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Chiropractic therapy involves the manipulation of the spine to alleviate symptoms of pain related to the central nervous system. People have been going to chiropractors for many years to help relieve back or neck pain, or to enhance general wellness. Athletes, in general, find chiropractic useful as it provides an alternative avenue for physical therapy. But can the same manipulation of joints work with animals? Some chiropractors seem to think so.
For instance, Dr. Chelsey Giardina of Portersville, Pennsylvania, has begun offering chiropractic therapy to dogs, cats, and horses. The business, though still quite new, has expanded because of the positive feedback she has received from her customers. Most of her “clients” (as they were) are old sports animals, particularly race horses that are arthritic or have orthopedic injuries. Treating around 40 animals per week, Dr. Giardina says that her services save customers expensive bills from veterinarians.
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This may spark a trend among animal owners who are looking for natural and alternative ways in treating their pets. The practice is similar to that of humans, with the chiropractor applying pressure on specific areas and manipulating the joints and spine to help relieve pain. Naturally, for larger animals such as horses, the technique will differ slightly to accommodate them. So far, the feedback for the practice has been generally positive, with only time telling whether this will be as mainstream as human chiropractic care. Chiropractic care for animals is legal, as long as the practitioner is also a veterinarian.
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Dr. George Gertner is the founder of Upper Cervical Chiropractic of New York (UCC-NY), which specializes in the NUCCA technique, a gentle chiropractic procedure. Learn more about his practice by liking this Facebook page.
