Dog Chiropractors

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) approved the use of complementary and alternative veterinary medicine (CAVM) in 2007. Alternative veterinary medicine may include dog chiropractors, holistic medicine, traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture, homeopathy and more. They do not teach many of these things in traditional veterinary schools, but you can find veterinarians that have additional training in these fields. On handicapped pets, you can find a listing of dog chiropractors in your area.

Dog chiropractors may be controversial, but are proven to be beneficial in treating hip dysplasia. Dog chiropractors have also successfully treated arthritis and even general aches and pains. With chiropractors, people tend to have strong opinions. Whether you love them or hate them, some miraculous results have been reported:

Well I said, let's just try it. It can't hurt," said Janet Johnson who brought her dog to Gerard. "Our other option was surgery. And then it did start working and he's been like a new dog." full article

As an owner of multiple dogs, Rox Ann Kight knows all too well the benefits of a chiropractic visit for her dog. Two years ago, her thirteen-year-old Labrador-Golden Retriever mix Odie was having trouble walking and the vet’s solution was an expensive $750 surgery or devastating euthanasia. Kight was referred to Dr. Edward Lanway in her hometown of Coos Bay, Oregon. After two treatments, Kight says, “Odie could walk and run. Full article

They react very fast to adjustments, she says. They’ll give a big shake and there is a noticable difference right away. They will start prancing around, they’re happy... We’re psychological beings. We always get in the way of our own healing. [Humans are] the more difficult breed. The results have been dramatic, from a sled-pulling dog with a hitch in his stride to a fawn that was born without use of its back legs. Full article

About 2 years ago, my 13 year old lab mix dog Jesse was having trouble getting up. She would turn around in a circle and lay back down in pain. We already knew she had an arthritic mass on her lower spine and was on doggy arthritis medications. Out of desperation, I called my chiropractor and asked if he could adjust Jesse, since he has helped me so much over the years. He said he could not, but gave me the name of Dr. Andi Harper an animal chiropractor. What she did to Jesse looked a bit like hocus pocus, but by the next morning Jesse was up and about again. Occasional adjustments are just what Jesse (now 15) and Sierra (14) need when they tweak their backs or fall. Full article