Many pets and horses suffer from neck and back pain. You may have heard of using physical therapy (mobilization) or chiropractic-style adjustments (manipulation) to help, but is there scientific proof these methods work for animals?
Researchers recently reviewed 40 years of scientific studies (1980–2020) to find the answer. They looked for evidence on when to use these “hands-on” techniques, how often to use them (the “dosage”), and how well they truly work in dogs, cats, and horses.
Here’s what they found:
- After sorting through hundreds of papers, they found only 14 relevant studies.
- 13 of the 14 studies were on horses, mostly focusing on back pain.
- Only one study was on dogs, and it focused on the wrist, not the back.
- Zero studies were found for cats.
The Takeaway:
Even though all 14 studies reported positive effects, the quality of the research was all over the map. The studies also measured success in completely different ways.
Because the evidence was so varied, the researchers concluded that it’s difficult to draw any strong conclusions. We still can’t scientifically say when to use these therapies, how to use them, or how effective they truly are for pets.
In short, while these treatments show promise, we need more (and better) research to understand how to best use them for our animals.
Read ‘A Systematic Review of Musculoskeletal Mobilization and Manipulation Techniques Used in Veterinary Medicine’ on the MDPI website.