Have you ever spent a relatively short period of time with someone, and yet they made a huge impact on your life?  One of those people for me is Dr. Gene Giggleman quoted in this image.

Dr. Giggleman is a veterinarian, who co-founded the Parker University Animal Chiropractic Program (the program I graduated from) about 18 years ago.  He also taught Anatomy and Physiology and Basic Science at Parker for somewhere around 30 years.  I may not be 100% accurate in my numbers, but I’m close enough for a blog post.

I suspect that in 30 years of teaching chiropractic students, both human and animal, that you would not find anyone who could conjure up a course word about the man.

I only spent 15 days with him – 5 weekends, and yet, ask me in 10 years who a few of the greatest people I’ve ever encountered, and Dr. Gene Giggleman will, without hesitation, make the list.

Quite frankly, I had low expectations for the animal chiropractic program.  I (somewhat arrogantly) figured that with 24 years of chiropractic experience, that I would just go through the motions to become legal, and that there was nothing they could teach me of significant value.

That changed, the minute I met Dr. Giggleman.  He was a master teacher and lecturer, and understood the basic philosophy, art, and science of chiropractic better than most chiropractors.  He also put together a staff at Parker Animal, that was extraordinary, another sign of a great leader.

Today, partly as a result of the impact of Dr. Giggleman, I intend to devote the rest of my life to teaching and sharing the basic principles – the philosophy, art, and science of chiropractic and animal chiropractic to as many who will allow me, human clients, human owners, veterinarians and chiropractors interested in animal chiropractic.

Indeed, all God’s creatures, that have a spine and nervous system have the potential for a higher quality of life and health through chiropractic care.  I will spend the rest of my life telling the chiropractic story, and mastering my craft as a chiropractor for “people of all ages and animals of several species.” 

I am absolutely passionate about how chiropractic improves lives.  I am blessed to provide chiropractic care to people of all ages, and animals of several species – primarily dogs and horses.

It’s funny, I’ve been a chiropractor for people for 24 years now.  While in Indiana, I worked with a couple of vets and occasionally provided care to dogs and cats.

Now that I am in Colorado and have completed my training, certification, and licensure as an Animal Chiropractor, I’ve been really promoting my chiropractic services for dogs and horses – to the extent that there are rumors swirling that I no longer take care of people.  That couldn’t be further from the truth.

As I said above, I’m blessed to care for both people and animals.  What’s fun is that often times one refers the other.  In other words, it’s becoming increasingly common for me to get called out to care for one’s dog, only to have the human schedule to see me in my office the next week.

How would you know if your dog or horse might benefit from chiropractic care?  The answer is the same whether one is a child, an adult, a German Shepherd, or a Palomino.

Chiropractic is based on the fact that living organisms are self-healing, and self-regulating.  There is an innate intelligence present in all cells constantly striving to keep us in a state of homeostasis.  That’s fancy talk for the fact that the life inside of us is trying to keep us in a state of health, healing, balance, function, and adaptation.

The nervous system is the master system that controls and coordinates all function in our body and mind.  Stress interferes with the optimal function of the nervous system and when stress and tension build up in the spine, the bones may actually misalign and prevent the nervous system from functioning and adapting properly.  This may lead to any sort of health problem in our organs, muscles, joints, or anywhere in the body.  It can even affect mood and attitude.

The objective of chiropractic is to correct dysfunction in the spine (called subluxation) to allow the nervous system to express life at a higher level.  When the nervous system is interfered with, we don’t function optimally and we wear out prematurely.

So, what are some signs that we might benefit from chiropractic care?  Again, it’s the same answer whether we walk on two legs or four – or in the case of Buttercup, last week, three legs!

The true answer is that unless a chiropractor checks the patient for subluxation, there is no way of knowing whether the patient needs chiropractic or not.  That’s important……but there are some things to consider in your own case or that of a loved one.  Is there pain? Is there discomfort?  Is there lack of movement? Is there a change in attitude or behavior?  Is there stiffness?  Is there  anything that seems different in a negative way?

These are just a few questions to ask yourself.  It is my contention that all people and most domestic animals could benefit from chiropractic care.

