How does animal chiropractic work?

Chiropractors are typically known as “neck and back pain doctors”, but this is only partially true! They are actually nerve doctors. Chiropractors are trained to assess the spine for a condition called subluxation, where bones of the spine can misalign, cause pressure on the nerves, and lead to pain, tension, and change in body function. Animal chiropractic care relieves this stress and tension in an animal’s nervous system by correcting subluxation through safe, gentle adjustments.

Animal chiropractic care is not intended to replace traditional veterinary medicine. Complementary care is a type of care that works with your veterinarian, not instead of them. The professional animal chiropractor co-manages care with the primary care physician, the veterinarian. Wild Life Animal Chiropractic complies with Oregon state veterinary law, which dictates that animals may only be treated with expressed referral from the primary care veterinarian.

Will Dr. Bri Adjust my animal the same way That I Get adjusted by my chiropractor?

Definitely not. Humans have completely different anatomy, so require a completely different adjusting technique than animals. Animal chiropractic adjustments are a typically gentle, low-force way of reliving stress from an animal’s spine and body. The occasional “popping” sound common to human chiropractic care is only very rarely heard in animal chiropractic care.

How many treatments are recommended for my animal?

Dr. Bri’s initial assessment of your animal is extremely thorough because her goal is to identify the root cause of issues they are experiencing. Following their assessment, she will form a care plan that is individualized to your animal and designed for correction, not just a short-term patch. Recommendations for care are based on two crucial factors:

1. Clinical findings from your animal’s initial spinal examination

2. Personal goals that you will set for your animal on their first visit

What kind of animals can be treated?

Any animal with a spine and nervous system! Animals experience physical, mental and environmental stress just like us, and this leads toward the development of misalignments in the spine. Dr. Bri primarily works with horses and dogs, but is licensed to provide chiropractic care for all animals.

My animal doesn’t seem to be in pain, how do i know if they need chiropractic care?

Pain is only one indicator that something is wrong in the body, and it’s not a very GOOD indicator at that. Pain tends to change depending on the day, and can even sometimes be masked by the body even though the underlying issue has NOT been corrected.

Other symptoms pet owners may notice are: Muscle tightness, uneven gait or lameness, poor skin or coat quality, change in personality after an injury or fall, asymmetrical sitting or moving, trouble with various aspects of sports performance, and internal medicine disorders. Along with the animal’s primary vet, Dr. Bri is qualified to identify the root cause of these issues and provide care to help the animal heal.

Will I see immediate results after the first visit?

Sometimes! How long an issue takes to heal usually depends on how long it has been present. Particularly when an issue is recent or the animal is young and in good health, chiropractic care assists in a fast recovery from many conditions. That said, it is never too late to start your animal with chiropractic care, even if you think an issue has been there for most of their life.

In her initial assessment of your animal, Dr. Bri will provide you with a full summary of her exam findings, and give you an idea of when you should expect to see results.

How much does care cost?

Cost for care depends on the recommended number of visits, supplemental therapies, and other modalities included with your animal’s chiropractic adjustments. On your animal’s first visit, Dr. Bri will perform her initial evaluation, make recommendations, and go over all finances up front so there is always complete clarity.