Why Do Animals Need Chiropractic Care?

Animals need chiropractic for the same reason that humans do. They suffer pain, soreness, stiffness and poor mobility, just like we do. Animals and humans are both vertebrates, which means that they have spines. They are prone to experience twists, falls, and injuries and suffer the same consequences as us. Except that they can't talk, nor can they complain, or use their pain as an excuse to avoid responsibilities or work.

Animal spines are very similar to human spines. All mammals have exactly the same number of neck bones...seven. From mice to giraffes, all have 7 neck vertebrae. All mammals have thoracic spinal segments with ribs attached and lumbar vertebrae, and although the numbers of bones in these areas differ a little from ours, the basic shapes and functions are quite similar. It's really quite remarkable when you think about it.

The spine covers and protects the nervous system as an extension of the brain. But these nerves need to leave the bony protection of the spine in order to reach the joints, muscles and skin of the arms and legs. The point where the nerves leave the spine is where they are most vulnerable. Aberrant movement of the spinal vertebrae can squeeze, bruise, crush, irritate or abrade the delicate nerves causing pain, numbness, tingling as well as paralysis or weakness of the area of the body that that nerve supplies. This happens to animals as well as humans.

Except for the occasional bird, most chiropractic care is administered to domesticated animals, primarily dogs, cats and horses. I have heard of some wild animals and circus animals being adjusted. I have even worked on day-old calves twice, but these are the exceptions. Cats as a rule don't require spinal adjusting very often because they are inherently so flexible that they can usually fix themselves with a good stretch. Cattle have little spinal trouble because their spines have interlocking vertebrae. The spines of cows need to be exceptionally strong and rigid to support the enormous weight of their several stomachs and vast intestinal tract. The two day-old calves that I was asked to look at couldn't walk. Normally this would be fatal either from the inability to feed, or from the farmer's rifle, but fortunately the treatments were quite successful in correcting the spinal problems brought on by birth in these incidents.

Humans have problems with their spines not only from too much, ill-timed or inappropriate activity, but also from too little. Sedentary lives are often lives lived in pain both for humans as well as animals. Animals, especially dogs and horses, are usually not sedentary, not by choice anyway. They trip, fall and stumble just as we humans do and sometimes the demands of competition, racing and showing are more than they can take.

Let me give you some examples of things that I have been asked to treat. I am frequently called upon to treat Standardbred race horses, Dressage horses and Hunter/Jumpers. The actions of competition in these sports are quite often unnatural and demand that the animals contort themselves beyond the physiological range of spinal motion. Injuries are common. Trailering horses is a necessary part of their life, but it is fraught with potential problems: loading and unloading, the sudden jerks and bumps of driving, as well as the hours of standing while the trailer vehicle moves along the road.

A simple and common incident with the household dog occurs when the family changes from carpet to wooden floors. Skippy runs down the hallway and suddenly can't make the turn to the kitchen and wraps himself around the door frame. Next day, he has a hard time getting up, doesn't want to go out to play, and for many days, he can't jump into the car or even climb stairs. I've seen this scenario played out a number of times.

I have also been asked several times to look at dogs whose vets were offering only euthanasia due to non-ambulatory states, when in reality the problem was acute sciatica. Only stubborn owners who took a chance on the world of natural health saved these dogs from death and their families from the pain of losing their pets.

So, as you can see animals can benefit from treatments by a qualified animal chiropractor. Just as chiropractic has been proven to be exceedingly safe and highly beneficial for humans, it is just a matter of time before it is more widely recognized as an art and science that can promote good health in pets and animals as well.