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Click to go to the Pet Wellness EXPO Website
Mark your calendars! The 2008 Pet Wellness EXPO is set for April 12th at Burlington High School. |
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 Veterinary Spinal Manipulation Therapy (VSMT) is beneficial in so many situations. The foundation of the body is the spine, which is made up of vertebrae, muscles and nerves. Misalignments in the spine can affect nerve and muscle function, resulting in pain or decreased function to that part of the body. VSMT is used to correct misalignments in the spine, restoring motion to the spine, and proper nerve and muscle function. It can decrease pain, increase performance, movement, and well being.
A subluxation or misalignment can occur with trauma, over-exertion, or just normal "wear and tear" of everyday life. Correcting the misalignment(s), by performing an adjustment, will allow the body to work at full function and heal itself! The adjustments are gentle and low force, but have a large positive impact on overall health of the animal. Veterinary Spinal Manipulation Therapy allows the body to perform at its best, resulting in better overall health. A variety of animals and conditions respond well to spinal manipulation therapy. It is a natural, drug free, addition to your pet's total health care program. The success stories are countless! |
Frequently Asked Questions - click on question for answer
How does Veterinary Spinal Manipulation Therapy help the body heal?
Can Veterinary Spinal Manipulation Therapy Help Your Pet?
Are There Situations Where VSMT Is Not Appropriate?
What does the VSMT Exam look like?
How Often will my pet need an Adjustment?
What Can I expect After the Adjustment?
Why is it called VSMT? Isn't it the Same as Chiropractic?
How do I know my Veterinarian/Chiropractor is Qualified to Perform an Adjustment on my Pet?
In Summary
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Answers To Frequently Asked Questions
How does Veterinary Spinal Manipulation Therapy help the body heal?
The VSMT field focuses on NERVES, BONES and MUSCLES. The imbalances that happen with these three systems are what the adjustment is working to correct. Finding balance in life is what it is all about.
Skeletal System (BONES): Bones are separated from each other by joints filled with cartilage and fluid. If the joints are damaged or altered, this may result in two bones rubbing together and this causes pain. Joints in the spine have a gliding type surface and should move freely. This allows us all the mobility that we have in our backs. If a joint becomes FIXED, or has INCREASED or DECREASED motion, it affects the nerves and muscle in that area. (Resulting in Decreased function)
Muscular System (Muscles): Muscles go from one bone to the next to create motion in the body or joint. If a muscle is damaged (spasmed, stretched, fatigued, bruised, etc) it affects how that joint works (resulting in decreased motion/function).
Nervous System (Nerves): There are three types of nerves: Sensory/Motor/Integration. If sensory nerves send a "bad" report to the brain (integration) center, an inappropriate motor response will result. The nervous system controls EVERYTHING in the body (muscles, hormone, and organ function). Studies have shown that 40mm of pressure can result in a reduction of nerve transmission. So, when nerves are pinched, reduced performance and pain will result. As time goes on, this becomes permanent. (Resulting in Decreased function)
The goal of a chiropractic adjustment is the restore the joint (and associated nerves/muscles) back to full function so that all three systems work normally again.
The area that is affected with decreased motion is called a subluxation or misalignment. The subluxation affects the nervous system, local muscles, joints and even distant organs, glands and body functions.
A subluxation can occur with trauma, over-exertion or just normal wear and tear of everyday life. The VSMT adjustments correct the misalignments and allow the body to work at full function and heal itself!
Doctors do not heal the patient, the body does. The doctor's job is to help the body to perform at its best and that results in better health for the patient.back |
Can Veterinary Spinal Manipulation Therapy Help Your Pet?
Veterinary Spinal Manipulation Therapy can increase or restore performance in a Working Animal. This would include animals that participate in agility, fly ball, obedience training, racing, hunting, herding, weight-pulling, and working dogs (guide dogs or search-and-rescue dogs).
An adjustment can also be beneficial if your animal has any of the following symptoms:
- Hip dysplasia
- Arthritis
- Acute or chronic injury
- Recent orthopedic surgery
- Difficulty/reluctance going up and down stairs
- Difficulty in transitioning from sit to stand or visa-versa
- Painful to touch
- Disc disease
- Neurological deficits
- Behavior problems
- Urinary incontinence
- Muscle wasting in hind limbs
- Stiff in the morning
- Stiff after a nap
- Limping
- Unusual gait
- Hunched back
- Can't walk as far as usual
- Pain in neck or back
- Chronic illnesses that are not responding to current treatment (i.e. chronic ear infections).
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Are There Situations Where VSMT Is Not Appropriate?
