Many dogs that seem perfectly healthy may actually be living with subtle joint or spinal misalignments that affect how they move, play, and live their lives. These small imbalances can cause tension, pain, or stiffness that often go unnoticed — until your dog begins slowing down, avoiding stairs, hesitating to jump on the couch, or play their favorite games with you.
The good news is that there are numerous safe and effective treatments for these conditions, like dog chiropractic care. This supplemental type of wellness care for dogs focuses on restoring balance and movement throughout the body, ultimately helping to relieve discomfort and support better overall mobility.
In this blog, we'll explore six common conditions that dog chiropractors can help manage — and how this gentle, hands-on approach can improve your dog's comfort, mobility, and quality of life.
Do Dogs Need Chiropractors?
While not every dog will need to see a veterinary chiropractor during their lifetime, many dogs do benefit from chiropractic care and it can help them live happier, more comfortable lives. One of the biggest misconceptions pet owners have about chiropractic care for dogs is that it's only for "serious back problems" or that it's some sort of luxury treatment, but chiropractic care for dogs is actually a prevention and treatment option for all kinds of dogs.
When a dog's joints or spine are in misalignment, they can suffer from pain, inflammation, and increased muscle tension, making even basic movements and everyday life more difficult and painful than necessary. Realigning and rebalancing a dog's body promotes natural healing processes and can give dogs some much-needed relief.
Conventional treatments and pain management approaches like surgery, muscle relaxants, and pain medications are great options for many pets, but the addition of chiropractic care to their treatment plan can help veterinarians go beyond managing symptoms and address the root cause of the issue, restoring proper alignment and motion to the spine and specific joints. In fact, veterinary research and clinical observations suggest it can reduce pain and improve the range of motion in dogs with musculoskeletal issues, especially when combined with traditional care.
If you're unsure of whether or not chiropractic care is right for your dog, book a consultation with your veterinarian or a dog chiropractor to get the conversation started. They'll be able to assess your dog's physical condition and injuries and create a personalized treatment plan that's right for your individual dog.
Conditions a Dog Chiropractor Can Help Manage
Back or Neck Pain
Sore necks and backs aren't just an ailment we face; our dogs can feel similar pain or discomfort in these areas, too! Dogs can develop soreness or stiffness in their back or neck from jumping, slipping, or simply getting older. Dogs of all ages and breeds can experience spinal and neck discomfort, though long-bodied breeds like Dachshunds and Corgis, as well as very active or athletic dogs, are more prone to back strain and neck injuries.
During chiropractic care for neck and back pain in dogs, the chiropractor will manipulate the dog's body to realign vertebrae, release pressure on affected nerves, and restore normal joint motion. As alignment improves, many dogs begin moving more fluidly, showing less stiffness and a greater willingness to play or climb stairs. Many dogs move more freely and seem happier after a few visits.
Arthritis or Joint Stiffness
As dogs age, their joints can lose flexibility and become painful, with many dogs even developing arthritis in their senior years. Arthritis in dogs develops when the cushioning cartilage inside a joint wears down, leading to inflammation, pain, and reduced mobility. As we discussed, this is especially common in senior dogs, but we also see it regularly in large breeds and those with a history of orthopedic issues. Even mild joint stiffness can make daily activities uncomfortable and discourage movement, which can worsen the problem over time.
Chiropractic care helps maintain healthy movement in the spine and joints, reducing stiffness and supporting better mobility. Regular adjustments with a dog chiropractor can reduce stress on arthritic joints and create a smoother, more natural range of motion. While chiropractic care for dogs isn't a cure for arthritis and general joint stiffness, it's a great addition to other arthritis treatments.
Post-Injury or Surgery Recovery
When a dog is recovering from an injury or surgery, they often compensate by shifting their weight or moving differently. Over time, this can create new sources of strain in the back, hips, or shoulders, slowing recovery and even causing secondary pain.
Chiropractic adjustments during the recovery period help restore balance in the body, reduce muscle tension, and support proper healing. When integrated with rehabilitation or physical therapy, chiropractic treatments for dogs recovering from surgery or injuries can enhance their healing and help prevent future mobility issues or other complications from arising.
Lameness or Limping (Without Bone Injury)
If a dog is limping but x-rays show no fracture, the cause may be a soft tissue or spinal alignment issue, making the dog a great candidate for chiropractic adjustments. Dogs who are active, play roughly, or jump on and off furniture frequently are especially prone to this type of mechanical imbalance.
In cases of lameness or limping without bone injury, a dog chiropractor will evaluate the dog's gait, posture, and spinal motion to identify where movement has become restricted or uneven. Then, they'll use those findings to perform targeted adjustments, thus relieving tension, restoring alignment, and reducing inflammation. As the dog regains more natural motion thanks to the adjustments, they may begin to limp less and become noticeably more comfortable in their movements.
Sporting Conditioning & Injury Recovery
Performance dogs — like agility competitors, hunting dogs, or herding dogs — put a lot of stress on their joints and spine.
For these dogs, chiropractic care serves as both preventive maintenance and recovery support. Regular adjustments keep the spine flexible, maintain proper alignment, and ensure muscles are balanced on both sides of the body. This helps enhance coordination, reduce the likelihood of injury, and promote faster recovery when minor strains occur.
Changes in Mobility or Tail Movement
If your dog hesitates to jump, struggles with stairs, or stops wagging their tail, it could be due to spinal or nerve discomfort. These symptoms may result from a pinched nerve, tension in the lower back or pelvis, or an injury to the tail base.
A veterinary chiropractor can assess the state and positioning of your dog's spinal column to identify any areas that may contribute to pain or restricted movement. Gentle adjustments can help restore normal motion in the lower back and pelvis, relieving tension that may be limiting mobility or tail movement, and getting your dog back to wagging comfortably!
Are Dog Chiropractors Safe?
Chiropractic care is generally safe for all breeds and sizes when performed by a trained professional, like Dr. Stevenson, who is a Certified Veterinary Chiropractor (CVCP) and has completed specialized training in animal chiropractic care after veterinary education. Any dog chiropractor that is going to work on your pet should have credentials like this, as this certification ensures they know how to safely perform spinal and joint adjustments specifically for dogs, focusing on improving mobility, reducing pain, and supporting overall health.
The key to making chiropractic care safe for dogs is our thorough evaluation and adjustments tailored to the dog's specific size, breed, and condition. We take every aspect of your dog's health, body condition, and tolerance for touch into account when determining if chiropractic care is right – and safe – for them.
Each dog is unique, and the type and number of sessions needed depend on factors like age, breed, overall health, and the type or severity of the issue. A young, healthy dog with minor stiffness might show improvement after 1–2 sessions, while chronic issues, arthritis, or post-injury recovery may require multiple sessions over several weeks. But rest assured that our team is available to guide you through every appointment and decision made about your dog's care.
Book Chiropractic Care for Your Dog Today
At Advanced Pet Care Clinic, we are proud to offer Veterinary Orthopedic Manipulation (VOM) services that can complement your dog's complete veterinary care. Dr. Stevenson has helped dozens of dogs in our community by providing exceptional veterinary and chiropractic care, and will be happy to help get your dog on a path to a more comfortable and mobile life.
If you have questions and you'd like to reach out to us, you can call us directly at (319) 220-5926, or you can email us at [email protected]. Don't forget to follow us on social media Facebook, Instagram.