Chiropractor Crosses State Border to Legally Help Four Legged Patients

An interesting story appeared in the August 8, 2006 issue of the "Forrest Lake Times" from Minnesota. In this story they report on a Chiropractor, Dr. Josee Gerard, who has a practice in Minnesota where she takes care of human patients, and a practice across the border in St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin where she cares for animals.

Apparently, the law in Minnesota has language that specifies that chiropractic care is only for "human spines". However, in Wisconsin there is no such language in the law, which then allows those trained in animal chiropractic to care for animals.

The article author, Cliff Buchan, explains how animal chiropractic works by stating, "Much like the treatment of humans, animal chiropractic involves adjustments of subluxations of the spinal column, extremity joints and skull bone junctions." The story then follows the travels of one woman who brings her three Pomeranians from Minnesota to see Dr. Gerard in Wisconsin.

One of the three dogs was involved in an auto accident and was given the option of surgery that would have cost over $2000. Instead of surgery, her owner opted for chiropractic care and reported in the article that her dog is now greatly improved, "He's jumping and acting like a puppy again."

In another case, Shanni, a black seven-year-old female Doberman pinscher show dog had been favoring a back hind leg. After the adjustment the article noted, "When the adjustment was completed, the Doberman pranced throughout the treatment room with new energy and no visible leg problem." Carol Anderson, Shanni's owner, plans to show her dog in a show and wanted to make sure that her dog was at her peak. She stated, "I want to make sure she is OK."