Pet Chiro FAQs

Posted on 28 July 2015
By Dr. Jill Tack
Posted in adjustment, advanced, advancedanimalchiropractic, animal, cat, chiropractic, dog, pet
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Now that we've started hosting pet chiropractic adjustments at the store, we've been getting quite a few questions about them! To help you better understand this form of healing and how it can help your companion, we've invited Dr. Christina Cole of Advanced Animal Chiropractic to our blog. Dr. Cole will be doing pet adjustments at the store TONIGHT from 5 - 8 p.m. Her other upcoming sessions for the next month are:

Saturday, August 8 from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Tuesday, August 11 from 5 - 8 p.m.
Friday, August 14 from 3 - 6 p.m.
Tuesday, August 25 from 5 - 8 p.m.

For more information or to schedule a session, call the store today at 248-548-3448.

Without further ado, here are Dr. Cole's answers to your most frequently asked questions:

Most Commonly Asked Questions About Pet Chiropractic Care

So what exactly IS animal chiropractic?

Simply put, animal chiropractors look for abnormal or restricted movement of the joints in both the spine and the extremities. Any change in motion, outside of the normal limits, will have an effect on the nervous system. The goal of animal chiropractic is to restore proper movement of the affected joints, which in turn flushes out inflammation and removes any pressure on the nerves.

How is pet chiropractic different from human chiropractic?

Adjusting an animal is much different than adjusting a person. The anatomy and weight bearing of animals is quite different from that of humans. Humans stand on two legs, which compresses the discs in their spines. Animals on the other hand stand on four legs, which means their discs experience shear forces. The differences in anatomy allow for a much gentler approach to adjusting an animal, which also explains why only those certified to adjust animals should do so. Using our hands, chiropractors are able to localize joints of decreased mobility and perform a high-velocity, low-amplitude adjustment in order to restore normal range of motion. With the restoration of motion, nerves are immediately able to increase their frequency of firing and improve nervous system function.

How long does a pet adjustment take?

The first visit includes the initial consult, examination, and adjustment. This will take approximately 20-25 minutes and will cover any questions you may have regarding chiropractic. Follow up visits usually take about 10 minutes depending on what the examination reveals with your animal.

Can an adjustment worsen my animal or hurt them?

After being adjusted, an animal may experience some residual soreness due to removal of longtime subluxations. This soreness should only last a day or two. The adjustment itself is not painful. However, an animal that is already sore or in severe pain may sometimes experience slight discomfort momentarily due to longstanding inflammation.

Will my animal be able to return to normal activities immediately?

Individualized recommendations will be given after each adjustment for your animal. More often than not, the animal should take the remainder of the day off to rest and be allowed 24-48 hours before resuming normal activities.

What kind of training does a certified animal chiropractor have?

Certified animal chiropractors are either a Doctor of Chiropractic or a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. They have successfully completed one of the three recognized animal chiropractic schools: Options for Animals, Healing Oasis, or Parker Chiropractic College. They are certified either by the AVCA (American Veterinary Chiropractic Association) or the IVCA (International Veterinary Chiropractic Association). There is NO Board certification in animal chiropractic.

If you have questions beyond what has been covered, never hesitate to ask. We do our best to reply to any inquiries within 24 hours, and will go above and beyond to get you the answers you deserve!

Please note that all chiropractic care is given with the consent of a veterinarian, veterinarian referral, or in a veterinarian office. If you’ve scheduled an appointment, please bring this completed form with you.