Animals and Chiropractic

Chiropractic and Veterinarians.

Animals and Chiropractic

Although there are many differences between the canine population and humans, there is the common factor that the nervous system controls and coordinates all functions. This is a basic truth for almost all life on earth.

Therefore, it is logical to think that if interference with a human nervous system due to subluxations can lead to health problems, the same should be true for non-human vertebrates, such as dogs.

Facts and Studies

The two authors of the following study consisted of a chiropractor and a veterinarian. They began this study report by noting that in the last ten years, tremors and involuntary movements in canines had been observed. They point out that determining the causes and types of tremors in dogs is more difficult than in humans.

However, there is a type of tremor known as orthostatic tremor. This type of tremor is more common in giant dog breeds, such as Great Danes, under two years old, and is seen when the dog is still.

In this case, a 3-week-old male Great Dane was taken to a veterinary and chiropractic animal clinic.

The dog was the first born of the litter and was born breech. He had been experiencing tremors since birth. Immediately after birth, it was noted that the hind legs were blue and cold, and they only warmed up after the dog’s owner wrapped the newborn puppy in a blanket.

The dog’s owner reported that the puppy had weakness in the hindquarters when he started to walk and shook as if he had Parkinson’s disease. The puppy’s shaking decreased on its own; however, it was still noticeable when walking. None of the other puppies in this litter showed any signs of this problem.

Veterinary Examination

A veterinary examination of the puppy showed a normal puppy in most aspects but revealed the tremor. All other examination procedures performed by the veterinarian proved to be normal concerning the presence of tremors.

A chiropractic examination was also performed, consisting of static and motion palpation with the purpose of finding restrictions or pain and assessing muscle tone along the puppy’s spine. From this examination, it was determined that multiple areas of subluxations were present. Based on the findings, chiropractic attention was given to the puppy.

Results of Chiropractic Care

According to the study, after only three days of initial chiropractic treatment, the owner reported that the puppy was able to stand and walk on two occasions with very few shakes. After two more weeks of care, the five-week-old puppy appeared normal and showed no symptoms of tremors.

In the discussion of the case, the authors noted: “Spinal manipulation has been performed on animals for centuries, but veterinarians and chiropractors have only recently begun to work together to improve practice, guidelines, and education for both professions.”

Distinct Approach to Subluxation

They further explained the difference between what a veterinarian determined as a subluxation and what a chiropractor would define as a subluxation, “veterinarians often have a structural perspective that a subluxation is a partial dislocation, while chiropractors view subluxation from a more functional standpoint, stating that vertebral misalignments disrupt the normal biomechanical and neurological functions of the body.”