When your pet struggles with mobility issues, pain, or reduced performance, their spine and joints may be the key to unlocking their comfort and vitality. Veterinary chiropractic care offers a gentle, non-invasive approach to addressing musculoskeletal problems by restoring proper spinal alignment and joint function. This holistic treatment can help your pet move more freely, experience less discomfort, and enjoy a better quality of life.

 

At Mountain View Animal Hospital & Holistic Pet Care, we integrate traditional veterinary medicine with holistic approaches including modified forms of chiropractic care to provide comprehensive treatment for your pet. Our Fear-Free, Feline-Friendly approach ensures your pet receives the most effective care while remaining comfortable throughout their treatment journey.

How Veterinary Chiropractic Works

Veterinary chiropractic focuses on the relationship between your pet’s spine and nervous system. When spinal joints become misaligned or restricted in movement, they can create pain, muscle tension, and nerve interference. This can affect not only your pet’s mobility but also their overall health and well-being.

During a chiropractic session, our trained veterinarian uses gentle, precise adjustments utilizing orthopedic manipulation and neuromyofascial release to restore proper joint motion and alignment. These adjustments help reduce pain, improve flexibility, and enhance your pet’s natural healing processes. The treatment is generally safe and well-tolerated by most pets, regardless of their age or medical condition.

What to Expect During Treatment

Your pet’s modified chiropractic therapy begins with a thorough examination to assess their posture, gait, and spinal alignment. We’ll discuss your pet’s symptoms, medical history, and any activities they participate in. This comprehensive evaluation helps us develop a personalized treatment plan.

The actual adjustment involves applying gentle yet controlled pressure to areas around specific joints to restore normal movement. These gentle movements are created with the tips of our fingers, palm of our hand or an activator tool. Most pets find the treatment relaxing, and many show immediate improvement in their comfort level and mobility. The number of sessions needed varies depending on your pet’s condition and response to treatment.

Conditions That May Benefit From Chiropractic Care

Veterinary chiropractic can be helpful for various conditions affecting your pet’s musculoskeletal system. Pets with arthritis often experience reduced pain and improved mobility after chiropractic treatment. The gentle adjustments can help maintain joint flexibility and reduce stiffness associated with degenerative joint disease.

Working dogs, performance animals, and active pets can significantly benefit from regular chiropractic care to maintain optimal function and prevent injuries. Agility dogs, hunting companions, and show animals often experience improved performance and reduced injury rates when chiropractic care is part of their regular health maintenance routine.

Animals recovering from injuries or surgery may find chiropractic adjustments helpful in their rehabilitation process. The treatment can help restore standard movement patterns, reduce compensatory stress on uninjured areas, and speed the overall recovery process when used as part of a comprehensive rehabilitation program.

Additionally, some behavioral changes, such as reluctance to jump or climb stairs, may improve when underlying spinal issues are addressed through chiropractic care. Pets who suddenly become less active or show changes in their routine may be experiencing discomfort that chiropractic treatment can help address.

Age-Related Benefits

Senior pets often experience significant benefits from chiropractic care. As pets age, they naturally develop stiffness and limited mobility due to wear and tear on their joints and spine. Regular chiropractic treatments can help maintain flexibility, minimize pain, and improve their overall quality of life during their golden years.

Young, growing animals can also benefit from chiropractic evaluation and treatment. Rapid growth phases, minor injuries during play, or congenital abnormalities can sometimes lead to spinal misalignments that are easier to correct when addressed early.

The treatment works particularly well when combined with other therapies, such as acupuncture, massage, laser therapy, herbal therapy and physical rehabilitation. This integrative approach addresses your pet’s needs from multiple angles, often leading to better outcomes than any single treatment alone. We tailor treatment plans to your pet’s specific condition, age, activity level, and response to therapy.

Signs Your Pet May Need Chiropractic Care

Watch for subtle changes in your pet’s behavior and movement patterns. They may be slower to get up after resting, hesitant to jump onto furniture, or show stiffness when walking. Some pets develop an altered gait or favor one side when moving, which can indicate spinal misalignment or joint restriction.

Changes in posture, such as a hunched back or lowered head carriage, can indicate spinal discomfort. You might notice your pet sleeping in different positions than usual or having difficulty finding a comfortable position to rest. Performance animals may show decreased enthusiasm for activities they once enjoyed or experience reduced athletic performance without an apparent cause.

