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The term “chiropractic” comes from two Greek terms: “cheir”, which means “hand”, and “praktike”, meaning “to practice” or “business”. In other words, it refers to using the hands to diagnose, treat and prevent diseases. Generally, chiropractors use their hands or other instruments to treat affected joints, muscles and nerves through controlled forces.
In the United States, chiropractic techniques have been performed on human subjects for at least 100 years. And over the years, the process was gradually applied to animals as well. Recently, horses have increasingly benefited from chiropractic medicine. The technique can be used along with regular veterinary care to decrease pain from certain afflictions and improve the horse’s performance and ease of movement.
Veterinary chiropractic can be defined as “the examination, diagnosis, and the treatment of non-human animals through the manipulation and adjustment of specific joints and cranial sutures.”
Chiropractic care can treat a wide range of problems, including those related to the skeletal system and joints, nervous system and muscular system. In horses, the treatment is very similar to the treatment used on humans. Scott Anderson, D.V.M., says, “It involves maintaining the proper functions of the spinal column, including providing a framework of support for the body providing flexibility of the back and neck, and protecting the nervous system. When...joints are not moving as they should due to improper position of a vertebra, chiropractic treatment is called for.”
In addition, Dr. Anderson notes that “many performance-related problems cannot be diagnosed through standard physical examinations...In these cases, some horse owners and veterinarians have used chiropractic treatment with success. There are also cases in which medicines and time off do not improve the horse. Some veterinarians have investigated and employed chiropractics in an effort to increase their scope of understanding of these types of problems.”
On the average, treatment for horses usually takes place over two to five sessions. The first step simply involves discussing the horse’s case history, such as its activity level, problems which are present and how long they have been observed. The chiropractor will also usually make a visual analysis of the animal, observing gait and posture. These factors will all help to determine which areas need treatment as well as which treatments will be most beneficial.
Some chiropractors use forceful movements to perform adjustments, while others use motion that is generated by the horse itself. Generally, most horses enjoy the treatments and show signs of relaxation, including yawning or lowering their heads.
There are some common signs in horses that indicate that chiropractic intervention may be helpful. They include:
Abnormal posture.
Behavioral changes, such as a sudden tendency to buck.
Changes in normal performance.
Degenerative arthritis.
Developing a short stride.
Extended head and neck with a hollowed back.
General discomfort at being saddled or ridden.
Gait problems.
Hoof dragging.
Injuries, such as from falls or training.
Muscle spasms.
Pain – in areas such as the back, neck, legs, or tail.
Problems with completing normal movements.
Sensitivity to being touched.
Stiffness – in the neck or other area of the body.
Tilting the head to one side.
Uneven hips.
Horse owners should remember that chiropractic treatment should never be used as a replacement for veterinary care, which should be sought first if a problem is identified. In addition, treatments should be performed only by those with proper training to avoid harming the animal.
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