With every new client, the practitioner will spend some time discussing the history of the animal, including both medical and physical aspects. These include stiffness, gait abnormalities, lameness, pain, evasions or poor performance as reported by the owner. Other important information includes prior medical and surgical intervention and the animal's response to this care. Lastly, details on the animal's normal exercise or training programmes will also be taken into account.
The practitioner will explain how Animal Chiropractic works, what it can and cannot achieve and what the client should expect throughout the treatment.
Like any medical evaluation, chiropractic evaluation begins with observing the horse from a distance for conformation, posture, and signs of lameness. The focus of the examination is placed on evaluating the dynamic characteristics of the spine and pelvis.
This will involve watching the animal move, both in walk and in trot, turning in tight circles and backing up to enable the practitioner identify gait abnormalities, asymmetries and stiffness. Such procedures will help give a clearer indication as to the location of the problem(s). In the case of a horse, the practitioner may also need to see the horse ridden or lunged in its normal tack.
By now the practitioner will have a reasonably good idea as to the cause and location of the problems and will palpate the joints and muscles of the horse's body looking for muscle spasm and areas of tension and tightness and other lesions. This examination will also assess the range of movement in the joints and the involuntary reflexes of key areas of the nervous system.
Equine chiropractic adjustments are performed by hand only and consist of short forceful thrusts applied in a rapid manner to specific areas of the horse which release muscle spasm, alleviate pain and return the joints to the normal range of motion.
After treatment, the horse may be stiff, sore or at least behave differently. This is due to the body re-adjusting to the changes, which have taken place. The practitioner will give advice on the care and management of the animal following treatment. In addition, the practitioner may also give advice on saddle and tack fitting, shoeing etc. as part of preventative care and rehabilitation.
The practitioner will always work in conjunction with the client's vet and following any treatment or course of treatment the Veterinary Surgeon will, where required, be sent a full written report on the practitioner's findings, adjustments and recommendations to the owner.
McTimoney Animal Chiropractic practitioners are trained to recognise conditions where chiropractic would be of no benefit and in such cases will refer back to the Veterinary Surgeon. In addition, practitioners know of other rehabilitation facilities and would, where necessary, discuss their benefits with the client and Vet in charge of the case.
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