Even subtle behavioral changes, like increased irritability, reluctance to be touched in certain areas, or changes in appetite, can sometimes signal musculoskeletal issues. Some pets become less social or withdraw from family activities when they’re experiencing chronic discomfort.

Physical signs to watch for include muscle asymmetry, where one side of your pet’s body appears more developed than the other, or visible tension in the neck, back, or hindquarter muscles. Some pets may also experience difficulty with specific movements, like turning their head to one side or having trouble navigating stairs.

Safety and Effectiveness

With approximately 20% of all dogs over the age of one affected by osteoarthritis, the need for effective treatment options like chiropractic care options continues to grow. Our forms of veterinary chiropractic including orthopedic manipulation and neuromyofascial release is considered a safe treatment when performed by properly trained professionals. The techniques used are adapted explicitly for animal anatomy and physiology. Unlike human chiropractic, veterinary adjustments often require modifications to account for differences in bone structure, muscle mass, and behavioral responses.

Our veterinarians undergo specialized training in techniques to ensure they can provide safe, effective treatment. We carefully evaluate each pet before treatment to determine if they’re a good candidate for chiropractic care and develop appropriate treatment protocols based on their individual needs.

The non-invasive nature of the forms of our chiropractic type treatments makes it an appealing option for pet owners seeking alternatives to surgery or long-term medication use. While it may not replace all conventional therapies, it can often reduce the need for pain medications or delay surgical interventions in some cases.

The Integrative Approach at Mountain View Animal Hospital & Holistic Pet Care

What sets our approach apart is our commitment to combining the best of traditional veterinary medicine with proven holistic therapies. We don’t believe in an either-or approach to your pet’s health. Instead, we create treatment plans tailored to each pet’s unique needs, incorporating chiropractic care when appropriate alongside conventional treatments.

This integrative philosophy means your pet receives comprehensive care that addresses their whole body, including their mental, physical, and emotional well-being. Our team works together to ensure all aspects of your pet’s health are considered, from their physical comfort to their emotional well-being during treatment.

We believe in joint decision-making between you and our veterinary team. We’ll explain the benefits and expectations of chiropractic treatment, answer your questions, and work with you to develop a care plan that fits your pet’s lifestyle and your family’s needs.

Complementary Therapies

Chiropractic care often works in connection with other holistic treatments we offer. Acupuncture can enhance the effects of chiropractic adjustments by promoting relaxation and improving circulation. Massage therapy helps maintain the benefits of adjustments by keeping muscles relaxed and flexible between sessions. Laser therapy can help improve blood flow and reduce pain.

Nutritional and supplement support plays a crucial role in maintaining joint health and supporting the healing process. We may recommend specific supplements or dietary modifications to support your pet’s musculoskeletal health in conjunction with their chiropractic treatment plan.

Experience Compassionate, Comprehensive Care

At our AAHA-accredited hospital, we combine advanced training with a genuine love for animals to provide exceptional care. Our beautiful 3-acre property offers a peaceful environment where your pet can relax and receive treatment in comfortable, private exam rooms designed specifically to meet their needs.

Our team has extensive experience in both traditional veterinary medicine and holistic therapies, ensuring your pet receives the highest quality care available. We understand how much your pet means to you, and we’re committed to helping them live their most comfortable, active life possible. To learn more about how our forms of veterinary chiropractic can benefit your pet or to schedule a consultation, call us at (775) 853-6900 or contact us today.

The spine is designed to move along certain anatomical planes in a smooth, effortless gliding manner. If a spinal segment (two adjacent vertebrae and the disc space between them) is restricted in this movement, it is termed “spinal segment dysfunction.” This will cause an increase in the spinal fluid pressure in that segment, which in turn causes the nerves that emanate from that section to not function properly.

Restricted spinal motion will lead to muscles that are weaker, imbalanced, and filled with painful trigger points. This can also lead to organ dysfunction that will be reflected in blood work through elevated enzyme levels. Restoring spinal motion relieves pain, increases blood supply, and improves organ function.

As animals age, the motion in the spine becomes increasingly restricted. The back takes more strain due to extremity issues such as arthritic knees, hips or shoulders. Restrictions in the back then cause poor muscle function, in turn causing increased pain and debilitation. At the same time, internal organs start to become affected. For example, kidney function may deteriorate, and the animal will drink more water and urinate more frequently. Chiropractic therapy will not only help the animal feel better but may also allow it to live longer due to improved organ function. Chiropractic therapy allows an animal to move better, feel better and function better – the longer an animal moves, the longer he lives.