Animal Chiropractic

Chiropractic care offers many of the same benefits for pets as it does for people. It can help our furry patients enjoy better mobility, reduced pain and stiffness, and overall improved quality of life. Read on to learn more about Dr. Quinonez and the wonderful service of chiropractic he provides.

A Life-Changing Day

Dr. Quinonez enrolled in Palmer West College of Chiropractic in 2014. At the time, he didn’t know animal chiropractic even existed! His dog, a female Boxer named Rajah, whose love for chicken tacos is the stuff of legend, led him into the field. As many dogs do, Rajah had become very stiff and sore as she aged into her senior years. Eventually, she could no longer jump out of Dr. Quinonez’s Jeep or play her favorite game of fetch. She was diagnosed with Degenerative Myelopathy (DM), a progressive, chronic spinal condition. While DM isn’t curable, some treatments can help manage the disease . . . such as chiropractic. Like many of you with your pets, Dr. Quinonez wanted to give Rajah the best life possible and started looking into the treatment. This turned out to be a game-changer for both Dr. Quinonez and his furry family member. After a month of animal chiropractic, Rajah was active and energetic and even playing fetch again. As for Dr. Quinonez, after seeing the difference chiropractic made in his beloved pet, he was hooked. The rest, as they say, is history.

History of Chiropractic

The word ‘chiropractic’ is derived from the Greek words cheir “hand” and praxis “practice”. Chiropractors manipulate the musculoskeletal system, particularly the spine, to treat a variety of medical issues. Dating to 1895, when Dr. Daniel David Palmer treated dysfunctional vertebrae in a janitor’s back, chiropractic was first used on large animals in the early 1900s. In the veterinary world, chiropractic is most often taught and used to treat horses and dogs. However, it also helps cats, birds, elephants, iguanas, turkeys, pigs, and even llamas.

How It Helps

Chiropractic can be used to treat many medical issues in pets, including hip dysplasia, chronic back and neck pain, arthritis, and disc disease. Chiropractic care does not use drugs or surgery and can be repeated as needed, often with continued and cumulative results. It’s a beautiful thing to see a stiff and sore senior pet becoming mobile, playful, and happy again!

Do you think your pet could benefit from animal chiropractic? Contact us, your Santa Rosa, CA vet clinic, today!