Animal Chiropractic Animal chiropractic is a hands-on natural approach to your animal’s health care. Animal chiropractic concerns itself with the relationship of the spine and nervous system to the overall proper functioning and well-being of an animal. In conjunction with appropriate veterinary care, many specific neurologic, muscular, and skeletal or joint –related conditions and diseases respond very well to chiropractic care. Many animal owners and care takers understand the value of chiropractic in the over-all health and wellness of their dogs, cats, horses and other animals. Some of the benefits of animal chiropractic include enhanced performance and function, improved joint health and movement /mobility in the spine and limbs, reduced muscle tightness, decreased pain, and an overall greater quality of life. The application of animal chiropractic involves a small quick thrust, or adjustment, directed to specific joints of the spine &/or extremities (limbs). The adjustment helps to improve joint range of motion and mobility and helps restore proper function of the nervous system, resulting in many of the benefits mentioned above. Who practices Animal Chiropractic? Doctors of Chiropractic or Veterinary Medicine can practice Animal Chiropractic in accordance with the standards set forth by their respective provincial or state licensing boards. How To Recognize If Your Animal Will Benefit From Chiropractic Care The best type of healthcare, regardless of the profession, is PREVENTION not treatment. Having your animals checked by a Certified Animal Chiropractor before they develop problems is always the best choice. Dr. Batch believes in striving for optimal health, not just absence of disease or dysfunction. The following signs & symptoms in a dog or cat may indicate dysfunction in the neuromusculoskeletal system: Difficulty climbing stairs or jumping onto raised areas Reluctance to move, stiffness after sleeping Abnormal posture, altered sitting position (so-called “puppy sitting”), or lying only on one side Signs of pain during certain movements, when being lifted, or with petting Abnormal gait, shortened stride in one or more legs, the hind end does not swing Lameness in one or more limbs Changes in behaviour, limited performance, decreased energy or activity level Hyper or hypo- sensitivity to touch Muscular wasting or weakness Lick granuloma, sciatic neuralgia Recurrent anal gland infections, incontinence, recurrent ear infections Excessive itching at the base of the tail or other parts of the body Increased sensitivity to heat and cold Asymmetrical or reduced perspiration In addition to some of the above, horses may also exhibit signs and symptoms indicative of dysfunction in the neuromusculoskeletal system: Head shy, snapping & pinning back its ear when being saddled Insubordination when being ridden, pulls against one rein Reluctance to pick up a lead or go in one direction, pulling one way Hair colour or pattern change along the body The attempt to free itself by throwing its head back or up or by hollowing the back Difficulties with collected or lateral gaits Difficulties engaging the hindquarters Difficulty flexing the poll Difficulty working “long and low” Stiffness when horse leaves stable Brushing or interfering Rider is seated off centre due to the horse Shoes worn down on one side or horse drags its feet Animal and Human Chiropractic Care The College of Chiropractors of Ontario (CCO) has specific regulations regarding the chiropractic treatment of animals. Animals must have SEPARATE TREATMENT ROOMS at all times and animal treatment HOURS MUST BE SEPARATE from regular patients. Please respect these times. On occasion, due to extenuating circumstances, human patients might be seen during animal hours. When possible, arrangements can be made for a regular patient and his/her animal(s) to be seen during the same treatment period, but only during animal hours. Please discuss your individual needs with our staff. Mobile services for Animal Chiropractic are available upon request. Animal Chiropractic & Veterinary Care Dr. Batch is a Doctor of Chiropractic, licensed in Ontario, to diagnose and treat neuro-musculoskeletal disorders in humans with a specialty training in Animal Chiropractic. Dr. Batch will not take responsibility for the primary health care of your animal. Chiropractic care is not intended to replace traditional veterinary care but is utilized in conjunction with appropriate veterinary care to improve the overall health and wellness of your animal. It is considered a specialized complementary therapy for animals and should always be used in conjunction with veterinary care. Chiropractic and Performance Animals For performance animals, chiropractic is essential. Maintaining the animal’s spine and all joints, including those of the limbs, in biomechanical balance will not only help to prevent and minimize injuries, it will also enhance an animal’s performance. Problems or injuries that develop aren’t always evident in an animal, especially performance animals, as they may learn to compensate in various ways. Eventually however, changes in function or performance will become evident. For example, your dog might not jump as high for the Frisbee, might turn differently off the box, move slower or more hesitantly through the weave poles, and so on. Unfortunately, by the time changes in performance are noticeable, problems may have been developing for a while, as the canine athlete is very good at compensating for any pain or joint dysfunction. Preventative or maintenance care of your animal’s spine ensures that cumulative stresses of everyday activity or athletic training don’t ‘build up’ over time, thus allowing your animal to not only enjoy a healthier and happier life but also to train and compete at their optimal level. Chiropractic helps restore proper balance to the skeletal (joint) system of the spine and extremities improving nervous system function, and thereby improving the animal’s coordination, balance, power, speed, and ultimately their athletic performance.