People need a lot more care than animals do.  One thing I love about adjusting animals is that they respond so quickly and need such little care.  Humans, not so much.  Humans are under a lot more stress and it is my belief that humans are best served chiropractically, by coming in for weekly or every other week care.  Our diets are worse than animals.  We sit too much.  We have social media and politics that bombard our minds with stress and tension.  The main enemy of our highest quality of life is stress, and we’re under more than animals, thus need more care to achieve the best results.

Like I say, I like to see my humans on a weekly basis.  Animals need far less, perhaps monthly, or every 60-90-120 days.  It’s dependent on a variety of things including breed, age, job, stress levels, etc.

I would love to have a conversation with you about how you, your family, or your animals might benefit from chiropractic care.  If you have any questions, by all means give me a call.  Doctor means teacher.  Let me explain to you what we do and how we go about it.

Chiropractic care offers hope for a better future on many levels.  Chiropractic and its potential influence is as vast as the central nervous system – the master system which controls and coordinates every aspect of our health and life.

There is a video I created that I ask folks to watch if they are considering chiropractic care.  I have one for human chiropractic and one for animal chiropractic.  Frankly, I like the one for animals better, so I’ve included it in this post.  Watch it then call me with questions and let’s talk about how your quality of life and health may improve with chiropractic care for you, a family member, or your animal.

It’s been a great few days to be an animal chiropractor.  Over the weekend I had the opportunity to adjust 14 dogs, several of whom were 10-12 years old.

I always ask the client to call or text within the first 24 hours – sooner if there is a concern, but certainly to give me an update after the animal’s first adjustment.

One was Wiley, a 12 y.o. mixed breed. He’s a big ol’ love bucket who looks like a cross between a Rottweiler and Pit….but sweet as can be.  His owner said he was having a hard time getting up and moving around.

After one adjustment, I got this, “Wiley is doing amazing! J. is convinced.  His limp was WAY better that first and second day.  Stairs are easier for him.  He’s happy and playful.”

Liberty is a 12 y.o. Collie.  He’s showing signs of age, but after his first adjustment his owner reported he got down easier, breathed deeper, and was wide awake at times that he would have normally be asleep, and seemed to be in less pain.

Another 12 y.o. Border Collie/Sled Dog, was able to jump onto the bed and just seemed happier.  There’s more to it than that, but that was after one adjustment.

Then there was Aspen, the 10 y.o. Yellow Lab.  I asked his owner for an update, “He is doing great!  I can’t believe how good he feels.”

I am so proud of the results we get with dogs of all ages.  It’s easy to get a big head and act like you’re the healer, but the reality is that the healing comes from the life inside.  I just remove the interference.

I have such a heart for dogs of all ages, but especially the seniors.  They have such a hard time telling us that they are in pain, but when we apply our chiropractic technique we find interference that is keeping them from functioning and adapting optimally.  We gently correct their subluxations and allow their bodies and minds to function better.  It’s so wonderful to watch.

Yes, they will eventually cross the bridge, but if we can make their lives better, with less pain, more energy, and greater function, until that time, it’s so worth it.

I have this video that I made about animal chiropractic.  I encourage you to watch it and let me know if I can be of service to you or a family member, be that a 2-legged or 4-legged one. It takes a few seconds to load because I can’t figure out how to load it to YouTube.  Any help would be appreciated.

If you have any questions about animal chiropractic, costs, procedures, expectations, etc, let me know.  My number is 719-330-2501. 

I’m often asked, “How do you adjust a horse?”  My typical, smart aleck response, is, “It’s really no harder than adjusting a zebra.”

The reality is that adjusting a large animal isn’t really different than adjusting a person of any age, an English Mastiff, or a Chihuahua.  But one thing I’ve learned from a master mentor, Dr. Jay Komarek, is that the adjustment isn’t something done to the patient, it’s done with the patient.

It’s a dance requiring rapport, mutual respect, coordination, and cooperation.  Jay calls it a dance.

The art of adjusting people and animals is predicated on one’s ability to communicate.  I believe that in all dealings with both people and animals, the one who can communicate the best, wins.

In the case of chiropractic, winning means the patient/client accepting care, and then “accepting” the adjustment.

It means not only communicating, with words, what chiropractic is and what a chiropractor does, but also communicating through other senses and functions (such as touch and breath)  that which will allow the patient to relax, release inhibitions or vigilance, and allow the adjustment to take place so that the patient’s body and mind can begin to adapt, reboot, adjust, and heal.

