Animal Chiropractic
Animal chiropractic is the adjustment or manipulation of joints along the neck, spine, pelvis and limbs to correct fixations or misalignments, called “subluxations.“ It is a form of healthcare that uses the body’s natural ability to heal by improving the relationship between the nervous system and the spinal column. Chiropractic adjustments are gently done by hand and help restore mobility, flexibility, alignment and the flow of nerve energy. This helps to reduce pain and allows the nervous system and immune system to function to their fullest capacity for optimal health. Pets acquire subluxations in many ways… from everyday life such as rough play, jumping off furniture and agility competitions to aging changes, excess weight, disease, environmental toxins, emotional stressors and trauma. If subluxations are left untreated, they can become a source of chronic pain, discomfort, dysfunction and degeneration. Chiropractic treatments can be used for preventative healthcare or for treatment of specific conditions such as intervertebral disc disease, arthritis, seizures, hip dysphasia and much more….
Class IV Laser Therapy
Laser helped stimulate appropriate bone remodeling in Crooked's broken leg.
Early in 2009, I started researching laser therapy… I was looking for a treatment tool (beyond acupuncture) to benefit all the “soft tissue injuries” I was seeing. Although I can chiropractically adjust all the compensations, the soft tissues simply take time to heal, and then unfortunately, are very prone to re-injury. I had heard very mixed results from people who had tried “laser acupuncture” for their pets, some responded, many didn’t. I discovered that when it comes to lasers, there is a lot of variety and very little regulation and training out there. Having always been a skeptic until something is proven, I wanted more concrete evidence of response to laser treatment, so I ran my own laser trials with Class III and Class IV machines. One days worth of Class IV treatments had three weeks worth of Class III treatments beat by a landslide for quality and quantity of results. This was due largely to the fact that the Class IV is able to penetrate the tissues up to four inches in depth. Because the Class IV Laser by Companion Therapy Laser is also FDA approved, I was proud to introduce it into practice at PAWSitively Balanced in May 2009. As of December 2010, it is still going strong and I continue to see results in 7-8 out of every 10 individuals, regardless of what we're treating. What do I treat with it? Well surprisingly, way more than soft tissue injuries. See below. - Dr. Michelle Herlihy
What is laser therapy?
* REDUCE PAIN * DECREASE INFLAMMATION * PROMOTE HEALING * INCREASE CIRCULATION *
* Young & Old Pets * Acute & Chronic Conditions * Superficial & Deep Tissues *
Medical laser therapy is the delivery of light via specific wavelengths to reduce pain and inflammation while stimulating tissue healing at the cellular level. Treatments are non-invasive, pain free and, when done properly by a trained professional, are free of side-effects. The stimulation of cells by light is called “photobiostimulation.” Consider vitamin D synthesis in humans from sunlight and you‘ll realize laser therapy is just a modern age continuation of an old process. Laser therapy stimulates unhealthy cells to increase production of chemical substrates. For example, mitochondrial cells will increase their levels of ATP (cellular energy) which thereby promotes cellular respiration and metabolism and healing of surrounding tissues. Arthritis and soft tissue injuries are often helped because laser therapy stimulates fibroblasts (collagen building blocks), osteocytes (bone) and chondrocytes (cartilage) as well. All this, while decreasing pain with endorphin release and increasing circulation with vasodilation.
*arthritis, degenerative joint disease *lick granulomas
*neurologic conditions *burns, hot spots, wounds
*hip or elbow dysplasia *chronic ear or anal gland infections
*surgical incisions *orthopedic post op recovery
*intervertebral disc disease (acute or chronic) *needleless acupunture
*sprains/strains/muscle pulls/tendon/ligament injuries (partial ACL tears)
*arthritis, degenerative joint disease *lick granulomas
*neurologic conditions *burns, hot spots, wounds
*hip or elbow dysplasia *chronic ear or anal gland infections
*surgical incisions *orthopedic post op recovery
*intervertebral disc disease (acute or chronic) *needleless acupunture
*sprains/strains/muscle pulls/tendon/ligament injuries (partial ACL tears)
AquaTreadmill Therapy
AquaTreadmill (AT) provides therapeutic benefits and exercise in the buoyancy of warm water for dogs, and even the occasional cat. It can be used to condition and improve endurance in young athletes, thereby decreasing future potential of injuries. AquaTread can help overweight dogs to exercise, lose weight and increase energy levels. It can maintain muscle for pre-operative conditions or even improve return to function for post-operative or traumatic injury conditions such as ACL tears and ruptured disks. AT also helps many chronic neurologic or musculoskeletal conditions such as hip or elbow dysplasia or IVDD (disk disease). The buoyancy of the water takes the pressure of gravity off aching arthritic joints allowing muscles to work without creating further pain. The warmth helps improve peripheral circulation. Walking on the treadmill in this controlled environment of water resistance, helps increase range of motion, strengthen muscle and improve flexibility and mobility. Whether for therapy or conditioning, AT is a form of new exercise for your pet that should be gradually increased in time and speed.
