Equine Chiropractic Care
Maintaining flexibility of the spine is imperative for a horse to be able to work comfortably and perform to his optimum potential be that as a happy hacker or a racehorse. Chiropractic is most commonly used in response to your horse suffering pain such as a ‘bad back’, lameness or reduction in performance.
Chiropractic adjustments affect the nervous system, the control centre of the body, and therefore can be used to correct many disorders within the animal including systemic problems. Owners will often note improvement in horses with digestive disorders, nervousness, impaired immune response and unexplained sweat patches.
Unlike any other quadruped, the horse’s spine has to not only work for the horse, but for the saddle and the rider also. In order for any horse to be able to perform its work correctly for the long-term, a healthy spine and nervous system is essential. Horses are generally resourceful creatures of willing nature and will often find ways to work around a problem, thus compensating for biomechanical disorders very well. Short-term this can allow the horse to continue working seemingly well, perhaps with the odd change in temperament, or slight stiffness when asked to perform certain aspects of their work.
However, long-term, as the horse changes its posture to compensate for a sore back, tight muscles or subluxations, this places additional mechanical strain on other parts of the body. The result is that the horse creates secondary restrictions in other areas and the condition deteriorates. It is often at this rather late stage that the horse may really start to show clear signs of a problem and the Vet is called in.
Chiropractic works to thoroughly examine the equine as a whole, not only correcting and relieving pain in symptomatic areas, but to locating the primary source of biomechanical dysfunction in order to get to the root of the cause. With this in mind, Chiropractic is often used as a ‘last chance’ for horses with lameness’ which do not appear to have a clear cause or pattern.
Equine Conditions
Equine Conditions successfully treated and managed with Chiropractic Care:
- Spinal Trauma (treatment only following X-Ray)
- Acute and Chronic Back and Neck Pain
- Muscular Conditions – Atrophy (withered) muscles, Tightness and Tension
- Pelvic Misalignment
- Spondylosis (Kissing Spine)
- Navicular Syndrome
- Jaw Problems (TMJ Syndrome)
- Cauda Equina Syndrome, Incontinence – Lumbar subluxations are often found
- Cervical Vertebral Instability
- Discopathy (treatment only following X-Ray)
- Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD), Spavin, Arthritis – can be managed and further deterioration reduced
- Undefined Lameness – Where no working diagnosis has been achieved, subluxations alter biomechanics and can cause lameness
- Geriatric Equines – Improvement in flexibility and mobility, helping to keep your horse working longer and leading a happy and healthy life
Equine Symptoms
Common Signs there your horse or pony may have a subluxations
A horse will usually attempt to compensate for their spinal or joint subluxations by changing posture or their way of going. The following signs and symptoms may indicate your horse is in discomfort:
- Reduced Performance - Disobedience when ridden, Bucking, Rearing, Nappying, Laziness, One-Sidedness
- Difficulty Working – Rushing, Stiffness and Shortened Stride, Striking off Canter on Wrong Leg, Cantering Disunited
- Abnormal Posture – Resting the same leg, Hunched or Hollowed Back, altered Head Carriage, Uneven Muscle Build-up or Wastage
- Snapping or Pinning ears back – when Handled, Rugged, Saddled or Mounted, Sensitivity to Touch
- Throwing up head – working with an Uneven Contact, Headshaking, Bridle Lameness, Leaning on the Hand
- Lameness – Particularly Chronic and Undiagnosed, Arthritis
- Stopping at Fences – Running Out, Twisting over Fences, Knocking Poles
- Change in Temperament – Horse becoming Depressed and Introverted, Lively and Naughty, Aggressive and Uncooperative
- Loss of condition - Dull Coat, altered Coat Patches, Itching, isolated Sweat Patches Poor-Doer
Chiropractic Assessment
Chiropractic Assessment should only ever be undertaken with the prior consent of the animal’s Primary Care Veterinary Surgeon. Your Chiropractor will want to assess the following:
- Veterinary History: Your Chiropractor will ask about changes in your animal’s behaviour, working habits and health including Veterinary diagnosis. You should let your Chiropractor know of any accidents, injuries or illnesses your animal has sustained as well as treatment or medication they have received. It is at this stage your Chiropractor will explain Veterinary Chiropractic and answer any questions or concerns you may have. Your Chiropractor may want to discuss tack, harnesses or halters or any other equipment used on the animal.
- Static and Motion Assessment: Your chiropractor will go on to assess your animal’s posture and confirmation, including any changes in coat pattern, temperature and muscular imbalances. Gait is then assessed whereby the animal will be seen moving both on the straight line and a turn.
- Physical Assessment & Motion Palpation: It is at this stage your Chiropractor will be looking specifically for subluxations. Joints of the pelvis,spine and extremities, if deemed necessary will be checked in order to locate those which are stuck or not moving so well. Often at this point your Chiropractor will show you or ask you to feel how an area is restricted, so you might see the difference for yourself following adjustment.
- Adjustment: Your chiropractor will locate those joints which are subluxated and will use a short, quick adjustment in the specific plane of the joint in order to restore movement of the joint and function of the nervous system. Your Chiropractor may also apply massage and stretching techniques to further facilitate your animal’s recovery. The effects of Chiropractic are reduction in pain, improved posture and relief of tight muscles.
- Reassessment & Recommendations: Your Chiropractor may want to see the animal move again following adjustment in order to compare with original findings. You will then be given a report of findings along with recommendations for care and exercise of your animal following the adjustment. Your chiropractor will discuss how many adjustments your animal may need in order to restore health.
Please note that ideally animals should be rested for 48 hours following an adjustment. Due to the resetting of the nervous system, this can have a huge impact on the animal. Many animals will be very sleepy following treatment and may want to lay down or be left in peace for a few hours. If you have any concerns regards changes in your animal’s behaviour following Chiropractic Care please contact your Chiropractor or your Veterinary Surgeon.
Pricing
If your animal is being treated as part of an Insurance Claim, Chiropractic Care can normally be claimed for as part of your alternative therapies allowance. Please check that your Veterinary Surgeon is happy to sign off treatment in advance and you will be provided with a receipt to forward to your insurer.
Please note that prior to your animal's initial assessment, permissions MUST be sought from your animal's Primary Care Veterinary Surgeon. It is illegal for anyone other than your Vet to treat your animal without prior consent.
For current pricing and details of other animals treated please contact Isabelle via text, call or e-mail.
Areas Served
London and the Home Counties, including Middlesex, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire, Surrey and Essex
Tel: 07733 332789