Chiropractic and pets

Chiropractic and Pets

What is Chiropractic Care for Dogs?

Chiropractic care is a holistic approach to many behavioral and health issues in dogs. Chiropractic does not replace traditional veterinary medicine and surgery, but provides an alternative method of care.

Chiropractic adjustments have proven to be very valuable for detecting and treating abnormalities that are already underway and other behavioral and attack issues. It has also been shown to relieve pain in the dog’s back and neck.

How Can I Tell if My Dog Needs Chiropractic Care?

There are numerous common tensions or traumatic situations, such as the birthing process, that can cause abnormal or restricted movements of circulation produced in the spine. This change in the proper movement of the spine is what chiropractors refer to as a “subluxation.” When a subluxation occurs, the dog’s spine loses its normal flexibility.

This translates into stiffness, leading to resistance and decreased behavior. The most common symptoms associated with spinal subluxations are pain, which can manifest in various ways. Dogs in pain will show compensatory changes in posture and gait. These changes can cause tension in other joints and muscles.

Symptoms such as stiffness, a poor mental attitude, abnormalities when walking, or the presence of muscle atrophy (weakness) are generally associated with misalignments of the spine.

Subluxations can also cause changes in muscle coordination and flexibility that affect the dog’s ability to behave. These symptoms may include lack of coordination when walking, unusual and perhaps indefinable abnormalities in the way of walking that vary from paw to paw and change based on walking, stiffness in lateral movements of the neck or back, walking on a leash (straight steps), shortened strides in one or two limbs, inability to use the hind thighs, or difficulty bending.

Common complaints from dog owners are related to resistance and stiffness when moving in one direction, irritability, decreased behavior, and sensitivity to touch, such as when being brushed.

How Can a Chiropractor Adjust My Dog?

Once the initial examination is completed, the animal chiropractor will perform an adjustment in the affected area of the spine to restore normal joint movement and relieve muscle spasms and pain.

A chiropractic adjustment is very specific and is performed at a high speed, with a low force controlled by a thrusting hand, directed in a specific direction of a particular joint.

 How Many Treatments Will My Dog Need?

Several factors determine the number and frequency of adjustments needed to correct the problem. The dog’s age and physical condition are important: young and healthy dogs generally require fewer adjustments than older dogs or those with serious health issues.

The severity of the problem is another important factor: if permanent damage has occurred, returning to full flexibility may not be possible, and multiple adjustments may be needed to achieve the greatest flexibility possible. The length of time the problem has been present is also an important factor: long-standing or chronic issues typically require more adjustments to correct than acute problems.

The Veterinary/Chiropractic Team

Chiropractic can also provide valuable assistance to veterinarians treating lameness. The goal here is to find the primary source of pain, rather than treating what may be the secondary source.

Chiropractic offers expertise in evaluating back and joint problems that can provide the veterinarian with other diagnostic means and early treatment options for some lameness issues, especially conservative treatment of biomechanics related to musculoskeletal disorders.

It should be noted that chiropractic should in no way be considered a substitute for conventional veterinary medicine, but rather as a valid treatment, and concurrent to many lameness issues.

And, just like with any health-related issues or diseases that your dog may have, it is important to contact the veterinarian so that he or she can evaluate your dog for any underlying medical conditions that may be causing similar symptoms.

Marc Bony, DC

quiropractica1.com