Animal Chiropractic

What is animal chiropractic?
The application of this art utilizes a small amplitude,high velocity thrust with a highly engineered instrument to areas of spinal misalignments in order to facilitate proper function of the nervous system resulting in enhanced performance and quality of life.

Modern Chiropractic care has been used successfully on human patients since 1895 with the first Chiropractic adjustments on animals shortly thereafter.

Animals also have individual vertebral bones that misalign and cause nerve pressure. And in case you were wondering, animals respond very well to Chiropractic adjustments, just as human patients do.

Which animals can benefit from Chirpractic care?
Any animal that has a spine can potentially benefit from Chiropractic treatment. Our office has experience with horses, dogs, cats and rabbits. Presently we devote our care to dogs and cats. This office treats many problems that respond well to Chiropractic care. One of the most exciting things we see happen in almost all of the animals we treat is an improvement in the animal's attitude. Owners tell us all the time about how good the animal feels after an adjustment. It is my belief that all animals could benefit from Chiropractic care.

Misalignments can cause a variety of symptoms, from very mild to severe. The most common of which is PAIN. Animals 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 misalignments:

• Panting
• Pacing
• Push head against a wall
• Yelping
• Puppy sitting, or sitting with the rear legs out to one side
• Discomfort when putting on or taking off collars and harnesses
• Abnormal posture when standing
• Evasion type maneuvers such as dipping head or hollowing back
• Wringing or tucking tail
• Refusing or unwillingness to go over jumps
• Change in behaviour patterns; fear biting
• Sensitivity to touch
• Facial expression of apprehension or pain
• Changes in Co-ordination

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

• Inability to jump
• Difficulty going up or down stairs
• Lack of coordination in gaits
• Pacing
• "Lameness"; that seems to move from limb to limb
• Stiffness coming out of the crate or kennel
• Stiffness in the side movement of the body or neck
• Muscle atrophy or shrinking
• Shortened stride in one or two limbs
• Decreased extension in front or rear
• Side-winding or crabbing
• Stumbling on dog walk
• Partial weakness or paralysis
  
  
  

How do animals react?
Most pets respond quickly; in fact more quickly than human patients. Animals like to be adjusted. They know that there is a problem and that the adjustment will help them. Many times the animal will adjust their position to help the chiropractor find the problem. One of the most exciting things we see happen in almost all the animals we treat is an improvement in the animals behavior. They often resume their previous behavior and zest. Owners often tell us about how good the animal seems to feel after the adjustment.

Office Procedures
Although a referral from your vet is not necessary, concurrent veterinary care is required. In Alberta, your vet must be made aware that you are seeking alternative Chiropractic care. Veterinary medicine has exclusive jurisdiction over the care and treatment of animals. Chiropractors who have an interest in chiropractic treatment and spinal adjusting of animals must do so in consultation with a member of the Alberta VeterinaryMedical Association. In all circumstances, chiropractors may only treat animals in consultation with or with a written directive from a member of the Alberta VeterinaryMedical Association.