Dogs have an instinct to hide when they are in pain, a trait that has its roots in evolution, as an animal showing weakness becomes a target. Typically by the time a dog starts limping or dragging a leg or even worse trips over its own feet the underlying issue has been building for weeks, long before a problem actually presents itself to an owner. Those owners who keep an eye out for the early warning signs, on the other hand, actually give their dog a much better chance of making a full recovery.
Commonly misread as a sign of age are a slowing of pace on walks, reluctance to climb into the car, irritability when hands are run along the back or hips, or a change in sitting posture where the dog leans to one side more often than not. These aren’t just personality changes or the natural wear and tear of getting older. A dog chiropractor will look at these signs as a potential physical issue with a structural cause, such as a misalignment or a buildup of tension that is straining the dog’s musculoskeletal system.
- It is worth watching out for leaning to one side when sitting, as this can be a pretty early sign of a postural imbalance.
- Also worth keeping an eye out for is an abnormal gait or reluctance to climb the stairs these can be clear signs that something is amiss before any obvious limping shows up.
- People who know their dogs well tend to catch the early signs of a problem way before those who don’t. Anyone who has ever had a pet knows how much their day-to-day behaviour can give away the state of their health.
- A vet should always check out any concerns before consulting a dog chiropractor or at the very least run alongside the chiropractic assessment.
What On Earth Actually Does a Canine Chiropractor Do – and Where Does It Stop?
Canine chiropractic is all about getting the spine and musculoskeletal system working properly again. The spine is the home of the spinal cord – which is the nerve highway that carries information between the brain and every single limb and organ in the dog. When spinal joints lose their natural movement or alignment, the nerve communication can get disrupted and all sorts of problems can start to show up – pain, stiffness, an odd gait or reduced function. A dog chiropractor uses gentle, targeted adjustments to get the joints moving properly again.
What it does not do is replace your vet – a dog chiropractor is not a vet unless they have dual qualifications. They don’t diagnose disease, they don’t give medication and they don’t do surgery. The proper approach is to work alongside the vet – not instead of them.
- Common signs and symptoms that a chiropractor sees a lot of include joint pain, arthritis, gait issues and post op pain and that’s just for starters.
- Breed-specific risks to keep an eye out for include IVDD in dachshunds, hip dysplasia in German Shepherds and overuse in working dogs.
- The type of treatment is all manual the chiropractor works it all out by hand not an anaesthetic in sight not even to make the dog more comfortable.
- The actual process works along the same lines as physiotherapy for a human – you get acute, then corrective and then you have to keep the dog in a regular maintenance routine to keep things on track.
The Sort of Conditions That Do Well with Canine Chiropractic
IVDD (Intervertebral disc disease) is right up there as one of the most common problems a chiropractor sees and the good news is, for a lot of dogs, a chiropractor can be a really useful tool in managing the symptoms without too much surgery or medication. Low-to-ground breeds (dachshunds, corgis, basset hounds etc.) are at a much higher risk of spinal disc problems and chiropractic can be a part of the non-surgical management plan for these dogs. Hip dysplasia also causes a lot of tension in other muscles and that is where a chiropractor can step in reducing the load that’s put on the joint without all the nasty side effects that you get with pharmaceuticals.
What to Expect at a Canine Chiropractic Appointment?
The first thing your vet will do is get the full story from you about your dog’s health history – when the problem started, how their activity levels have changed, what meds they’re on, and any recent visits to the vet or scans they’ve had. Before any adjustments get made, the chiropractor will take a good hard look at how your dog is moving around, not leading, just letting them go about it in their own way to see if there are any tell-tale signs of imbalance or restriction. Then they’ll run through a thorough physical check-up of all the joints, muscles and supporting structures, paying extra close attention to how well the spinal segments can move.
If it turns out your dog needs an adjustment, it’s typically done by hand with gentle pressure that’s just right for each joint. Most dogs don’t even flinch, and some even seem to relax on the spot. One session usually isn’t enough to sort out a long-standing problem, so you can expect a series of appointments that build on each other much like physiotherapy for humans.
- If your dog is really sick or has just had surgery, you may need to get a vet referral to see them.
- Before the first appointment, bring along any recent vet records and any scans you have they might come in handy.
- Keep an eye on how your dog is moving in the 24 to 48 hours after the adjustment a bit of soreness during that time is actually a normal response.
How to Find a Qualified Practitioner – and What Qualifications to Ask For?
If you’re in Australia, the only really reputable animal chiropractic training comes from Animal Biomechanical Professionals Australia (ABPA). Their members have a degree in vet science, chiropractic or osteopathy, plus a Graduate Diploma in Animal Biomechanical Medicine that’s a postgrad qualification that takes at least two years of practical experience before you can even apply. And that’s the standard you should be looking for when you’re searching for a “dog chiropractor”.
On the other hand, there are a few warning signs to watch out for: if the practitioner you’re looking at doesn’t have any special training in animal chiropractic, or if their clinic lists animal treatment as just one of many services on the menu with no sign of a dedicated dog caseload. Just ask them straight out, “Are you registered with ABPA?” and “How many dogs do you see every week?” That’ll give you a pretty good idea of their qualifications and their experience with dogs.