Indeed, the adjustment is like a dance whereby both parties are present, relaxed, in tune, and working together.

The chiropractic dance is one whereby the leader, the chiropractor, analyzes the spine for areas of restricted motion, tension, and spasm, subluxation…..then the application of a force, in a calculated amplitude and line of drive, to release the tension, to remove interference to the Central Nervous System.  The dance is  a beautiful progression.

BJ Palmer, the Developer of Chiropractic, had a saying on the wall of Palmer College, “When love and skill work together, expect a masterpiece.”  

As God brings people, pets, and pasture pals into my life to care for, may I be ever mindful that the philosophy, art, and science of chiropractic is a beautiful dance to share with my patients and clients, and not something I merely do to my patients.

If I may be of service to you, your family (two or four legged), please give me a call, (719) 330-2501.

I am a chiropractor.  I care for people of all ages, as well as pets, and pasture pals.  People ask how one would know if a horse might need chiropractic care.  Here’s the story….

But first….does your horse

appear to be lame in the rear

appear to be in pain

seem lame in the turn

drag a rear leg

short stride

pull  a hip to one side

lack power

carry the tail to one side

pull back

hold her head funny

or just not seem to be “right”?

There are literally dozens of signs that your horse may benefit from chiropractic care.  We should talk about it.

Chiropractic is based on the fact that living organisms are self-healing and self-regulating.  We have a built in system that is constantly striving to keep us in balance, coordination, adaptation, and health.  That’s called homeostasis.

Chiropractic is also based on the fact that the Central Nervous System, including the brain and spinal cord is the master system which controls the function of every cell, organ and system in the body.

I like to think of the brain and nervous system as being like our built in super computer.  Computers have operating systems, and run programs and software – much of which runs in the background without you knowing anything about it.

Our brain (computer) has an operating system that is constantly striving to keep us in homeostasis, and it’s called innate intelligence.  Innate intelligence is the life inside of us that is constantly striving to keep us alive, functioning, and adapting.

Chiropractic is also based on an intimate relationship between the spine and nervous system.  In order for the nervous system to function optimally, without interference, all of the bones of the spine must be in proper position and function.  Misaligned, stuck, dysfunctional spinal segments wreak havoc with the function of the brain and central nervous system, and that’s bad.  It can literally cause or contribute to nearly any health or quality of life issue, you, your family, or your animals encounter.

We are constantly under stress, chemical, mental, and physical.  So are our animals.  When stress levels overwhelm our nervous system’s ability to adapt to it, tension is created in the neuromusculoskeletal system that can be so severe that bones in the spine can misalign and the nervous system may be severely interfered with. That is called a subluxation, and the sole objective of the chiropractic adjustment is to correct subluxations to allow the central nervous system, complete with built in innate intelligence, to restore function, adaptation, healing, and homeostasis.

Horses need chiropractic care.  They are under stress, much of which we understand, and some of which we aren’t aware of.

What sorts of physical, mental and emotional, or chemical stressors do horses have to adapt to?  Riders with bad biomechanics or poor saddle fit? Encounters with aggressive members of the herd? Cruel training methods before he became yours? Being cooped up in a stall, high-sugar nutrition… If you put your mind to it, you might think of dozens of stressors that your horse must adapt to.

We all have a built-in (innate) capability to resist stress.  But if stress levels overwhelm our ability to adapt, subluxations occur and our health and quality of life are compromised.

Luckily a properly trained and licensed equine chiropractor can analyze the spine and nervous system for subluxations, correct them, and allow the horse’s own nervous system to function the way it was designed.

I believe every man, woman, child, or animal with a spine and nervous system, has the potential of functioning, adapting, and healing better, through chiropractic care.

I am honored to be a chiropractor who takes care of people of all ages, and animals of several species, primarily dogs and horses.  I would love to care for you, your family, or your four-leggeds.  Please watch the video below for more information about how chiropractic care might help you, your family, or your animals.

In this video I talk about Animal Chiropractic, what an Animal Chiropractor does, what sort of conditions Animal Chiropractic “treats”, and more about how to know if a person or animal might benefit from chiropractic care. 

