Cindy is an 11 year old Chihuahua mix who one morning jumped off of the couch and let out a very loud yelp. Lori and John, Cindy's parents, noticed that following this Cindy was standing there with her back arched high, head down, and the tail between her legs. At this point a trip to the Veterinarian took place to evaluate what had occurred. Her Vet told them that it appeared that Cindy had injured her back and provided pain meds and a steroid shot to help relieve the pain and inflammation.

Despite the meds for three days Cindy appeared just miserable. She moved very slowly if at all, back arched high, head down, tail tucked. She wouldn't go up or down a step and wouldn't greet them at the door as she usually would. She didn't want to eat. She constantly fidgeted as if she couldn't get comfortable and would only go outside to relieve herself if she was carried there. After 3 days of this they brought her back in to her Vet, because she just wasn't getting any better. At this point the Vet explained about animal chiropractic and recommended that they bring Cindy to me for an evaluation.

When I met Cindy for the first time at the clinic it was obvious she was in a lot of pain and on the examining table she was just shaking in fear as they explained to me her history. Now, one thing I always question every parent about when I am taking a history in cases like this, where there was a sudden onset of apparent back pain without warning, is the existence of signs of something abnormal prior to this sudden injury. Nine times out of ten there was a warning and they just didn't connect it. So usually they will stand pensively for a minute, often unknowingly shaking their head as if to say that their animal companion has been just fine to this point. Then suddenly the "light bulb will go on" and they will tell me something that once again confirms my observations over 19 years of treating animals. In the overwhelming number of cases of an animal suddenly coming up with apparent back or neck pain, there will be something that foretells of things to come. In Cindy's case they explained that, "come to think of it," from the time she was a puppy she hated being picked-up. If they picked her up wrong she would yelp. Consequently they learned to pick Cindy up slowly and in a very certain manner to avoid this trouble.

Examining Cindy I found vertebral subluxations in her lower mid back. The pattern of spinal issues seemed fairly uncomplicated and we began chiropractic care. After the first visit Cindy seemed to settle down relative to the fidgeting and she slept a lot. Which in and of itself was a blessing for John and Cindy. By the second visit she was noticeably improved to my observation and after this treatment was pretty much back to normal with one additional improvement. She doesn't seem to mind being picked-up anymore. They say she has a spring in her step and just bounces when she goes on walks now.