Question 1

How do I know if my animal needs chiropractic care?

Accepted Answer

Your animal may benefit from chiropractic if you notice:
· Difficulty getting up from laying position.
· Limping or not putting weight on one leg.
· Not weight bearing at all, difficulty walking.
· Appears stiff when walking.
· Difficulty jumping.
· Difficulty going upstairs.
· Yelping or wincing when petting areas of the body.
· Unable to look up with neck.
· Nonstop licking at a certain spot.
If you notice any abnormal behavior and you are not sure if it’s a chiropractic case,
simply reach out to us we would be happy to discuss treatment options.

Question 2

Are your animal chiropractic adjustments forceful?

Accepted Answer

No not at all. Our adjustment force is like checking tomatoes for ripeness. We use a
force like the for used when adjusting newborn children. Animals don't tense up prior to the adjustment therefore a lighter force is used. Please disregard any online videos you
have seen that show otherwise. We have undergone extensive training ensuring we
keep your animals safe when providing treatment.

Question 3

Do I need a referral from my veterinarian?

Accepted Answer

No referral is required prior to seeing an animal chiropractor in the state of Ohio. Both of
our chiropractic physicians are certified by the IVCA and have completed extensive
training to treat conditions related to bones, spine, joints, muscles, and nerves. If we
determine your condition is not something within our scope of practice, we will make the
proper referral to your primary veterinarian.

Question 4

How often will my animal need to come in for an adjustment?

Accepted Answer

Think of chiropractic care being 2 phases.

Phase 1: My animal is suffering from a specific condition. During this phase we would
like to see your animal 1-2 times a week for a few weeks. As the active condition
decreases, frequency of visits also decreases. Once the condition becomes lessened
greatly, we are looking to move to phase 2.

Phase 2: During this stage, it may appear there is no longer a noticeable problem with
your animal, or your animal has reached maximum medical improvement. Frequency of
care is progressively decreased. Our goal during this phase is to allow the animal to
hold or maintain the proper alignment, ultimately reaching 4-6 weeks between care with
little to no issues present. This is considered wellness care. Animals on wellness care
come in every 4-6 weeks for a routine spinal check. Adjusting the fixations (a joint that is
not moving well within its normal range of motion) in the spine and extremities (limbs)
prevent conditions from returning and acts as a preventative measure.

Question 5

What is wellness care?

Accepted Answer

Animal chiropractic wellness care is preventative care. Routine wellness checkups are
scheduled every 4-6 weeks as an ongoing treatment for the life of your animal. Every
visit we check the joint motion within the spine and limbs. Anytime there is a loss of
motion in a joint segment, it can become compromised over time leading to a potential
injury. By adjusting joint segments, we are restoring normal function thus decreasing the
risk of injury or disease in the future.

Question 6

Can Chiropractic help with hip dysplasia?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Although we are not treating hip dysplasia directly as it is an osseous
malformation, often times we see animals who have compensated due to lack of motion
in the hips. We do see great results treating the surrounding joint structures to enhance
the biomechanics of the animal. Animals with hip dysplasia benefit greatly from ongoing
chiropractic care.

Question 7

Do you need x-rays prior to seeing my animal?

Accepted Answer

No. X-ray can be a great tool in assisting our chiropractic treatments, but it is not
required. If you have x-rays we would ask you have them emailed you us
drzook@cincinnatianimalchiropractic.com prior to your visit for review. In some cases,
we may refer back to your veterinarian for x-ray if determined necessary.

Question 8

Can chiropractic help with intervertebral disc disease (IVDD)

Accepted Answer

Yes. Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) is a condition directly within a chiropractic scope
of practice. Often time we see animals who may be having trouble moving their legs or
loss of leg strength. This may arise from disc material entering the area where nerves
exit compressing the nerves themselves. Could also be arising from inflammation in the
nerve space due to a spinal misalignment.
Any time there is an animal experiencing a neurological condition, time is extremely
critical. The longer the nerve is compromised, the harder it can be for the animal to
make a recovery regardless of the treatment.
If you have an animal who is experiencing a thought to be disc issue, please let us know
when you call and we will make your appointment a high priority.

Frequently Asked Questions