Animal Chiropractic Services
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Holistic Animal Healthcare Services
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Together, we design an approach for your animals to get them back on the road to health!
Your animals begin their pain-free journey and naturally healthier life!
What is Animal Chiropractic Care?
Animal Chiropractic Care is based on healthy / uninterrupted connections between various body structures and the nervous system via the spinal column, and on the role of the spine in biomechanics and movement.
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Animal chiropractic care is directed at the spine in order to modify the progression of disease.
What is the history of Chiropractic Care?
Chiropractic has been practiced for centuries in many cultures, including the early Chinese and Greeks. However, there is a distinct lack of historical documentation of its early use in animal species. In its modern form, equine chiropractic has been developed within the last century. Early practitioners of modern chiropractic investigated its use in various animal species. As a distinct practice specialty, animal chiropractic is a young profession that is undergoing rapid growth and evolution.
On which species of animals is Animal Chiropractic practiced regularly?
Animal Chiropractic is frequently performed on horses, dogs, and cats, but can theoretically be performed on any vertebrate species.
Who practices Animal Chiropractic?
Animal Chiropractors are veterinarians and/or chiropractors that have taken additional 250+ certified course hours in the art, skill, and practice of Animal Chiropractic.
What conditions are most often treated with Animal Chiropractic?
Conditions with a neurologic or bio-mechanical origin are amenable to animal chiropractic. These conditions include degenerative joint diseases such as hip dysplasia and spondylosis; cervical instability; acute neck pain; intervertebral disk disease; autonomic nervous system problems such as urinary and fecal incontinence; musculoskeletal weakness or pain that resists conventional diagnosis and treatment; and chronic back and neck pain.
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How can my pet benefit from Animal Chiropractic?
Animal Chiropractic results are often immediate, and are often seen within minutes of treatment. In general, improvements are defined as an improved gait and an apparent reduction in pain. In orthopedic conditions such as fractures or ligament tears, animal chiropractic may not replace the need for surgery, but will be useful in correcting secondary problems caused by compensation or overcompensation to the injury.
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Animals used for athletic performance or other working purposes are ideal candidates for Animal Chiropractic. By regularly assessing and maintaining maximum flexibility in these animals, injuries may be avoided. Animal athletes include horses used for polo, dressage or jumping.
How successful is Animal Chiropractic?
Like many holistic practitioners, Animal Chiropractic doctors see the patient as a functional whole, rather than as a sum of its parts. Ensuring normal range of motion of vertebrae helps optimize function of lymphatics, blood vessels and nerves, which communicate between the spine and various body structures, allowing the body to function optimally to the point that further interventions may not be required.
Applied correctly, Animal Chiropractic can alleviate or eliminate the need for long-term drug or hormone treatments. The success of treatment depends upon the degree of pathology present and the duration of the condition.
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What is the cost of Animal Chiropractic?
Comprehensive Animal Chiropractic involves a thorough history taking and physical examination, followed by a patient assessment and formulation of a treatment plan. It rarely involves a single visit, and costs will vary according to the specific condition being treated and the response of the patient. The fees associated with Animal Chiropractic are set by the individual practitioner, and will often reflect the experience and skill of the doctor. Animal Chiropractic is usually very affordable, and is certainly a cost effective way of managing and resolving pain and weakness.
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About AVCA Trained Doctors
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Once you realize that chiropractic is right for your animal, the most important thing when choosing your Animal Chiropractor is to make sure they are both licensed as a DVM or DC, and certified through the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association. Beware of unqualified people claiming to be animal adjusters. Even licensed chiropractors and veterinarians aren't prepared to adjust animals when they get their DVM or DC degree. Veterinarians receive no training in the art, science and philosophy of chiropractic, whereas Chiropractors receive no training in animal anatomy, physiology or pathology. This is why it is so important to find an AVCA certified practitioner.
AVCA certified doctors are trained in motion and static palpation, gait analysis, and proper animal biomechanics, as well as specific adjusting techniques. They use their hands, not mallets and two-by-fours to adjust your horse. They have also been trained to recognize pathology that may cause chiropractic care to be contraindicated. In these cases, they will work with your veterinarian to return your animal to optimal health.
AVCA certified doctors have undergone an intensive postgraduate course that requires a minimum of 200 hours of study and have passed numerous examinations similar to state licensing exams. After certification there is also continuing education on a yearly basis to keep up on current and new adjusting techniques. This is why you should only have a certified AVCA doctor as your Animal Chiropractor.
Canine Chiropractic
We offer a variety of services for our canine patients. Canine Chiropractic is the basis for our wellness plans. We work in conjunction with local veterinarians to bring high quality health care to the canines we both love.
We will usually start with a Canine Chiropractic exam and adjustment, branching into other modalities in the more complicated cases. Referral for drugs and surgery are always the last resort unless necessary.
To be healthy it is essential that the nervous system function properly and free from any interference caused by misalignments of vertebra that places pressure on the nervous system also known as a subluxation.
Subluxations can cause interference to the nervous system at any point along the spine where the nerves exit. This can adversely affect the function of various parts of your animal’s body, and ultimately its health.