Equine Chiropractors Can Help Horses Heal

Chiropractic care has been used to help people with spinal problems for well over 100 years. Most people are aware that visiting a chiropractor if they are having a back or neck problem. Some people even understand that chiropractors can be helpful with seemingly unrelated health issues, such as asthma and sleeping problems. However, not many people are cognizant of the fact that chiropractors can help with horses.

Yes, horses can have spinal issues just like people can. Of course, horse owners do not take their animals to see the same chiropractors that people visit—horses are treated by equine chiropractors.

Equine Chiropractors?

People who do not own horses or farm animals may find it strange, but there are indeed equine chiropractors. An equine chiropractor is one who has studied to be a chiropractic doctor, just like any other chiropractor; however, he has a veterinary specialty. An equine chiropractor has studied the anatomy of horses and is trained to diagnose and treat spinal problems in horses.

What do Equine Chiropractors Do?

First of all, it is important to know that reputable equine chiropractors will not perform any adjustments on a horse until after a very thorough veterinary examination has been completed. Some equine chiropractors are veterinarians, so they may do an examination themselves; otherwise, an equine chiropractor will require a veterinarian to check the horse first. This is to make sure that there are no internal or underlying health issues.

If the veterinarian is unable to help, then the equine chiropractor steps in to try to assist the horse. Obviously, horses are very large animals, much larger than humans. Spinal adjustment techniques for horses—while similar in concept to those done for people—must be completed differently. Many equine chiropractors work to get the horse to generate the type of movement that will make the adjustment occur. By keeping the horse relaxed and avoiding restraints, quite often the chiropractor can use the horse’s own motion to help make the spinal adjustment happen.

Reputable Equine Chiropractors

As mentioned previously, trustworthy equine chiropractic doctors work closely with veterinarians. In addition, they are respectful of the horses and gentle with them. Some equine doctors of chiropractic have been known to use forceful methods of adjusting the spine. Some have been known to use completely unacceptable methods of manipulation such as mallets and baseball bats on certain joints. These do much more harm than good. Reputable equine chiropractors will treat horses with care—not forcefulness and harm.