About Animal Chiropractic

What is Animal CHiropractic?

Chiropractic is a natural, conservative, and hands-on healthcare discipline involving the diagnosis and management of mechanical musculoskeletal and nervous system conditions. Chiropractors undergo extensive education and examination requirements, and often treat disorders related to the spine, pelvis, nervous system, and extremities. They are trained to recognize and screen for pathological conditions and to know when their treatment may be beneficial and when to refer out to other healthcare professionals.

Animal chiropractic is much the same. Certified animal chiropractors are licensed Doctors of Chiropractic who have complete additional training and education in order to care for our four-legged friends. Animal chiropractic offers a hands-on, non-surgical, and drug-free approach to your pet’s health and wellness. When used in conjunction with traditional veterinary care, it is an effective alternative therapy that addresses many neuromusculoskeletal disorders.

We ask a lot of our pets and just like us, they suffer falls, injuries, and old age. Their spines are configured differently from us and undergo different types of forces. They can experience pain but are unable to tell us about it, most times they don’t even complain. A thorough health history and physical examination of your animal’s spine and extremities, enables animal chiropractors to identify areas that may be painful or exhibit restricted movement. Restricted movement between adjacent vertebrae in the spine can irritate local nerves, resulting in pain and impaired function of the muscles and tissues that it innervates.

Animal chiropractors use their hands to restore proper movement of a restricted joint, via a small but quick thrust along specific anatomical planes. Maintaining proper alignment allows for optimal functioning of the nerves, muscles, and soft tissues surrounding the joint, and ultimately results in pain relief and improved performance.

Chiropractors are regulated healthcare professionals with multiple governing bodies to ensure quality care and professionalism. Animal chiropractors will also work closely with your veterinarian in order to provide the best quality care for your animal.

Indications for canine chiropractic

• pain or sensitivity to touch

• behavioural changes—change in ability to manage stairs, get in/out of vehicles, jump on/off furniture

• reluctance to engage in regular play/activity

• abnormal gait

• decreased performance or work abilities

• shifting lameness

• joint stiffness, muscular tension or weakness

• asymmetrical posture

• reluctance or moodiness to wearing a collar/harness

Indications for Equine Chiropractic

• injuries from falls or training

• hypersensitive to brushing

• pain and tenderness over withers and saddle area

• performance problems—difficulty with collection, picking up a lead, or engaging hindquarters

• short-striding or dragging the hind toes

• front limb lameness or frequent stumbling/tripping

• inability or reluctance to flex at the poll

• “cold backed” or girthiness

• head shy or reluctance to accept the bit

• behavioural changes—refusing, bucking, or rearing