It’s important to know what you might expect after your dog or horse receives a chiropractic adjustment.

There are a few common outcomes and most are normal or to be expected.  What I tell all patients and clients is that, “if it concerns you, it concerns me,” and to call immediately.

That said, the most common response to an adjustment is for the animal to relax and sleep for the rest of the day.  This is common as tension is released from the neuro-musculo-skeletal system and the body undergoes positive change.  Much healing takes place while, we, or our animals, are asleep.

Sometimes an animal may want to run and play, or may be bouncing off the walls.  It’s as if we’ve released an abundance of pent up energy.

Often there is not perceivable change for a day or two, or even an adjustment or two.

Rarely, an animal may be stiff or sore after an adjustment.  Again, if it concerns the client, it concerns me and I want to know about it, but it’s typically the result of moving a bone back into its normal position after it has been out of place for a long time and the body must adapt.

The good news is that by correcting subluxations the brain is in a better position to function to restore function, adaptation, healing and homeostasis.

Animals respond so quickly to chiropractic care and it’s so awesome to receive a text or call from an owner, amazed at how much better their animal is doing after just an adjustment or two.  Typically, they report that the animal is moving better, in less pain, demonstrates more energy or a better demeanor.  Any number of positive outcomes may occur as interference to the nervous system is removed.

If you have any questions about how chiropractic might make your dog, horse, or other quadri-pal healthier, give me a call and let’s talk (719) 330-2501…..and please watch the video below.  It takes a few seconds to load.

People often think of a chiropractor as a doctor who takes care of back pain or headaches.  They might be shocked to learn that chiropractors care for people of all ages, with and without all sorts of health problems; and they might be shocked to learn that a few chiropractors are licensed to care for animals.

I am one of those.  

Not only do I provide gentle, specific, chiropractic care to people of all ages, but also animals of several species, especially dogs and horses.

Why would a dog benefit from chiropractic, and how would you even know what to look for? Let me give you a list (certainly not comprehensive) of things to look for in your dog, and then I’ll explain why and how chiropractic works in dogs and other animals.

Here are some signs and symptoms of chiropractic problems in the head, spine, or pelvis:

Is the dog in pain or discomfort?
Have they lost range of motion or the ability to run and play?
Does their head tilt or is one ear higher than the other?
Is there a change in their mental status or demeanor?
Do they not want to chew hard food or toys?
Are they incontinent?
Do they sit funny? Is their tail tucked?

This is merely a small sampling of things an owner might notice, but these are all clues to the notion that the dog may have a subluxation in the spine.  You might ask, “What the heck is that?”

The purpose of a chiropractic adjustment is to correct something in the spine, pelvis, or extremities, called subluxation.  Simply, a subluxation is an interference to the brain and nervous system, caused by a stuck, dysfunctional, area of the spine.  Chiropractors correct subluxations so that the brain and nervous system may function better, so that we can heal, adapt, and enjoy a higher quality of life.

Chiropractic is based on the fact that living organisms, you, me, our dogs, etc, are self-healing and self-regulating.  Scientists call that homeostasis.  It’s the innate ability of living organisms to maintain balance, coordination, harmony, and health.  You know that if you cut your finger, it heals without you having to read a book or watch a YouTube video.  We call the wisdom of life in each of us that strives to keep us in homeostasis, innate intelligence.

Chiropractic is also based on the fact that the brain and nervous system is the master system which controls all health and healing.  If we think of the brain as a super computer, the innate intelligence is like the operating system, or the sum total of all software that the brain uses to exist – to maintain homeostasis.

Chiropractic is also based on the intimate relationship between the spine and central nervous system.  In order for the brain and nervous system to work optimally, the bones of the spine must be unstuck and moving freely.  Unfortunately, due to overwhelming stress, the bones of the spine can get stuck and not move properly and that creates tremendous tension and interference to the brain and nervous system.  That’s not good.

As a chiropractor, my specialty, whether my patient is an infant child, an adult, a Golden Lab, or  Dachshund, my job is to analyze the spine for misaligned, stuck, non-functioning areas of the spine, called subluxations.

When I adjust, or correct, subluxations in the spine, the brain and nervous system functions better due to less interference.  This allows the brain to restore the person or animal to homeostasis, resulting in better health and quality of life!

