Animal Chiropractic Care
What is Animal Chiropractic Care?
Animal Chiropractic care is an alternative method of health care for your animal. Chiropractic care is based on the scientific evidence that proper motion of the spinal joints reduces or eliminates physical stress and pressure to the surrounding nerves, muscles and bones.
Any joint in your animal’s body and particularly those of the spine may become fixated or stuck due to recent or past trauma, repetitive stress injuries or lack of exercise.
Joints that don’t move properly break down and degenerate more quickly. If degeneration occurs in the spine, muscle imbalance, nerve damage and disc degeneration may occur. This may lead to pain, dysfunction or poor performance ability for your animal.
The Power that made the body heals the body.
The body is a self healing organism. The nervous system is the master system of the body. Chiropractic seeks to remove interference or stress to the nervous system enabling the body to express itself to its optimum potential and thereby heal itself.
A chiropractic adjustment is defined as a short lever, high velocity controlled thrust by hand or instrument that is directed at specific articulations (spinal joints) to correct subluxation (stuck joints). The adjustment is designed to restore motion and function to vertebral and extremity joints.
How do you know if the Chiropractic Adjustment works?
This is a common question by people that have never experienced chiropractic treatment for themselves or their animals. The simple answer is “behavoir”. Depending on the severity of the problem or injury, an animal may show immediate and obvious improvement. Animals may perform tasks they previously would refuse or reflexes may be improved. Most owners should notice some change in behavior within a day or two if the treatment is going to be effective. Your animal chiropractor or veternarian will advise you on a course of treatment for best results.
Indications for Chiropractic Care
- Lameness
- Trouble getting up or down
- Behavior or mood changes
- Event or Sport Injuries
- Muscle spasm and nerve problems
- Neck, back, leg and tail pain
- Difficulty chewing, Jaw or TMJ problems
A Chiropractic Evaluation and Exam will include an evaluation of your animal’s history, intended use/athleticism, health state and prior x-rays. Your animal chiropractor will also likely perform a neurological exam, stance/gait analysis and static and motion palpation. Chiropractic Care does not replace traditional veterinary medicine but works well with it. A veterinary referral is always requested.
For more information about Animal Chiropractic visit www.avcadoctors.com or www.animalchiropractic.org
