Kentlands Veterinary Hospital is proud to offer chiropractic care for animals, in addition to the more traditional veterinary medicine offered at the hospital.
What is veterinary chiropractic care? Chiropractic care focuses on the health and proper movement of all joints in the body, but especially the proper functioning of the spinal column. This is a holistic approach to many of the health and performance problems of the dog based on movement and symmetry. However, chiropractic care does not replace traditional veterinary medicine and surgery. Chiropractic care offers and provides an alternative method of treatment that often complements traditional care. Used concurrently, many of your pet’s musculoskeletal conditions respond dramatically, and rehabilitation can take place quickly and efficiently. Animal chiropractic care involves adjustment of subluxations of the spinal column, extremity joints, and skull bone junctions called cranial sutures.
Why choose chiropractic care for my pet? Restoring normal motion to the spinal joints and improving the function of the nervous system may help an animal in one or more of the following areas:
Returning to full function
Relief of pain and symptoms
Promoting full and more rapid healing
Reducing the likelihood, severity, and frequency of recurrences
Prevent the development of degeneration
If your pet has any of the following symptoms or issues, chiropractic care may be appropriate for them:
Back, neck, leg, or tail pain
Seizures or neurological problems
Recurrent vomiting, respiratory or urinary tract infections, diarrhea, or constipation
Injuries resulting from slips, falls, or accidents
Performance or movement problems
Disc problems
Degenerative joints
Jumping problems or injuries
Degenerative arthritis
Sports injuries
Pain associated with hip dysplasia
Rear end weakness
Difficulty going up or down stairs
Veterinary chiropractic care is very specific, and adjustments are made on vertebra directly. Veterinary chiropractors may also manipulate the joints of the legs, as well as the jaw. How often will my pet need to come in for chiropractic care? The number and frequency of visits required varies greatly. One major deciding factor is how long the problem or problems have been present. The longer a problem has been present, the longer it takes the body to heal, and, thus, more visits may be required. A period of weeks to months is often indicated to promote healing. Obviously, many chiropractic problems cannot be fully corrected, but most animal patients experience a definite improvement in quality of life through chiropractic care.