Table of Contents
Foreword vii
Preface ix
Part 1 Introduction to Chiropractic and Body Checkups 1
Chapter 1 A Chiropractic Awakening 3
Introduction 3
What Happened One Day 4
My First Chiropractor Visit 5
Are You Sure This Isn't Quackery? 6
My Misconceptions 7
Chapter 2 How Chiropractic Works 9
Subluxation 9
Adjustments 10
How Does Chiropractic Work on an Animal? 12
Compensation 13
What You Can Do to Help Your Dog 15
Chapter 3 When to Consider Chiropractic (and When Not) 17
Symptoms: What Are They Telling You? 17
Primary Causes: When Chiropractic Is Not the Answer 19
Chapter 4 How to Find a Good Chiropractor 23
State Laws 23
American Veterinary Chiropractic Association (AVCA) 24
Ask Your Veterinarian 24
Eye Spy 24
A Note About Other Modalities 31
Chapter 5 Body Checkup Fundamentals 33
What Are Body Checkups? 33
Hand Positions 33
Time, Pressure, and Patience 34
Sensitivity, Response, and Range of Motion 35
You Can Do This! 36
Part 2 23 Body Checkups You Can Do on Your Dog 37
Chiropractic Body Checkups 38
How To 38
Three Sample Checkups 43
Body Checkups: Final Instructions (and Caveats) 45
Section 1 The Head and Neck Body Checkups 47
Body Checkup 1 The Atlas 49
Body Checkup 2 The Occiput 55
Body Checkup 3 The TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint) 59
Body Checkup 4 The Neck (C2-C6) 64
Body Checkup 5 The C7 (7th Cervical Vertebra) 68
Section 2 The Front End Body Checkups 73
Body Checkup 6 The Shoulder Blade 75
Body Checkup 7 The Shoulder 80
Body Checkup 8 The Sternum 84
Body Checkup 9 The Elbow 89
Body Checkup 10 The Wrist 92
Body Checkup 11 The Accessory Carpal Bone 95
Body Checkup 12 Metacarpals/Metatarsals 98
Body Checkup 13 Toe Digits 103
Section 3 The Back Body Checkups 107
Body Checkup 14 Thoracic Spine 3-7 (Withers) 108
Body Checkup 15 Thoracic Spine 8-13 112
Body Checkup 16 Ribs 116
Body Checkup 17 Lumbar Spine 120
Section 4 The Hind End Body Checkups 123
Body Checkup 18 Sacrum 124
Body Checkup 19 Sacroiliac Joint 129
Body Checkup 20 Hip 133
Body Checkup 21 Stifle 138
Body Checkup 22 Hock 143
Body Checkup 23 Tailhead 148
Appendix A Top 10 Complaints and Problem-Solving Flow Charts 153
Appendix B Comprehensive Complaints List 159
Acknowledgments 167
Index 169