Animal Chiropractic
A safe and pain-free treatment.
Animal chiropractic care involves adjusting the vertebrae to relieve pain and discomfort and improve the range of motion of a pet’s joints. It’s typically reserved for cats, dogs, and horses and is often used in conjunction with both traditional and holistic treatments.
When performed properly, chiropractic care is safe and pain-free. Adjustments improve blood flow, optimize the nervous system, and, sometimes, even eliminate a pet’s reliance on medication entirely. Though the need for surgery cannot always be prevented, chiropractic treatment can reduce the severity of secondary conditions caused by the primary injury.
Chiropractic care can be used to treat various health problems including:
- Neck, back, leg, or tail pain
- Injuries from slips and falls
- Muscle spasms
- Nerve problems
- Difficulty chewing
- Musculoskeletal weakness
While chiropractic treatment is commonly used to treat injuries, it can also be utilized for regular maintenance of the spine and joints.
How Do I Know if My Pet Would Benefit from Veterinary Chiropractic?
If your pet suffers from any of the following conditions, Veterinary Chiropractic could help to improve or maintain a good quality of life:
- Lameness
- Difficulty getting up
- Athletic Competitions (agility, herding, dock diving, fly ball, etc)
- Seizures or neurological issues
- Elderly pet
- Behavior or mood changes
- Chronic health conditions that are not resolving as anticipated
Is an Adjustment Painful?
The majority of the time, the pet will not show any sign of pain during the comprehensive physical and neurological exam or chiropractic adjustment. Most animals will accept treatment willingly. If a painful area is found, the veterinarian will apply very gentle techniques to reduce pain before continuing with the adjustment. If your pet happens to be in severe pain, the veterinarian will likely delay the adjustment until your pet is relaxed and pain is relieved. Often, use of acupuncture, herbs, and/or cold laser will be very beneficial to these patients, as these modalities work to decrease pain, inflammation, discomfort, and speed healing.
How Will My Pet Feel After an Adjustment?
Often, owners will see immediate improvement in the gait, posture, and disposition of their pet. Some animals may experience a period of tiredness lasting for 24-48 hours. This is completely normal, and is due to the body healing itself now that the body has regained its correct alignment. For animals in acute pain, several sessions may be required to fully resolve the problem. If your pet suffers from a chronic condition, several visits will be required over regular intervals to restore and maintain normal function of the joints and nervous system.
Overall, make sure you share all information regarding your pets' health care with the veterinarian, especially if you see several practitioners. This includes, diet, medications, and supplements. The veterinarian may give you specific instructions regarding exercise and at-home care following the adjustment. Be sure to follow all recommendations as directed to ensure your pet receives optimal benefit from the adjustment.
Call us at (512) 459-7676 if you think your pet could benefit from chiropractic care and you’d like to schedule a consultation.
