Veterinary spinal manipulation, or manual therapy, is the practice of chiropractic on animals.  (In Wisconsin, human chiropractors “own” the word chiropractic and won’t allow veterinarians to  use that term to apply to animals.)  Dr. Clark was certified in animal chiropractic by the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association in 1999.  She continues to be an active member of the association.

Spinal manual therapy involves adjustment of subluxations in the spinal column, extremity joints, and skull sutures.  Subluxations are mechanical abnormalities that restrict normal motion and can cause pain and dysfunction.  An adjustment involves a short lever, high velocity controlled thrust that is directed at a specific joint to correct a subluxation restoring function and relieving pain.  It is mainly used to treat musculoskeletal conditions.   It can be a great benefit to our animal athletes improving flexibility, reducing the risk of further injury, and improving performance.

Conditions that can benefit from spinal manipulation include:

·         Spinal pain:  neck, back, tail, legs

·         Oral problems:  tmj problems causing jaw pain and difficulty chewing

·         Disc problems, joint problems, limping

·         Trauma:  injuries from slips, falls, jumps, accidents

·         Sports injuries:  fly-ball, agility, hunting

·         Muscle spasms

·         Seizures

·         Problems seemingly unrelated to the spine:  bowel, bladder, and internal medicine conditions

·         Maintenance of good health

Spinal manipulation may be recommended for problems found at your pet’s annual physical exam.  For new problems, a complete history will be taken and a physical exam will be performed.  Dr. Clark will likely want to have x-rays taken, ideally prior to the appointment.  The exam will consist of posture and gait analysis, static palpation, motion palpation, orthopedic and neurological examinations.  A diagnosis will be made and a treatment plan recommended.  Many patients improve in one treatment, and some may need a few more.  Many patients get care a few times a year for preventive maintenance.  This is especially helpful for sporting and working dogs where performance is measureable.  You can expect some homework to maintain the correction and to prevent further problems.

If you are seeking a second opinion, when you schedule an appointment for your pet, you will be asked to send us any and all medical records and x-rays from any other veterinarians who have cared for your pet regarding this condition, or any other medical issues.  You will also be asked to download the following forms, fill them out, and mail them at least 1 week prior to your appointment.  This will allow Dr. Clark to review the records prior to your appointment.

 If you would like more information, please check out the following links:

American Veterinary Chiropractic Association

American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association