Comments on: Veterinary Chiropractic/ Spinal Manipulation/ Veterinary Orthopedic Manipulation

By: Dr. Tracy Lord D.V.M.

Dr. Tracy Lord D.V.M. — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 15:53:07 +0000

It is possible it could help although acupuncture would be my first choice for such a case. I would recommend that you bring her to a veterinarian or animal certified chiropractor and see if they feel they could help. Good luck
Dr Lord

By: Tawnya Schar

Tawnya Schar — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 05:34:21 +0000

My childrens 13″ beagel suddenly lost function to hold her self up. She has feeling in her paws and legs and can manuever her hips and no loss of bladder or bowel function. My DVM Dr. believes it to be a slipped disk/pinched spinal cord problem. We are able to manage pain but want to know if you think chiropractic or spinal manipulation would help her regain the use of the legs? We don’t have $5,000 for a surgery. Our Dr. did try limited amounts of acupuncture. Please help with any additional options we might try. Sincerely, Sad in central Wisconsin

By: Sal Palmisano

Sal Palmisano — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 06:39:32 +0000

Many individuals says – healthy pet – healthy pet owner, so I think Standard veterinarian check-up can be quite important for puppy health also the proper nutritian.

By: Arnulfo Brouillet

Arnulfo Brouillet — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 22:03:32 +0000

Thank you for the article and for publishing a attractive website. I have been seeking reliable information on natural health and may put these recommendations to practice. I have found it difficult to locate solid ideas, as there are so many sites with junk information. Definitely keep the good stuff coming!

By: Larry Mullis

Larry Mullis — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:46:35 +0000

I have a doberman approx 8 years. My vet thinks he has pinched spinal cord. Dog is unable to walk. Happened suddenly. Prognosis is surgery only or euthanize. Do not even want to consider latter. Are their other options. Please email your advice.

By: Dr Tracy Lord

Dr Tracy Lord — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 02:03:02 +0000

In many, if not most states in the US, chiropractic is a term defined as being used on humans. In fact, the American Chiropractic Association defines chiropractic as “a branch of the healing arts which is concerned with HUMAN health and disease processes. It goes on to to say “….procedures specifically include the adjustment and manipulation of the articulations and adjacent tissues of the HUMAN BODY.

This definition was challenged in Michigan in 1998 and it was upheld by the court of appeals that chiropractic is an exclusively human term. I completed my animal chiropractic training in 2004, and whether a veterinarian could be challenged or sued for using the term was certainly a point of discussion. Some veterinarians are unsure enough of what the outcome would be in such a case in their States that they choose not to use the term chiropractic.

The other place where this definition becomes significant is with human chiropractors adjusting animals. Most states that I know of restrict chiropractors from adjusting animals unless they have a referral from the pet’s veterinarian. Other states state that a human chiropractor must work with the veterinarian.

My point in this post was to make people aware that when looking for an animal chiropractor, they may see the term spinal manipulation used in lieu of chiropractic. Certainly, there is a Veterinary Chiropractic Association and the term is used widely by the large associations. Still, many individual veterinary practitioners stear clear of the term in the phone book or in other venues so as to avoid the possibility for any controversy.

I think that the site you were referencing is http://www.avcadoctors.com. It is a very good site and gives a good discription of chiropractic and how it works. I have on my cue of articles to write, one regarding chiropractic medicine, how and why it works. Perhaps I will modify this one in the future to include such information. I agree that that is information not covered here and maybe it should be.

I have many clients who are confused by the terms used for adjusting animals and felt that a post on the different terms and their meanings would be helpful for those who were seeking chiropractic care for their pets and seeing terms possibly unfamiliar to them.

As a veterinarian certified in both VOM and animal chiropractic, I have certainly seen positive results from both modalities and do not mean to suggest that VOM is not potentially benificial. I, however, opt to apply forces to my patients backs to adjust them only where I feel and adjustment is needed. Please note that I have NO problems using a chiropractic activator and do use one on occasion. I just restrict my use of such an instrument to those areas that I feel are subluxated.

By: Leah

Leah — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 19:57:44 +0000

Dear Dr. Lord,
Dr. Giggleman, the president of American Veterinary Chiropractic Association would be happy to discuss the difference between VOM and animal chiropractic. Chiropractic is not a term used exclusively when referring to humans. Your description of VOM is quite similar to his, but he is better at explaining the more specific chiropractic adjustment and how it contrasts. In my experience, both the VOM and animal ciropractic have worked wonders for our dog. I am a “people chiropractor” who attended Parker College of Chiropractic, where Dr. G is academic dean. See http://www.avca.org for more information.