FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

It's usually with amazement that people ask questions about my profession... ANIMAL CHIROPRACTIC?? I have been adjusting people for 44 years - I still do - but 4 years ago I became a CERTIFIED ANIMAL CHIROPRACTOR. I love both of my careers. Frequently I'm asked many questions about animal chiropractic. Here are a few Q & A.

Q. Who can become a Certified Animal Chiropractor?
A. Only a licensed chiro or vet in Ontario

Q. Who sets the standards of Animal Chiropractic Practice?
A. The College of Chiropractors of Ontario and College of Veterinarians of Ontario have accepted the courses and examinations approved by the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association.

Q. What kind of animals do you treat?
A. Mostly dogs and cats, the occasional rabbit or guinea pig. (that's the office). Yes, I visit stables or racetracks to adjust horses.

Q. It must take a lot of strength and force to adjust a horse?
A. No, the art of spinal adjusting is like the martial arts - focused energy, direction, speed, leverage and control are the key to spinal adjustments.

Q. What are the most common conditions you treat?
A. Lameness, difficulty getting up after resting, hesitation or difficulty going up or down stairs, unable to jump, holding up a leg or hopping.

Q. Are most of the dogs and cats you treat older?
A. Yes, about 65% are 8 years old or older.

Q. Does an adjustment extend my dog's (cat's) life?
A. It may; it will certainly improve the QUALITY of your pet's life.

Q. My dog has trouble going down the stairs. Is this a problem with it's hind end? Are X-rays necessary?
A. No. It usually means a problem in the front leg or a pinched nerve in the neck. X-rays are not necessary, although sometimes they are helpful to rule out disease or advanced degeneration.

Q. A/C treat subluxations (altered spinal movement causing nerve pressure). Can this cause internal symptoms in my dog?
A. In some cases diarrhea or bladder control can be helped with chiropractic spinal adjustments.

Q. My dog has dysplasia (degeneration). Can A/C help?
A. Many dogs have hip dysplasia. Depending on the degree of degeneration, your dog may or may not need surgery - your vet can advise you. A/C can usually help a dog that has disc degeneration too. I have seen many cases of dogs improving despite dysplasia, - they are able to run, climb stairs again because A/C care removed the secondary effects of the hip dysplasia, namely subluxation and nerve pressure of the spine and pelvis.

Q. Does the treatment (adjustment) hurt?
A. No, it is a relatively gentle technique.