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Serious Inquiries please contact Marie Tabsch
By Elliott S. Krakow, D.C., C.V.C.P.
Why would anyone want the services of a chiropractor for their pet? The simple answer is that properly delivered chiropractic care works. In fact, when working with animals, clinical results cannot be confused by placebo effects. When appropriate treatment protocols are followed, you will see the difference as your pet feels the difference. As in human medicine, veterinary medicine is now opening its eyes to alternatives to drugs and surgery. A wise philosophy is to employ the least invasive means of treatment first (unless faced with a true surgical emergency). Most practitioners of animal chiropractic techniques are specially trained chiropractic physicians or veterinarians. This is an area of practice which requires unique certification not offered in veterinary or chiropractic colleges. My interest in practicing animal chiropractic is a direct result of my love for animals and a connection that I have always felt with them. Though I've practiced human chiropractic for over two decades, my first passion in life is animals, their welfare and their rights. I refuse to ever place a dog, cat or horse at risk for trauma when working with them. I don't have the right to experiment with techniques that may injure an animal. It is for this reason, in large part, that I have chosen to become certified in a particularly safe and non-traumatic style of animal chiropractic. Known as Veterinary Orthopedic Manipulation (V.O.M.), its name implies that its methods might be forceful. Yet nothing could be further from the truth. V.O.M. exists in a gray area between both professions (veterinary and chiropractic) and benefits from the positive aspects of both. V.O.M. was developed by veterinary surgeon Dr. William Inman who, seeking better clinical results, began to look at ways in which effective chiropractic methods might be used with animals. He modified a commonly used chiropractic instrument resembling a "spring loaded doorstop" for use with dogs, cats and horses. (A slightly more powerful model was devised for horses.) After thousands of actual clinical case studies, he authored several research papers which clearly documented the safety and efficacy of his V.O.M. technique. Since that time, a select number of chiropractic physicians and veterinarians has become certified in this specialty area. The primary principal in chiropractic recognizes that interference with normal nerve transmission can cause abnormal function leading to loss of health. Chiropractors have relied upon x-rays and palpation (gently feeling the tissues around the spinal column) to give a picture of just where the problem areas lie. However, animals have an "onboard" reflex which tells the doctor exactly where the problem is (sometimes even before the animal's owner is aware of it!). By strategically "clicking" each vertebra in the animal's spine while monitoring this reflex, it is possible to locate areas of nerve irritation. These "short circuits" (subluxations) are first created when there is an event (injury, trauma, stress) which triggers the firing of pain fibers at a given level of the spinal cord. This results in localized muscle spasm and sets up a "cascade" of chemical and neurological changes. And, of course, all of this leads to more pain. Eventually the muscles which attach to the spinal bones may pull the bones in such a way as to cause direct irritation to spinal nerves or even compress the spinal cord. Obviously, such a condition could contribute to a variety of pain and lameness syndromes as well as a host of somato-visceral conditions (internal health problems resulting from altered nerve transmission). The best part of V.O.M. is how easily and painlessly it works for your pet. The goal is to break the cycle of pain and spasm and to restore normal nerve function. This is done in two ways. First, employing the same instrument we used to detect the problem areas, we now apply a comfortable mechanical impulse at a speed of two to four milliseconds directly to the spinal segment. This speed is crucial. An animal's muscles fire at a speed of 20 milliseconds, and the fastest manual adjusting technique (adjustment by hand) requires about 80 milliseconds. The speed of the instrument assures a comfortable experience for your animal regardless of its body position or level of stress. The impulse stimulates specialized mechanoreceptors within the spine. This stimulation helps to "reset" the normal balance between muscle and nerve and interrupt the cycle of spasm and pain. Secondly, a patented instrument called a Vetrostim is applied to the area in order to gently and effectively decrease spasm and improve circulation. This instrument is extremely effective in achieving myofascial release and helps to restore surrounding tissues to their normal state. The combination of these techniques usually triggers an endorphin release and leaves your pet feeling very relaxed. V.O.M. is not a replacement for veterinary care. All animals receiving V.O.M. should be evaluated first by their veterinarian to make a proper diagnosis and discuss options for treatment if there is a problem. However, because V.O.M. is totally safe for all animals, it should never be overlooked. It has been used routinely and successfully to treat conditions of acute and non-acute lameness, hip dysplasia-like syndromes, intervertebral disc disease, incontinence, and wobbler's disease, as well as digestive and endocrine dysfunctions. V.O.M. has also measurably improved performance for agility dogs and is routinely used to fine-tune horses for a variety of competition events. If you love an animal that is having a health problem, you may wish to consider this safe and effective treatment option. Dr. Elliott Krakow resides in Wellington, Fla., with his family and four wonderful dogs. He can be reached at (561) 795-0433 or via e-mail at savapet@aol.com for further information or to schedule an appointment. |
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