How can chiropractic treatment help your animal?

Chiropractic treatment for animals can help alleviate symptoms associated with spinal problems and bio-mechanical neuro-musculo-skeletal disorders.

Gilbert's Coombe Chiropractic Clinic can help your pet by using chiropractic to work with alleviating the symptoms of bio-mechanical neuro-musculoskeletal disorders.

If you think your pet could benefit from using chiropractic treatment you must first consult your vet. If the animal is lame then it must be assessed by your vet first. If you have any questions about employing chiropractic treatment for animals please call us today. We can consult you regarding the best way to help them feel more comfortable and the most appropriate path to take.  

The principals of chiropractic apply whether the body is bi-pedal or quadruped - we are treating vertebral subluxation complexes - where the joint is fixed within its normal range of motion causing restriction of movement and dysfunction of the surrounding muscles and ligaments. The aim is to treat the cause of the pain, not just the symptoms.

Treatment is tailored to the animal and can include adjustments which consist of a short, quick thrust to a joint, this helps to release the muscle spasm, alleviate pain and restores the normal range of motion. Treatment also includes sort-tissue massage and manipulation, stretching and strengthening exercises, as well as rehabilitation and modified exercise advice to try to ensure that the animal has the necessary level of strength and fitness to cope with its activities, reducing the risk of further injury. 

Joint pain in animals can be caused by:

• Trauma - falls, trips or slips
• Transportation
• Birthing difficulties
• Breed - some breeds are pre-disposed to problems
• Confinement - although sometimes unavoidable, research has shown that the early signs of degenerative changes occur in joints after just 3 days confinement
• Performance - every discipline stresses the body in a different specific way & can cause repetitive micro-trauma
• Everyday activities - often injuries arise from the accumulation of small problems which can arise from any normal situation.

For horses there is also the consideration of:

• Saddle - must fit the horse and disperse the rider's weight evenly & should also fit the rider so that they are balanced
• Rider - problems with rider's seat can lead to back problems in the horse
• Harness - as with the saddle, a harness should fit the horse and disperse the weight evenly
• Shoes - the shoeing of a horse can change the horse's movement

For dogs:

• Collar or harness - by pulling on a lead this can cause strain on the neck

Possible symptoms could be:

• Neck or back pain
• Reduced performance
• Abnormal posture
• Abnormal gait rhythm
• Stiffness, shortening of stride or undefined lameness
• Reluctance to jump
• Changes in behaviour
• Hypersensitivity to touch
• Muscular atrophy

Please remember, chiropractic care for animals does not replace traditional veterinary medicine. This includes dispensing of or recommendations for medications, surgery and injections.