Is veterinary chiropractic just what the doctor ordered for your pet?
by Kimberly Curtis, DVM, CVC, CVA
From alleviating physical ailments to modifying behavior, chiropractic adjustment by manually aligning the spine, limb and pelvic bones has been an integral part of wellness for pets and people alike for over 40 years. Even tiny displacements of bony structures, called subluxations, can disrupt and irritate the nerves originating from the brain and spinal cord. The presence of one or more subluxations can lead to malfunction of important body systems. During the course of a chiropractic adjustment, such areas of disruption are corrected, thereby reestablishing normal functionality.
Because the network of nerves leaving the brain and spinal cord influences every living tissue in the body, chiropractic adjustment is beneficial in a variety of different medical conditions (see the list below.) Subluxations can be caused by accidents, falls, surgery, stress, overexertion, disease and countless other factors.
A common cause of subluxation seen in our patients here at Integrative Pet Care (IPC) is limb compensation. When there is reduced function in one or more limbs as an after-effect to surgery, osteoarthritis or the like, our four-legged companions will compensate by increasing the use of their other limbs to continue being mobile. While an effective method of moving from place to place, this compensatory gait almost always causes painful subluxations and muscular stress.
Especially when paired with massage, we have found veterinary chiropractic adjustment extremely beneficial in speeding recovery in our surgical rehabilitation patients, maintaining the health and competitive edge of our athletic patients and improving the overall health of our wellness patients. Our geriatric and/or arthritic patients also benefit from chiropractic and massage through enhanced comfort of diseased joints, as well as relief from tight, overworked muscles.
IPC patients receiving chiropractic care can experience a more normalized gait and subsequent decreased risk of injury during normal daily activities or competitive endeavors. Considering every tissue in the body is affected by chiropractic adjustment, even acute and chronic disease progression can be positively impacted by a regular schedule of adjustments. Because chiropractic adjustment increases a pet’s overall comfort and longevity, as well as potentially reducing a pet’s exposure to long term pharmaceutical use, it is truly an important part of healing and health maintenance.
Chiropractic alignments are usually performed with the pet standing or lying down and their human companions nearby. An adjustment can be completed in less than half an hour. Dogs and cats generally find chiropractic attention to be a comfortable experience, with many pets actually enjoying the gentle manipulations. Most pets are able to return to normal activity immediately following an appointment, often with renewed vigor and mobility. The appropriate schedule of adjustments varies and so is individually prescribed by the IPC veterinarian.
Veterinary chiropractic adjustment must only be performed by a practitioner skilled in chiropractic theories, as well as animal anatomy. Certification programs providing such training are available to graduate veterinarians. At IPC, two of our veterinarians have successfully completed a chiropractic certification program and have over 15 years of collective experience in this area. Chiropractic adjustment may be recommended by your Integrative Pet Care team for conditions such as:
Neck/back pain
Epilepsy
Lick granuloma
Immune dysfunction
Organ dysfunction
Maintenance for athletes
Behavioral aggression
Lameness
General health and wellness
Stiffness
Muscle weakness
Urinary incontinence
Hunched or swayed back
Questions about veterinary chiropractic or want to schedule a veterinary chiropractic appointment? Call 773-269-2964 and a member of our patient services team will be happy to assist you.
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