A veterinary Chiropractor is a highly trained professional with specialist training in animals.
We use our hands to assess the neuro-musculoskeletal system by assessing the range of motion using motion palpation, to determine areas of restricted motion in a particular area, comparing it to what we would expect as well as within that animal as a whole.
Assessment and treatment
We will use orthopaedic, specialist and proprioceptive tests to identify areas of dysfunction or aberrant motion and if we determine a veterinary issue that is out of our scope of practice, will refer directly back to your vet, for further investigation.
If we determine a problem is appropriate for chiropractic care, we will then perform a specific chiropractic adjustment to get motion back to a restricted area and allow the nervous system to function more as it should do, so keeping the body healthy and giving your pet, their movement and comfort back again. Gold standard veterinary chiropractors have previously carried out a high level degree in either Chiropractic or Veterinary medicine and are registered with both the BVCA and RAMP.
Veterinary Chiropractic can be used for:
- Chronic muscle problems
- Acute problems such as tension or stiffness
- Prophylactic treatment to maintain fitness
- Maintain soundness in older animals
- Enhance performance ability of sport animals
- As a complementary treatment for chronic lameness such as spavin, navicular syndrome or tendon problems in the horse as well as arthrosis, spondylosis or tendon problems like cruciate ligament in the dog.
Recognising signs and symptoms
Horses (& riders)
- Reduced performance
- Abnormal posture
- Snapping and pinning back its ears when being saddled
- Insubordination when being ridden
- The attempt to free itself by throwing its head back or up of by hollowing the back
- Swishing its tail and pinning back its ears
- Disobedience when jumping
- Difficulties with collected lateral gaits
- Sensitivity to touch
Horse and rider: When treating horses it is also important to consider treating the rider. Creating a synergy between the rider and the horse is important to minimise the effect of the rider inadvertently injuring their horse or the horse adversely affecting the rider due to an often unseen biomechanical problem.
It is a simple fact that if you are imbalanced, the horse will be too. It is an often over looked issue and many practitioners only work on your furry friend without taking into account the effect of the rider on the animal so the problem is never managed effectively.
It is worth noting that Veterinary Chiropractic cannot be carried out at competitive events as it has been proven to unfairly advantage the competing animals, through performance enhancement.
Dog, cats and other small animals
- Reluctance to move
- Abnormal posture
- Disability to climb stairs or jump onto araised areas (eg the sofa)
- Signs of pain when performing certain movements or being lifted
- Disobedience when jumping
- Altered sitting position (so-called “puppy sitting” – sitting on one side) or lying on one side only
Other animals
As you can see from some of the photos taken with my colleagues, small animals including exotics such as snakes, lizards and owls, fancy ducks and other wild fowl all gain amazing benefits from chiropractic adjustments. Due to the relatively small genetic pool and the want to breed from particular blood lines certain genetic issues are starting to show up in some reptiles. This is particularly common in Ball/Royal pythons certain lines of corn snakes and Bearded dragons.
- Common exotic issues include:
- The inability or problems with defecating (often due to somato visceral issues)
- Problems following sloughing, causing soft tissue contractures
- Problems around egg binding
General soft tissue contractures, are seen in many animals. These contractures are particularly common in birds however and are indicated by drooped wings or a generally low demeanour. Due to the powerful muscles around the torso (raptors in particular) but not exclusive too, respond very well to chiropractic adjustments. Most animals will suffer with problems as some point during their life, I have as yet to adjust a giraffe or a lion, but they are definitely on my bucket list of animals to work with.
Making an appointment
Our clinic in Benfleet, which is primarily used for human clients, has a specialist room dedicated for small animals, exotics and dogs.
We come to your stables to assess horses, see our pricing for more information.
Please complete the Veterinary Consent form and inform your veterinarian that you would like your pets to start chiropractic care. We have simple pricing for different animals.
Veterinary permission is required before any care can take place.