What is Animal Chiropractic?

Animal Chiropractic is the philosophy, science and art that utilizes the inherent recuperative powers of the body. It deals with restoring the important relationship between the spine and nervous system in order to regain and maintain health. The goal of chiropractic therapy is to correct subluxations for your pet.

What are subluxations?

The word describes bones which are out of position in relation to one another or are not moving properly – causing abnormal function and symptoms, usually causing interference with nerve function.

How do I know if my dog is subluxated? (Symptoms) Is she in pain?

Subluxations can cause a variety of symptoms, from very mild to very severe. The most common of which is PAIN. Dogs in pain will compensate in gait or posture and often refuse to perform certain tasks. The following is a list of symptoms that MAY indicate pain from the presence of a subluxation:

  • Panting
  • Pacing
  • Push head against a wall
  • Yelping
  • Puppy sitting, or sitting with the rear legs out to one side
  • Discomfort when putting on or taking off collars and harnesses
  • Abnormal posture when standing
  • Evasion type maneuvers such as dipping head or hollowing back
  • wringing or tucking tail
  • Refusing or unwillingness to jump
  • Change in behaviour patterns; fear biting
  • Sensitivity to touch
  • Facial expression of apprehension or pain
  • Changes in Co-ordination
SUBLUXATIONS CAN ALSO CAUSE CHANGE IN MUSCLE COORDINATION AND FLEXIBILITY.

These conditions may cause:

    • Inability to jump
    • Difficulty going up or down stairs
    • Lack of coordination in gaits
    • Pacing
    • “Lameness” that seems to move from limb to limb
    • Stiffness coming out of the crate or kennel
    • Stiffness in the side movement of the body or neck
    • Muscle atrophy or shrinking/wasting
    • Shortened stride in one or two limbs
    • Decreased extension in front or rear
    • Side-winding or crabbing
    • Stumbling on dog walk
    • Partial weakness or paralysis
  • DIAGNOSIS

    The first step in chiropractic therapy is to make a diagnosis. A thorough examination begins by observing the patient standing and walking. A chiropractor is looking for minor changes in motion that require a trained eye to detect, not just an obvious limp.

The animal chiropractor integrates the findings with those of the veterinarians’ traditional examination.

Conditions that usually respond to chiropractic care:

  1. Lameness usually associated with an inability to jump or climb stairs or go for a long walk
  2. Yelping due to neck or low back pain
  3. Injuries from falls and accidents
  4. Head tilt, altered balance
  5. Secondary effects of hip dysplasia
  6. Arthritis
  7. Roaching topline (hunching)
  8. Rear-end weakness
  9. Wobbler’s syndrome
  10. Some limb problems that generate lameness
  11. Secondary effects of cruciate surgery
I can’t say enough about Ask-Him’s chiropractor, Dr. Konanz!  When Ask-Him was 14 months old after a sudden twist, his left hind leg would not go down.  I rushed him to Dr. K right away and within 10 minutes he was fixed and promptly went into a corner to sleep!  Ask-Him at 5 yrs; was run over by  large mountain bike sustaining a painful and serious upper spinal disalignment.  Dr. K saw him after a few days once the swelling had decreased; and again was completely fixed by 1 treatment.  Ask-Him at 6yrs;  twisted wrong agian and was instantly unable to move, walk, or bark.  It took 3 visits in 2 weeks, but Dr. Konanz once again gave me a complete healthy dog.I don’t know what I would do if there wasn’t chiropractic treatments by Dr. Konanz. I most highly recommend that you have your pets examined at least once a year and always go chiropractic for any ailments that could benefit as we human do before going to the vet.  Ask-Him’s regular routine is a yearly (if not sooner check-up).  He loves it! ~Alexa La Madrid
Ask-Him | Alexa La Madrid