What Do We Treat?

Animal chiropractors treat Vertebral Subluxation Complexes (VSC). Chiropractic is concerned with the preservation and restoration of health and focuses particular attention on the vertebral subluxation complex (VSC).

A VSC is a multifaceted condition of functional and/or structural pathological articular changes that compromise neural integrity and may influence organ system function and general health. It is evaluated, diagnosed, and managed through the use of chiropractic procedures based on the best available rational and empirical evidence.

The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) defines a VSC “as an aberrant relationship between two adjacent articular structures that may have functional or pathology sequence, causing an alteration in the biomechanical and/or neurophysiological reflections of these articular structures, their proximal structures and/or body systems that may be directly or indirectly affected by them.”

The VSC is Treated By…

The VSC is treated by the Animal Chiropractor utilizing an Adjustment. An adjustment is defined as a very specific, short lever, high velocity, controlled thrust, by hand or instrument, that is directed at specific articulations to correct vertebral subluxation complexes and/or other subluxation complexes throughout the body.

Animal Chiropractic Does Not…

Animal chiropractic does not include the dispensing or recommendations for dispensing medications, performance of surgery, injections of medications or the replacement of necessary traditional veterinary care. Animal Chiropractic is integrated with concurrent veterinary primary care.

Protocol of Animal Chiropractic

The treatment procedures utilized in Animal Chiropractic include the adjustment of vertebrae, the adjustment of the extremities and the adjustment of cranial sutures. Animal chiropractic care also includes management advice as to what is needed to insure proper response to chiropractic care.

The practice of Animal Chiropractic includes taking a thorough case history, consisting of at least, subjective information from the owner, information previously determined from examinations radiographs or laboratory analysis, and information as to previous diagnoses and therapies.

Animal Chiropractic includes an examination of the animal patient prior to spinal, extremity or cranial adjustments. The examinations performed include, but are not limited to: posture analysis, gait analysis, vertebral, extremity and cranial static palpation, vertebral and extremity motion palpation, short leg analysis, orthopedic evaluation and neurological evaluation.

The information from the case history and examination are combined to determine a working diagnosis. The Animal Chiropractor must decide what course of action to proceed with, including adjusting vertebral subluxation complexes, adjusting subluxation complexes in the extremities, and/or referring the patient back to his primary care veterinarian for further examination or care.

This procedure of triage is called “gate-keeping.” Gate-keepers are simply doctors that provide a “portal of entry” for the patient at which time the patient is triaged and decisions are made as to which doctors might best treat the conditions of a patient at any particular time.

The animal patient MUST always have concurrent care by a primary care veterinarian.

The contents of this page were taken from the Options for Animals, Wellsville Kansas. http://www.animalchiro.com.

Links