Animal Chiropractic Treatment Process

Little Falls MN— The Pet-Owner’s Guide to the Animal Chiropractic Treatment Process

When your pet begins to exhibit new behaviors or changes in his or her movements, it could be a sign of pain, disease, or a medical condition. Though you may initially take your pet to a veterinarian, some spinal issues can also be treated by a licensed animal chiropractor. Your pet may have what is known as a subluxated joint, and a chiropractor can perform natural, drug-free adjustments to relieve his or her pain. In this guide, you’ll learn about the various steps of the animal chiropractic treatment process as well as the kinds of results you can expect.

1. Receive an Evaluation

Your chiropractor will typically begin the evaluation by asking for information from your pet’s veterinarian on your pet’s history and condition. If you’ve had any x-rays done or if your pet has received previous diagnoses or medical treatments, it’s important to let your chiropractor know at this time. Once your chiropractor has gathered the necessary preliminary information, he or she will evaluate your animal’s posture, gait, and other movements before making any adjustments.

2. Get a Diagnosis

During the evaluation, the animal chiropractor checks to see whether your pet has any restricted or abnormal joint movement. Misalignments in the spine can affect your pet’s central nervous system and cause negative ramifications throughout his or her entire body. Your chiropractor will combine the results of his evaluation with your pet’s case history to determine what is best for his or her diagnosis of vertebral subluxation complex or limb restriction.

3. Begin Treatment

Animal chiropractors require different training, certification and licensing than chiropractors who work on humans because animal bones and joints have some size, shape and angle differences.  However, the treatment process does include some similarities. During the treatment process, the chiropractor will carefully palpate your pet’s body to find areas with a restricted or decreased range of motion. Then, the chiropractor will apply a careful very specific angle, high velocity, low amplitude thrust to the joint that is intended to restore normal movement. Fortunately, many animals enjoy their chiropractic adjustments. While some animals may experience a bit of discomfort, adjustments typically cause little or no pain for pets.

4. The Results You Can Expect

In many cases, your pet may begin to see improvement anywhere from within a few moments to a few days of his or her first treatment. Of course, your pet’s results will depend heavily on the type of injury he or she had sustained, as well as factors such as the duration of pain, your pet’s age, and the severity of the condition. Keep in mind that some animals experience significant improvement initially only to relapse after a week or so. Chiropractic treatment needs time to allow the body’s natural process of healing, and a relapse isn’t unusual—but you should take careful notes on your pet’s symptoms and share them with your chiropractor during the next visit. If your pet does not see lasting, obvious results after three visits, Paradox Chiropractic of Little Falls MN will recommend a return to the referring veterinarian for an alternative treatment recommendation or further diagnostic testing.

5. When Your Pet Needs Follow-Up Treatment

Your pet shouldn’t continue to need weekly treatments for the rest of his or her life. However, you may need to schedule periodic appointments throughout the year for minor adjustments in order to keep his or her optimal health on track. Generally, your pet’s chiropractic maintenance schedule will depend on how active he or she is, and your chiropractor can help you determine an appropriate treatment plan for the future.

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Dr. DeAnn Adams, DC, provider of animal chiropractic treatments for pets. Service area includes but is not limited to the communities of Little Falls, Royalty, Rice, Hillman, and Swanville. Contact Dr “D” today for more information on the animal chiropractor services she provides by calling her office at 320-632-6757, cell 651-249-8446 or sending her an email.

Please note that animal chiropractic care requires a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine referral, which you can find on our Services for Animals page.