Animal Chiropractic
Chiropractic care is a holistic approach to many of the health and performance problems seen in horses and dogs. Chiropractic DOES NOT replace traditional veterinary medicine and surgery, but provides alternative method of care. Chiropractic adjustments have proven to be invaluable in detecting and testing gait abnormalities and other performance-robbing problems. It has also been shown to alleviate pain in the back, neck and limbs of our animals to help reach optimal performance.
If your pet or horse has any of these signs or symptoms it may be time for a simple chiropractic adjustment.
- Difficulty getting up from seated or lying position
- Lameness
- Change in behavior
- Gait changes/lead changes
- Hind-end weakness
- Difficulty turning head left or right
- Shaking of head
- Not wanting to take bit
- Uncomfortable with application of saddle
- Difficulty jumping
- Difficulty going up or down stairs
- Allergies, skin disorder
- Uneven muscle tone
- Tender while grooming
- Undiagnosed quivering
CANINE/FELINE CHIROPRACTIC CARE: Dr. Nikki uses her hands, forefinger and thumb to perform spinal manipulation on dogs and cats. The pressure used is that similar to adjusting an infant or the pressure you would apply to an eyeball to get a pulse. At, no time, will Dr. Bechtol ever cause pain or discomfort to an animal.
EQUINE CHIROPRACTIC: Dr. Nikki currently services Lee and Collier County. An Equine adjustment is performed using her hands while she stands on a platform to get the correct line of drive and leverage. Gait observation, veterinarian/rider/trainer report and palpation leads to determination of proper alignment. Bemer (PEMF) and trigger pojnt therapy may be used prior to adjustment to compliment treatment and help reach optimal performance.
It should be stressed that chiropractic, in no way, should be thought of as a replacement for conventional veterinary medicine, but rather as a valid, concurrent treatment procedure for many back and lameness problems. And, as with any health related problems or conditions that your equine or canine may experience, it is important that the veterinarian be contacted initially so that he/she can access your animal for any underlying medical conditions that could be causing similar symptoms.
