By Sara Wiercinski
Years ago, Stephanie Winter was in school studying human chiropractic when her small dog Kylie developed a spine infection causing serious back pain.
“Like clockwork, every three months we would end up in the vet ER. Kylie got injections of a morphine-like substance. One time she got too much and I was afraid she would die.”
“I thought, ‘There’s got to be a better way’.”
Dr. Winter took Kylie to an animal chiropractor. After treatment the dog felt better.
“That was my epiphany moment,” said Dr. Winter. “…when the clouds parted and angels came out. I knew this is what I was put on this earth to do.”
At that point she began her animal certification for chiropractic.
There are two approaches to becoming an animal chiropractor: Start in the study of human chiropractic, then certify in animals; or start as a veterinarian MD and study and certify in chiropractic.
Dr. Kimberly Hunt had been working as a human chiropractor for ten years when she learned about treating animals.
“Dogs just want to heal. They’re so pure, with no expectations. They make the best patients.”
She started training, became certified by the International Veterinary Chiropractic Association (IVCA) and transitioned her practice to dogs– which included six months treating both species. In 2014, she “fired her human clients,” and now operates Chiro4Paws at 406 Bannister Rd.
Most of Dr. Hunt’s clients are family pets. About a third are sport dogs who compete in frisbee, dock diving and flyball. “Often these guys tear up their bodies competing,” she said.
Dr. Winter operates at Family Pet Medical at 13171 State Line Rd. on Fridays each week. Her remaining time is spent in a northland clinic and making farm visits for livestock. She is also certified by the IVCA.
In addition to dogs, Dr. Winter’s clients include cats who stop using their litter boxes, rabbits who refuse to come out to play and guinea pigs who are less active or unable to groom.
She also treats horses, cattle, goats and hogs, and wellness/prevention for sport performance animals like show dogs, dressage and draft horses.
“I like to adjust moms and litters before they go home,” she said.
Dr. Emily McLeod has been certified in animal chiropractic since 2004, “one of the old ladies on the block,” she quips.
Dr. McLeod was a human chiropractor in search of Continuing Education credits when she was introduced to the practice. “I thought, ‘this will be fun! I love animals!’ and had no idea how much it would consume and how much I would learn.”
She worked on the certification process, figuring she could treat dogs and cats on the side. Her training took her to horse barns where she spent the majority of her time in early practice. She concurrently treated humans and animals for nine years, and for the past 21 years has worked exclusively on animals.
Dr. McLeod, who is licensed in both Missouri and Kansas, employs two doctors who together work in vet clinics around the metro area. She is also halfway through four years of Veterinary School at Kansas State University.
How can owners know an animal is in pain?
“Animals are very ritualistic,” said Dr. Winter. “They love their schedules, so any behavior change could be an indication of pain.”
Dr. Hunt reminds dog owners that there are often no pain symptoms at first. “Dogs are stoic. In the wild, to show pain means weakness, which equates to being picked off and killed.”
Dogs compensate to avoid showing pain. She says subtle cues can indicate a problem, like standing/sitting asymmetrically, hesitating before acting, lameness and grouchiness.
Animal chiropractic involves adjusting joints in the spine. Chiropractors refer to Meric Charts which map how the spine feeds nerves in every part of the body, for each species.
Generally, a first treatment lasts about a half hour, and follow-ups last 15 minutes. Treatment frequency varies by animal, age, severity of problem and their role.
“There’s no placebo effect with animals. You see the changes immediately,” said Dr. Winter.
She said for most animals that includes bright eyes, tail up, a smoother topline. Often animals will look around with a fuller range of motion than before.
Dr. Hunt’s canines receive musculoskeletal work along with deep tissue massage, neuromuscular regeneration and re-education, myofascial release and other modalities.
Both Dr. Hunt and Dr. Winter attended Options for Animals school in Wellsville, KS.
“It’s the ‘OG’ school for animal chiropractic, the first in the country,” said Dr. Winter. The course of study is based on field pioneer Dr. Sharon Willoughby who originally founded the school in Illinois.
Dr. McLeod studied at Parker University in Dallas, Texas, where she now teaches.
“Most people think of chiropractic only to treat pain or for injuries,” she said. “Chiropractic restores the function of the central nervous system, allowing the body to function at the best of its ability.”
For her dogs, Dr. Hunt’s treatment goal is to reduce or eliminate pain medications, and in some cases avoid surgery.
“Most pain meds have drastic effects on the body. Chiropractic can increase quality of life, and in some cases has saved dogs from euthanasia.”
Back in 2018, Karen Famuliner turned to Dr. Winter when her dachshund Dottie was unable to walk and a vet recommended euthanization.
Dottie’s condition was treatable, and after two and a half months–and additional care from a new veterinarian– the dog could walk again.
“It was amazing and so hard to believe they did this,” Famuliner said. “Dottie lived another five happy years.”
Dr. Hunt reminds pet owners the fate of many beloved family pooches who share the same unhealthy sedentary lifestyle as many of us modern humans, along with too much junk food.
“It’s the same as people: Dogs need to go on walks and play, eat good nutrition and be outside for sunshine, fresh air and all that good earth energy.”
Learn more about animal chiropractic at ivca.de, www.arkanimalchiropractic.com, drkimberlyhunt.com and www.dremilymcleod.com.