Pet Chiropractic

From the October 22, 2005 online MSNBC comes a cute story of how dogs and cats were helped by chiropractic.  The story starts off by reporting on a 4 year old beagle named Molly, who was found paralyzed in her backyard and was unable to walk.  After six visits for chiropractic care designed specifically for animals, Molly was able to run and play in the park, like a normal 4-year-old.

The article features a chiropractor, Dr. Ruth M. Poole, who has taken additional training and now sees pets as a regular part of her practice.  Dr. Poole noted which animals may receive benefit from chiropractic. "Possible candidates for the treatments include dogs and cats that may have trouble walking, jumping and climbing stairs, or have hip or spinal disc problems that limit their mobility, she said. Many doctors have treated wryneck in cats as well."

In addition to the story of Molly, the article also highlighted a 10-year-old Old English sheepdog who reportedly hobbled into her office like a little old man.  According to the sheepdog's owner, this dog was unable to climb steps, jump on his master's bed or run and play.  In this case it was noted that after the first treatment, he was back up and down the steps.  He continued to improve and after the third visit, he practically dragged his master out the door to her car and that's after he did what looked like a jump for joy.

Animals can anticipate situations that can cause pain, and Dr. Poole noted that the treatment she renders doesn't hurt the animals.  She reports that after a couple treatments, the animals look forward to coming into the office. She stated, "It's like they know they're going to feel better afterwards."