Animal Chiropractic
What is Animal Chiropractic?
Veterinary chiropractic is a unique profession that has recognition as a separate health care branch. It is a manual therapy, which can be used for many health and performance problems. It does not replace traditional veterinary medicine; its aim is to help provide additional treatment options for biomechanical dysfunction of the spine and extremities (effecting bones, joints & muscles).
Treatment can be used for conditions such as:
- Chronic musculoskeletal problems
- Acute problems such as tension or stiffness
- Prophylactic treatment to maintain fitness
- Maintain soundness in older animals
- Enhance performance ability of sport animals
- Post surgery rehabilitation
While we specialise in equine and canine treatment our training includes all animals from guinea pigs to cattle.
Same principles as humans
Chiropractic for animals works on exactly the same principles as it does for humans. Problems with the movement patterns in any joint will cause pain and stiffness and this will lead to compensation patterns throughout the body, poor neurological function and reduced muscle health.
Chiropractic treatment mainly involves safe, often gentle, specific spinal manipulation to free joints in the spine or other areas of the body that are not moving properly. Apart from manipulation, chiropractors may use a variety of techniques including soft tissue work, stretching exercises & rehabilitation advice.
The adjustment has little or no pain and most animals enjoy being adjusted.
Even though large animals have a big, thick muscle mass over the spine, the vertebral joints are flexible and relatively easy to manipulate with minimal force.
History & Treatment
Before treatment a case history will be taken including details concerning the animal's medical history, past and present activity/work, diet and current problem.
Muscle, conformation & gait analysis will then be used alongside static and motion palpation, and relevant orthopaedic and neurological tests in order to form a complete picture of the animal's condition & how best to treat it.
Chiropractic treatment mainly involves safe, often gentle, specific spinal manipulation to free joints in the spine or other areas of the body that are not moving properly. Apart from manipulation, chiropractors may use a variety of techniques including soft tissue work, stretching exercises & rehabilitation advice.
You will also be given advice about exercise and an ongoing plan for stretching / strengthening / rehabilitation.
Ongoing Treatment
A follow-up treatment may be required in 1 to 2 weeks. As the animal improves the follow-up visits will be spread out further.
Depending on the animal's age and activity levels maintenance care is usually recommended anywhere from once a month to once every six months. The animal chiropractor will discuss this with you and develop a plan that is best for your animal & maintaining their optimal health.
Response to Treatment
Results depend upon several factors including:
- The condition
- How severe it is
- How long the animal has had it
- Age of your animal
- How quickly the animal heals
- Following the exercise / rehabilitation programme as laid out by the chiropractor
Ordinarily you will see improvement within the first 24 to 72 hours.
Some animals can show great improvement in the first few days and then you may notice a relapse of the initial complaint. This is not unusual & is part of the normal healing process. Let your animal chiropractor know about it at the next appointment as it will aid them in treatment and help to gauge your animal’s rate of response and probable healing time required.
When your horse might need treatment
- Reduced performance
- Abnormal posture / muscle loss / lack of top line
- Objecting to being saddled
- Throwing its head back or up or hollowing the back
- Disobedience when jumping / difficulty making the distance between fences / difficulty jumping spreads
- Difficulties with collected or lateral gaits
- Changes in behaviour
- Preference to one rein / bend / leaning on one rein
- Difficulty engaging the hindquarters
- Difficulty working “long and low”
- Irregularity of gait / shortened stride
- Slower going up or downhill
This is not an exhaustive list of signs and symptoms but gives you an indication of when chiropractic treatment may help.
When your dog might need treating
- Stiffness when moving / after sleeping
- Abnormal posture / muscle loss
- Reluctance to climb stairs or jump onto things
- Reduced performance
- Signs of pain when performing certain movements or being lifted
- The animal only lies on one side
- Disobedience when jumping / measuring jumps
- Missing weave entries or leaving weaves early
- Altered sitting position (“puppy sitting”)
- Irregularity of gait
This is not an exhaustive list of signs and symptoms but gives you an indication of when chiropractic treatment may help.
Types of Care for All Animals
Crisis Care
Vet referral is required
This includes all cases of lameness, illness, injury or suspicion of pathology. Together with the referring vet a treatment plan would be established and monitored throughout.
Please bring the completed Vet Referral Form (below) to the first appointment. Without this we will be unable to treat.
Maintenance Care
Vet referral is not required
This category of care would be given to a healthy animal for the purpose of prevention of injury, performance enhancement or to improve mental/physical wellbeing.
Long term neuromusculoskeletal conditions where further veterinary intervention is no longer appropriate and elderly animals who benefit from massage and muscle stimulation/rehabilitation to ease mobility also fall into this category.
Competition Care
Vet referral is not required
This is care given to healthy animals involved in athletic activities or competition where excellent posture, gait and movement quality are essential.
To support and enhance performance, competition animals may require pre-season care to aid an easy transition back to fitness. During the season (& post-season) musculoskeletal care can continue to enhance performance, minimise the possibility of injury and reduce compensatory issues.
