Prairie Ridge Animal Hospital
Chiropractic Therapy
Veterinary chiropractic care (a.k.a. veterinary orthopedic manipulation) is the practice of manipulating the spine in order to treat a disease.
Overview
Veterinary chiropractic care (a.k.a. veterinary orthopedic manipulation) is the holistic practice of manipulating the spine in order to treat a disease. It is most often performed on horses, dogs, and cats, however, it can theoretically be performed on any vertebrate species.
Why should I consider chiropractic therapy for my pet?
Common conditions that can be treated with chiropractic care for your pets are neurological or biomechanical conditions, that include diseases like hip dysplasia and spondylosis, cervical instability, acute neck pain, intervertebral disk disease, autonomic nervous system problems (urinary and fecal incontinence), musculoskeletal weakness, and chronic pain.
Please speak to your local veterinarian if you are interested in learning if chiropractic care is right for your pet.
When should I consider chiropractic therapy for my pet?
Animals that can often benefit from chiropractic are often athletic and working animals (horses used for racing, dressage, or pleasure riding, and dogs used for racing, agility training, or field trials). Results of chiropractic care are often immediate and can be seen in an improved gait and pain being reduced. There are also many neurologic and biochemical conditions than can be cared for with chiropractic therapy. Additionally, chiropractic therapy may be used to treat many conditions with a biomechanical or neurologic origin.
Please speak to your local veterinarian if you are interested in learning if chiropractic care is right for your pet.
How is my pet cared for during chiropractic therapy?
Once your pet has gone through an initial evaluation, your veterinarian will determine a course of treatment to follow. The initial evaluation will include a thorough look at your pet’s medical history, a physical exam, and potentially x-rays to look for underlying issues.
Your pet should not experience any pain during an adjustment. At most, your pet may experience some light discomfort but they may also show signs of relief from the pain as soon as your doctor starts to work on them.
In most cases, your pet will need to have a series of short appointments and adjustments to address the problems they are experiencing.
Veterinary chiropractic, also known as animal chiropractic, is the practice of spinal manipulation or manual therapy for animals. Veterinary chiropractors can treat any type of animal including horses, cows, dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, etc. Veterinary chiropractic is a fast-developing field that is complementary to the conventional approach.
Animal Chiropractic is a field of animal health care that focuses on the preservation and health of the neuro-musculo-skeletal system. The nervous system is the control center that directs and influences what happens in your animal's body. Anything adversely affecting the nervous system will have detrimental effects throughout the entire body. The cell, tissues, and organs of the animal's body will be able to function at their maximal potential if the nervous system is functioning properly.
Animal ergonomics have changed over the years. Animal owners ask or demand more out of their animals than "naturally" intended. Animals are amazingly athletic creatures. We love to watch our beloved pets perform in many different avenues that make their uniqueness shine. Examples include: Agility training, racing, rodeos, sleds pulling, skateboarding, and more! Chiropractic is a drugless form of health care that can help treat and potentially heal neuro-musculo-skeletal injures. It can help prevent or reduce severe injuries by helping provide proper joint mobility and biomechanics of the animals' spines and extremities.
What To Expect:First visit: Our first small animal chiropractic visit will take about 45mins-1hour depending on how your pet feels with new environments and new people. Future visits should only take about 15-30mins. (Please bring your pet's favorite treats. This will allow us to provide a happy peace offering to him/her as we first get acquainted.)Posture and gait assessment: We will watch how your animal moves around the office to visualize any gait or postural abnormalities or patterns that may help us find suspected regions of discomfort. Neurological exam: An abbreviated neurological exam will be performed to assess the animal's withdrawal reflex, DTR, and proprioception.Chiropractic subluxations scan: The spine and extremities are assessed for pain, inflammation, or joint restrictions. Treatment: Chiropractic adjustments are provided by Dr. Alissa. To perform an adjustment, she places her hands on the animal and provides a high-velocity low amplitude (HVLA) force in a specified direction to elicit the release of the joint. Adjustments improve blood circulation, improve mobility, and reduce pain. They also allow for more appropriate neurological flow. It is a non-invasive procedure and most adjustments (depending on severity of injury) are not painful. Post treatment: After an initial visit, it is recommended that the animal have 24hours of rest, meaning no rough or rowdy play. Rest does not mean placed in a crate or kennel (unless this is the only way to calm your pet down). It is necessary to let the animal take short walks to improve blood flow and reduce soreness after an adjustment. Follow-up care: In comparison to humans, animals have more stable spines due to being quadrupeds (having four feet). It is recommended that the animal has a follow-up visit in 7-14days after the initial visit. This will be determined during the initial visit depending on the animal's symptoms and response to care. Most animals require maintenance care every 3 months.
