How Do Pets Benefit from a Chiropractic Adjustment?

You’ve probably heard how beneficial chiropractic care was for humans, but did you know that animals can benefit from it too? That’s right, your pets benefit from a chiropractic adjustment as well! Vets discovered that the treatments and techniques used in chiropractic care have benefits for pets as well. This is why you can find vets and chiropractors offering treatments for animals like horses, cats, and dogs.

But you’re probably wondering what exactly chiropractic treatment can do for your furry friend. We’ll show you the ways pets benefit from chiropractic adjustment, so read on!

Pets Benefit from Chiropractic Adjustment

,,What is Animal Chiropractic Care?

Let’s first talk about what animal chiropractic care is.

Animal chiropractic care is the diagnosis and treatment of dysfunctional joints of the spine and extremities, as well as vertebral subluxation complexes (VSCs). These involve functional, pathological, and structural changes in the spinal column, which affect the nervous system. Ultimately, they affect the visceral and musculoskeletal systems as well.

Almost any species of any age can receive and benefit from chiropractic adjustments, provided that the animal is safe to work with and is receptive to the treatment.

Chiropractors will adjust to meet the animal’s needs and they have received adequate training to provide such services. As long as you work with a reputable chiropractor, your pets are safe.

There are various signs that may indicate your pet will need to see an animal chiropractor. For cats and dogs, it may be things like not wanting to play or jump as usual, running at an unusual angle, or being less active. This may mean something is out of alignment.

In horses, it can mean an uneven gait, poor performance, bucking under tack, or resisting the bridle.

Here are other signs to watch out for:

General apathy or lethargy
Depressed attitude or loss of enjoyment
Hunched back
Sitting or standing in an abnormal position (they may tilt to one side)
Difficulty lying down or standing up
Decreased mobility
Limping
Weak front legs
Dragging back legs

How Do Pets Benefit from Chiropractic Adjustment?

Now, on to the question, “how do pets benefit from chiropractic adjustment?”

These treatments can restore your pet’s normal range of motion, which will then decrease its pain and dysfunction. Your pet will move at ease, feeling more comfortable and happier!

But it’s more than just treating symptoms. Similar to human chiropractic treatment, animal chiropractic treatments aim to adjust the musculoskeletal system to reduce strain in your pet’s joints, improve circulation, and adjust anything that isn’t in the proper place.

When your pets age, they will greatly benefit from chiropractic adjustments for conditions like arthritis. This is because such treatments will allow them to have more flexibility and endurance. Moreover, chiropractic care can help manage and prevent chronic pain and injuries. This is beneficial for breeds with a higher risk of health issues.

The benefits don’t stop there! Did you know that chiropractic adjustments can help with your pet’s mental health as well? It can help relieve any stress and anxiety in pets. That’s because nervous system imbalance is associated with pain and depression, affecting your pet’s emotional wellness.

Chiropractic care helps reduce cortisol levels in the body so your pet feels less stressed. And since it also relieves pain, the happier your pet will be as they can move and jump around, as usual, ready for playtime. That way, your pet’s overall health stays in top condition, so there is a higher chance they will live a long and healthy life.

Conditions Treated

Chiropractic adjustments for pets are useful if they are diagnosed with a biomechanical or neurological problem, like:

Chronic musculoskeletal conditions
Acute tension and stiffness
Incontinence
Separation anxiety
Muscle spasms and nerve issues
Lick granulomas
Joint pathologies

What to Expect in Animal Chiropractic Adjustments

Before anything else, you will need to have your pet’s veterinarian conduct a traditional physical exam. The vet will assess the animal’s mobility and spinal and peripheral limb movement, checking for chiropractic subluxations on the spine. Your vet can either accept or reject the recommendation for chiropractic adjustment based on the exam’s results.

During the exam, your pet will be palpated for any tender areas and will be evaluated for asymmetry based on how they stand, sit, lie down, and walk. X-rays may also be done to assess your pet for chiropractic adjustments.

If the veterinarian determines your pet is a candidate for chiropractic care, then the adjustment treatment will be booked and conducted. Chiropractic adjustments will consist of low-amplitude and high-velocity thrusts in specific directions in specific joints to improve mobility. You may hear a pop or crack and that’s okay! Fortunately, most pets will stay compliant during the procedure, feeling much better afterward.

Do note that these adjustments must be conducted regularly for better effectiveness in pets. Most pets will require more than one appointment while others require ongoing sessions. Moreover, we emphasize the need for your pet to be checked by a veterinarian before scheduling a chiropractic adjustment.

While it is one of the safest veterinary treatments available, your vet must rule out any condition that may require further treatment such as medication and surgery. Even then, the veterinarian may recommend combining chiropractic care with conventional and alternative therapies.

And lastly, make sure that you do your research and select a reputable chiropractor with adequate training, certification, and experience with pet chiropractic care. Some veterinarians are licensed to perform chiropractic adjustments for pets, while there are chiropractors who have received training to specialize in animals.

Wrapping It Up

We hope that this article informed you of how pets benefit from chiropractic treatment. Now that you know more about chiropractic treatments for pets, why not book a session for you or your furry friend now?

Connect with us on Social

Book Today!