Your animal chiropractor is a biomechanical specialist trained to diagnose and treat joint dysfunction. Joint dysfunction (also known as subluxation) is a problem with correct joint movement. A small spinal misalignment resulting in biomechanical or neurological dysfunction. It may be caused by an injury from falls, training or other activity, in addition, to limping from any physical problem. They may also be caused by stress. Your animal chiropractor works with your vet to ensure the best possible care for your animal.
Joint dysfunction, or subluxation, can be detected in many ways. There may be direct pain in the area of the joint dysfunction as well as effects to bones, joints, nerves, and organs of the body. It may also affect the ability of the animal to maintain balance or know where it’s body is in space, which is known as proprioception.
Janine Pierce & Dutch
Like a living telephone cable, the spinal cord is housed within the spine, and the spinal nerves are the pathway for all transmission from the brain to all parts of the animal.
When a subluxation occurs in the spine, the spinal cord is affected by disrupting the communication from the brain to the body parts controlled by the spinal cord at the level of the subluxation. It may also include transmission intended for communication further along the nerve pathway.
I’ve been taking my agility dogs to Dr. Eileen Haworth for years now. She is awesome! She really helped my Rat Terrier Gigi prior to many of our big events, including the AKC Agility Invitational in 2006, 2007 and 2008. I take several of my top agility dogs to her and she has worked on my champions Magi, Gigi & Perry and is now working on some of my up and coming stars including Rickie Roo.
Left – GiGi
photo: Tien Tran
Eileen is always very thorough and the dogs love her. If they start acting odd or have an injury it’s off to Eileen we go. It gives me peace of mind that the US Olympic Committee trusted her with our human athletes and I know I completely trust her with my canine athletes.
Deborah Davidson Harpur
PM2 Dog Agility Team
Right – Rickie Roo
photo: Tien Tran
How many adjustments does my animal need?
The answer is simple, as many adjustments as necessary to eliminate the joint dysfunction and allow the innate healing power of the dogs body to keep it stable.
Your animal chiropractor will adjust the area of altered joint movement (subluxation) to return biomechanical balance and nerve irritation to normal.
It may take one or more adjustments to return the joint function to normal. This is determined by variables such as: the length of time the problem has been present, the condition of the animal, the amount of damage that has been done, the age of the animal and cooperation of the owner.
When an adjustment is performed, normal biomechanical movement of the affected joint is reestablished. This allows the animals healing power to “kick into gear”. This is known as “innate”.
Innate is the word used in chiropractic to describe our natural tendency to heal what ails us. For example when you get a cold it usually runs its course and you feel better – that’s innate.
Vet Advisory: Animal chiropractic is in no way a substitute for regular veterinary care. Your animal Chiropractor works only by referral from your Vet to ensure the best possible care for your animal.