RSS

What is Chiropractic

Chiropractic is an integral part of the holistic trend in animal health care. A holistic philosophy stresses the integration of all the external and internal influences on the organism in the study of health and disease. Holistic therapies are designed to intervene at the appropriate level and to work with, not against, the inborn homeostasis of the organism. This differs from pure allopathic philosophy that treats symptoms, often separating and isolating those symptoms from the entire health paradigm of the patient.

Chiropractic offers tremendous potential in animal health care. It belongs in the health care spectrum along with medicine, surgery, acupuncture, homeopathy and other such modalities. Chiropractic care does not pretend to encompass the entire study of health and disease, but it does offer alternative explanations for disease and provides complementary therapy.

The foundations of chiropractic philosophy are based on the intimate relationship of the spinal column to the nervous system, as well as the role of the spinal column in biomechanics and movement.

The Postgraduate Animal Chiropractic Courses offered by Parker University is known for being on of the most thorough in the United States . Most of the knowledge used to cultivate the animal chiropractic program was extrapolated from the human chiropractic profession.  Combined with the knowledge from both the Veterinary and Chiropractic profession, Animal Chiropractic is an up and coming field that is gaining both credibility and acceptance. Both functional theories and techniques are used to explain clinical results. The last fifteen years have demonstrated the tremendous benefit that animals receive from the integration of animal chiropractic into veterinary clinical practices all over the world.

How Chiropractic works

Chiropractic is a health care discipline that emphasizes the inherent recuperative power of the body to heal itself without the use of drugs or surgery. The practice of chiropractic focuses on the relationship between structure (primarily the spine) and function (as coordinated by the nervous system) and how that relationship affects the preservation and restoration of health.

In addition, Doctors of Chiropractic recognize the value and responsibility of working in cooperation with other healthcare practitioners when in the best interest of the patient.

The Association of Chiropractic Colleges continues to foster a unique, distinct chiropractic profession that serves as a health care discipline for all. The ACC advocates a profession that generates, develops, and uses the highest level of evidence possible in the provision of effective, prudent, and cost-conscious patient evaluation and care.

The purpose of chiropractic is to optimize health. The principle that guides this is the body’s innate recuperative power which is affected by and integrated through the nervous system. The practice of chiropractic includes the establishment of a [chiropractic] diagnosis, the facilitation of neurological and biomechanical integrity through appropriate chiropractic case management, and the promotion of health.

The foundation this is built on includes philosophy, science, art, knowledge, and clinical experience. The chiropractic paradigm directly influences education, research, health care policy and research, relationships with other health care providers, professional stature, public awareness and perceptions, and patient health through quality care.

 
 

Is my animal in pain?

HOW DO I KNOW IF MY ANIMAL IS IN PAIN?

Animals in pain will often exhibit changes in their posture, refusal to work, and, or a noticeable change from their normal behavior.

Tell me where it hurts.

In order to cope with the Vertebral Subluxation Complex the animal will most always attempt to compensate for the pain by changing their posture and normal biomechanical patterns thus allowing for less painful movement throughout their daily routine. Unfortunately, this biomechanical change will most always result in an adverse compensatory effect throughout other areas of the spine and body.

If your animal appears to be experiencing any of the following symptoms please contact your Veterinarian for a chiropractic referral:

  • Abnormal standing posture
  • Reluctance to move
  • Reduced performance
  • Difficulty bending or flexing of the neck or back
  • “Puppy sitting” or sitting with hind legs off to one side
  • Abnormal behavior
  • Discomfort noticed with collar or harness wear
  • Sensitivity to touch
  • Inability to climb stairs or jump
  • Only lies on one side
  • Shortened stride in one or more legs
  • Overall decreased range of motion in gait
  • Lack of coordination
  • Differences in muscle size and/or tone
  • Pacing gait
  • Partial weakness or paralysis
  • Stumbling while walking
  • Urinary and/or fecal incontinence
  • Develops problems with digestion
  • Animals who suffer from hip dysplasia, IV disc disease and Wobblers Disease are excellent candidates for chiropractic care.

Horses on the dirt road

HORSE SPECIFIC

  • Horse may show discomfort when being saddled
  • Horse may show discomfort when ridden
  • Evasion issues such as throwing its head up, grabbing the bit, or hollowing the back
  • Pinning ears, bucking, or swishing tail
  • Refusing jumps or knocking rails
  • Difficulty with collection or lateral movements
  • Horse is not tracking up
  • Inability or difficulty engaging the hindquarters
  • Irregularity of gait, which cannot be assigned to a particular leg
  • Difficulty flexing at the poll
  • Inability to stretch or lengthen topline
  • The horse may seem “off”
  • Stiffness coming out of the stall
  • Horse pulls against one rein
 

How to become an Animal Chiropractor

Animal Chiropractic

In order to become an Animal Chiropractor, you must have be one of the following.

LICENSED VETERINARIAN

LICENSED CHIROPRACTOR

Then you must go to school, again!  You will need to be properly trained by an accredited school.  Parker University has a Animal Chiropractic Course.  Options for animals is another great school to learn animal chiropractic.  The American Veterinary Chiropractic Association (AVCA) is the primary national credential for this field in North America. Certification was developed based upon input and oversight from both professions, Chiropractic and Veterinary Medicine.  Together they developed the  standards of care in animal chiropractic, conducts a professional certification program and awards credentials to individuals who meet established criteria and assessments in different modes of care.

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on May 22, 2011 in Animal Health

 

Ask your Vet about Animal Nutrition

Standard Process Vet Line

Standard Process is a FABULOUS supplement line.  Originally created for humans, but they have a wonderful animal line as well.  Its not something you can just buy off the shelf.  No, this nutriceutical needs to be recommended by a health professional.  When dealing with animals, depending on the state, your vet needs to make the recommendation.  Though with that recommendation, a chiropractor who utilizes Standard Process, may be able to order the product for you.

Its silly that the thought, YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT, seems to be more of a tag line than something people take seriously.  Often times, nutrition can make all the difference in a case.  Make sure you ask you do your research when it comes to nutrition.  Corn is a common filler in many pet foods today, however its one of the most common food allergies found in animals.

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on May 11, 2011 in Animal Health