Indications

What's Going On

The spine of an animal or person is made up of many irregular bones called vertebrae that fit together in a specific order and move with or articulate with each other through one or more pairs of facet joints to allow movement. Sometimes a joint between 2 vertebrae may become fixated or ‘stuck’, restricting the normal range of motion. This is normally termed a fixation or subluxation. Chiropractic treats the animal as a whole, correcting misalignments of the joints (termed adjustments), organs and viscera thus restoring optimum functioning of the nervous system. My focus is on being a manager of the structural integrity of the body through gentle, non-invasive, adjustments. The body functions at its best with motion of the parts.

I employ a unique, harmonious and quiet co-operation between the animal and myself. Animals readily accept and enjoy this work, becoming very relaxed during treatment, especially if long term pain and tension is being relieved. It is a positive experience for the animal and clients notice a significant change in the animal following treatment.

horse and rider falling

This is when you are glad to have Dr. Joni on Speed Dial

The Cause of the Problem

Animals can get subluxations throughout their life. Improper posture and old injuries left untreated can create symptoms months or years later. The sooner the problem is detected and treated, the quicker the animal will respond to chiropractic care. Causes can be:

Major trauma (slips, falls, accidents, birth trauma)
Minor trauma (small repetitive accidents)
Occupation (show, sled, working dogs, performance horses )
Stress factors such as the birth process, conformation problems
Dental problems
Foot imbalance
Age factors
Badly fitting tack
Training & riding equipment, ability of the rider

Being a chiropractor for both humans and animals, Dr. Vachon advises assessing both the rider and the horse, as an unbalanced rider can cause all sorts of compensatory changes to the horse.

horse and rider falling on head

Neither horse or rider were seriously hurt in this tumble, but both definitely could use some adjustments.

When to Seek Help

Injuries or falls may be the most dramatic indication that chiropractic is needed, but often problems arise slowly, over time. The most common symptom associated with spinal subluxation is pain, which can manifest compensatory changes in posture and gait. These changes then cause stress and imbalance in other areas of the musculo-skeletal system.

The following conditions may indicate a need to seek chiropractic care:

Gait problems – cross-canter, loss of collection, refusal to pick-up lead
Short striding, tripping over, or falling in
Problems or difficulty executing desired movements
Behavioral changes – refusals, cinchy, bucking, bad attitude
Performance level decline, fade away while racing
Loss of stamina
Muscle imbalance, spasms or atrophy
Scuffing of the toes or heels of the shoes
Poll problems – head or bridle shy; difficult to clip around the head
Jaw (TMJ) and sinus problems, difficulty chewing
Head in air while jumping or cocked to one side
Injuries from slips, falls, accidents, training or event injuries