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Tag: Animal chiropractic

  • 8 signs your dog needs a chiropractor | Animal Wellness Magazine

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    Is your dog acting “off?” Discover eight subtle signs they may be out of alignment — and how canine chiropractic care can help restore their health and happiness.

    As dog lovers, we pride ourselves on knowing our best friends inside and out. But when it comes to identifying physical discomfort, we’re often one step behind. Subtle, slow-building issues are the hardest to notice.

    Dogs don’t always limp when they’re hurting. They don’t always yelp when something’s out of place. In fact, dogs are masters of adaptation. That’s why dog parents often overlook spinal misalignments (or vertebral subluxations) for weeks, months, or even years. The problems only become obvious when they start causing major dysfunction.

    So how do you know when your dog might be out of alignment? Here are eight signs your dog needs a chiropractor — and why they matter.

    1. Changes in mobility or unwillingness to move

    This is one of the most common indicators that something’s wrong, but it’s also one of the most misattributed. If your dog hesitates to jump on the couch, avoids stairs, or takes longer to get up from a nap, you might think they’re “just getting older.” But in many cases, subluxations restrict spinal motion and cause joint discomfort.

    Dogs with lower back or sacral misalignments often avoid jumping, twisting, or quick acceleration. You may notice they plant their back feet awkwardly or lose power in their hindquarters. These changes can appear gradually. You might not realize how limited your dog has become until an adjustment improves their mobility.

    1. Postural changes or uneven musculature

    A dog’s posture tells us a lot about their spinal health. Some postural signs of misalignment include:

    • A roached (arched) back
    • One hip higher than the other
    • A head carried lower than usual
    • Tail held stiff or to one side
    • Front legs splayed or rotated outward
    • Shoulders or ribs appearing uneven

    Over time, these structural imbalances cause the muscles to compensate. If one leg does more of the work, it becomes bulkier. The other may atrophy. You might notice uneven wear on the nails or hair thinning in certain areas. Calluses may also form on pressure points when dogs lie or sit abnormally.

    1. Changes in behavior or temperament

    Pain doesn’t always show up as a limp — it often shows up as a mood. Dogs that are uncomfortable may become more reactive, anxious, or irritable. You might hear more growling during grooming or notice that your normally friendly dog has started avoiding touch.

    This makes sense when we consider that the spine doesn’t just affect movement — it affects the nervous system. A misaligned vertebra creates tension along nerve pathways, which makes your dog feel “on edge” without an obvious source of pain.

    Did you know? Many dogs labeled as aggressive, sensitive, or stubborn are actually trying to protect a sore area of their body. Once their discomfort is addressed with chiropractic care, their behavior softens significantly.

    1. Asymmetrical movement or gait changes

    Watch how your dog walks, trots, and turns. Movement asymmetry can be a subtle but important sign of misalignment. Things to look for include:

    • “Bunny hopping” with the back legs
    • A short stride on one side
    • Head bobbing while walking
    • Tail swinging wider to one side
    • Dragging or scuffing the toes
    • Hesitation or awkwardness when turning in one direction

    These compensations often develop gradually as your dog tries to avoid discomfort. What starts as a slight shift in weight can snowball into broader issues. These include joint strain, muscle tightness, or even arthritis if left uncorrected.

    1. Recurrent licking, chewing, or paw biting

    Did you know? Excessive licking or chewing — especially of a single paw or leg — isn’t always about allergies. 

    When spinal misalignment irritates a nerve, dogs often chew the area the nerve runs through. For example, cervical (neck) misalignments can create a pins-and-needles sensation in the front legs, leading your dog to chew at their wrists or shoulders.

    If you’ve tried diet changes, medications, and skin treatments but your dog still obsessively licks or chews, it might be time for a spinal evaluation. Once chiropractic care resolves the nerve irritation, the self-soothing behavior often disappears.

    1. Unexplained digestive or elimination issues

    The nerves that exit the spine control not only muscles, but organs too. When the thoracic or lumbar vertebrae become restricted, they can impact the nerves that regulate digestion, elimination, and bladder control.

    Some dogs with mid-back subluxations show signs of:

    • Gas and bloating
    • Sudden changes in appetite
    • Inconsistent stools
    • Recurrent UTIs
    • Leaking urine during sleep

    These symptoms can mimic other conditions, so rule out underlying disease first. If your vet can’t find a clear cause and your dog keeps cycling through the same problems, consider a chiropractic exam.

    1. Sensitivity to touch or grooming

    If your dog used to love being petted but now flinches, ducks, or growls, that’s a red flag. It usually indicates a sensitive or sore area. When dogs have spinal subluxations, they often protect the sore region. They may tolerate touch for a short time, then suddenly whip their head around. 

    Did you know? A dog with a spinal misalignment may tense up during brushing, especially over the hips, shoulders, or neck.

    People often misinterpret this as “just being quirky,” but it’s usually a pain response. An adjustment often restores a dog’s trust and tolerance for touch.

