Animal Chiropractic
I went to a pet expo yesterday and talked with a chropractor. What she said made alot of sence so me. It has always scared me to have it done to myself. Should I have it done to my dog? She mentioned that after the treatment then hydrotherapy works even more. I'd be willing to try it for Frankie if it's safe and effective. Lisa and Frankie |
|
|
| I haven't per se - but Simon has had it done as part of a demo. Our Bassetfest (near Milwaukee) event each year has speakers and demos. A couple yrs ago I did a talk about therapy dogs, and an animal chiro was the speaker after me. I stuck around, as the topic interests me. She made a lot of good points. As she talked, people asked questions. She was trying to explain some points, saying it would be easier if she had a dog to show us...so I volunteered Simon! Then she did a demo with him. She was talking about cervical ROM, and she had me stand in front of Simon. Then slide to the left, then right. Simon turned his head as I moved - we were looking for his active (unassisted) ROM in each direction. Then she did a couple simple and quick adjustments...then had me do the same moving again. It was very obvious that he could move his neck further in each direction afterwards....very cool! I haven't had any big need to pursue it locally, but if I had need, I would do it. Kristine has done it with Chewie's relatives - and she says it helps too. |
| I know this will start a firestorm with some, but go to quackwatch.org and check out chiropractic for humans (they have a chirobase there, I think...you'll easily find the link). Look at the reality of chiro for humans and then decide if you want to involve your dog. (And yes, I know, those who swear by it will be mad at me, but this is actual scientific information, not anecdotal stuff.) I am now putting on my suit of armour, and quietly backing away from this thread. |
| I know a very highly regarded dog trainer/nutritionist - Wendy Volhard - who recommends a chiropractor for dogs. She feels some dogs behavior problems can stem from their body being "out of line" and consulting a dog chiropractor helps tremendously. She does alot of holistic medicine, massage therapy and kinselology too. I think she has some info on her website http://www.Volhard.com I am not giving an opinion one way or the other, nor saying I agree with the theory or not. Just providing some info for you to look into and make your own decisions. |
| I can speak from personal experience for humans and dogs. It's worked well for both species in our home. I'm very careful to investigate as I would with any medical doctor. |
| Again, trying to be respectful and polite...I know that some people swear by chiropractic, but it is based on belief, not on science. A dog cannot benefit from the placebo effect, and chiropractic adjustments do carry a small (but potentially deadly) risk. There is no science to support it, and a subluxation, curved neck/spine etc (the mainstay of the practice) cannot be seen on an x ray by a neutral, science based party. I am not looking to hurt anyone's feelings or attack anyone's belief system. These are scientific (not emotional) statements, and I know I've had people scream at me in the past for saying them. It's as hot a topic as religion for some. I went to one for a while, saw some really weird inconsistencies (lots of belief...no science). I am a science gal, and asked lots of questions which left me even more concerned, so I did some research and found out that it is not a science. And I quit immediately. My chiro told me that there would be no AIDS in the world if we all got adjustments. That statement was nonsense, but he believed it. And I ran from him. I don't think he meant to defraud anyone. He truly believes what he says and what he does. I have a few friends who go to chiropractors and asked them to ask that question. They all got the same response. Some people love going to them. I feel it's their right to choose of course, but everyone should read a science based (not chiro based) assessment, as the evidence is clear. If they then choose to go anyway, in spite of the evidence, then it's up to them of course. I would not put my dog at risk. Nor would I put myself at risk. Every single neck and spine manipulation carries a small risk of stroke due to the spinal cord and important veins and arteries. Yes, the risk is small, but there is no scientific documentation of a benefit (other than anecdotal reports, which are not scientific). Read about the "first" chiropractor. The story of what this is all based on will surprise you. Sorry, I do not mean to be harsh and step on the toes of others. But it is not a science. Read the stuff at quackwatch thoroughly, and then decide. It is NOT written by anyone trying to sell you anything. And now I will try really hard to stay out of this, as again I don't want to start fights, but I do feel strongly that anecdotal reports of benefits do not cancel out science. (You can find anecdotal supports in support of all sorts of things.) http://www.chirobase.org/06DD/chirovet.html (This is from chirobase, written by a vet I believe) |
traciels28 wrote: but it is based on belief, not on science. A dog cannot benefit from the placebo effect, Well, I always felt my boy Ollie was more human that sheepdog, guess your theory proves that he was. The chiropractic placebo effect allowed him to regain full use of his hind left leg. |
Most canine VOM practitioners are also vets, typically rather scientific people  My own vet is the one who first sent me off to see a chiro vet when Belle got hurt and there wasn't much conventional medicine could do for her and she told me that flat out. That was about six years ago and Belle's still doing herding at 12 1/2, competed at the national in agility when she was almost ten years old and DRAGS me in to the vet's office for her adjustments. That's "scientific" enough for me.If someone feels uncomfortable with it, it's not for them and that's OK too. It's not a cure all (and anyone who says it otherwise is a quack) but it can be really useful. In Frankie's case due to his orthopedic challenges he probably does a lot of compensating. The compensations, unless adjusted, can cause other problems, so in his case he could very well benefit. I take my agility dogs in for maintainence as they'll sometimes jam toes or jam their neck a bit or something like that, and better to have it put back where it's supposed to be in my opinion, but to each his own. Kristine |
