+ Do animals really need chiropractic care?

The simple answer is that anything with a spine can benefit from chiropractic care. For more indicators that your animal may need chiropractic care, look on our Animal Chiropractic page.

+ How do you adjust a horse?

Adjusting an animal is much different than adjusting a human due to the difference in anatomy, and with a horse their difference in size! This is the reason animals should only be adjusted by certified animal chiropractors. Using our hands, animal chiropractors are able to localize joints of decreased mobility and perform precise adjustments in order to restore normal range of motion. To adjust an animal as big as a horse, it is important to properly analyze the spine and have the appropriate angle and speed to adjust. Speed and accuracy are more important than strength because no matter how strong you are, the horse is stronger!

+ What education and training does a certified animal chiropractor have?

They must first be either a Doctor of Chiropractic or a Veterinarian. Then they must successfully complete a minimum of 210 hours at an animal chiropractic program that is recognized by the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association (AVCA) or the International Veterinary Chiropractic Association (IVCA). Following the completion of the course, the practitioner can then sit for the certification examination offered by either the AVCA or IVCA. Once certification is achieved, the practitioner must obtain continuing education and apply for recertification every 3 years.

+ Will an adjustment hurt my animal?

After being adjusted an animal may experience some soreness due to removal of long-time fixations. This soreness should not last long and within a day or two will dissipate. This is similar to the first day back in the gym after not working out for a long time. An adjustment itself should not hurt, though on occasion an animal that is currently experiencing severe pain may have momentary discomfort.

+ How long does an adjustment take?

This varies greatly depending on patient size and temperament. Small animals, such as dogs, usually take about 20 minutes. Large animals, such as horses, usually take about 45 minutes. Human chiropractic appointments usually last about 15 minutes.