Veterinary chiropractic in the dog is relatively new. It excels in the treatment of biommechanical problems thus minimizing, if not eliminating, objectionable gait deficits due to misalignments. Veterinary chiropractic can be used in conjunction with conventional veterinary medicine, and shouldn’t be considered a replacement.

The following relationships between organic diseases and spinal subluxations can be made. The reader is advised that the disease entities listed below may also have causes beyond simple chiropractic subluxations, and that the dog under treatment be examined by a conventional veterinarian prior to referral to a veterinary chiropractor.

Cervical subluxations, especially of the atlas, occiput and axis, can be related to various behavioral abnormalities.,br>

• The slow learner
  
• The hyperactive dog
  
• Attention deficit disorders
  
• Blurred vision, especially in certain types of fear-biters
  
• Sound sensitivity
  
• Recurrent ear infections
  
• Certain varieties of seizures
  
• Olfactory disorders ,p>

  Mid-and-lower-cervical subluxations can be related to:
  

• Motion sickness
  
• Certain anxiety states
  
• Lick granulomas
  
• Hypothyroidism

  Subluxations in the thoraic region between the shoulder bleads can be related to:
  

• Hypothyroidism
  
• Heart problems, especially mitral valve insufficiencies in older dogs
  
• Liver disorders
  
• Digestive disorders

  While every dog is an individual, certain aspects of history and physical findings are consistent for the new canine chiropractic patient. The following are not in order of incidence, but dogs that have one or more of the examples listed should ideally be examined by an experienced, qualified animal chiropractor.
  

• Hit by a car
  
• Playing, then becoming acutely lame.
  
• “Body Slammiong”—patient is sideswiped by another dog while playing and gets rolled.
  
• Fell
  
• Lost balance while running and hit wall, tree, door, etc.
  
• Any dog working in obedience
  
• All German Shepherds over four years of age
  
• Dogs that play Frisbee
  
• Decreasing performance
  
• Dogs that have been under general anesthesia
  
• Dog that cannot jump on couch, bed., etc.
  
• Poor leash manners