naturalpet
Animal Chiropractic The Benefits of a Well-Adjusted Pet by Linda Sechrist
A
lthough pet owners may consid- er animal chiropractic services as a modern-day phenomenon,
it’s been around since the early 1920s.
Proof resides at the Palmer College of Chiropractic library in a report describ- ing an equine chiropractic adjustment course created by B. J. Palmer, who ex-
panded on the work of his father, D.D. Palmer, the founder of chiropractic. It also houses the doctor of chiropractic veterinary diploma issued to gradu- ates. Today, the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association (AVCA) is the primary national source of credentials in a field of medicine that treats horses, dogs, cats, cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, elephants, birds and reptiles. Human and animal chiropractic medicine deals with describing the relationship between the spinal col- umn and nervous system, as well as its crucial role in maintaining overall health. This methodology for animals is especially helpful for enhancing performance—in breeding, training and grooming dogs to conform to the specifications of American Kennel Club dog shows and/or agility competitions— and for horses that compete as jumpers, distance race horses or barrel racers.
Exacting Practicum Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Bob Willard, in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, is certified to perform spinal adjust- ments and acupuncture on animals. Having practiced equine sports medi- cine since 1982, Willard elected in 2005 to extend his education with 200 hours of classroom and laboratory training according to the standard of the International Veterinary Chiroprac- tic Association. Willard had been a skeptic prior to his personal experience. “To help me deal with a compound fracture, my wife dragged me to see a chiro- practor. After reaping the physical benefits, I was naturally curious to learn more. Today, I treat the major- ity of my patients with chiropractic and acupuncture before using con- ventional treatments,” advises Wil- lard, who emphasizes that he finds these complementary therapies useful in preventing injuries. At one of the barns Willard works with, nearly every performance horse gets an adjustment every 30 days, because the owners can spot subtle differences long before a potential injury occurs. In North America, laws and regula-
tions governing animal chiropractic differ by state. American Veterinary Medicine
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