's condition. This range is usually 4 to 6 weeks between adjustments unless the condition is chronic or severe and requires more frequent visits.

Chiropractors treat subluxations by gently adjusting the misaligned area into alignment. In most cases this restores proper skeletal movement, muscle and nerve function. My adjustments are LOW FORCE and GENTLE, the equivalent of an adjustment for a human infant. Most dogs noticeably enjoy their adjustment.

SOME CONDITIONS WHICH MAY RESPOND TO CHIROPRACTIC TREATMENT:

• BACK, NECK , LEG, OR TAIL PAIN
• INJURIES RESULTING FROM SLIPS, FALLS OR ACCIDENTS.
• PERFORMANCE OR MOVEMENT PROBLEMS.
• SUDDEN CHANGES IN BEHAVIOR OR PERSONALITY SUCH AS CRABBINESS, LETHARGY, JUST NOT HIM -OR HERSELF.
• HOLDING TAIL DOWN OR OFF TO ONE SIDE.
• PAIN SYNDROMES.
• CHANGES IN POSTURE SUCH AS: HANGING THE HEAD, OR SITTING OFF TO ONE SIDE.
• UNEVEN MUSCLE DEVELOPMENT.
• JAW OR TMJ PROBLEMS, DIFFICULTY CHEWING.
• WEIGHT LOSS DUE TO PAIN.
• HEAD TILT.
• CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME.
• UNEVEN PELVIS OR HIPS.
• A LOOK OF APPREHENSION OR PAIN IN THE FACIAL EXPRESSION.
• NECK PAIN FROM SUDDEN COLLAR OR CHOKE CHAIN PULLS.
• DISC PROBLEMS.
• JUMPING PROBLEMS OR INJURIES.
• SHORTENING OF A STRIDE.
• DEGENERATIVE ARTHRITIS.
• SCIATIC NEURALGIA.
• SPORTS INJURIES.
• SENSITIVITY TO TOUCH.
• PAIN ASSOCIATED WITH HIP DYSPLASIA.
• REAR END WEAKNESS.
• DIFFICULTY GOING UP OR DOWN STAIRS.
• WOBBLERS SYNDROME.
• GENERAL PREVENTIVE AND MAINTENANCE CARE.
• SOME LAMENESS SYNDROMES.

HOW CAN MY CAT BENEFIT FROM CHIROPRACTIC CARE?

Chiropractic care offers a natural, drug-free adjunct to your cat's total health care. In conjunction with regular veterinary care, chiropractic care can decrease pain, and add quality to your cat's performance, movement, and well being.

Chiropractic care addresses problems stemming from imbalances in the following three systems:

THE SKELETAL SYSTEM AND JOINTS OF THE BODY: Bones and joints form a flexible structure and capable of pain free movement when in normal health and alignment.

THE MUSCULAR SYSTEM: Healthy muscles allow the joints to move freely. Healthy muscles are free of spasm, weakness, pain, knots, or degeneration.

THE NERVOUS SYSTEM: Nerves "direct" the functions of the body controlling the flow of communication between the brain and all areas of the body. When nerves are pinched, reduced performance levels and pain may result. This can eventually lead to a state of poor health.

WHAT KINDS OF PROBLEMS RESPOND TO CHIROPRACTIC TREATMENT, HOW MANY ADJUSTMENTS WILL BE NEEDED, AND WILL IT HURT MY
CAT ?

Chiropractic care is extremely helpful for animals having problems involving the joints, muscles and nerves. This is because chiropractic addresses the mechanical causes of disease where the nerves are pinched by a stuck or rotated joint or by a tight muscle. This is called " A SUBLUXATION OR MISALIGNMENT". Two adjustments are usually performed initially. Your cat is then monitored for changes to see if there is any measurable improvement. If none is present, your veterinarian is called in to perform further diagnostic work. If your cat is noticeably improved, a future adjustment schedule is determined based on the type and severity of your cat's condition. This range is usually 1 to 6 weeks between adjustments. Chiropractors treat subluxations by gently adjusting the misaligned area into alignment. In most cases this restores proper skeletal movement, muscle and nerve function. My adjustments are LOW FORCE and GENTLE, the equivalent of an adjustment on a human infant Most cats noticeably enjoy their adjustment.

SOME CONDITIONS WHICH MAY RESPOND TO CHIROPRACTIC TREATMENT

• BACK, NECK , LEG, OR TAIL PAIN.
• INJURIES RESULTING FROM SLIPS, FALLS OR ACCIDENTS.
• SUDDEN CHANGES IN BEHAVIOR OR PERSONALITY SUCH AS CRABBINESS; JUST NOT HIM- OR HERSELF.
• TAIL TO ONE SIDE OR HANGING DOWN ABNORMALLY.
• UNEVEN MUSCLE DEVELOPMENT.
• JAW OR TMJ PROBLEMS, DIFFICULTY CHEWING.
• WEIGHT LOSS DUE TO PAIN.
• HEAD TILT.
• CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME.
• UNEVEN PELVIS OR HIPS.
• A LOOK OF APPREHENSION OR PAIN IN THE FACIAL EXPRESSION.
• MUSCLE ATROPHY, (LOSS), SPASM, KNOTS OR IMBALANCE.
• DIFFICULTY GOING UP OR DOWN STAIRS.
• MOVEMENT PROBLEMS OR PAIN CAUSED BY JUMPING OFF OF HIGH PLACES. INCORRECT LANDINGS.
• WEAKNESS IN A LEG. JUMPING PROBLEMS.
• DEGENERATIVE ARTHRITIS.
• SCIATIC NEURALGIA. STIFFNESS.
• SENSITIVITY TO TOUCH. WEAKNESS IN THE BACK LEGS.
• LOSS OF FLEXIBILITY.
• PAIN SYNDROMES.
• GENERAL PREVENTIVE AND MAINTENANCE CARE, ESPECIALLY FOR THE GERIATRIC CAT.
• PAINFUL RESPONSE DURING ROUTINE GROOMING.
• KNEE, HIP AND OTHER TYPES OF JOINT PAIN.
• SOME LAMENESS SYNDROMES.