AquaTreadmill Rules
1. Show up on time for your appointment. In order to keep prices reasonable, AquaTread (AT) charges are based on appointment length. If you are late for your appointment, your dog misses out on how long they exercise. Regular cost will still apply. If you are overly late, your dog may not be able to do treadmill at all (appt times include fill and drain time), and fees for scheduled appointment will still apply.
2. If your dog has not done his/her business (#2), please arrive early to give your dog adequate time to fully "eliminate". If he/she has NOT eliminated and you expect needs to, please inform us. Older dogs with weakness that cannot defecate easily, neurologic or ataxic dogs with poor control or fecal incontinent dogs must have defecated within the past 2 hours or will be stimulated to do so prior to going into the AT. Poopers (aka, Code Browns) lead to temporarily shut down for cleaning, which is why repeat offenders get banned from AT.
3. If your dog has had ANY vomiting and/or diarrhea in the past 24 hours, please cancel your appointment. This will not be held against you. Remember, PAWSitively Balanced has a 3-strike policy (per client, not dog) that allows for 3 missed/cancelled appointments with less than 24 hours notice. After 3-strikes, appointments cancelled or missed with less than 24 hours notice will be charged for.
4. Dogs should be flea & tick free!!!! Frontline Plus is available at PAWStively Balanced if you need it, price is comparable to most internet pricing. Also, dogs with skin infections or open sores are not permitted in AT, get them healed up first!!
5. Routine AT appointments include a towel dry. If your dog needs to be blow dried, this is available for an extra fee, but MUST be scheduled at the time the appointment is made. If your dog has special needs and needs to be rinsed or bathed following AT, this too is available for an extra fee, and MUST be scheduled at time appointment is made.
6. Keep in mind, PAWSitively Balanced does not do any traditional medicine so if your dog has any other health conditions (especially cardiac or respiratory) please have them evaluated by your primary care vet prior to starting AT therapy to be sure all conditions are managed as well as can be and that your pet is ok’d to start a new form of exercise.
7. Do not feed your dog a big meal prior to coming for AT therapy. Either skip a meal or just feed a light meal. Bring treats, food and/or toys (that can get wet) as motivators for your dog in the treadmill.
2. If your dog has not done his/her business (#2), please arrive early to give your dog adequate time to fully "eliminate". If he/she has NOT eliminated and you expect needs to, please inform us. Older dogs with weakness that cannot defecate easily, neurologic or ataxic dogs with poor control or fecal incontinent dogs must have defecated within the past 2 hours or will be stimulated to do so prior to going into the AT. Poopers (aka, Code Browns) lead to temporarily shut down for cleaning, which is why repeat offenders get banned from AT.
3. If your dog has had ANY vomiting and/or diarrhea in the past 24 hours, please cancel your appointment. This will not be held against you. Remember, PAWSitively Balanced has a 3-strike policy (per client, not dog) that allows for 3 missed/cancelled appointments with less than 24 hours notice. After 3-strikes, appointments cancelled or missed with less than 24 hours notice will be charged for.
4. Dogs should be flea & tick free!!!! Frontline Plus is available at PAWStively Balanced if you need it, price is comparable to most internet pricing. Also, dogs with skin infections or open sores are not permitted in AT, get them healed up first!!
5. Routine AT appointments include a towel dry. If your dog needs to be blow dried, this is available for an extra fee, but MUST be scheduled at the time the appointment is made. If your dog has special needs and needs to be rinsed or bathed following AT, this too is available for an extra fee, and MUST be scheduled at time appointment is made.
6. Keep in mind, PAWSitively Balanced does not do any traditional medicine so if your dog has any other health conditions (especially cardiac or respiratory) please have them evaluated by your primary care vet prior to starting AT therapy to be sure all conditions are managed as well as can be and that your pet is ok’d to start a new form of exercise.
7. Do not feed your dog a big meal prior to coming for AT therapy. Either skip a meal or just feed a light meal. Bring treats, food and/or toys (that can get wet) as motivators for your dog in the treadmill.