- Patients Too Painful to Touch (may need to reschedule, after acute pain has been controlled medically - i.e. prescription pain killers)
- Bone Cancer Cases
- Aggressive or Overly Anxious Patients
- Fractures or Dislocations
- Seizure Patients
- Active infections
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What does the VSMT Exam look like?
The VSMT exam includes five different aspects:- The routine Veterinary Physical Exam
- Neurologic Evaluation
- Stance and Gait Analysis
- Motion and Static Palpation
- Adjustment (if needed)
This exam is far more time consuming than the routine physical exams we are used to in a clinic visit. Clients should expect these visits to last about one hour. Clients that are used to visiting their Doctors of Chiropractic often ask about the special table that DC's use for their adjustments. We do not need to use a special table for animals. They will be adjusted in either a standing or sitting position. The exam is generally enjoyed by the animal. The adjustments are gentle and low force, so most animals respond well to them.back |
How Often will my pet need an Adjustment?
This answer varies case by case. Some animals require monthly adjustments, while others are only seen once a year. Age, overall health status, nutrition, activity level, and genetics all play a role in how well an animal holds their adjustments. When long term problems reach the point of noticeable pain or outward signs, the doctor may need to do several initial adjustments to get the pain under control, after which, just maintenance care would be needed.
Animals being treated for acute (sudden) conditions will, most likely, only need one or two adjustments before returning to normal function. Owners willing to participate in home care after the adjustment can help prevent the injury from recurring. This includes a conditioning program and massage.
Animals being treated for chronic conditions will, most likely, need multiple initial visits to bring the pain under control. From there, it is different case-to-case. Some animals will go on a once a month maintenance program, others more or less frequent than that.
The pet owner can also play a critical role in the pet's healthcare. The more involved the owner is, the less frequent the adjustments are! If interested, the owner can be taught massage techniques designed for that particular pet's specific needs. They can also learn to do physical therapy exercises and be part of a conditioning program. Nutrition and supplementation play a HUGE role in the animals overall health and response to therapy. Pet owners that are willing to pay close attention to the food their pet eats will see a more complete return to health! Utilizing all of these things will stretch out the time between adjustments.
Please, do not wait until they are in serious pain before calling for an adjustment! The sooner the problem is addressed, the better the therapy will be.back |
What Can I expect After the Adjustment?
Many animals will show immediate improvement. Some animals, with more chronic conditions, may be tired or slow for a day or two, but overall, they will feel better than they did before the adjustment. Each animal and each case is different. Occasionally, an animal with numerous problems will actually have soft stool or feel a bit nauseous after an adjustment. Please let Dr. Miller know if this is the case with your pet.back |
Why is it called VSMT? Isn't it the Same as Chiropractic?
Some people will use the term "chiropractic" when they call our office. We have to educate them about this terminology. Only Doctors of Chiropractic (DC) can perform "chiropractic" adjustments. This term also refers only to the treatment of humans, not animals. Veterinarians are the only qualified personnel allowed to treat animals. So, what if we want to perform "chiropractic" adjustments on animals? Who do we turn to? Should the client call a veterinarian or a chiropractor? The answer is either a veterinarian certified in "Veterinary Spinal Manipulation Therapy" or a chiropractor certified in "Animal Chiropractic Therapy." It is important to know your veterinarian or chiropractor's education history and that they are certified in this field.back |
How do I know my Veterinarian/Chiropractor is Qualified to Perform an Adjustment on my Pet?
Your animal's health care provider needs to have completed either a Doctor of Chiropractic Degree (DC) or Doctor of Veterinary Medicine/Veterinary Medical Doctor Degree (DVM/VMD) degree. Then, continued their education with a class to become certified in either Veterinary Spinal Manipulation Therapy or Animal Chiropractic. This would be a 200 Hour Class that is only open to people with a degree of DVM/VMD or DC.
Class participants must pass midterms and both a final "hands on" and final written exam. Exams cover several topics including:
- Neurology/Physiology/Anatomy
- Chiropractic Techniques and Philosophy
- Review of the laws regarding who can perform chiropractic
There are only a few schools in the United States that offer these classes. We have two excellent programs here in the Midwest, including the Healing Oasis Wellness Center right here, in Sturtevant, WI.back |
Summary
The goal of Veterinary Spinal Manipulation Therapy is to allow the body to perform at its best, resulting in better overall health. Health is more than just the absence of disease, but rather, a feeling of well being at all times. A variety of animals and conditions respond well to VSMT care. VSMT is an important addition to traditional veterinary medicine. It is a natural drug free adjunct to your dog's total health care program. It can decrease pain, increase performance, movement, and the overall well being of your pet. |
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