Can animals get adjusted?

By: Alessa Dalcourt (@equinekinetix)

Does your dog ever get the zoomies and slips and slides across the house, bumping into things? Or does he get so excited to go for that car ride that he barrels through the front yard to jump in, bumping his head on the way? Or maybe squirrels routinely disrupt your peaceful walks and all of the sudden you’re yanking and dragging him at the end of a leash? (Or he’s dragging you)

Or maybe you have a horse, who was never designed to carry a human on its back, let alone a saddle. You kick and you pull on its mouth, asking it to do extraordinary acts of athleticism, with the added weight of a rider.

So, can animals get adjusted? Well, if you answered yes to any of the questions above, I think you know the answer. Absolutely! As a complement to veterinary care, animal chiropractic is not only beneficial for injured animals, but also performance animals, and family pets. Just like humans, animals have a spine which houses the spinal cord, acting as a support structure. When a region in the spine becomes restricted in its range of motion due to trauma and repetitive stresses, it affects the surrounding tissues, including the adjacent muscles and nerves. This can lead to pain, weakness, reduced function and compensatory changes. Unfortunately, animals can’t speak up to tell us when they are in pain, but they will show you in their own way. The following are signs that your animal might be trying to tell you something:

In your canine friend:

o Sudden trouble or refusal to jump in and out of the car

o Laying down to eat out of their food bowl

o Front or hind leg limp

o Hind-end weakness or complete loss of function

o Sudden increase in “accidents” inside the house

o Change in behaviour (more sleepy, grumpy, doesn’t seem like usual self)

In your equine friend:

o Trouble picking up a lead

o Difficulty making turns to one side

o Inability to engage hind end

o Shifting lameness

o Short or uneven stride length

o Trouble holding a leg for the farrier

o Head held high when riding

o Dragging the hind toes

o Back soreness or sensitivity to touch when being groomed

o Change in behaviour (bucking, refusing, girthiness)

When treating humans, it can be easier to have an idea where to look for the cause of pain. We are usually experts at complaining about where it hurts. Animals, on the other hand, are very good at hiding their pain. In the wild, if an animal shows a sign of weakness, it can get rejected by its pack or herd. So, how do we know if something is affecting our pet when it is not showing any obvious signs of pain? Here are ways for you, as an owner, to check if your dog or horse might be in need of an adjustment:

Canine At Home Analysis:

o Gait analysis (look for short strides or high hip side)

o Hind leg extension; should be able to extend both legs back symmetrically.

o Note: you must always support the torso of the dog by placing one of your hands under its belly to counter gravity

o Check range of motion of the neck using a treat

o Your dog should be able to bring its head to each shoulder, flex its head to its chest, and extend its head all the way up

Equine At Home Analysis:

o Check reflexes:

o Butt tuck: standing slightly off to the side of your horse’s hind end, go 3” lateral and 5” down from the tail and scratch both sides using your fingernails or a hoof pick. (should engage hind end symmetrically)

o Belly lift: standing near your horse’s girth, scratch the middle of the horse’s belly for 3-5 seconds, encouraging it to contract its abdominal muscles. (should lift and hold topline)

o Check range of motion of the neck using a carrot

o Your horse should be able to bring its head to each shoulder without tilting at the poll, flex its head to its chest, and extend its head all the way up

Now that we know what to look for, what does an animal adjustment look like? This is such a common question, and just like with humans, it can look like a lot of different things. The first thing I do when adjusting an animal is ask permission to come into their space. For dogs, I will usually crouch down to their level and let them come to me. Going straight for their head to pet them can be very tempting, but it can be perceived as a sign of dominance and fearful dogs will shy away. Once they have the chance to sniff me and accept my presence, I will then pet them and get them used to my touch. This also gives me the chance to feel for any muscular asymmetries. While predators have eyes in the center of their faces, all prey animals have eyes out to the side so they can see all around them at all times. This means that if you were to approach a horse by standing directly in front of it, you are actually in its blind spot! As a result, for horses, I will always come up to it from the side so I know it can see me. I will then hold out a hand for the horse to get used to me. Once the animal feels comfortable to have me in their space, I can safely begin the analysis and adjustment.

Since we are dealing with animals in pain, it is not uncommon to hit a tender spot which can trigger a reaction. For this reason, I always use the help of a handler for both dogs and horses. The handler can also help control the head during the analysis and adjustment, helping the spine remain in a neutral and straight position. When adjusting, I use my hands only to deliver a specific high velocity thrust to the joint that is restricted. Adjusting animals is like a dance; except you are the follower, not the leader. If the dog anxious and laying down, you will need to get down to its level and adapt your technique. If a horse won’t stand still, you will need to work quickly and efficiently and focus on the area of concern. You must go to their rhythm.

Finally, animals are much keener to letting go of their “stories”, unlike humans, who tend to hold on to their stress. After the adjustment, dogs will usually shake, and horses will usually lick their lips, drop their heads, or sigh. Whenever I forget how to communicate chiropractic, I turn to animals – they tell the story for you.