Last updated 27/12/2023 by The pain clinics - Interdisciplinary Health

Animal Chiropractic Treatment of Horses and Dogs

Most people have probably heard of chiropractors for humans, but did you know that they are also available for animals? Here you can read more about animal chiropractic treatment! Do you have any suggestions or questions for the animal chiropractor? Use the comment box below or ours Facebook Page.

Education

Chiropractor is a protected title under the Health Personnel Act and can only be used by those with authorization or license. Authorization and license are currently granted by the Norwegian Directorate of Health. There is currently no chiropractic education in Norway, but the Norwegian Directorate of Health approves ECCE (The European Council on Chiropractic Education) accredited education from other countries. The education is standardized at five years, followed by one year of rotating service in Norway.

In order to work with animals one must then take further education in animal chiropractic / veterinary chiropractic. There is, as of today, no publicly approved school or animal chiropractor authorization. Veterinarians and chiropractors have worked together to develop this field, and extensive animal training in animal chiropractic can now be taken at several locations in Europe and North America. The courses are only open to veterinarians and chiropractors, as well as final year students under veterinary or chiropractic education. Anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, neurology, pathology, diagnostic imaging, rehabilitation, ethics, research, movement pattern analysis, and of course theoretical and practical chiropractic are the most important topics in the courses. After passing the course, you can also take a certification exam under the auspices of the IVCA (International Veterinary Chiropractic Association) or AVCA (American Veterinary Chiropractic Association). Members of these organizations must regularly update their knowledge by attending continuing education courses to maintain their status as a certified member. You can thus seek out chiropractors / veterinarians on the websites of IVCA (ivca.de) and AVCA (animalchiropractic.org) to find out if they have this certification.

What is Chiropractic?

The simplest explanation for this is probably that chiropractic is a field that mainly focuses on the muscles, nerves, and skeleton. Animal chiropractic treatment aims to restore optimal and painless function in the musculoskeletal system. Impaired movement in joints can be uncomfortable and often occurs together with sore muscles. The animal will thus often change the movement pattern to avoid pain and stiffness. Changes in the animal's biomechanics can over time lead to overload damage in the musculoskeletal system. There are various methods that can be used to resolve tensions and tenderness in the body. Joint adjustments are often what most people associate with chiropractic. Joint adjustment is done by quick, specific, and controlled hand movements that increase the movement in the joints while reducing muscle spasms and pain. The adjustment takes place within the joint's normal range of motion, and should thus not be harmful to the joint, unless there is underlying pathology that has not been detected at the time of treatment. This is an important part of the treatment for animal chiropractors, but by no means the only method that can be used during a consultation. Soft tissue methods such as trigger point treatment, massage, stretching / stretching, release techniques, traction, and instrument-assisted soft tissue techniques can be used to a greater or lesser degree. Advice on what should be done and not done to promote healing and avoid relapse can also be given, preferably in consultation with a veterinarian.

What can cause a horse to need animal chiropractic treatment?

There may be many reasons why a horse needs treatment, but some of the most common ones include: stress, unsuitable saddle, short warm-up, hard training, boxing rest, riding technique / training methods, difficult birth, fall / accidents, and the horse not fits the work it is asked to do.

Symptoms that your horse may benefit from animal chiropractic examination and treatment include:

• Changed behavior or posture
• Increased sensitivity when touched or groomed
• Reduced activity level and performance
• Abnormal walking (stiffness / lameness)
• The tail is carried to one side
• Uneven muscle tone
• Changed head position or shaking of the head

• Irritable during bagging
• Bending and rocking
• Refers to obstacles
• Hangs on one bridle

• Bad hind leg activity
• Lack of bends in the back
• The rider is seated to one side

• Problems with transitions

For information:

Animal chiropractic is a complementary treatment that can be used in addition to veterinary treatment for musculoskeletal disorders, but never as a substitute for necessary veterinary treatment. Animal chiropractic should not be used as treatment for fractures, infections, cancer, metabolic diseases, or non-mechanical joint problems. Also, horses with acute injuries to the ligaments or tendons, arthritis, or osteoarthritis should not be treated only with animal chiropractic. In case of lameness, always contact the veterinarian first. All animals should have a regular veterinarian and regular health check.

Posted by Cathrine Hjelle Feier

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