Improve Pet Performance & Health with Chiropractic Care

If your pet is suffering from limited joint mobility, decreased range of motion or general stiffness, chiropractic care may be an effective treatment option. When done properly, chiropractic adjustments can improve overall well-being, health and performance for animals. In this article, I'll answer some common questions about chiropractic care so you know what to expect during your next visit.

Is chiropractic care good for cats and dogs?

Chiropractic care involves maintaining motion in joints throughout the body with a common focus on spinal column joints. The ability to perform full range of motion in all of your joints allows for improved health by maintaining proper blood flow and communication between your peripheral and central nervous systems.

Can a chiropractor adjust animals?

To properly adjust animals, the clinician must seek additional training. Human chiropractors and veterinarians are both able to seek this extra training to correctly adjust animals. Once they have graduated, they are legally able to adjust animals.

Do pets need chiropractors?

Veterinary and animal chiropractors are able to decrease pain from “hypomobile” joints (joints with limited flexibility or decreased mobility) as well as increase performance by working with the nervous system to improve communication on a cellular level. Pets need chiropractors in the same way that humans need chiropractors in that they can offer another option for treatment/maintenance for a healthy body.

What do chiropractors do for pets?

Chiropractors who properly perform a high velocity low amplitude (HVLA) thrust will gap joints, restoring mobility to a joint that is not moving properly and breaking up adhesions that form when joints don’t move properly over time. This joint gapping gives greater range of motion, decreases pain and improves athleticism. 

When should a pet owner see a pet chiropractor?

A veterinary or animal chiropractor should be sought when your animal displays a change in movement of its limbs or alteration of posture. This can be seen when both functional and pathological changes occur on an individual joint level and can be improved utilizing chiropractic techniques.

Are there any side effects of chiropractic for pets?

Most pets are very relaxed following a chiropractic adjustment. Very rarely do you ever need to “adjust into pain” which would cause the animal temporary discomfort. If your animal is ever adjusted and is very sore the following day, the animal was either adjusted incorrectly, too aggressively, or both. The most common “side effect” from a chiropractic adjustment is increased motion of joints with a change in overall gait. This is something that needs to be kept in mind because if an animal is not used to being adjusted then suddenly has a new way of moving, and is placed in a competition immediately, they will be more prone to injury because they are not used to their increased range of motion.

Keeping your pets happy, healthy and pain-free is our priority! Chiropractic care can offer a range of benefits for your pet, including improved range of motion, increased performance and general health maintenance. If you are curious about chiropractic care for your pet, you can contact us by phone at (330) 627-4898 or send us an email at hospital@carrolltonanimal.com.