Chiropractic Medicine for Pets and Animals

Most people think of visiting a chiropractor when back pain, muscle injury or limited movement occurs, perhaps as the result of an injury. Holistic veterinarians apply chiropractic therapy to pets and animals for many of the same reasons.

To the practitioner, chiropractic therapy is often viewed as both an art and a science, and requires a thorough knowledge of anatomy, physics and biomechanics, while possessing the necessary dexterity to manipulate the musculoskeletal system. To the holistic veterinarian, chiropractic is a natural extension of complimentary techniques used in the holistic health care of animals, such as dogs and horses.

What is Chiropractic?

The term chiropractic stems from the Greek words ‘chiros’ and ‘praktikos’ to mean ‘practice with the hands,’ or ‘done by hand.’ It is branch of medicine established by Daniel David Palmer in 1895, who asserted that more than 90% of all health complaints could be treated or eliminated through the manipulation of the spine (spinal adjustments) and, to a lesser degree, by making adjustments to misaligned vertebrae, or vertebral subluxations.

Later, Palmer’s son, B.J. Palmer, further defined the principles of chirorpactic as a means to open blocked energy channels that disrupt the flow of ‘Innate Intelligence,’ the life force responsible for regulating and maintaing the body. Further, he contended that this interference cuts off the flow of this innate intelligence to the organ intended to receive it.

In a chiropractic examination, the practitioner typically checks the spine and related muscle groups for several attributes that may indicate a problem area, including:

• Tone
• Symmetry
• Atrophy
• Hyperatrophy
• Heat
• Tenderness
• Pain

How is Chiropractic Used in Holistic Pet Care?

Not all animals respond well to chiropractic care. In fact, for the most part, holistic veterinarians restrict its use to dogs and horses.

Upon examination, the veterinarian will look for the following signs that an animal may be in need of spinal adjustments:

• Shifting weight or favoring one leg over another
• Limited motion
• Avoidance of certain motions
• Stiffness
• Sensitivity to heat or cold
• Unusual behaviors, such as biting or growling

Any one of these observances may indicate that chiropractic adjustments are needed to correct subluxations. In addition, sometimes other holistic therapies may be used to treat the animal prior to chiropractic care. For instance, acupuncture and/or massage may be used first to help the animal relax and prepare for a spinal adjustment.

In recent years, another complimentary tool has been introduced into veterinary chiropractic—a spring-loaded device known as an Activator. It’s purpose is to deliver a high velocity electrical stimulant. This is useful when a hands-on approach may be limited due the animal being in great pain or feeling anxious about the chiropractic session.

What Can Veterinary Chiropractic Be Used to Treat?

Chiropractic adjustments can be just as helpful to pets and animals as it is for humans, and is used to address a variety of complaints, including:

• Chronic pain
• Lameness
• Muscle atrophy
• Sciatica
• Certain injuries
• Limited movement, particularly lateral movements of the neck or back