I see a lot of animals. By far most of my animal patients are repeat customers. Why is that? Don’t I get them better? Actually, yes! And better and better!
I’ve heard people complain, “Once you start seeing a chiropractor, you always have to keep going back.” I don’t know if all of these people have actual experience of that sort, or if they’re just repeating something they heard somewhere, but my animal clientele have a different perspective on that.
“Why wouldn’t we keep having you come back. When our horses (or dogs) get regular check-ups they win more events than when they don’t.”
Sure, I get called out to help with the rehabilitation of injuries, often working concurrently with their veterinarian. But for many of my clients the issue is performance pure and simple. A body free of interference will perform better than one that is being interfered with. That’s my specialty - removing interference - so you can EXPERIENCE PERFORMANCE!
IS IT CHIROPRACTIC, OR JUST HORSING AROUND?
I’ve been giving chiropractic adjustments to horses since 1985. When I see a patient of any vertebrate species, my mind set is chiropractic. I want to know: Where is the interference to normal information and energy flow in this body? And, how can I correct that imbalance to restore normal healthy function and performance?
I don’t wonder what condition the patient is suffering from. That is a medical perspective. If you want to know what condition your animal has, then you want to call the veterinarian.
I do get many referrals from veterinarians. They refer to me when either the condition doesn’t seem to fit into a standard diagnosis (there is something wrong, but we don’t know exactly how to classify it.), or when they have seen this particular condition respond to chiropractic before. Actually, there is a third category under which I’ve received referrals as well: “We’ve done all that we can. Try the chiropractor.”
WHEN SHOULD YOUR ANIMAL SEE THE CHIROPRACTOR?
If you have a health emergency please consult your veterinarian first. Chiropractic is not a substitute for veterinary medicine, but it can work beautifully in harmony with it.
If yours is a show or performance animal, chiropractic can be used periodically to enhance well-being and performance. A trainer from Australia told me that it is grounds for disqualifying your animal from a horse race to have it adjusted the day of, or the day before a race. It, "gives the animal an unfair advantage," over those not adjusted! Also, many former show champions have reinvigorated slumping careers through periodic chiropractic check-ups. If your animal has been diagnosed with a neurological condition it might be improved through chiropractic care.
Signs that could indicate the need for a spinal adjustment are: Pain, stiffness, stumbling, weakness, malaise, personality changes, crooked head or tail, lameness, throwing head, inability to change leads or gaits, or a general decrease in performance.
HOW CAN I TELL WHEN MY ANIMAL NEEDS AN ADJUSTMENT?
If your animal displays the signs above try some of the following tests, but realize that often it takes a chiropractor experienced in animal spine analysis to really know if there is spinal subluxation present.
Observe your animal walking. Does it limp or walk with a crooked head, or is the tail held to one side? Horses can be walked on pavement and an irregular beat can be listened for. You should hear a steady, evenly pitched clop-clop-clop-clop. A musical clipity-clopity may be interesting to listen to but it is often a sign of incoordination. Push gently on the muscles next to the spine. Does the animal flinch, or move away as a sign of tenderness? Can the animal reach around as far to one side as the other to get a favorite snack?
I’VE TRIED EVERYTHING ELSE. IS CHIROPRACTIC REALLY WORTH A TRY?
Yes! Adjustments are safe and effective when performed by chiropractors experienced in the care of animals. Sometimes the results can seem miraculous: A three day old foal that had not stood or nursed unassisted walked to its mother and began nursing within one minute of its first adjustment. A cat that was mysteriously paralyzed following neutering was jumping up on the countertops within two weeks of being adjusted. A Scotty dog that could not move its hind legs and had lost bowel and bladder control was running in the yard five days after it was adjusted. An elderly dachshund could jump up to its bed again, a Doberman could run up and down stairs again, a former champion gelding began winning trophies again, and we’ve lost count of the number of horses that canceled a trip to the meat market after we visited them. Does chiropractic fix everything? No, but it is worth a try!
TRUE CHIROPRACTIC FOR YOUR ANIMAL
We are aware that some veterinarians take a 50 hour course to become “certified” to practice “chiropractic” on animals. The average person might think that this makes sense: Veterinarians take care of animals. Wouldn’t chiropractic be just another modality they could use in the treatment of animals?
