Chiropractic

Spinal Manipulation, called Chiropractic Health Care in humans, is a drugless method of heath care.  Animal chiropractic care is a relatively new field that has great potential for dealing with many animal health problems. Most people associate chiropractic care only with back problems.  This is a misconception.  Chiropractic care also deals with the nervous system that is housed inside the spinal column.  The spinal cord carries all the nerves that go to every organ in the body.  These nerves exit the spinal column through areas between vertebrae.  When the vertebral bones are misaligned, even very slightly, they affect the nerves and the flow of nervous energy.  Chiropractors call these small misalignments “subluxations.”  A chiropractic adjustment is aimed at correcting the subluxations and restoring the proper functioning of the nervous and musculoskeletal systems.  Treatment consists of spinal re-alignments which restore the normal position and movement to the spine reducing the pressure on the spinal nerves.  Chiropractic care works to eliminate the cause of the problem and not just simply treat the symptoms.  

 A subluxation can be caused by any outward trauma to the body, such as slips, falls, accidents and blows.  Sometimes these accidents are major and sometimes they are minor.  Poor posture or an abnormality in the limb can cause animals to twist their bodies, much like we do, creating muscle tightness and often times subluxations in the spinal column.  Active, athletic animals can experience subluxations from slips or falls during performance and play.  Horses may subluxate from a poor fitting saddle or heavy, out-of-balance rider.

In most countries, states and provinces Chiropractic Care performed specifically on animals is considered a procedure that only licensed veterinarians with specific certification in animal chiropractic care should administer.  A veterinarian is in the best position to evaluate an animal’s health and then to determine whether an animal is likely to benefit from a chiropractic treatment or whether it’s problem requires further diagnostics, medical, surgical or no intervention.   Dr. Mende is one of the regions only Certified Animal Chiropractors that also specializes and practices on equine patients.

This was a particularly tall horse

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This was a rescue horse donated to MidAtlantic Horse Rescue-Canter, before and after a chiropractic adjustment!