The wear and tear of life for sporting animals takes its toll.
Regular attention to their
backs is essential, for optimum welfare and for best performance. Back pain is an ever-present risk and can go unnoticed.
However, it is not only sporting animals who need attention for back problems. Most patients, whether horse,
pony, dog, cat or other species, seen at the AVMC or on our visit rounds require some attention to their
spine, pelvis, face, head, shoulders, wither, neck or tail, whether minor or major. Most have a bad back, to a varying degree
from the almost imperceptible to the downright compromising and painful. This may be due to slipping and sliding while romping
or may be due to repetitive unsymmetrical activity (e.g. from descending from a car, coming down stairs, slippery floor surfaces,
rugs slipping, slipping on ice, turning a regular corner in a rush, regular sporting movements etc). Of course, it may be
due to a fall, accident or injury, during exertion, jumping or sporting activity. The result is often a variable degree
of back pain, which may or may not be obvious to the owner.
Back treatment
therefore forms a large proportion of our work.
There is no question, judging from their
reaction, that patients benefit greatly from their chiropractic treatment. Horses tend to relax very deeply; dogs can
become quite active and cheerful, whereas cats are ... cats. Commonly they relax and enjoy the rest of the examination, willingly
submitting themselves to the process. Usually each patient makes the immediate improvement obvious, in his
or her own way. Relief from a painful back is clearly much appreciated by most and provides great enhancement of well-being.
After successful chiropractic treatment of a patient that may have had problems for a while,
it becomes noticeable that the patient starts to take up old activities that had faded from the repertoire. This is a sure
sign that welfare and sense of well-being have improved. Clients will often remark that the horse or dog 'stands
taller' - certainly posture and gait show immediate improvement. Horses are reported to be much more symmetrical and smooth
in their action and work, with their range of movement and flexibility increased.
Chiropractic
treatment of horses forms a significant proportion of our weekly workload.
Even the independent NHS watchdog, NICE (N.I.C.E. - National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence), has recognised
the potential benefit from acupuncture and manipulation in the relief of human back pain (as of May 2009).
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