Wow!  As a chiropractor I don’t “treat” medical (human or veterinary) conditions, rather, I correct subluxations to allow the innate wisdom of the body to express at a higher level, and often times the patient heals or gets much better.

So, that’s a little insight into why chiropractic care is potentially beneficial to people of all ages, and animals of several species.  Chiropractors correct subluxations and allow the brain to function better.

Better Brain = Better Life.  It’s as simple as that. Chiropractic allows the brain to function better.

So, do you know of a dog (0r person) who might benefit from a chiropractic evaluation?  Do you know a dog who is stiff, sore, or just not 100%?  We should talk.

Give me a call at (719) 330-2501 and I will share more about the amazing potential benefits of chiropractic care for you or your best friend.

I love taking care of both people and animals.  Animal chiropractic is especially cool, because animals respond so quickly to care.  They often times have more energy, are in less pain, move and function better, and are noticeably more healthy, after a small number of chiropractic adjustments.

The objectives and principles of chiropractic are the same whether one walks on two legs or four.

Chiropractic is based on the scientific fact that living organisms are self-healing and self-regulating.  That’s called homeostasis, and it means that the organism has the innate potential to maintain balance, function, adaptation, and health.

We call the wisdom of the body that maintains us in homeostasis, innate intelligence.  Since the brain and nervous system is the master system which controls and controls all other cells, organs, and systems, and since the nervous system is like a master computer, I like to think of the innate intelligence as being like the operating system and all the built-in software of the computer.

Chiropractic is also based on an intimate relationship between the bones of the spine and the function of the brain and nervous system.  Indeed, in order for the nervous system to function optimally, all the bones of the spine must be in proper alignment and not stuck out of place.

Unfortunately, stress and tension can overwhelm the body’s ability to adapt to it and bones in the spine can get misaligned.  When that happens, it can create an interference to the nervous system.  That’s called a subluxation, and it’s like having a computer that becomes fragmented or infected with malware or viruses.  It doesn’t function optimally.  It gets bogged down.  It’s sick.

The purpose of chiropractic care is to gently correct these subluxations in an effort to help the patient to function and adapt, to have a higher quality of life and health, and to possibly prevent further damage, dis-ease, and disease.  Does that make sense?

I love animal chiropractic, because typically in a matter of up to a few adjustments, clients see a difference in their pet.  If you’ve ever had a computer that was totally infected with malware and viruses, and had an IT guy clean it up, you know what removing the interference does for promoting optimal performance.   Chiropractic does the same thing in people of all ages as well as animals.

So, here are some questions to ask is my pet moving normally?  Are they in pain?  Is there a difference in their behavior?  What is their breed.  We have created some significant genetic hindrances in many breeds in an effort to get the perfect looking animal.

If you have any reason to think that your pet or pasture pal isn’t experiencing an ideal quality of life and health, or if they just aren’t moving, functioning, or adapting right, we should talk about the potential benefits of chiropractic for them.

Chiropractic doesn’t replace the need for medicine, unless chiropractic replaces the need for medicine.  The opposite is true as well. Medicine doesn’t correct subluxations, and thus doesn’t replace the need for chiropractic.  It’s all about what is best for the overall performance, health, and quality of life of your animal.

By the way, only properly trained, and certified chiropractors and veterinarians should ever provide chiropractic care to animals.  Not every chiropractor is able to provide such care, just like I am not able to provide acupuncture or electro-therapy.  One must have taken proper training and have a special license from the State.  Make sure that your veterinarian or animal chiropractor has been properly trained and can legally adjust your animal.

Give me a call.  Let’s talk about chiropractic and the potential benefits for your best friend. (719) 330-2501.

In this FB Live video, I tell a super story about an 11 year old practice member I ran into at church and his enthusiasm for chiropractic care.

I then discuss the need for and value of chiropractic care for children.  Most of my practice members are families and we literally see kids just days old, all the way to seniors.

What are a couple of bad habits that you have that could easily be replaced with good ones?  That’s the best place to start.  Pick something small, like drinking water instead of soda, or putting your clothes in the hamper instead of on your dresser.

As Tom Ziglar says, “The fastest way to success is to replace a bad habit with a good one.”  That’s what we talk about in this session.