Did you know not only humans can be treated by a chiropractor, but so can our animals?
Animal chiropractics, what is it?
Animal chiropractic focuses on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mechanical disorders of the musculoskeletal system, especially the spine. Your animal's spine and nervous system are just like ours, it's only shaped slightly differently. Therefore, requires special kinds of adjustments as they experience spinal stress differently.
Like normal chiropractics, animal chiropractics involves the use of manual adjustments to restore proper function and mobility to the animal's joint and spine, with the incentive to reduce pain and improve the animal's overall health and performance. The treatment is performed by licensed chiropractors who have undergone specialized training in animal chiropractic.
Chiropractors working on animals must have specific training in both chiropractic theories and animal anatomy so they understand the differences in biomechanics and neuromusculoskeletal function between humans and different animals.
What animals do animal chiropractors treat?
Dogs, cats, and horses are the most common animals brought to animal chiropractors for treatment. However, animal chiropractors can treat all kinds of species, including but not
limited to:
Cows
Pigs
Chickens
Turtles
Sheeps
Goats
Alpacas
Llamas
The chiropractor will have to assess the animal and determine if chiropractic care is appropriate for your animal's condition.
What conditions would benefit from animal chiropractics?
Even though animals can't tell us and complain about their pain, animal chiropractors can help with any of your animal's problems. They treat many different conditions related to the musculoskeletal system, which include:
1. Back pain and spinal issues
Animals can experience discomfort and pain in their back, neck, and spine
Chiropractic adjustments can relieve the animals' pain and restore proper function and movement to the affected area
2. Joint problems
Arthritis, hip dysplasia, spondylosis, and other joint problems
Getting it treated can improve joint mobility and reduce pain
3. Gait abnormalities
Gait abnormalities can be caused by spine and joint misalignments
Getting adjusted will help with correcting these imbalances, improving overall gait and performance
4. Neurological conditions
Adjustments can improve nerve functions and stimulate the troubled area
5. Performance issues
Performance animals like horses and dogs can benefit from chiropractic care through comprehensive training and a maintenance program
Chiropractic treatments can improve athletic performance, prevent injury and maintain optimal health
What to expect at your first and subsequent animal chiropractic treatments?
Animal chiropractic treatments are fairly similar to a normal chiropractic treatment you would receive, it includes a thorough physical examination, observation of the animal's movements, and the application of manual adjustments to specific joints and rehabilitation exercises to help improve the condition of your animal.
During the treatment with the chiropractor, the animal may feel some pressure or discomfort, but the procedure is safe and non-invasive. It is important to monitor the animal closely after chiropractic treatment and to report any drastic or concerning changes or adverse reactions to the chiropractor or veterinarian.
Regular follow-up visits are recommended to maintain the animal's optimal health, function, and performance. However, the number and frequency of follow-up treatments are relative, as it depends on the individual animal and the condition being treated. Many animals experience improvement after just a couple of sessions over the course of several weeks.
** It is important to note that animal chiropractic treatment should not be used as a substitute for conventional veterinary care, but rather as a complementary therapy. Before your animal's initial chiropractic appointment, it is recommended to consult with your veterinarian!
