Dogs with obvious spinal or joint injuries (limping, struggling to move their head, etc.) are the most obvious candidates for chiropractic care.

Especially when coordinated with a vet as part of larger treatment plan, chiropractic work can benefit your pet more than just giving him a cortisone shot, which simply numbs the pain but doesn’t treat the root of the problem.

It’s also particularly valuable for aging pets, working dogs, show dogs, and dogs that participate in agility training. These are some of the pets that tend to have the most problems with their spine, joints, and neck.Additionally, pets that have trouble eating, have arthritis, suffer from acute stiffness or muscle spasms, or have hip dysplasia may also benefit.

Chiropractic care can also be used proactively, to prevent future problems.

Chiropractors that treat dogs use spinal manipulation or manual joint therapy to realign your pet. But before they can do that, they need to figure out what the cause of the problem is.

The next time your dogs are playing, take a good look. Chances are they’re rolling around, jumping on top of each other, or wrestling. It might be fun, but it can also be rough on their body. As a result, spine, hip, and knee issues are among the most common problems chiropractors treat in dogs.

It’s also common for a dog's jaw or neck to be out of alignment. This can lead to your pet having difficulty chewing, opening his mouth, or bending his head down to get to the food bowl. If you notice your fur baby isn’t eating, but seems otherwise healthy, this could be the reason.