| I've never been to a chirpractor, not because I do not like them, the opportunity just never arose. But, I have 2 friends who swear by their chiropractor - everytime they get a cold, they get an adjustment and, waa laa, cold is gone. Pretty cool. |
| Tracie there is a lot of information on quackwatch that isnt scientific at all. Unfortunately there are a lot of chiropractors out there making claims that they cannot substansiate, I should know I am one and I work as an auditor/trainer for the Chiropractors Registration Organisation here However there are a number of treatments in the medical field without scientific substantiation and they dont seem to make it on quackwatch to nearly the same extent, so I find that disappointing. There is science behind the basics of chiropractic but to date it is poor quality research as there are just not the dollars to put into research in the profession. My first degree is a Bachelor of Science, so I'm a science girl too. The best research I've found to date on knee arthroscopy for arthritis is that it is no better than placebo but the surgeon from Houston who undertook the study was howled down because anecdotal evidence shows that people who have knee arthroscopy feel better.  The chiropractic and medical professions have a long history (100 years plus) of conflict, to the point where there were quite a few chiropractors goaled in America after having medical practitioners accuse them of practising medicine without a license  . Unfortunately this history has carried forward and there are some very emotional perspectives being thrown about by both professions.  With a science background I am very uncomfortable with that. I dont know what things are like in the US but I have referral networks with a number of local medical practitioners and we work closely to get the best for our mutual patients. As with any treatment Chiropractic is NOT a "cure all" and it doesnt work 100% of the time for any species. What we do know is it is very useful for improving range of movement in joints, loosening tight muscles and reducing pain. As someone already mentioned do your research first. I would want to see a practitioner who is preferrably a vet and a chiro although here in Aus that is a most unusual combination so we often have to go with a chiro who has a post grad degree in animal chiropractic. Then you can only trial the treatment and see how Frankie goes. Have some kind of measure that will help you to know if he is improving ie. how often he limps, how much he limps, how stiff he is on arising. In other words a symptom that you can observe that allows you to decide if treatment is having a beneficial effect. Good luck whatever treatment you chose. |
Sheepie2 wrote: I've never been to a chirpractor, not because I do not like them, the opportunity just never arose. But, I have 2 friends who swear by their chiropractor - everytime they get a cold, they get an adjustment and, waa laa, cold is gone. Pretty cool. At the risk of sounding cynical, unfortunately this is probably one of those placebo cases I just mentioned. As I tell my patients, colds have a tendency to resolve no matter what treatment you chose. |
| Animal chiropractics you have to be carefull, anyone can claim to do it without qualifications and usually do more harm then good. Example here years ago, my peppa had a limp and someone told me to go to a particular person to have it treated, they claimed to be animal chiropractor and all they did was crack the back and make my dog yelp in extreme pain. Found out later self taught with absolutely no formal training. Ended up being a muscle nothing to do with bones/spine causing her to limp. Next time with Kelsey we have here a fully qualified vet who specialises in movement/injuries etc and does chiropractics as well, took Kelsey there and found out she had slipped disks so he adjusted that with no pain whatsoever. Part of the treatment after the adjustment was to keep her quiet for awhile then to start back with gentle exercise to not cause the disks to slip again. I learnt the hard way and would never go to someone claiming to be an animal chiropractor unless they also are trained in the Veterinary field as well. You have to be carefull with the claims they are and make sure they are fully qualified in both fields to treat your dog. Otherwise they can do more damage then good.I'm all for chiropractics on animals and anything like acupunture etc etc but it should be only done by people who are qualified in both fields of vetting with a further field of chiropractics etc at the end of that Vet Qualification. |
Oscar has a wonderful chiropractor. After my regular vet came to the conclusion that she had run out of traditional medical options to treat Oscar's autoimmune issues, she sent me to a highly regarded holistic vet (also a DVM) for alternative solutions and immune support. The holistic vet recommended a chiropractor, who coincidentally, had done chiro work on my close friend's (another DVM  ) horse and three-legged cat. He's been an animal chiropractor for almost 20 years and he is great. It takes him about ten minutes to assess and treat Oscar, and my pup doesn't even know that anything has occurred! Oscar moves so much better after he sees Dr. Hansen. Tracie, I think it's healthy to be skeptical about such things. I was very leery about taking Oscar, but, in the end, I would only take him to someone highly recommended by folks I trust implicitly. I would never have picked one out of the phone book. It has worked out well for us. Laurie and Oscar |
| I have been taking my agility loving, senior OES to a chiropractor and have been pleased with the results. You might want to look at the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association website for more information. I would also suggest looking for a DVM with the AVCA certification. www.animalchiropractic.org |
Didn't find exactly what you're looking for? Search again here:
Custom Search
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|