Oliphant Equine

While the majority of our small animal companions don’t exert their athletic ability in a show environment, there are innumerable ways in which they need proper spinal motion on a daily basis. Whether going for a walk with their owner, retrieving a ball, or simply running around the yard, correct neural and musculoskeletal function are necessary to accomplish these tasks. Dogs that perform for their job, whether for agility, service, or protection must rely even more heavily on precise neural function and movement. If the function of the nerve fibers that innervate their muscles is altered by a subluxation, coordination will deteriorate. Small disturbances in neural function may only create mild effects in muscular coordination and movement, but they can lead to compensatory injuries and an overall decrease in health. When a dog has a subluxation anywhere in its spine, it will alter its posture and movement to compensate for the restricted mobility and associated pain. These changes trigger increased mechanical strain on other parts of the spine and extremities, which can lead to more subluxations and secondary soft tissue and joint injuries. While the change in biomechanics is the most noticeable, these subluxations can also affect the systemic health of the animal’s organs, skin, etc. By removing these disturbances through chiropractic adjustments, the correct neural flow and mechanical motion can be restored to help each dog or cat maintain optimum health and ability.