Chiropractic Care for Animals at
Wilmington Animal Hospital

Chiropractic is a gentle, drug-free approach to animal health care. Specially trained veterinarians or chiropractors gently correct misaligned joints by use of the chiropractic adjustment. Improperly working joints not only cause pain and stiffness locally, but also interfere with the functioning of the nervous system. Using a gentle, controlled thrust of the hand, a chiropractic adjustment is aimed at a very specific joint while the patient is relaxed and cooperative. Most of the pets really enjoy the care, and some even fall asleep during the treatment!

Chiropractic is beneficial for many conditions that befall our pets. Elderly, arthritic patients benefit from this modality, as do pets suffering from neck, back, and leg pain, muscle spasms, nerve problems, injuries, jaw problems and misalignments, (underbites, overbites), bowel and bladder problems including incontinence, and disc disease. Chiropractic is also very important in the maintenance of joint and spinal health, and is recommended for puppies of most breeds to get them off to a healthy start. A growing use of chiropractic is for performance dogs, who greatly benefit when doing agility, herding, and coursing, moving in the show ring, and other athletic pursuits.

The first chiropractic visit at Wilmington Animal Hospital includes a detailed history of the pet's health, a neurological evaluation, gait analysis, orthopedic examination, and a gentle hands-on assessment of the muscles and joints. Every joint is checked during the examination, as it is possible to have an underlying problem without outward signs. At the conclusion of the examination, the findings are discussed, a treatment program is recommended (if misalignments or subluxations are found), and the pet receives his or her adjustment.

Our patients usually have fewer stresses in the daily lives, and therefore seem to respond more quickly to chiropractic care than humans do. Age, amount of prior injury, weight, and overall health are all factors in the frequency of visits that will be needed.

A referral from a veterinarian is required for chiropractic care. For more information on chiropractic care for animals, please visit the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association website.  To schedule an appointment, call: (302) 762-2694.