    1. Poor performance or slow recovery in active dogs

    If your dog competes in agility, herding, flyball, or other high-impact activities, performance drops can be an early sign of misalignment. A dog that’s always clear on jumps but suddenly starts knocking bars or hesitating at the tunnel may be feeling off — not unmotivated.

    Even weekend warriors can benefit from chiropractic care. Dogs that hike, run, or play rough at the dog park develop misalignments just as easily as professional athletes. In fact, daily wear and tear — jumping in and out of vehicles or slipping on tile floors — puts subtle stress on the spine. Most people don’t realize how much it affects their dogs.

    You know your dog better than anyone

    If something about your dog feels off — even if it’s small — it’s worth exploring. Chiropractic care isn’t about waiting for a crisis. It’s about paying attention to the subtle signs your dog needs a chiropractor, and supporting their health before dysfunction turns into disease.

    So, the next time your dog hesitates to jump, shifts their weight, or seems a little less “themself,” trust your instincts. They may be trying to tell you: “I need an adjustment.”

    What to do if you see signs of misalignment in your dog

    If you recognize one or more of these signs in your dog, don’t panic — but don’t ignore them either. Start with a trip to the veterinarian to rule out any disease processes that could be causing your dog’s problems. 

    If the vet doesn’t find anything, ask a certified animal chiropractor to evaluate your dog. This professional has post-graduate training in animal adjusting. Usually, he or she is a veterinarian or human chiropractor who holds additional credentials from programs recognized by organizations like the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association (AVCA).

    A certified animal chiropractor assesses your dog’s spine, movement, and muscle tone, and determines whether chiropractic care is appropriate. If it is, they’ll provide gentle, specific adjustments that restore alignment and reduce nerve interference.

    The power of early intervention

    The sooner spinal misalignments in your dog are detected and corrected, the better the outcome. If you leave subluxations untreated, they can cause compensatory patterns, chronic inflammation, and even irreversible joint changes. Addressing these issues early helps many dogs bounce back quickly with renewed energy, better movement, and fewer behavior issues.

    Dog parents often tell me, “I didn’t realize how off my dog had been until I saw how good they looked after an adjustment.” That’s the power of chiropractic care — it helps restore your dog’s normal.

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    William L. Ormston, DVM

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  • What Is Animal Chiropractic—and How Does It Work? | Animal Wellness Magazine

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    For many dog owners, the idea of chiropractic care for animals sounds either surprising or downright strange. Isn’t chiropractic something for people with bad backs? What does it have to do with dogs? As it turns out, a lot.

    Animal chiropractic is a growing field that focuses on one critical principle: the connection between the spine and the nervous system. When that connection is free and functional, your dog’s body works better. When it’s restricted, the result can be pain, stiffness, behavioral changes, and even organ dysfunction.

    The beauty of chiropractic lies in its simplicity. It doesn’t treat specific diseases or prescribe medication. Instead, it works with your dog’s own innate intelligence, the body’s built-in ability to heal and regulate itself. When the spine is properly aligned, that natural healing potential is unleashed.

    Understanding the Nervous System-Spine Relationship

    To understand how animal chiropractic works, you first need to understand how the nervous system functions. The nervous system is the master control system of the body. It sends messages between the brain and every organ, gland, muscle, and tissue. Whether your dog is wagging their tail, digesting breakfast, fighting off an infection, or reacting to a sound, it all happens through the nervous system.

    The spine houses and protects the spinal cord, which is like the main communication highway connecting the brain to the rest of the body. But the spine is more than a shield—it’s a moving, dynamic structure. Each vertebra is connected by joints, supported by muscles, and wrapped in connective tissue. When one of those vertebrae becomes restricted in movement or misaligned (a condition called a vertebral subluxation), it can irritate nearby nerves or interfere with signal transmission.

    This nerve interference can lead to a wide variety of symptoms—some obvious, like limping or stiffness, and some subtle, like lethargy, frequent infections, behavioral changes, or poor digestion. Chiropractic care addresses these problems not by treating symptoms directly, but by correcting the structural imbalances that cause them.

    What Happens During an Animal Chiropractic Session?

    Certified animal chiropractors begin with a detailed health history and a hands-on examination of your dog’s posture, gait, spinal alignment, and muscle tone. They may ask about behavioral changes, appetite, or even how your dog prefers to sit or sleep—because all of these can offer clues about what’s happening in the spine.

    Next comes the palpation exam. The chiropractor will gently feel along the spine and joints, assessing restricted movement, muscle spasms, heat, swelling, or misalignment. This step is precise and highly refined—animal chiropractors are trained to detect subtle shifts that aren’t visible to the untrained eye.

    If a subluxation is detected, the chiropractor delivers a gentle, specific adjustment. This is a rapid but controlled movement applied by hand to a joint that is not moving correctly. The goal is to restore normal motion, reduce tension, and remove interference from the nervous system.

    Contrary to popular belief, adjustments are not forceful, and they’re nothing like the dramatic “cracking” you may have seen in human chiropractic videos. In fact, most dogs tolerate the adjustment well and often respond with a stretch, shake, or visible relaxation afterward. Some dogs even fall asleep.

