Pet Care Tips
Chiropractic Therapy: You Want to Adjust My Dog's Back?
Chiropractic therapy has been around since the 19th century but has more recently been used to treat animals. The goal of therapy is to maximize mobility and optimize nervous system function through gentle manipulation of vertebral joints. Decreased mobility of the vertebrae can have negative effects on spinal nerves exiting the spine. This can have repercussions that effect not only the nervous system, but the entire body!
Signs of decreased vertebral mobility include changes in posture, decreased activity, undefined lameness, reluctance to move, climb stairs or jump to raised areas (i.e. the couch or bed), hypersensitivity to touch, and sudden neck or back pain. Signs of decreased vertebral mobility are not limited to orthopedics. Other signs your pet may exhibit include recurrent digestive issues, urinary incontinence, recurrent ear or anal gland infections, and lick granulomas on legs or paws.
An exam is needed to identify subluxation of the vertebrae, which is basically malalignment of the spine. Once identified, gentle but precise manipulation of the affected joint is performed. Many animals show visible improvement after 1-4 treatments. Acute or sudden problems respond quickly, while chronic diseases usually require more extensive therapy. Animals with chronic diseases such as arthritis or hip dysplasia respond well to adjustments every 2-6 months depending on the case. Do you think your dog may benefit from chiropractic therapy? Call us for an appointment with Dr. Kinney. She will be able to determine if chiropractic therapy is right for you.
