Equine & Canine Therapy
Equine and canine chiropractic is the manual maneuvering of the vertebrae structure to ensure nervous system control and complete muscle coordination. Misalignments or subluxation of these spinal vertebrae cause irritation to the nerves and muscles that impact movement and mobility. When movement between two vertebrae is restricted the animal does not have total flexibility of the spine. This results in improper movement due to resistance and stiffness. As the spine gradually loses flexibility the animal compensates by shifting weight and/or movement a limb differently which may be accompanied by or result in more misalignments throughout the body.
Promote healing, prevent injury, improve mobility & quality of life
The Effect Of Massage
Massage therapy is done by massaging the muscles of each muscle grouping. There are 26 stress points on each side of the body. These are areas where the ligaments and tendons come together in that muscle group. These muscle groups tend to become tight and shut down due to nerve irritation due to misalignment, stress, fatigue or injury. When this happens the muscle group doesn’t get the blood and oxygen needed to perform properly then become susceptible to minor major rips and tears. It can also result compensation in movement and showing up lame. Paired together, chiropractic adjustments and massage help to release effected muscle groups to encourage blood flow, proper movement, which in turn promotes healing.
Session Details
What to expect in my therapy sessions
First I get the history of the animal. Anything you know of that may be contributing to an issue now. Injuries, surgeries, mishaps, big or small. I assess the animal by watching their movement. I’m looking for shortness in stride, dog tracking, swinging of the limb, limping or anything out of the ordinary that may give me an initial indication of what may be occurring.
Next I feel through the body for any misalignments in the spine, pelvis, shoulders, neck etc. While I’m palpating I’m also feeling for calcification of joints, scar tissue, lumps or anything out of the ordinary.
Afterwards I’ll explain what I’m seeing and feeling. Then do any necessary chiropractic adjustments and pair massage. The follow up session will be 2-3 weeks after and will consist of the same routine. Feel free to message me if you have any questions or concerns.
Session Fee
**Fees do not include travel
Canine Initial & Follow Up
80$
Equine Initial & Follow Up
120$
About Me
Dayna Franklin
I've been apart of Fort St. John's local community since birth and grew up loving animals right from the beginning. I found equine and canine therapy when I was struggling with my own dog and was going to have to say goodbye. That's when I learned of animal chiropractics. After seeing how my animals benefited, I knew in my heart I wanted to help other animals lead a healthier and stronger life.
Studying under Helen Woods at HJW Equine College, I gained the knowledge I desired to help animals improve their quality of life.
I am passionate about my profession and I am happy to talk with you.
250-264-2303
Toby's Story
Introducing Toby- my 17 year old Jack Russel Terrier. I had saved all my nickels and dimes for as long as I could remember until I finally sweet talked my parents into letting me get a puppy. Along came Toby.
Fast forward 8 years of no health problems, Toby started favouring his back end. It quickly progressed to the point where he couldn't walk and was dragging his legs behind. After a few tests and x-rays the veterinarian determined that he had an inflammation in his spine causing the issue. I was given two options, take him to a specialist and have them attempt a extremely expensive surgery that may or may not help or euthanize him. I was heartbroken, to say the least. I saw neither as a option.
This is when a family friend brought forward the idea of animal chiropractic. I had never heard of it before but decided to give it a try, it was an alternative option. With consistent treatments Toby's mobility improved. Very quickly I had my hyper active ball-crazed "puppy" back. Through out the last couple years Toby has required maintenance treatments. When he is misaligned he starts to show symptoms of shaking, unessecary panting, dog tracking and begins to favour a hind leg.
I'm so grateful that this alternate option allowed me to improve the quality of years and quantity of years of my dogs life. I now happily offer that alternative option to you and your furry pal.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some common behavioural issues my dog may exhibit indicating misalignment?
Dog tracking (rear end drifting off to one side while running)
Difficulty standing square
Splaying legs and shaking
One side of rear end atrophied
Difficulty getting up or down
Lowered tail
Inconsitant desplay of lamenss without reason
Continuously panting without corresponding exercise or stress
Tightening up when back is touched
General behavioural changes, less affectionate and sometimes unpredictably aggressive
What are the benefits of massage?
•Increases animals flexibility and suppleness while decrease the chance of muscle injury
•Reduces muscle stiffness by taking the lactic acid out of the muscle
•Increases muscle tone and range of motion with stretching
•Relaxes spasms or knots
•Increases the healing process by bringing blood to the area
•Helps to allow the area of inflammation to heal by alleviating pain
•Can help in lengthening the connective tissue and breaks down the formation of scar tissue
•Minimizes muscle damage when the animal has been injured
What are some performance problems my horse may exbit indicating back pain?
• "cold backed” during mounting
• Slow to warm up or relax
• Resists work
• Reluctant to stride out
• Hock, stifle and obscure hind limb lameness
• Front leg lameness, stumbling and tripping
• Excessive shying, lack of concentration on riders and aids
• Rushes to or from fences or refuses to jump
• Rushes down hill or pulls up hill with the front end (exhibits improper use of back/hindquarters)
• Inability to travel straight
• Unwilling or unable to round the back or neck
• Displays difficulty maintaining collection
• Twists over fences
• Falters or resists when making a transition
• Bucks or rears regularly
• Exhibits sudden decreased speed
• Slow out of the starting gate
• Turns wide
• Increases resistance as riding session progresse
How many sessions will my animal need?
Circumstances vary but most animals show visible improvement after 1-3 treatments. Acute problems often respond quickly, while longstanding problems commonly require further sessions. Animals with chronic conditions respond very well to regular supportive treatments. Working and performance animals can benefit from regular check-ups so that underlying problems can be identified and treated before they begin to impact performance or create longstanding issues
Don’t see your question or still have other queries? Get in touch for more information.