Let’s look at it this way. I’m a chiropractor. I’ve been through four thousand hours of specialized training in a chiropractic college. That’s after fulfilling my pre-requisites at a four year college. Would it make sense for me to take a 50 hour course and become “certified” to practice medicine? You know, diagnose diseases, hand out prescriptions for drugs that could potentially kill you, and perform operations of various types? I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t go to me!
When we graduate from our four years of intense chiropractic training, we are prepared to save the world with our only tools being our body, mind and spirit. Chiropractic is not part of an armamentarium of modalities. Chiropractic is a holistic science, art and philosophy based on the premise that there is a perfect intelligence in all living things that guides every phase of development from the moment of conception all through adulthood. It adapts us to our ever changing environment and heals us when injured. When injuries don’t heal, or sickness develops, or performance slips it is due to interference with this perfect innate intelligence.
It is the science of chiropractic to locate that interference, and it is the art of chiropractic to remove that interference. With the interference removed we (all creatures) will once again begin to express the perfection of the supreme intelligence within us. Health improves, performance improves, and even attitude improves.
So, do you want someone who is just punching bones, but doesn’t live and breathe the understanding of what a chiropractic adjustment really is to work on your animal? Or do you want the real thing? Knowingness makes all the difference!
And for you veterinarians who are reading this, I promise never to stab an animal with a needle, or diagnose a medical condition. When people ask me I say, “Ask your veterinarian. They are the experts at that sort of thing.” I do one thing, and I do it well: CHIROPRACTIC!
mouth...this includes whole downed tree trunks! We noticed a limp one day
and unfortunately did not remember that he had been busy moving trees
around in the back woods. So off to the vet!
They x-rayed and called in a special neurologist and wondered and wondered
what the problem could be! With no answers in sight and our checkbook
quickly being depleted they recommended an MRI. Finally we said "whoa"!
The old light bulb went off and I remembered the tree carrying incident and
discussed it with the vet. How about a chiropractor?? I had used Nels
many times for myself and my horses and was quite mad at myself for not
thinking of this solution sooner! Of course, the vet, a good modern
medicine man but unschooled in any alternative solutions, said "NO"...a
chiropractor could really mess things up. But we had more faith than that
and called Nels immediately. 5 minutes and $40 later Big Otis was walking
fine and out hunting for more trees! He continues to get adjustments and
walk fine. And when he sees Nels he can hardly contain his
excitement...unfortunately for Nels.
Lisa and Bill Gage
My first experience with Dr. Nels was with a wonderful German Shepherd named Puppa. He was getting older and would start breaking down. His back leg would either drag or fall under his body. It was heart breaking to watch. It was out of desperation that I resorted to Dr. Nels. The Vets could not help him beyond steroids and suggested a very expensive operation that only had 50-50 chance of helping him.
Upon my second visit to Dr. Nels, I noticed an amazing difference. From then on, when Puppa would break down, a visit to Dr. Nels was an experience in restoration for my dear companion. He restored Puppa physically which was an emotional tonic to me. Puppa lived the rest of his years happier thanks to finding Dr. Nels.
My latest adopted older Shepherd Gil, receives the same fine, quality, helpful care from the good doctor.
On my knees, I count Dr. Nels as one of my personal blessings.
Stuart Segall
I bought a big talented warmblood who was on/off lame, no one knew why.
After a year of vets, rest, bodywork and acucpuncture my vet recommended
Dr. Nels. One treatment made a huge difference, biweekly treatments kept
him completely sound for serious dressage work. I sold him 3 years later
after passing a prepurchase exame with flying colors -- at age 17. I'm a
believer!