    Is It Safe?

    Yes, when performed by a certified professional, animal chiropractic is very safe. Chiropractors and veterinarians who pursue post-graduate certification in animal chiropractic undergo hundreds of hours of specialized education, including anatomy, neurology, biomechanics, and hands-on clinical skills. Programs like those recognized by the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association (AVCA) require rigorous training and testing.

    That said, chiropractic should never be performed by someone without proper credentials. Dog anatomy is not the same as human anatomy, and improper techniques can cause harm. Always ask to see proof of certification, and make sure your animal chiropractor is legally permitted to practice in your state or province.

    What Can Chiropractic Help With?

    Because the nervous system is involved in virtually every function of the body, chiropractic can have wide-reaching benefits. These may include:

    • Improved mobility and flexibility
    • Relief from stiffness, limping, or lameness
    • Enhanced performance in working and sport dogs
    • Faster recovery from injuries or surgeries
    • Reduced inflammation and joint stress
    • Better digestion and elimination
    • Increased energy and engagement
    • Support for aging dogs dealing with arthritis or weakness
    • Reduction in anxiety and mood-related behaviors

    But chiropractic doesn’t “treat” these conditions in the way traditional medicine does. It simply removes interference so that the body can correct its own dysfunctions. For example, if a misaligned vertebra is affecting the nerve that supplies the hind leg, restoring that alignment can allow the nerve to resume normal function, and the dog may stop limping.

    Chiropractic is particularly valuable for:

    • Performance Dogs: Agility, herding, flyball, and dock-diving dogs place significant demands on their bodies. Routine chiropractic care can improve coordination, prevent injuries, and support recovery.
    • Senior Dogs: Older dogs often experience stiffness, muscle loss, and balance issues. Adjustments can improve comfort and slow the physical decline associated with aging.
    • Puppies: Rapid growth, awkward play, and birth trauma can all contribute to early misalignments. Starting chiropractic care early can help set a foundation for balanced development.
    • Post-Surgical Dogs: Dogs recovering from orthopedic surgery often develop compensatory patterns. Chiropractic care can help them regain symmetry and prevent overuse of the opposite limb.

    How Often Should My Dog Get Adjusted?

    There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Frequency depends on your dog’s age, activity level, health status, and goals. An agility dog might benefit from weekly or biweekly adjustments during competition season. A senior pet may do well with monthly care to manage arthritis. For many family pets, a schedule of every 4–6 weeks works well as maintenance.

    After an initial exam and adjustment, your chiropractor will recommend a care plan based on your dog’s specific needs. Just like with dental cleanings or grooming, consistency is key to getting the full benefit.

    What’s the Difference Between Chiropractic and Other Modalities?

    Chiropractic care is sometimes confused with massage, physical therapy, or acupuncture. While all of these are valuable, they each serve different functions:

    • Massage targets soft tissues to relieve tension and improve circulation.
    • Physical therapy focuses on rehabilitating injured muscles and joints through exercises and modalities.
    • Acupuncture stimulates specific points on the body to influence energy flow and nerve function.
    • Chiropractic corrects joint restrictions to restore normal spinal function and nerve flow.

    Often, the best outcomes occur when these modalities are used together in an integrative care plan. Chiropractic is not meant to replace your veterinarian, but to complement their care by addressing structural imbalances that can affect recovery and performance.

    What Results Can I Expect?

    Results can be immediate, cumulative, or subtle. Some dogs show improvement right after their first adjustment—moving more freely, jumping up with ease, or playing with renewed enthusiasm. Others need several sessions before significant change is noticeable, especially if the problem has been long-standing.

    Just as importantly, chiropractic helps prevent problems before they start. Many owners report fewer injuries, fewer vet visits, and better overall wellness when their dog receives regular adjustments.

    And then there’s the intangible: the lightness in your dog’s step, the extra tail wags, the way they stretch and breathe more easily. When the body is in balance, your dog simply feels better—and it shows.

    The Takeaway:
    Animal chiropractic is not a trend—it’s a science-based, hands-on way to help your dog live a more comfortable, agile, and balanced life. Whether your dog is a working athlete or a beloved couch companion, chiropractic care supports the nervous system that runs it all. When that system is clear, your dog has the best chance to heal, move, and thrive—naturally.


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    Dr. Bill Ormston graduated from Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1988. After attending Options For Animals in 1998 he received certification from the AVCA and began using chiropractic to treat his animal patients. Jubilee Animal Health is a mobile mixed animal practice in the Dallas Metroplex area where he cares for pets and horses using mostly alternative methods. He is one of the founding instructors of the post graduate course in Animal Chiropractic at Parker Chiropractic College in Dallas. Dr.O has lectured both nationally and internationally on Animal Chiropractic and biomechanics and gait analysis in the quadruped. He has written booklets on chiropractic care in the dog and horse and a book about blending traditional and alternative care in pets.

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    Bill Ormston, DVM

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