Is there really such a thing as veterinary chiropractic? What is spinal manipulation? Is there a difference? What about Veterinary Orthopedic Manipulation? Could these terms be anymore confusing?

Technicallythe term chiropractic can only be applied when referring to humans. Thus, chiropractic is a term which does not technically exist within the field of veterinary medicine. While the term cannot be used, however, the art of chiropractic care is most definitely alive and well within veterinary medicine. To get around the semantics, we refer to chiropractic work on animals as spinal manipulation. So these terms can be considered are one in the same.

Lets complicate things further and look at veterinary orthopedic manipulation (VOM). This is a technique which uses a chiropractic activator- a high velocity, low force instrument- to affect an adjustment. This is a valid method of adjustment which some animals actually find preferable to manual hands on manipulation. I personally have an activator which I use on occasion. The difference between using the activator as a chiropractor would and using it as one would when preforming VOM is vast. I have taken the VOM weekend course to see what this technique was and I did gain some insights. This method, as taught, however, is unrefined and very nonspecific. You are not taught to feel misalignments and correct only those areas which have problems. Furthermore, no attempt is make to even begin to instruct students how to direct the applied forces so that you can use the least amount of force to affect your desired adjustment. I have seen results in using VOM as taught, but for my dog, I would consider it a poor cousin to a true chiropractic adjustment.

I do not doubt that veterinarians offering VOM services are doing so with the best of intentions and that many of their patients are benefiting. That said, I worry that not enough has been taught to make these practitioners aware of the need for caution in their treatments. As a pet owner it is your responsibility to be aware what is being offered to you so that you can make informed choices for your pet.

For thousands of years acupuncture has been used to re-balance the total energy system of animals’ bodies to facilitate health and healing.  It effectively treats many varied conditions such as arthritis, disc disease, nerve pain, kidney failure, liver failure, cancer, and heart disease to name a few.

According to Eastern medicine, when an animal is healthy, there is a strong and even circulation of energy, life-force, or Chi which runs along well defined channels on the body surface and deeper within the body cavities.  These channels are called meridians.  These meridians are associated with internal organs, muscular and joint structures, and the nervous system.  Acupuncture points lie within the meridians, and are areas from which the flow of Chi can be influenced.  Thus influencing the associated organs, joints and the like.

For those who prefer to look at this from a more scientific point of view, we can shift and assess acupuncture from a western viewpoint.  Specific acupuncture point stimulation has been shown to produce many measurable results within the body.  These include increasing oxygenation and blood supply to areas treated; aiding in production of endogenous cortisone and other anti-inflammatory substances; releasing internally produced pain killers such as endorphins; and improving immunity by increasing white blood cell and antibody production.