Vertebral subluxations are by definition less than a dislocation of the bones in the vertebral column. These subluxations are caused by one of three things; trauma, toxins and stress. How do these translate into activities that may have caused your animals pain in the back? The trauma could be a major traumatic incident that every one remembers (hit by car or flipping over in the mud) or it could be a series of micro traumas that don’t seem to matter at the time they occur. A simple trailer ride with unexpected starts and stops, landing just a little off balance or jerking on a leash can all cause problems at any location in your dog’s spine. Long toe nails can lead to a change in gait, a gait abnormality due to a problem in one leg will cause stress in other joints in the body. Conformation and posture problems can lead to subluxations anywhere in your animal’s spine. Most of our animal’s have lifestyles that are very different from what nature intended them to be. Confinement to kennels and small paddocks does not allow our animals to get adequate exercise that stretches the muscles of the abdomen and back. Performance animals are prone to subluxations due to the high physical demands that are placed on them during competition. Constant lead pressure experienced by animals in some disciplines causes the muscles of the jaw to become fatigued leading to problems with the temporal mandibular joint. Something as minor as holding a tennis ball to one side of the mouth instead of in the middle will change the way that your dog’s whole spinal column moves and reacts to the environment. Age can lead to problems in the spine. The intervertebral disc undergoes degenerative changes as the cartilage ages. The ability of the nucleus to maintain water content and handle stress decreases, causing a decrease in the biomechanical function and increase in small tears and scar tissue adhesions. These can lead to problems with motion in the affected joint. Overweight animals will cause undo stress to the joints of the legs and spine as they move around. This stress can lead to subluxations and multiple health problems for your pet. The most important thing for the future health of your pet is to have these subluxations removed as soon as possible. When possible, activities that cause subluxations may need to be modified to help prevent further occurrences.

Your AVCA certified doctor will begin with a complete chiropractic examination that includes taking a case history, posture analysis, gait analysis, static palpation of the spine, motion palpation, and checking for any differences in temperature, swelling, and symmetry along the spine. The goal of a chiropractic adjustment is to decrease pain and muscle spasms in the area of the subluxated joint as well as restore proper motion to the affected joint and stimulate neurological reflexes. Chiropractic adjustments are specific HIGH Velocity LOW Force adjustments with a specific line of correction aimed at correcting joint misalignments and to restore proper skeletal movement and muscle/nerve function. The movement within these joints is minute and therefore the adjustments by the chiropractor will be specific and significant. Animal chiropractic adjustments are aimed to adjust one joint at a time and not the entire animal. Adjusting the joints in your animal’s back does not require brute strength, mallets or two by fours. Your AVCA certified doctor will use a high velocity thrust at the precise line of correction to reduce your animals subluxations and restore normal nerve function.

Incorporating regular chiropractic care into your animal’s wellness care will go a long way towards achieving a healthier animal that performs better with a more willing attitude. Most animals will find adjustments very relaxing. They may jump or start at the time of the initial adjustment but usually will begin to chew and many will pass gas after a correct adjustment is made. Remember that adjustments are very specific and aimed at the joint that is not moving correctly. There may be muscles spasms in the area where your trained doctor must place his hands. Most reluctance experienced by patients is due to the fact that your animal chiropractor has found painful areas in your animal’s body. In order to administer a quality adjustment the AVCA certified doctor will work with your animal to obtain maximum relaxation prior to the adjustment

A chiropractic adjustment is the beginning of the healing process. Chiropractic care takes time. We are allowing the body to heal itself after the proper nerve functioning has been restored. The nervous system is the slowest healing tissue in the body with supporting ligaments being second. Symptoms are not a reliable measure of the time line necessary for the healing process to take place, motion palpation and stability are. Continued care encourages more complete healing. Animals recover very rapidly as a rule, but older animals and more serious problems take more time. Some problems are so serious that chiropractic will not completely solve the problem. Sometimes referrals for laboratory analysis or radiographs may be necessary. This is the case when problems such as fractures may be present. The speed of recovery depends on several factors: The length of time that the problem has been present. The more time that has elapsed since the onset, the longer the recovery may take. It takes time to get sick and it takes time to get well. The body adapts to improper function and without proper regular care it will attempt to return to the original unhealthy position again. The condition of the animal. Older animals are slower to heal. It is not possible to return a 13 year-old female to a youngster, but the quality of her life may greatly increase with chiropractic care. Chiropractic adjustments will help her feel better. Is there a genetic history or tendency that may enhance or hinder the response to treatment. Damage. How many nerve cells are involved? What was the amplitude of the initial trauma and have there been micro traumas since? Sometimes there is simply no repair for severely damaged tissues. For example, if the spinal cord is damaged by a ruptured disc, there may be slow and minimal healing with any treatment. Remember the nervous system heals the slowest with the ligaments being second. The answer to this question is very complicated to deal with. The best answer is to allow the animal chiropractor the latitude to diagnose and treat your dog based upon what the dog’s body tells the doctor. Cooperation. The speed of recovery often depends on how well the owner will cooperate with the certified doctor who is treating the animal. If the animal is removed from care too soon, the best possible results may not be achieved. Continued care helps to retrain your dog’s body. Your AVCA certified doctor will establish a schedule of adjustments for your animal. Most animals are seen on a monthly basis if they are not acute. Some may require more frequent visits at first. Generally, after the first 2 or 3 times the visits may be extended to greater intervals until the spine is maintaining the corrections. Supportive care will be recommended to keep the animal’s spine in adjustment and will be based on each individual dog. Just as it is important to maintain the vaccination and worming schedule that your veterinarian recommends, it is important to make sure that the spine is kept in optimum condition. Chiropractic care is directed towards preventing disease in the body. Most animals should have yearly examinations and adjustments. Performance and older animals respond optimally to monthly chiropractic care.