If you poll a group of people and ask them if they have ever heard of chiropractic care for dogs, my estimate is that 8 out of 10 people would say they have never heard of such a thing. I often find that when I talk to people about it, they didn’t know that the whole concept exists.
Chiropractic care is readily available for people and has demonstrated, scientifically, its success in treating a variety of musculoskeletal conditions. Despite that, few people are aware that it is even an option for their pets with musculoskeletal issues too.
So why would one choose to have a certified animal chiropractor treat their dog, cat, horse or other beloved pet? Let’s answer that by starting off with the basics of how chiropractic works. Each joint of the spine is required to move a certain amount. Movement is a very critical sensation for the brain and when a joint of the spine fails to move adequately, it sends irregular messages to the brain. This results in muscle tension, movement dysfunctions and the surrounding area becoming generally more sensitive. A chiropractic adjustment focuses on improving the motion of the joints of the spine and body thereby decreasing pain, decreasing muscle tension and improving your pet’s movement patterns. Chiropractic adjustments create the ideal environment in the body to allow it to heal.
Chiropractic care is a non-invasive, natural and non-medicinal way of managing muscle and joint aches and pains for your pets, helping them move more freely. It caters to those that look for a natural means of dealing with musculoskeletal issues. Chiropractic care is not a substitute for regular veterinary care though, it is a welcome addition to your usual veterinary care.
There are numerous reasons that people usually call me to assess and treat their pets, here are the top reasons:
1. Aging dog: While I can’t turn back the clock and turn an old dog into a puppy again, there is quite a lot that can be done. The aging process can bring a few aches and pains along with it, which chiropractic care helps to alleviate, allowing your pets to age as comfortably as possible.
2. Recovery from injury/pain issues: Maybe your dog got a little excited at the dog park and overdid it or maybe there was a fall down the stairs, unfortunately, injuries can occur anywhere. Helping to recover from these injuries and regain as much pre-injury function as possible is a prime reason for chiropractic care.
3. Wellness care: While it is important to ask yourself how your dog is doing now, it is also essential to ask yourself how will he/she be in 2,5,10 years from now? Wellness care looks to the future to keep your healthy pet as well as possible, for as long as possible. Wellness care doesn’t focus on immediate symptoms, such as pain, but makes sure potential problems in movement don’t become pain issues. Keeping the body in the best shape possible for as long as possible is the goal.
