Chiropractic & Acupuncture
Dr. Haley Macomber has brought her passion for Chiropractic and Acupuncture care here to RVCSC. She has completed over 220 hours with the Veterinary Chiropractic Learning Centre in Ontario. Dr. Macomber has also recently attended the Chi University and become a Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist (CVA) after completing over 160 hours of continuing education. She is excited to bring her passion for Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine to the Rutland community.
Chiropractic refers to the practice of manipulating the spine to treat disease. Veterinary Spinal Manipulation Therapists base their theories of disease on the connections between different body structures and the nervous system via the way of the spinal column and its role in biomechanics and movement. The treatments are directed at individual spinal segments in order to modify the progression of disease and reduce pain.
Spinal Manipulation, or Chiropractic, can be performed on any vertebrate species but is most commonly performed on horses, dogs, and cats.
Veterinary Spinal Manipulation Therapy can:
- Improve mobility
- Improve body awareness
- Allow for appropriate processing and integration of incoming information to the brain, and appropriate signaling output to the body
- Decrease pain
Acupuncture is based on the philosophy that illnesses are caused by an imbalance of the energies within the body. It’s one technique of many included under the title Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine that focuses on restoring balance to promote healing. Acupuncture requires fine needles being inserted into very specific points of the body where nerves and blood vessels converge. These points run along channels or meridians and are each responsible to elicit physiologic responses for a specific outcome. During disease, the energy flow along these points is blocked causing an imbalance. This technique can be used for multiple different conditions including:
- Chronic pain
- Eye conditions
- Ear conditions
- Paralytic conditions (Intervertebral Disc Disease, Degenerative Myelopathy, Laryngeal Paralysis to name a few)
- Skin disease
- GI Disease
- And many, many others!
During a TCVM consultation, Dr. Macomber will ask questions about your pet’s history and personality to help gauge how best to treat the pattern disharmony. She will also perform a chiropractic evaluation and make adjustments as needed. These 2 techniques help amplify the effects when used together, so we typically will recommend both at the first consultation. If this sounds like something that may benefit your pet, please call to make an appointment today!
What is Animal Chiropractic/VSMT?
Animal Chiropractic or Veterinary Spinal Manipulation Therapy is a field of animal health care that focuses on the preservation and health of the neuro-musculoskeletal system. It focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of vertebral subluxation complexes (VSCs) and dysfunctional joints of the spine and extremities.
The goal of the chiropractic appointment is to restore function and mobility to the compromised vertebra, and to re-establish neurologic transmissions. In more simple terms, it is a hands-on method of modulating the nervous system to restore balance to the body.
What conditions are most often treated with chiropractic?
Typically, conditions with a neurologic or biomechanical origin, such as degenerative joint diseases and musculoskeletal weakness or pain, are responsive to chiropractic manipulation. Decreased energy levels, resistance to jumping, and decreased play behaviors can all indicate that your pet could benefit from spinal manipulation.
How can my pet benefit from chiropractic?
Improvements are typically defined as a reduction in pain, an improved gait, improved athletic performance, and increased energy. It can also aid as an adjunct treatment after orthopedic conditions. It cannot replace the need for surgery but can help offset secondary problems that are caused by compensation for an injury.
Does my pet need to be an athlete to see results?
Absolutely not! While canine athletes will benefit greatly from chiropractic care, the family pet will as well. By regularly assessing and maintaining maximum flexibility in our pets, future injuries may be avoided. It also can be extremely rewarding for senior pets to help reduce pain and regain some strength and flexibility they otherwise had lost.
How safe is chiropractic for my pet?
When chiropractic or spinal manipulation is performed by an experienced, trained veterinary professional it is considered to be quite safe.
What can I expect at my first Chiropractic appointment?
The doctor will review the animal’s medical history, perform a physical exam, and discuss prior injuries or any pre-existing conditions with you. She will then bring you and your pet to an area where she can watch your dog walk and trot to evaluate your pet’s gait. Afterward, she will begin palpating your pet’s spine, diagnosing and treating any vertebral subluxation complexes she comes across.
What is TCVM?
Although it is relatively new to the Western world, Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM) is a medical system that has been used in China to treat animals for thousands of years. In Chinese Medicine theory, disease is understood as an imbalance in the body, and diagnosis proceeds through identifying the underlying “pattern” of disharmony. Pattern diagnosis different from a traditional Western medical diagnosis in that it takes into account not only disease signs but how these signs relate to the individual patient.
What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is a treatment that involves the stimulation of specific points, typically achieved through the insertion of specialized needles into the body. These points lie along the body’s Meridians or Channels along which the Qi (energy) flows. Each point has a specific action when stimulated, and multiple points are typically chosen based on the patient’s pattern.
Can I just have acupuncture performed without chiropractic?
Dr. Macomber is certified in both and recommends having both treatments done together, since they can help amplify the effects of the other. If one of the treatments is contraindicated due to pre-existing conditions, then Dr. Macomber will only perform the one that is safe.
How safe is acupuncture therapy?
When performed by a qualified practitioner (Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist, or CVA) acupuncture is very safe with very few side effects.
How long do the treatments last?
Depending on the method Dr. Macomber chooses would best benefit your pet, treatments typically last anywhere from 30-60 minutes.
How safe is acupuncture therapy?
When performed by a qualified practitioner (Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist, or CVA) acupuncture is very safe with very few side effects.
What diseases or symptoms can be treated with acupuncture?
Numerous studies show that acupuncture can help with: – Osteoarthritis and musculoskeletal problems – Paralytic/paretic conditions (for example; Intervertebral Disc Disease, Degenerative Myelopathy, Laryngeal Paralysis to name a few) – Skin Conditions – Gastrointestinal conditions – Behavior problems – And many, many more!
Why is Acupuncture combined with Herbs?
Dr. Macomber may prescribe Herbal Medicine that you can administer at home and it can help with your pet’s pattern on a daily basis. In a sense, it’s like receiving acupuncture every day!
