Movement, Degeneration, and the Importance of Chiropractic Care! Horse Chiropractor, Dog Chiropractor in Billings Montana

Hi guys! Sorry I missed you last week, but I was down in Kansas instructing at Options for Animals College of Animal Chiropractic. It was a great week, with a focus on the cervical spine (the neck) and the importance of movement and chiropractic care. Here are some takeaway points that are relevant, not only for us, but for the health of our horses, dogs and cats (and any other 4-legged variety of pet):

Movement is a critical aspect of health, as our bodies rely on movement to function. Daily movement promotes chemical changes in the body and fires up neural pathways, which stimulate the body’s healing capacity and boost immunity to ward off disease.

Subluxations refer to the occurrence of a bone in the spine moving out of position, thus irritating the spinal nerves and stressing ligaments and tendons. This is damaging for the body because the destination tissue for those nerves lose their nutrient supply, leading to degeneration. The first stage of degeneration is dehydration of the tissue. As this occurs, the tissue becomes hypermobile. With further breakdown, the tissue become hypomobile, and begins to mineralize. Any elastic soft tissue under stress can mineralize. Proprioceptive input (the ability of the body to orient itself without visual clues) from the intrinsic muscles of the spine starts to diminish. As a result, core stability becomes vulnerable. Other systems then become involved, affecting everything from immunity to circulation to digestion. And what goes for us goes for our animals. What’s the solution? Take the stress off of the tissues, you take the stress off of the disease process. Chiropractic removes neurologic interference, improves immunity, promotes circulation and enhances overall health. So if you feel that you’re a little sluggish, or you notice your pup’s ‘dragging’ a bit, or maybe your horse is avoiding the bit, it may be time to see your chiropractor. Have a comment? Join in! See you next week!