Chiropractic care is a manual therapy that can be used for many health and performance problems.
It focuses on the biomechanical dysfunction of the spine and its effects on the entire nervous system. Chiropractic care doesn’t pretend to encompass the entire study of health and disease, but it does offer alternative explanations for disease and provides complimentary therapy.

The purpose of chiropractic care is to optimize health.
The principle that guides this is the body’s innate recuperative power which is affected by and integrated through the nervous system. Animal chiropractors treat Vertebral Subluxation Complexes (VSC). This is defined as the functional misalignment of a vertebra or the limited mobility of its facet joints. If a subluxation exists, an animal loses normal flexibility of its spine, affecting performance and resulting in stiffness and muscular pain. Animals with VSCs may present with many symptoms, the most common of which is pain. The animal attempts to compensate for the pain by changing its posture and way of going, but this can result in other problems such as arthritis.

CHIROPRACTIC TREATMENT

A thorough chiropractic exam is performed by motioning the spine and limbs and by watching the animal move. When a VSC is identified, the aim is to correct the misalignment of the spine and restore mobility to the facet joints. Realignment is made via an adjustment. An adjustment is a very specific, short lever, high velocity, controlled thrust by hand that is directed at specific articulations. Only subluxated vertebra are adjusted. In most cases, a single treatment is not enough to eliminate the problem. The goal of chiropractic treatment is to address neurological dysfunction of the spine and restore mobility. It is then the task of the muscles and ligaments to support the spine and maintain this new realigned position. Majority of animals show improvement after one to four treatments.

When done correctly, chiropractic treatment can be an effective way to maintain the health of your animal. Increasing the quality of life or health is important, especially when treating older animals, but chiropractic treatment of younger animals is also recommended as a preventative measure.

Chiropractic treats the cause, not the symptoms of back problems. It restores joint mobility, enabling the animal to maximize its performance potential and optimize its health.

How do I know if my animal needs chiropractic care?

Because your animal communicates in a language other than words, they must rely on your ability to observe changes in their behavior that might indicate illness or injury.

Here is a list of commonly seen symptoms that may indicate that your animal can benefit from chiropractic or acupuncture care:

Dogs:

  • pain/reactivity when being pet or lifted
  • difficulty climbing stairs
  • lameness or altered gait
  • negative changes in behavior
  • difficulty getting up
  • performance changes

Cats:

  • pain/reactivity when being pet or lifted
  • hiding
  • loss of appetite or increased thirst
  • weight fluctuations
  • litter box changes
  • vomiting or diarrhea

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