What is Animal Chiropractic?
Animal Chiropractic is an Animal Health modality in which the doctor examines the patient for chiropractic subluxations. Chiropractic subluxations are joints that have a reduced range of motion, or are "stuck". When these joints become "stuck", the surrounding muscles and ligaments can become compromised and inflamed. When these tissues become inflamed, they can entrap or impinge the nerves as they exit the spinal cord leading to pain and a decrease in the nerves ability to function correctly. Since the nervous system controls everything in the animals body, impeding their function can have detrimental affects throughout the entire body, not just at the site of the subluxation. So, ultimately, chiropractic care is not just fixing a sore back, it is focused on maintaining the health and functionality of the nervous system, so that it can maintain the health and functionality of the rest of the body.
When the doctor finds a chiropractic subluxation, they will correct it with a small, quick thrust that is very specific to that particular joint and the angles of the joint surfaces. Unlike human adjustments, because of the structure of animal joints, animal adjustments do not generally produce a lot of audibles or "popping" sounds. It is not unusual to hear some audibles, but it should not be expected on every adjustment.
Common signs that your cat or dog may need and adjustment:
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Acute neck or back pain
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Abnormal posture when standing
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Reluctance to stretch fully
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Reluctance to move, climb stairs, or jump onto raised areas
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Signs of pain when performing certain movements or being lifted
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Change in performance or reduced performance in sporting animals
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Undefined lameness, ambling or slow gait, unevenly worn down nails
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Irregularity of gait or stride
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Hypersensitivity to touch
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Lick Granulomas on legs or paws
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Recurrent ear or anal gland infections
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Unusual itching at the base of the tail
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Altered sitting positions ("puppy sitting")
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The animal only lies on one side
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Wringing or tucking tail
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Behavioral changes
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Stiffness after lying down or when moving
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Discomfort when taking off or putting on collars & harnesses
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TMJ issues or difficulty chewing
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Recurrent digestive trouble
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Dripping urine or the inability to hold feces (incontinence)
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Post surgical care