What is Chiropractic Care for Horses?

Animal Chiropractic deals with the musculo-skeletal system, primarily the spine and the relationship of the spine with the nervous system.

Chiropractic Care is a holistic approach to many of the health and performance problems of the horse. It is a Health Care System based on movement and symmetry, but does NOT replace traditional veterinary medicine and surgery. Chiropractic offers and provides an alternative method of care that often complements traditional care. Used concurrently, many of your horse’s musculoskeletal conditions respond dramatically, and rehabilitation can take place quickly and efficiently

Chiiropractic Care focuses on the health and proper movement of all joints in the body, but especially the proper functioning of the spinal column.

How Do I Know If My Horse Needs Chiropractic Care?

There are numerous, common stressful or traumatic situations, such as the birth process, conformation of the horse, training and riding equipment, ability of the rider, shoeing, trailers, or direct trauma, that can cause abnormal or restricted movement to occur in the spine. This change in proper movement of the spine is what chiropractors call a “subluxation.” When a subluxation occurs, the horse’s spine loses its normal flexibility. This results in stiffness, which further leads to resistance and decreased performance. The most common symptoms associated with spinal subluxations is pain, which can manifest itself in a variety of ways. Horses in pain will show compensatory changes in posture and gait. These changes can cause stress in other joints and muscles.

Subluxations can cause a variety of symptoms from very mild to very severe. The most common of which is PAIN. Horses in pain will compensate in gait or posture and often refuse to perform certain tasks. The following is a list of symptoms that may indicate pain from the presence of subluxation:

• Discomfort when saddling.
• Discomfort when riding.
• Abnormal posture when standing.
• Evasion type maneuvers such as extending head or hollowing back.
• Wringing tail, pinning ears or bucking.
• Refusing or unwillingness to go over jumps.
• Refusal or resistance in performance such as lateral or collected movements
• Development of unusual behaviour patterns.
• Sensitivity to touch.
• Facial expression of apprehension or pain.

Subluxations can also cause change in muscle coordination and flexibility. These conditions may cause:

• Lack of coordination in gaits.
• Improper frame.
• "Lameness" that seems to move from limb to limb.
• Stiffness coming out of stall.
• Stiffness in lateral movement of the body or neck.
• Muscle atrophy or shrinking.
• Shortened stride in one or two limbs.
• Decreased extension in front or rear.
• Inability to lengthen top line.
• Inability to engage rear quarters.
• Rope walking or plaiting.
• Difficulty flexing at the poll.
• Rider can not sit centered on horse.
• On line or pulling on one rein.

How Does a Chiropractor Adjust a Horse?

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 will also look for abnormal head or neck placement, foot placement or any sign that the posture being adopted is 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.

If Found How Are Subluxations Corrected?

Once the initial examination has been completed, the animal chiropractor will perform an adjustment on the area of the spine affected so as to return the joints to normal motion and to alleviate any muscle spasms and pain. A chiropractic adjustment is a very specific high-velocity, low-force, controlled thrust by a hand which is directed in a specific direction on a specific joint.

How Many Adjustments are Needed to Correct the Subluxations?

This is the most difficult to answer and most commonly misunderstood question concerning Chiropractic Care. The purpose of the adjustment is to restore function to a joint in the spinal column and to realign or reposition the spine. The horse’s muscles and ligaments of the spinal column must be able to maintain the correct alignment once the Doctor has restored it. The condition of those supporting structures is what determines how many times and how often the horse needs to be treated. Thus, long standing, or chronic conditions tend to take more time and treatment, while minor injuries, corrected immediately, respond most rapidly. Several adjustments over two to four weeks are generally needed for the body to accept and maintain the new corrections. Most horses show significant improvement in one to four treatments. After that, age and conditioning are the major factors as to whether the subluxations may reappear.

The Veterinarian/Chiropractor Team

Chiropractic can also offer valuable assistance to veterinarians dealing with lameness. The goal here is to find the primary source of pain, rather than treating what might be the secondary source. In equine practice, back problems and leg injuries are often interrelated.

Abnormal weight-bearing and altered gait can subsequently overwork or injure associated back muscles. Back injuries can result in increased forces to the joints, resulting in lameness, or gait alterations in the feet and legs as the horse tries to protect its sore back.

Unless the primary cause of the back pain is detected and treated, most horses will have recurring back pain when returned to work after a period of medication and/or rest.

Chiropractic provides expertise in the evaluation of back and joint problems, that can provide the veterinarian additional means of diagnosis and early treatment options in certain lameness problems, especially conservative treatment of biomechanically related musculoskeletal disorders.

It should be stressed that chiropractic, in no way, should be thought of as a replacement for conventional veterinary medicine, but rather as a valid, concurrent treatment procedure for many back and lameness problems. And, as with any health-related problems or conditions that your horse may experience, it is important that the veterinarian be contacted initially so that he or she can assess your horse for any underlying medical condition that could be causing similar symptoms.