Judith Piper
Mills Equestrian Equipment in Bellevue
Washington's best tack store since 1947
http://www.millsequestrian.com
Well as you know our dog, Ben chases the cars that come up our driveway and not only chases them, but bites their tires. In doing this he continually cranks his neck, therefore causing much pain and discomfort. For days all we hear is Ben howling and crying with excruciating pain. When this happens he can't eat or hardly move his head. Well in the beginning we took him to the vet and they did many x-rays and put him on cortisone pills. It seemed to help for awhile until we stopped giving him the medication. So one day when Dr. Nels was here adjusting my horses I had him adjust Ben, what a difference it made. He had to be adjusted a couple more times and we keep him penned up unless we are outside, so he doesn't chase and bite tires. He is much better now and we are enclosing our yard so he will be safe and pain free. Thank you Dr. Nels
Pat Saad
I have a horse that hit is head coming
out of the trailer and really seemed to be in pain, so much that it
changed his calm,
friendly personality into a horse that was on the scary side to be around.
we contacted drnels and he adjusted him at the poll and he became once
again the same old horse, his whole manner changed, he seemed happy again
thanks. dawn
I just wanted to let you know, I REALLY appreciate you!!!!! I had used
another Equine Chiro., Through our Trainer, and decided to give you a
try....(Thanks to my Vet.....Dr.Jennifer Sparks), And i am totally
SATISFIED!!! You were great with all my horses. We had bought a colt from
the
Quincy Livestock Market Sale, And i had fallen in love with this colt, and
talked with the owners of him, and told them BOTH, This colt was needing a
MAJOR adjustment on his back end! Well, I had called my Vet. and asked
them
about who to call, and they HIGHLY recomm. YOU! So, I gave you a call, And
set up an appt. You adj.this colt, And he could MOVE instantly! His
backend
was SO badly out,(which i knew)But, The prev. owners disagreed with me,
Well,
This colt was in a bunch of pain, and now, Just two adj. later, He is
moving
AWESOME! You had also did an adjustment on my preganant mare, Who had
taken a
fall with our Trainer, She was in pain in her neck, You were GREAT with
her
also! I tell EVERYONE about you! You are definitely the MAN!!!!!!!!!! In
fact, My daughter's friend, Is trying to sell my daughter her mare, and i
keep telling this "friend", Your mare, Needs our Chiro. to work on her
back. My daughter's friend, Keeps telling my daughter, I don't believe
that!
My daughter tells her friend, You should! My MOM and DAD, Are NEVER wrong
on
these kinds of things>>>>>>>>Just Broke on our horses! That is how much we
care about our horses!!!I think that everyone who owns a horse or animal,
Should get an Equine Chiro. adj. at least once a year! I know, We go to
the
Chiro. every 6 months, and so do my kids, and HORSES!!!!! Keep up the
GREAT
work!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You are so much needed in the Equine
World!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sincerely, The Cross Family, Alger
As a business person I need to run my business profitably. That means maximizing the value of my time. As a chiropractor who loves his work and loves helping a diverse population of people and animals, I spend much of my time on the road making farm and house calls. One reason you don’t see many chiro’s or M.D.s making house calls is that it is a very inefficient, meaning unprofitable, use of time. I have developed policies that help me to maximize my mobile practice efficiency.
First, I have days when I cover certain geographic areas. I don’t handle “emergency” calls that would take me out of my area that day because I would have to charge hundreds of dollars per call for that kind of inefficiency. Besides, emergencies should be handled by the emergency experts. I help you to build your health from the inside out so that you don’t develop emergency conditions.
Second, the flow of my route is very important to enhanced efficiency. I plan a route and then I give you a general appointment time like morning (8am-noon), and afternoon(noon-5) so that I don’t end up criss-crossing the county all day long. Often, I do email my approximate schedule a day or two before, but the vagaries of travel and last minute schedule changes account for its approximate nature, especially as the day wears on.
Third, I also have group discounts. If I see only one patient and then hop in the car, that is very inefficient. If I go to a location and see a group of patients, my efficiency is enhanced and I reward the group with a price break per individual. If you and several friends get together it helps you all to save money and be healthier. Sometimes I am able to coordinate one or two loners into a nearby group, but don’t count on it.
One patient $75
Two patients, each $50
Three or more, each $40
Cash or check paid at time of service. ($30 charge on returned checks.)
Fees subject to change without notice. Contact us for current information.
Home|Experience Wellness!|Experience Knowing!|Experience Performance!|Experience Fun!