Becoming an animal chiropractor:
Before becoming a chiropractor, I actually wanted to be a vet. I even did my first year in college with an animal science degree. I ultimately decided that I wasn’t cut out (emotionally) for dealing with sick animals day to day and decided to look at other options.
That was when I discovered animal chiropractic and learned that I could help prevent illness, disease, and pain in animals before it began. So, the reason I’m a chiropractor today was so I could work with pets… but turned out I loved working with their owners as well!
Chances are, you’ve probably never heard of animal chiropractic, but our furry friends need their bodies and nervous systems taken care of just as much as we do!
Keep reading to learn what signs to look for in your pet to determine if they need an adjustment!
How do I know if my pet needs an adjustment?
Because our animals can not tell us when they’re sick or in pain, it’s really important that you pay attention to any subtle signs they may be giving you. Here is a list of a few classic signs or symptoms your pet may be exhibiting:
yelping when picked up or pet
inability to go up or down stairs
constipation
mood changes or sudden aggression
lethargy
loss of appetite
anxiety
head ducking when pet
side lying or sitting (aka lazy sitting)
irritability
limping
And those are just a few things to look out for! To be on the safe side (just like with humans), we recommend maintenance visits even when you think your pet is feeling good. This will keep their joints moving well, systems functioning highly, and prevent injury, degeneration, and disease down the road!
Press play to watch me assess and adjust Clifford!
Press play to watch me assess and adjust Skinny Pig!
As pet owners we have a responsibility to look after our furry companion’s health and wellness. Animal wellness is an area that is dominated by corporations, like “big food” and “big pharma”, that I can promise are not looking out for the wellbeing and livelihood of your pet.
To start, let’s briefly dive into the history of domesticated pet food because our pets have come a long way from the wild creatures we bred them from, and unfortunately, so have their diets.
The pet food industry actually began in the 1800’s when an electrician realized he could make a high profit off of selling wheat and beef waste “crackers” to pet owners with a little clever marketing.
Eventually, this lead to companies who had a stake in processing pet food (kibble) to create clever marketing campaigns in order to convince the public that anything but processed kibble was dangerous for your pet.
The history animal nutrition…
A little about kibble:
Kibble is easy to produce, uses up cheap waste products, and yields an incredibly high profit while being cheap and convenient to the consumer as well. It’s no wonder that it’s remained the go-to option for pet owners for centuries now.
A quick look at the state of our pet health today will prove that just because we’ve done something a certain way for a long time doesn’t mean it’s right. We now have a population of chronically ill, cancer laden, obese, and just plain sick dogs… sound familiar? Like maybe we’re subjecting them to our own unhealthy habits?
Well, just like with humans, the answer to wellness can be found in a primal, ancestral approach to diet and lifestyle.
Where to start:
If you haven’t read the story about my own dog, Skinny Pig, and his recovery journey from being homeless and sick to thriving and well you can check it out here.
Skinny Pig has pushed me to do tons of research on animal nutrition to find the best brands, proteins, and ways to nourish our pets. I offer nutrition consultations for all kinds of small animals (dogs, cats, rabbits, etc.) and would love to help you get your pet on the best diet for them.
We will go over daily habits, lifestyle, diet preferences, body composition, and a few other factors that determine the best food for your furry friend. An investment into their nutrition now could save you on vet bills and medications, all while prolonging your pets quality, youthful years.
